Waste Stream Characterization Research Articles

Life Cycle Assessment as a Catalyst for Embedding Sustainability in Waste Management Practices

The establishment of sustainable campuses acts as a catalyst, fostering a Living Lab environment where active community engagement is crucial. Recognizing the pivotal role of waste management, university campuses prioritize detailed mapping and characterization of organic waste streams. This process paves the way for the identification of alternative scenarios that reduce and divert waste from landfills through valorization routes such as composting and anaerobic digestion. Acknowledging students' pivotal role in shaping sustainable solutions, their perceptions of solid waste separation assume significance. The effectiveness of the current separation system is critical, especially given the monitoring of bin contamination levels, revealing hindrances to organic waste valorization. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) emerges as a valuable tool for identifying alternative scenarios for waste reduction and diversion, encompassing anaerobic digestion, composting, and waste-to-food strategies. This study centers on evaluating and reshaping student perspectives on organic waste separation and end-of-life waste management through LCA. A comprehensive survey was designed to elucidate current perspectives on the efficiency and communication of the existing waste management system. Student insights into waste separation practices revealed that the major barriers to effective waste management practices on campus include a lack of education and awareness regarding waste separation. The survey findings also underscore the significance of LCA not only in measuring carbon footprints but also in influencing perceptions and behaviors towards sustainable waste management practices. In conclusion, our study contributes to the discourse on embedding sustainability in educational settings, offering valuable insights for institutions aspiring to drive positive change through innovative waste management strategies.

Nuclear waste from small modular reactors

SignificanceSmall modular reactors (SMRs), proposed as the future of nuclear energy, have purported cost and safety advantages over existing gigawatt-scale light water reactors (LWRs). However, few studies have assessed the implications of SMRs for the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle. The low-, intermediate-, and high-level waste stream characterization presented here reveals that SMRs will produce more voluminous and chemically/physically reactive waste than LWRs, which will impact options for the management and disposal of this waste. Although the analysis focuses on only three of dozens of proposed SMR designs, the intrinsically higher neutron leakage associated with SMRs suggests that most designs are inferior to LWRs with respect to the generation, management, and final disposal of key radionuclides in nuclear waste.

Pretreatment/fractionation and characterization of winery waste streams within an integrated biorefinery concept

The aim of this work was the characterization of the main winery wastes, e.g. vineyard prunings, grape stalks, grape pomace and wine lees, and the utilization of the hydrothermal pretreatment towards selective fractionation and recovery of hemicellulose (and related sugars, furans and acids), increased cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis, and isolation of “surface” and hydrothermal/acid hydrolysis lignin, discussing also the potential valorization of each stream into value-added chemicals. Two varieties from Greece were investigated, i.e. Grenache Rouge (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Grenache Rouge) and Malagouzia (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malagouzia). Three hydrothermal pretreatment severities were applied, i.e. logRo 3.24, 4.32 and 4.71 (corresponding to 170oC-15 min, 170oC-180 min, and 220oC-15 min), all leading to enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in the vine prunings to glucose. The composition of the recovered aqueous product contained mainly glucan and xylan, which were converted to monomeric sugars and eventually to furans (furfural, HMF) and organic acids (formic, lactic) at more intense conditions. The grape stalks and mainly the grape pomace which comprises of grape skins and seeds, contained less carbohydrates compared to vine prunings, but can be considered as an abundant source of lignin that can provide fast pyrolysis oils enriched in phenolic compounds. Similarly, the extracted surface lignin from the hydrothermally pretreated vine prunings may offer highly phenolic/aromatic bio-oils. The extractives of the parent lignocellulosic wastes (15–50 wt%) contain water soluble sugar monomers and oligo-saccharides and ethanol soluble fatty acids (palmitic, tridecanoic, a-linoleic, oleic, stearic acids). The wine lees can be considered as a source of value-added polyols and phenyl alcohols, such as glycerin (1,2,3-propanotriol), 2,3-butanediol and phenylethyl alcohol.

