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Characterization of Solid Digestates: Part 2, Assessment of the Quality and Suitability for Composting of Six Digested Products

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Abstract

The aim of this research was to characterize six organic solid digestates in order to discuss their potential direct agricultural utilisation or their further valorization through an aerobic post-treatment. The studied digestates came from four different sources: waste water treatment sludge, food-processing wastes, agricultural solid wastes and source-selected organic fraction of municipal solid wastes. Physico-chemical, biochemical and biological characteristics showed that a direct use of digestates and application on land as soil amendment or fertilizer is not recommended according to current standards. A post-treatment appeared thus to be necessary in order to obtain commercial amendments or fertilizers. A composting post-treatment of these digestates would assure their full biological stabilization as these organic residues still contain residual biodegradability and present sometimes phyto-toxic risks. The prediction of operational parameters showed that the composting post-treatment of these digestates will probably lead to a limited rise in temperature, require moderate aeration supply and last less than a typical composting treatment of organic wastes.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Anaerobic digestion

ADF:

Acid detergent fiber

ADL:

Acid detergent lignin

AW:

Agricultural wastes

CEC:

Cation exchange capacity

CEL:

Cellulose fraction

C/N:

Ratio between carbon and nitrogen

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

Csol :

Carbon soluble content

CV:

Coefficient of variation

∆Tmax :

Maximum rise of temperature in 300l composting pilot-scale

DM:

Dry matter

DRI:

Dynamic respirometric index

eBF:

Easily biodegradable fraction

FPW:

Food processing wastes

GI:

Germination index

HEMI:

Hemicellulose fraction

I.E:

Inhabitant equivalent

kO2 :

Slope of oxygen consumption curve

LIGN:

Lignin content

NDL:

Neutral detergent fiber

NH4 + :

Ammonium content

Norga :

Organic nitrogen content

O2 :

Total oxygen consumption

OM:

Organic matter

OUR:

Oxygen uptake rate

Qmin :

Minimum air flow rate required

Qtot :

Global need in aeration supply

RBP:

Residual biodegradable potential

SOLU:

Soluble fraction

SS-OFMSW:

Source selected organic fraction of municipal solid wastes

TC:

Total carbon content

TKN:

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen content

TN:

Total nitrogen content

tstab :

Time required for biological stabilization

TP:

Total phosphorous content

VFA:

Volatile fatty acids

WWTS:

Waste water treatment sludge

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Acknowledgments

This research was project funded by the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) and Suez-Environment and carried out in Cemagref research centre in Rennes (Brittany, France).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cemagref, UR GERE, 17 avenue de Cucillé, CS 64427, 35044, Rennes, France

    C. Teglia & A. Tremier

  2. Université européenne de Bretagne, Bretagne, France

    C. Teglia & A. Tremier

  3. Suez Environnement, 38 rue du Président Wilson, 78230, Le Pecq, France

    J.-L. Martel

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  1. C. Teglia
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Teglia, C., Tremier, A. & Martel, JL. Characterization of Solid Digestates: Part 2, Assessment of the Quality and Suitability for Composting of Six Digested Products. Waste Biomass Valor 2, 113–126 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-010-9059-x

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