Reaktörde Kompostlaştırma: I. Mutfak Atıkları

Abstract

In this study, in-vessel aerobic composting of kitchen wastes (KW) was investigated to suggest a solution for the environmental problem caused by huge amounts of wastes. The composting period was 22 days. The composting parameters such as temperature, carbon (C), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), C/N ratio, cellulose, volatile solids (VS), moisture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), heavy metals and radioactivity were investigated. The reaction rate constant of degradation of VS was found as 0.0414 day -1 (R 2 = 0.99). The VS of KW decreased from 92.47 to 86.87 % after 22 days. The KW reached maximum temperature of 55°C within 2 days. C decreased from 51.37 to 48.26 %. TKN increased from 1.43 to 2.45 %. C/N ratio of the KW decreased from 35.92 to 19.69. The content of cellulose increased at the end of the process. pH value increased from 5.5 to 8.29. EC increased from 769 to 959 S/cm. Both TC and FC decreased during process. The measured heavy metal concentrations in the obtained composts were under the standards related to heavy metal. α-radioactivity greatly decreased and also the β-radioactivity decreased at the end of the process. 40 K and 137 Cs concentrations were also determined. In-vessel aerobic composting was effective to reduce TC, FC, α-and β-radioactivity in KW used. As a result of the study, it can be said that in-vessel aerobic composting of KW would be suitable from the point of waste management and the usage of the obtained compost on agricul- tural soils would be a solution for the environmental problem caused by the huge amounts those thrown away.