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Release and Reduction of Organosilicon Compounds in MBT-Plants

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Abstract

About seven million tons of residual waste are treated in mechanical–biological and mechanical–physical waste treatment plants (MBT) in Germany every year. Organosilicon compounds are getting released during the process of aerobic waste treatment and lead to cost intensive clogging problems in the exhaust gas treatment systems. Release of volatile methyl siloxanes (VMSs) in MBT plants as well as biological filtering as a gas treatment option were investigated in order to develop a strategy to reduce VMSs in the exhaust gas of the rotting process. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive measurement series at Germany’s largest MBT plant in terms of VMSs release during the intensive rotting process as well as investigations on the reduction of these compounds when using biological filters. Regarding the intensive rotting process we found the main release of VMSs during the first days of the process as well as a dependency between VMSs release on oxygen supply. Investigations at the biological filter of an Austrian MBT plant revealed VMSs reduction rates up to 80 %. Similar effects were also observed by investigations at a biofilter test facility over a testing period of 7 months. First results of experiments with bacteria indicate an unspecific contribution of microbial biomass to the VMSs reduction effects in biofilters.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by the EFRE—European Funds for Regional Development and by funds of the Free State of Saxony.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Waste Management and Contaminated Site Treatment, Technische Universität Dresden, Pratzschwitzer Str. 15, 01796, Pirna, Germany

    L. Brunn, S. Mattersteig, H. Lorbeer & B. Bilitewski

  2. Mattersteig & Co. Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Zwenkauer Str. 159, 04420, Markranstädt, Germany

    M. Friese

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  1. L. Brunn
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  2. S. Mattersteig
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  3. H. Lorbeer
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  4. B. Bilitewski
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  5. M. Friese
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Correspondence to L. Brunn.

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Brunn, L., Mattersteig, S., Lorbeer, H. et al. Release and Reduction of Organosilicon Compounds in MBT-Plants. Waste Biomass Valor 4, 455–465 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-012-9184-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-012-9184-9

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