Opportunities for circular bionutrient economy in Kenya: Sanitation and waste stream characterization

AbstractThe majority of people in low‐ and middle‐income countries, such as Kenya, lack effective sanitation and waste management systems. Circular bionutrient economy (CBE) is emerging as a framework to safely reuse organic wastes in agriculture. This study aimed to characterize waste and sanitation systems in Kisumu City, Kenya, with a view to exploring opportunities for CBE in the Lake Victoria basin. Sanitation was characterized through a case study approach in a populous informal settlement, and waste was quantified in two markets in the city. The main toilet facility was pit latrine, although there were also some urine‐diverting dry toilets (UDDTs). One toilet served about 36 people. Over a 1‐mo period, the UDDTs yielded approximately 64,400 L of urine, whereas about 67,500 L of fecal sludge was emptied from the pit latrines, out of which only about 33,000 L (48.9%) was properly disposed of. About 3 t of waste was generated daily from the markets, 95% of which was organic, and was disposed of at an open dumpsite. Organic waste, including human excreta, contains large amounts of organic matter and plant nutrients, and can be processed for agricultural nutrient cycles. Additionally, black soldierly larvae can effectively convert organic waste into nutrient‐rich fertilizer and high protein biomass for animal feeds. These results suggest an opportunity for a CBE system in the region for sustainable organic waste management and urban sanitation, and with opportunity to improve livelihoods and equity.

Particle-specific characterisation of non-hazardous, coarse-shredded mixed waste for real-time quality assurance

The development of a pre-treatment plant for non-hazardous, solid mixed waste into a smart waste factory for future involves the introduction of real-time characterisation of waste streams by applying sensor technology. First, research has been conducted on the application of near-infrared spectroscopy for quality assurance of solid recovered fuels (SRF) produced by the pre-treatment plant. The method is based on statistical analyses, thereby requiring a comprehensive database of detailed waste data. To ensure high-precision measurements, data must be gathered at the level of individual particles and must cover a broad spectrum of different particle types. In a previous study, the fine-shredded SRF (<30 mm) was investigated. The scope of this study includes coarse-shredded SRF (30–80 mm) and mixed commercial waste (pre-shredded to a maximum of 500 mm), which is used as input for the waste pre-treatment plant. For a total of 2346 particles, the projected particle area, particle mass, and particle height were measured with average values of 11.5 cm2, 1.2 g and 10.4 mm, respectively, for the coarse-shredded SRF. Data results regarding pre-shredded waste input were 115 cm2 area, 16.7 g mass and 33.9 mm height. Combined with previous results, the dataset covers a range of particle areas from 15.7 mm2 to 16.7 dm2 and a range of particle mass from 1.6 mg to 882.5 g. Additionally, selected fuel parameters (heating value, chlorine content, and ash content) were measured using laboratory analysis of composite samples from coarse-shredded SRF and mixed commercial waste. The physico-chemical results of the present study confirmed previous results; however, the variance of values increased, and more outliers were identified. Despite the provision of particle data, the major goal of this study was to determine the correlation between the projected area and particle mass, which was calculated using the Spearman's correlation coefficient (SCC). The calculations resulted in an SCC of 0.58 for coarse-shredded SRF and an SCC of 0.22 for pre-shredded waste input. Although the SCC of SRF was sufficient for establishing a quality assurance system, the SCC of input waste must be substantially improved.

