Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Composting Fundamental
Perspectives
Institute of Waste Management
Marion Huber-Humer
Gudrun Obersteiner
Maxim Akhmadiev
Peter Beigl
Erwin Binner
Marlies Hrad
Gnther Kraus
Peter Lechner
Sabine Lenz
Peter Mostbauer
Florian Part
Alexandra Pukhnyuk
Roland Ramusch
Stefan Salhofer
Silvia Scherhaufer
Elisabeth Schmied
Felicitas Schneider
Margarete Staudner
Benjamin Steuer
Gudrun Zecha
Nina Degischer
Thomas Ebner
Reinhold Ottner
Zorica Stamenkovic
Anna Happenhofer
Erwin Binner MSc. Christian Hochhauer
Aleksander Jandric
BOKU-
BOKU-University / Vienna Julia Zeilinger

Erwin Binner
Institute
of Waste Management
1 La Molina 2015

Outlook

feedstock materials
biology of the (aerobic) rotting process
optimising of rotting conditions

Erwin Binner
2 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 1

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Goals of Biological Treatment

aspect of disposal orientation

Mechanical
MBT
goal is, to degradade resp. stabilize organic
substanzes
Biological Pretreatment
low emissions after landfilling

aspect of recycling orientation

goal is, to get high conversion of organic
Bio Waste
material into humic substances
very good compost quality
Composting
Erwin Binner
3 La Molina 2015

Composting
Fundamental
Perspectives
Erwin Binner
4 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 2

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Aspects of Recycling Orientation

amount of Bio Wastes

biogenous (biodegradable) wastes are one of
the largest fractions in municipal solid waste
Austria: 30 % of MSW are biogenous
Peru: 50 % (average) are biogenous
South America, Asia: up to 80 % are biogenous

Erwin Binner
5 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Aspects of Recycling Orientation

goals of composting
a fast and low-loss degradation of
organic compounds (= high-molecular,
natural carbon/hydrogen-compounds)
conversion to stabile humic-substances
with high germination effects
!not mineralisation into CO2 and H2O!

Erwin Binner
6 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 3

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Aspects of Recycling Orientation

quality of compost
a separate source collection of biogenous wastes is
essential
low concentrations of pollutants and
contaminants
proper feedstock materials
optimisation of the composting process (large
amount of humic substances, low emissions)

Erwin Binner
7 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Suitable Bio Wastes

biogenous wastes (definition -NORM

S2201/1993)
household organics and wastes from similar
organizations (NR.101)
from kitchen, yard and garden, food-wastes,
collected separately by bio bin

Erwin Binner
8 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 4

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Suitable Bio Wastes

bio bin collection

Erwin Binner
9 photo: ABF-BOKU
Vienna, 1998 La Molina 2015
photo: Erwin Binner

Fundamental Perspectives
Suitable Bio Wastes

biogenous wastes (definition -NORM

S2201/1993)
household organics and wastes from similar
organizations (NR.101)
from kitchen, yard and garden, food-wastes,
collected separately by bio bin
garden and yard wastes
bulky waste of plant origin, which collection is
not possible together with bio bin.
leaves, grass clippings, prunings, residues
from tree- and bush-cutting

Erwin Binner
10 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 5

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Suitable Bio Wastes

collected yard wastes

Erwin Binner
11 photo: Erwin Binner Vienna, 1998La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Suitable Bio Wastes

biogenous wastes (definition -NORM S2201/1993)

institutional and commercial food
wastes
predominantly organic residues from
preparing of food (catering industry,
kitchens, hotels)

Attention! high content of salt and water

Erwin Binner
12 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 6

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Suitable Bio Wastes

biogenous wastes (definition -NORM S2201/1993)

wastes from commercial, agricultural
and industrial production, processing
and selling
manure (cattle, chicken, horse, .)
trimmings from roads
trimmings from rivers,
church yard wastes

Erwin Binner
13 La Molina 2015

Composting
Feedstock

Erwin Binner
14 Klosterneuburg (LA), La Molina 2015
photo: Erwin Binner

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 7

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Composting
Feedstock

Erwin Binner
15 Gstttenbauer (UA), 2012 La Molina 2015
photo: Erwin Binner

Fundamental Perspectives
Collected Quantities
bio wastes from households
(Bio Bin collection)

mixture from
amount constant
kitchen wastes in Austria
fruit and vegetable remainders
leftover food
food wastes similar market wastes !
wiping papers
amount variable
yard wastes (wastes from gardens) in Austria

