Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermal analysis of growing media obtained from mixtures of paper mill waste materials and sewage sludge

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study deals with thermal analysis of growing media obtained from mixtures of paper will waste materials (one de-inking paper sludge, HP, and one reject from paper mill producing paper from virgin wood, RT) with sewage sludge. For the growing media formulation, one sewage sludge (L) was mixed with both paper mill waste materials at 10, 20, and 30% in volume. An incubation experiment was designed in order to study their carbon mineralization. Addition of sewage sludge significantly increases the carbon mineralization of growing media based on RT. In case of HP, carbon mineralization increases after addition of sewage sludge in 30% (HP + 30L treatment). Thermogravimetric analysis (TG and DTG) of growing media was performed before and after incubation experiment in order to study the organic matter transformation. The higher the carbon mineralization, the greater the difference between TG curves of samples before and after the incubation. The WL3/WL2 ratio increases after incubation of samples as a result of organic matter stabilisation. For HP growing media, the highest value corresponds to HP + 30L whereas HP + 20L, and HP + 10L show similar values. In case of RT, the WL3/WL2 index shows a progressive increase with sewage sludge content.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Grigatti M, Giorgioni ME, Ciavatta C. Compost-based growing media: influence on growth and nutrient use of bedding plants. Bioresour Technol. 2007;98:3526–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Guerrero F, Gascó JM, Hernández-Apaolaza L. Use of pine bark and sewage sludge compost as components of substrates for pinus pinea and cuppressus arizonica production. J plant nutr. 2002;25:129–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ingelmo F, Canet R, Ibáñez MA, Pomares F, García J. Use of MSW compost dried sewage sludge and other wastes as partial substitutes for peat and soil. Bioresour Technol. 1998;63:123–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ostos JC, López-Garrido R, Murillo JM, López R. Substitution of peat for municipal solid waste and sewage sludge-based composts in nursey growing media: effects on growth and nutrition of the native shrub Pistacia lentiscus L. Bioresour Technol. 2008;99:1793–800.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Méndez A, Fidalgo JM, Guerrero F, Gascó G. Characterization and pyrolysis behaviour of different paper mill waste materials. J Anal Appl Pyrol. 2009;86:66–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chantigny MH, Angers DA, Beauchamp CJ. Aggregation and organic matter decomposition in soils amended with de-inking paper sludge. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 1999;63:1214–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fierro A, Angers DA, Beauchamp CJ. Decomposition of paper de-inking sludge in a sandpit minesoil during revegetation. Soil Biol Biochem. 2000;32:143–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Chantigny MH, Angers DA, Beauchamp CJ. Active carbon pools and enzyme activities in soils amended with de-inking paper sludge. Can J Soil Sci. 2000;80:99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Filiatrault P, Camiré C, Norrie JP, Beauchamp CJ. Effects of de-inking paper sludge on growth and nutritional status of alder and aspen. Resour Conserv Recycling. 2006;48:209–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Stabnikova O, Goh WK, Ding HB, Tay JH, Wang JY. The use of sewage sludge and horticultural waste to develop artificial soil for plant cultivation in Singapore. Bioresour Technol. 2005;96:1073–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Thomas GW. Soil pH and soil acidity. In: Bigham JM, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Madison, Wisconsin: ASA-SSSA; 1996. p. 475–89.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rhoades JD. Methods of soil analysis: part 3. In: Bigham JM, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA; 1996. p. 417–35.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sumner ME, Miller WP. Cation exchange capacity and exchange coefficients. In: Bigham JM, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA; 1996. p. 1201–29.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nelson DW, Sommers LE. Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Bigham JM, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA; 1996. p. 961–1010.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bremner JM. Nitrogen-Total. In: Bigham JM, editor. Methods of soil analysis. Part 3. Chemical methods. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA; 1996. p. 1085–121.

    Google Scholar 

  16. USEPA. Method 3051a: microwave assisted acid dissolution of sediments, sludges, soils, and oils. 2 ed. Washington: U.S. Gov. Print. Office; 1997.