Environmental health risks associated with indiscriminate dumping in Lekwa Local Municipality

This paper presents the environmental health risks associated with indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in Lekwa Local Municipality. Structured observations were used to collect data from the identified waste dumping spots. The primary data collected involved the characterization of waste streams, estimation of distances between dumping spots, water sources, and the types of houses located within dumped areas. The results revealed that both hazardous and general waste streams are dumped in residential areas of Lekwa Local Municipality. The close proximities of the dumps to houses and water sources represented the potential exposure probabilities of environmental health to hazards generated by the waste streams. The relationship between the types of housing structures presents a socio-economic dimension of indiscriminate dumping and human behaviour. The study also observed a high presence of mixed materials in the waste streams, with high opportunities for developing a secondary resource economy in the study area. The probabilities of human exposure to the identified hazards through water, air and soil to these hazards via oral, dermal and skin routes highlight the high environmental health risk potential to the local and downstream communities.

Solid Waste Characterization and Recycling Potential for a University Campus in China

Waste characterization is the first step to a successful waste management system. This paper explores the trend of solid waste generated on a university campus (Longzi Lake Campus of Henan Agricultural University) in China and the factors that influence the potential for recycling of the waste. Face-to-face interviews were carried out for 12 consecutive months on a campus in central China, and 416 interviewees were questioned. It was found that 7.32 tonnes of solid waste were generated on the campus each day, of which 79.31% were recyclable. The characterization of major waste streams are discussed, and the results are compared with comparable data from five universities in a range of other countries (Mexico, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia). The annual growth of GDP per capita in China over the past five years before the research appeared to play an important role in the increasing of food waste on university campus, and the proportion of food waste is found to have a positive influence on recycling potential.

A revised approach for estimating informally disposed domestic waste in rural versus urban South Africa and implications for waste management

A major limitation to improved waste management in South Africa lies in the paucity of reliable waste data and the exclusion of the contribution of the informal sector from reporting. Due to the disparity in the provision of formal waste management services across households in South Africa, omission of the quantified contribution of informal management practices leads to an inaccurate representation of waste management practices in existing waste data repositories. Given the potentially adverse social and environmental consequences of unregulated waste management practices, a lack of representation thereof has the potential to underestimate impacts. As of 2015, 31% of households are reported as lacking a basic refuse removal service; however, this number cannot necessarily be applied directly to waste quantities, given the regional and socio-economic differences that occur in per capita waste generation rates. The total quantity of domestic waste in South Africa and fraction disposed informally are estimated here, taking into account differences in waste generation rates based on income and settlement type. The characterisation and quantification of unregulated waste streams is beneficial in assessing the magnitude of the problem and, where necessary, identifying mitigation action. The results obtained show that 29% (3.67 million tonnes per annum) of domestic waste generated is not collected or treated via formal management options. Of this waste, the majority (85%) is generated in rural areas. The most common waste management option for unserviced households is a private dump. An estimated 94% of households in unserviced rural areas make use of private dumps, while in unserviced urban and metro areas this decreases to 74% and 71% of households, respectively. Illegal dumping is the next most common waste management option for unserviced areas. The proportion of household waste disposed of via illegal dumping ranges from an estimated 5% for unserviced rural households to 27% in metro areas with the balance made up by ‘other’ disposal/treatment options.&#x0D; &#x0D; Significance:&#x0D; &#x0D; The proportion of domestic waste that is mismanaged in South Africa is significant and its exclusion from national waste estimates leads to the inaccurate representation of waste management practices in existing waste data repositories. Unregulated waste management practices can have potentially adverse social and environmental consequences, i.e. leakage into the environment, or if burnt, the generation of atmospheric pollutants.&#x0D; The quantity of mismanaged waste and distribution of this waste between different management options is important for the development of improved National Waste Management Plans.&#x0D;

Characterisation of geomaterials and non-conventional waste streams for their reuse as engineered materials

Reusing bulk volumes of waste material is a requirement often encountered in mining and construction activities involving excavations. Spoils produced from these activities typically show high variability in terms of properties and behaviour, due to the local geology, adopted excavation method and further spoil treatments. A procedure for classifying the spoil from tunnelling was proposed in order to correlate ground type, possible muck destination and treatment type. With a similar approach in industrial and related sectors, the reuse of non-conventional materials (i.e. wooden chips, fragments, granulates, micronized glass, residual out of shape from manufacturing processes or coming from selection of other waste) has a great relevance as it is accompanied by savings in disposal costs and in the sourcing of raw materials. Characterisation tests derived from geotechnical engineering can support the assessment of the physical and mechanical properties of non-conventional materials, creating a feedback loop encompassing raw material description, required treatments, and possible utilisations as engineered materials. This paper describes the possible screening tests and treatment options for material recycling in the framework of a modified spoil classification system.