Erwin Binner
16 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 8

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Physical-Chemical Characteristics
water content WC 75 - 91 % high moisture content
salt content conduct. 2,9 - 8,6 mS/cm high salt concentration (kitchen)
ph-value - 4,3 - 5,9
organic substance LOI
73 - 97 % DM
loss of ignition 550C
organic carbon TOC 39-48 % DM
organic nitrogen Nkjeldahl 1,1 - 2,2 % DM high nitrogen
C/N-ratio - 15 - 45 close C/N-ratio
phosphorus P2O5 0,2 - 0,8 % DM
potassium K2O 0,6 - 3,0 % DM
magnesia MgO 0,2 - 0,4 % DM
calcium CaCO3 0,6 - 7,0 % DM
kitchen wastes
iron Fe 0,1 - 0,3 % DM market wastes
mangan Mn 10 - 150 mg/kg DM
sodium Na 330 - 4.200 mg/kg DM
chloride Cl- 180 - 8.400 mg/kg DM

Erwin Binner
17 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Physical-Chemical Characteristics

physical chemical characteristics of

yard wastes
WG ODM C N C/N P2O5 K2O CaCO3
% WM % DM % DM % DM - % DM % DM % DM
1)
wood trimmings 10-21 95 48 0,85 56 0,2 0,3 2,3
lawn trimmings 77 80-90 43 3,0 14 0,5-2 2-8 2-26
reed 45 80 40 0,6 65 0,5 1,5 1,8
river trimmings 2)
80 40 3,0 13 0,4 1,7 4,3
90
macrophytes

1)
dried, after trimming moisture content is about 50 %
2)
after drip off
ODM = organic dry matter = loss of ignition

Erwin Binner
18 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 9

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Pretreatment of Feedstock
different wastes usually have unfavourable
characteristics

mixing: portions depend on the

composting system

balanced nutrient ratio (C, N,...)

favourable moisture content
good structure stability
high free air space (FAS)

Erwin Binner
19 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Pretreatment of Feedstock

mixture for praxis:

moisture content 50 - 65 % WM
organic matter 65 - 75 % DM
salt (conductivity) 2.0 4.0 mS/cm
C/N-ratio 20 30 (40)

Erwin Binner
20 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 10

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Pretreatment of Feedstock

Erwin Binner
21 La Molina 2015
photo: Erwin Binner

Biology of the
Rotting Process

Erwin Binner
22 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 11

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Composting of Bio-Wastes
Fundamental Perspectives

composting is an aerobic process

organic matter is used by microbes as source of
energy and nutrient; therefore microbes need:
oxygen
balanced nutrient content (C/N)
water (oxygen + nutrients available only solved )

Erwin Binner
23 La Molina 2015

Composting of Bio-Wastes
Fundamental Perspectives
aerobic degradation happens everywhere in nature

carbon dioxide
metabolic by-
by-products

oxygen supply 6 CO2

by diffusion energy
heat (60%)
+ 6 O2
2.880 kJ/Mol
organic C6H12O6
substances e.g. glucose

Erwin Binner
6 H2O water
24
source: Erwin Binner
La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 12

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Composting of Bio-Wastes
Fundamental Perspectives
aerobic degradation happens everywhere in nature

carbon dioxide
metabolic by-
by-products

oxygen supply 6 CO2

by diffusion energy
heat (60%)
+ 6 O2
2.880 kJ/Mol
organic + N, S, P, K, Ca,
substances C, H, O
Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn

+ N, S, P,
Erwin Binner
6 H2O water
25
source: Erwin Binner
K, Ca, Mg, La
Fe,Molina
Cu, Zn2015

Composting of Bio-Wastes
Compost Quality Humic Substances

Erwin Binner
26 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 13

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Biology of Rotting Process

characteristics of the process:

consumption of O2 and release of CO2

self-heating
development and release of metabolic products
fatty acids (carbon acids)
ammonia/ammoniac odour emissions

increase of humic substances

Erwin Binner
27 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Biology of Rotting Process
organic substances
proteins, fat, cellulose, lignin
nutrients + energy

moisture
micro-organisms
oxygen

proteins
fats energy
carbon-hydrates (heat)
cell wall components
Erwin Binner
28 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 14

