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Selecting Monitoring Variables in the Manual Composting of Municipal Solid Waste Based on Principal Component Analysis

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Abstract

This paper proposes the use of principal component analysis performed on the correlation matrix for identifying the best variables for monitoring the composting of municipal solid wastes. Accordingly, 12 physicochemical and two microbiological parameters have been measured throughout the 7 weeks in which the compositing of 1300 kg of organic wastes obtained from MSW was carried out. All the analyses confirm a correct development of the composting process, and the final values fulfil the requirements of the Colombian legislation. The statistical analysis shows that four variables are sufficient for ensuring a suitable process development and, based on economic criteria and technical simplicity, the selected ones are as follows: respirometry, water retention capacity, ash content and moisture content.

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Abbreviations

CEC:

Cationic exchange capacity

CFU:

Colony forming units

FDA:

Fluorescein diacetate assay

ICS:

International Classification for Standards

ISO:

International Organization for Standardization

mosl:

Meters above sea level

MSW:

Municipal solid waste

NTC:

Colombian standard reference

PCA:

Principal component analysis

PLFA:

Phospholipid fatty acid analysis

TOC:

Total organic carbon

WRC:

Water retention capacity

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out with the financial support of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Universidad de los Andes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deparment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 Este No 19A – 40, Bogotá, Colombia

    Juan F. Saldarriaga

  2. Program of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Medellín, Carrera 87 No 30 – 65, Medellín, Colombia

    Jorge L. Gallego & Julian E. López

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Basque Country, PO Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    Roberto Aguado & Martin Olazar

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  1. Juan F. Saldarriaga
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Saldarriaga, J.F., Gallego, J.L., López, J.E. et al. Selecting Monitoring Variables in the Manual Composting of Municipal Solid Waste Based on Principal Component Analysis. Waste Biomass Valor 10, 1811–1819 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0208-y

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