Characterization of Commercial Solid Waste Stream in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The problem associated inappropriate management of municipal waste to the ecosystem cannot be overemphasized. This study involved the physical characterization of municipal solid waste streams in 4 commercial dumpsites in Yenagoa Metropolis, using the quartile estimate method. Results showed that out of a total mass of 79.82kg; the individual mass composition was reported for garbage (food) waste 33.32 (39%), paper waste 14.90 kg (40.82%), plastic waste 5.12 kg (6%), nylon 11.01kg (13%), metal 4.31 kg (5%), wood 2.29 kg (3%), electronic 5.69 kg (7%), glass/ceramic 3.48 kg (4%) and unclassified waste whose mass was 4.62kg (5%). Disposal of untreated and unsegregated/uncharacterized waste adverse effect to the environment. It is hereby recommended that the populace to desist from illicit disposal of waste stream. In addition all stakeholders and Government in particular should formulate policies the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste stream.

An exploratory study of food waste management practices in the UK grocery retail sector

The grocery retail sector produces substantial amounts of food waste. Despite the growing public recognition of its negative socio-economic and environmental implications, the issue of food waste in supermarkets has been under-researched. In addition to a small number of studies, the focus has been on the quantification and characterisation of food waste streams in grocery retail. Little attention has been drawn to managerial attitudes and approaches to food waste mitigation. Managerial research is critical to aid in understanding how the issue of food waste is tackled on the ground. This paper plugs this knowledge gap by investigating how managers of major UK grocery retailers address the problem of food waste in their day-to-day operations. It adopts content analysis of corporate materials and a qualitative method of primary data collection and analysis to explore managerial attitudes and approaches to food waste mitigation in supermarkets of the South East Dorset conurbation (UK). The study demonstrates that, although the problem of food waste is recognised by UK grocery retailers, it is not seen as being of critical importance. In mitigation terms, while food waste recycling and price reductions are mainstream, food donations are ad-hoc and largely occur at managerial discretion. Poor consumer awareness, imperfect regulation, inflexible corporate polices and limited control over suppliers hamper more active involvement in food waste mitigation. Based on findings, policy-making and managerial recommendations on how to optimise food waste management practices in the UK grocery retail sector are revealed.

Solid waste composition analysis and recycling evaluation: Zaatari Syrian Refugees Camp, Jordan

There is a need for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream characterization and composition analysis to allow for an accurate estimation of its recycling potential and for effective management of the entire system. Recycling provides employment and a livelihood for vulnerable social groups such as refugees. The aim of this paper is to determine the composition of MSW in Zaatari Syrian Refugee Camp, where approximately 430,000 Syrian refugees have passed through the camp. The representative waste samples and analysis included household waste and commercial waste produced by the refugees in the selected districts in Zaatari. The waste sampling was performed in 2015 over two seasons to ensure that the seasonal fluctuations in the composition of the waste stream are taken into consideration. Hand sorting was used for classifying the collected wastes into the categories and subcategories. The organic waste represents the main waste category with 53% of the total MSW, while plastics, textile, and paper and cardboard are 12.85%, 10.22% and 9%, respectively. Moreover, the MSW composition percentage in Zaatari Camp is similar to that in municipalities in Jordan with slight disparity. The potential recyclable materials market has been investigated in this study. Plastics and paper and cardboard have significant potential to be separated and collected for recycling purposes. Financial revenues of potential recyclables have been analyzed based on local prices. Recycling model in the camp is also proposed based on the present study findings. Consequently, these results should be taken as a baseline for all Syrian refugees camps in the Middle East, as well as, in Europe.

JET experience on managing radioactive waste and implications for ITER

The reduced radiotoxicity and half-life of radioactive waste arisings from nuclear fusion reactors as compared to current fission reactors is one of the key benefits of nuclear fusion. As a result of the research programme at the Joint European Torus (JET), significant experience on the management of radioactive waste has been gained which will be of benefit to ITER and the nuclear fusion community.The successful management of radioactive waste is dependent on accurate and efficient tracking and characterisation of waste streams. To accomplish this all items at JET which are removed from radiological areas are identified and pre-characterised, by recording the radiological history, before being removed from or moved between radiological areas. This system ensures a history of each item is available when it is finally consigned as radioactive waste and also allows detailed forecasting of future arisings. All radioactive waste generated as part of JET operations is transferred to dedicated, on-site, handling facilities for further sorting, sampling and final streaming for off-site disposal. Tritium extraction techniques including leaching, combustion and thermal treatment followed by liquid scintillation counting are used to determine tritium content.Recent changes to government legislation and Culham specific disposal permit conditions have allowed CCFE to adopt additional disposal routes for fusion wastes requiring new treatment and analysis techniques. Facilities currently under construction include a water de-tritiation facility and a materials de-tritiation facility, both of which are relevant for ITER. The procedures used to manage radioactive waste from generation to off-site disposal have been assessed for relevance to ITER and a number have been shown to be significant. The procedures and de-tritiation factors demonstrated by radioactive waste treatment plants currently under construction will be important to tritium recovery and waste minimisation in ITER and DEMO.

Integrated municipal solid waste scenario model using advanced pretreatment and waste to energy processes

In this paper an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste scenario model (IMSW-SM) with a potential practical application in the waste management sector is analyzed. The model takes into account quantification and characterization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) streams from different sources, selective collection (SC), advanced mechanical sorting, material recovery and advanced thermal treatment. The paper provides a unique chain of advanced waste pretreatment stages of fully commingled waste streams, leading to an original set of suggestions and future contributions to a sustainable IMSWS, taking into account real data and EU principles. The selection of the input data was made on MSW management real case studies from two European regions. Four scenarios were developed varying mainly SC strategies and thermal treatment options. The results offer useful directions for decision makers in order to calibrate modern strategies in different realities.

Characterization of liquid waste streams from shale gas development

Characterization of liquid waste streams from shale gas development

Use of thermal analysis techniques (TG–DSC) for the characterization of diverse organic municipal waste streams to predict biological stability prior to land application

The use of organic municipal wastes as soil amendments is an increasing practice that can divert significant amounts of waste from landfill, and provides a potential source of nutrients and organic matter to ameliorate degraded soils. Due to the high heterogeneity of organic municipal waste streams, it is difficult to rapidly and cost-effectively establish their suitability as soil amendments using a single method. Thermal analysis has been proposed as an evolving technique to assess the stability and composition of the organic matter present in these wastes. In this study, three different organic municipal waste streams (i.e., a municipal waste compost (MC), a composted sewage sludge (CS) and a thermally dried sewage sludge (TS)) were characterized using conventional and thermal methods. The conventional methods used to test organic matter stability included laboratory incubation with measurement of respired C, and spectroscopic methods to characterize chemical composition. Carbon mineralization was measured during a 90-day incubation, and samples before and after incubation were analyzed by chemical (elemental analysis) and spectroscopic (infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance) methods. Results were compared with those obtained by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Total amounts of CO 2 respired indicated that the organic matter in the TS was the least stable, while that in the CS was the most stable. This was confirmed by changes detected with the spectroscopic methods in the composition of the organic wastes due to C mineralization. Differences were especially pronounced for TS, which showed a remarkable loss of aliphatic and proteinaceous compounds during the incubation process. TG, and especially DSC analysis, clearly reflected these differences between the three organic wastes before and after the incubation. Furthermore, the calculated energy density, which represents the energy available per unit of organic matter, showed a strong correlation with cumulative respiration. Results obtained support the hypothesis of a potential link between the thermal and biological stability of the studied organic materials, and consequently the ability of thermal analysis to characterize the maturity of municipal organic wastes and composts.

Design of a Biological Treatment System for an Oxo Derivative Wastewater

Design of a Biological Treatment System for an Oxo Derivative WastewaterTwo of the challenges of designing a wastewater treatment facility to service five manufacturing processes producing derivatives of oxoaldehydes were the inherent uncertainty in the waste stream characterization data, and the difficulty of biodegradation of some of the wastewater constituents. The methodology chosen to address the uncertainty issue was based on a Monte Carlo simulation approach...Author(s)C. Calvert ChurnSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 5 – Chemical Manufacturing Waste Minimization and TreatmentDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2001ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20010101)2001:3L.329;1-DOI10.2175/193864701785019470Volume / Issue2001 / 3Content sourceIndustrial Wastes (IW) ConferenceFirst / last page(s)329 - 336Copyright2001Word count133

Characterization of dairy waste streams, current treatment practices, and potential for biological nutrient removal

Fifteen milk processing plants in the Upper Midwest of the United States participated in a study to obtain information on general process operation, waste generation and treatment practices, chemical usage, and wastewater characteristics. Long term data on wastewater characteristics were obtained for 8 of the 15 dairy plants, and a 24-h composite wastewater sample was characterized in detail for each plant. Wastewater flow rates and characteristics varied greatly among and within plants and were not easily predictable even when detailed information on processing operations was available. In addition, the contribution of milk and milk products to the waste streams was underestimated by plant operators. The use of caustic soda, phosphoric acid, and nitric acid for cleaning had a significant impact on wastewater characteristics, despite the implementation of changes in chemical usage practices during recent years. In particular, the use of phosphoric acid based cleaning products has been reduced to eliminate or decrease discharge fines. It was determined that most of the on site treatment facilities require renovations and/or operational changes to comply with current and future discharge regulations, especially with respect to nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) levels in their waste streams. It was concluded that biological nutrient removal of dairy wastewaters should be feasible given the relatively high concentrations of easily degradable organics, the generally favorable organic matter to total phosphorus ratio, and the very favorable organic matter to nitrogen ratio.

An alternative to open burning treatment of solid propellant manufacturing wastes

Chemical Systems has selected base hydrolysis treatment to replace open burning of solid propellant manufacturing wastes. This treatment approach was adapted from several technologies. Reclaim/reuse and experimental treatment technologies were combined into the selected treatment process. Adoption of this change in treatment technology requires characterization and minimization of waste streams and alternate product development. The treatment facility design and permitting are discussed. Experiments performed on three representative types of solid propellants demonstrate the process feasibility and characterize the products of the hydrolysis. The products of the propellant treatment are ammonia, hydrogen, nitrogen oxide gasses, soluble inorganic and organic salts, and insoluble polymeric and metallic materials. Materials contaminated with propellant are cleaned and separated from the hydrolysate. The products of the process will be treatable in conventional waste treatment facilities.

A Comparison of Two Waste Stream Quantification and Characterization Methodologies

This paper compares a traditional engineering approach (direct waste analysis) for collecting waste quantity and waste composition data to a social science approach (questionnaire surveys) for dealing with the same problem. The advantages and disadvantages of these two methodologies are discussed, and a comparison made of the results obtained from applying these methodologies to a case study of the industrial-commercial-institutional waste stream in Metropolitan Toronto. The study shows that while the two approaches produce fairly similar waste quantity estimates, their waste composition estimates are not as close and vary considerably by material.