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Biology of Rotting Process
proteins
fats
carbon hydrates
cell wall components
hydrolysis and
oxidation to
peptides, amino-acids energy
fat-alcohols (heat)
mono-saccarids
phenols
CO2
degradation to water
fatty acids odour
ammonia/ammoniac leachate
nitrate
29 Erwin Binner humic acids La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Biology of Rotting Process
fatty acids
ammonia/ammoniac
nitrate
humic acids
chemical and
biochemical processes

degradation to

secondary
stabile
humic compounds
Erwin Binner
30 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 15

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Composting of Bio-Wastes
Fundamental Perspectives - Natural Aeration
good structure of
material

oxygen supply oxygen supply by

by diffusion convection (and
diffusion)

good structure of material supply with

self heating
fresh air

Erwin Binner
31 La Molina 2015

Composting of Bio-Wastes
Fundamental Perspectives - Natural Aeration
poor structure of material

oxygen supply by
convection by
exclusively (and
diffusion)
diffusion

compaction
by weight anaerobic
air
wetsupply
feet
water / rain

Erwin Binner
32 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 16

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process
no clear separation possible! phases turn into one-another
intensive curing phase maturity phase
phase
%
% // C
start phase: mesophhilic and thermophilic fungi
100
> 65 C: predominantly thermophylic bacteria
90
< 65 C: mixed population from bacteria and fungi
80 depending on substrate carbon degradation
ammonia nitrogen
70
temperature
pH-value
60
pH
NH4-N 50 8
mg/kg DM
40
7
30

500 20 6

10

0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 duration of treatment (weeks)
Erwin Binner
33 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

intensive (active) decomposition phase:

decomposition of easy available organic
compounds
odorous metabolites
intensive self-heating (60 C to > 70 C),
important for sanitisation!

high oxygen demand

thermophylic micro-organism displace mesophylic

Erwin Binner
34 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 17

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

intensive (active) decomposition phase:

process
decomposition of may be speeded
easy available upcompounds
organic
by technical actions
odorous metabolites
e.g. by pre-treatment, turning,
intensive self-heating
forced(60C - >70C), sanitization!
aeration
phase
high oxygen demand
is substantially for product-quality
(development
thermophylic of humic
microorganism compounds)
displace mesophylic
duration 2 to >> 3 weeks
carbon degradation rates 30 to 40 %

Erwin Binner
35 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

speeding up the intensive decomposition

by optimising milieu conditions:

pretreatment of feedstock
(nutrients, homogenisation)
moisture
oxygen supply
temperature

Erwin Binner
36 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 18

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process
intensive (active) decomposition phase:
technique of composting
open windrow systems
enclosed reactor systems

possibilities of intervention
process control
measurements are done, experience of
operator, operator sets action (e.g.: turning)
process regulation
measurements are done, computer compares to
limit values, automatic reaction
Erwin Binner
37 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

curing phase:

temperature decreases (< 40 C)

mesophylic micro-organisms
more difficult available organic compounds are
degraded (cellulose, also lignin)
oxygen demand decreases

Erwin Binner
38 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 19

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

curing phase:
its
temperature decreasesto
hardly possible (< speed
40 C) up the process
mesophylic microorganisms
more difficult
e.g. available organic compounds are
better milieu-conditions
degraded (cellulose, also lignine)
by turning
oxygen demand decreases

duration 8 to 12 weeks
carbon degradation (incl. intensive phase)
mostly < 40 %
Erwin Binner
39 La Molina 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

compost maturity:

temperature is near ambient temperature

development of stable humic compounds
development of clay-humus-complex
decrease of phytotoxicity

Erwin Binner
40 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 20

Composting - Fundamentals April 2015

Fundamental Perspectives
Characteristic of the Rotting Process

compost maturity:
temperature is near ambient
maturity temperature
needs time!
development
stimulatedof stable humic compounds
by natural soil-organisms
development of clay-humus-complex
(e.g.: worms)
decrease of phytotoxicity
proofed by:
plant-germination test
self-heating test
respiration activity test
analyses of humic compounds
infrared spectroscopy / thermogravimetry

Erwin Binner
41 La Molina 2015

e.binner@boku.ac.at
http://www.wau.boku.ac.at

Muchas
Gracias por
Su Atencin
Erwin Binner
42 La Molina 2015

ABF-BOKU / Erwin Binner page 21