  17. De Boodt M, Verdonk O. The physical properties of the substrates in horticulture. Acta Hortic. 1972;26:37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bunt AC. Media and mixes for container grown plants: a manual on the preparation and use of growing media for growing pot plants. 2nd ed. London: Unin Hyman; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  19. De Boodt M, Verdonk O, Cappaert I. Method for measuring the water-release curve of organic substrates. Acta Hortic. 1974;37:2054–62.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Abad M, Martínez PF, Martínez MD, Martínez J. Evaluación agronómica de los sustratos de cultivo. Actas de Horticultura. 1993;11:141–54.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Díez JA, Polo A, Guerrero F. Effect of sewage sludge on nitrogen availability in peat. Biol Fertil Soils. 1992;13:248–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Pietro M, Paola C. Thermal analysis for the evaluation of the organic matter evolution during municipal solid waste aerobic composting process. Thermochimica Acta. 2004;413:209–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Dell′Abate MT, Benedetti A, Sequi P. Thermal methods of organic matter maturation monitoring during a composting process. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2000;61:389–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Council of European Union, Council Directive of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture (86/278/EEC). Official Journal of the European Communities L 330. 1986. p. 6–12.

  25. Hernández Apaolaza L, Guerrero F. Comparison between pine bark and coconut husk sorption capacity of metals and nitrate when mixed with sewage sludge. Bioresour Technol. 2008;99:1544–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Abad M, Noguera P, Puchades R, Maquieira A, Noguera V. Physico-chemical and chemical properties of some coconut coir dusts for use as a peat substitute for containerised ornamental plants. Bioresour Technol. 2002;82:241–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hernández-Apaolaza L, Gascó AM, Gascó JM, Guerrero F. Reuse of waste materials as growing media for ornamental plants. Bioresour Technol. 2005;96:125–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Inbar Y, Chen Y, Hadar Y, Hoitink HAJ. New approaches to compost maturity. BioCycle. 1990;31:64–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Barriga S, Méndez A, Cámara J, Guerrero F, Gascó G. Agricultural valorisation of de-inking paper sludge as organic amendment in different soils: thermal study. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2010;99:981–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hernández-Apaolaza L, Gascó JM, Guerrero F. Initial organic matter transformation of soil amended with composted sewage sludge. Biol Fertil Soils. 2000;32:421–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tuomela M, Vikman M, Hatakka A, Itavaara M. Biodegradation of lignin in a compost environment: a review. Bioresour Technol. 2000;72:169–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Zbytniewski R, Buszewski B. Characterization of natural organic matter (NOM) derived from sewage sludge compost. Part 1: chemical and spectroscopic properties. Bioresour Technol. 2005;96:471–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Marhuenda-Egea FC, Martínez-Sabater E, Jordá J, Sánchez-Sánchez A, Moral R, Bustamante MA, Paredes C, Pérez-Murcia MD. Evaluation of the aerobic composting process of winery and distillery residues by thermal methods. Thermochimica Acta. 2007;454:135–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Som HP, Lemée L, Amblès A. Stability and maturity of a green waste and biowaste compost assessed on the basis of a molecular study using spectroscopy, thermal analysis, thermodesorption and thermochemolysis. Bioresour Technol. 2009;100:4404–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Gómez X, Cuetos MJ, García AI, Morán A. An evaluation of stability by thermogravimetric analysis of digestate obtained from different biowastes. J Hazard Mater. 2007;149:97–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Baffi C, Dell′Abate MT, Nassisi A, Silva S, Benedetti A, Genevini PL, Adani F. Determination of biological activity in compost: a comparison of methodologies. Soil Biol Biochem. 2007;39:1284–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería de Materiales, E.T.S.I. Minas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Ríos Rosas nº21, 28003, Madrid, Spain

    A. Méndez

  2. Departamento de Edafología, E.T.S.I. Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28004, Madrid, Spain

    S. Barriga, F. Guerrero & G. Gascó

Authors
  1. A. Méndez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Barriga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Guerrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Gascó
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Méndez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Méndez, A., Barriga, S., Guerrero, F. et al. Thermal analysis of growing media obtained from mixtures of paper mill waste materials and sewage sludge. J Therm Anal Calorim 104, 213–221 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-1227-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-1227-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation