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New kinetic modelling parameters for composting process

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Abstract

This study aims to assess the composting process of sawdust, wheat-straw and chicken manure and to define the best blend proportion as a function of organic matter loss. Chicken manure, sawdust, and wheat-straw were mixed at different ratios and composted in reactors. The obtained outcomes revealed that the optimum mixture ratio was found in a mixture of 60 % chicken manure, 30 % sawdust, and 10 % wheat-straw. Three kinetic parameters were used in the models including daily process average temperature, area characterized by temperatures under the process temperature curve, and area characterized by temperatures between the ambient and process temperature (ALAT) as an alternative of process temperature. In addition to these statistical values, modelling efficiency was defined. Statistical analyses revealed that all the evaluated models were found suitable for this study; however, when ALAT was used as a function of temperature, the predictability level of all the models improved.

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Abbreviations

a, b, c, d, f, g :

Kinetic model constants

ALT:

Area characterized by temperatures under the process temperature curve

ALAT:

Area characterized by temperatures between the ambient and process temperature

C :

Daily carbon dioxide concentration in a compost reactor (%)

EF:

Modelling efficiency

FAS:

Free air space (%)

k :

Decomposition rate constant (g om/g om day)

k exp :

Experimental decomposition rate constant (g om/g om day)

k exp,mean :

Mean experimental decomposition rate constant (g om/g om day)

k pre :

Predicted experimental decomposition rate constant (g om/g om day)

M c :

Daily material moist content (% w.b.)

M i :

Initial material moist content (% w.b.)

n :

Number of the constant factors in a model

N :

Number of the observations

OM:

Volatile solids at any time of the compost process (g)

OML:

Organic matter loss (%)

OMi :

Initial organic matter content (%)

OMf :

Final organic matter content (%)

RMSE:

Root mean square error

t :

Time (days)

T :

Process temperature (°C)

W 105 :

Oven-dried weight of the mass at 105 °C (g)

W 550 :

Furnace-dried weight of the mass at 550 °C (g)

χ 2 :

Chi-square

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Acknowledgments

This study is promoted by Süleyman Demirel University Research Fund, Isparta, Turkey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Farm Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Recep Kulcu

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  1. Recep Kulcu
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Correspondence to Recep Kulcu.

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Kulcu, R. New kinetic modelling parameters for composting process. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 18, 734–741 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0376-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-015-0376-9

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