Premium
A Biosolids Composting Challenge: Meeting Demand for a Peat‐Free Horticultural‐Grade Product
Author(s) -
Bowman L.,
Durham E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2002.tb00379.x
Subject(s) - biosolids , compost , green waste , environmental science , waste management , peat , bay , sewage treatment , environmental engineering , engineering , ecology , biology , civil engineering
In 1996, Thames Water launched a range of peat‐free compost products based on biosolids. In order to keep up with demand and to maintain the high standards of product quality, the company has investigated higher‐rate composting processes and optimisation of the maturation stage. Agitated‐bay composting systems are the preferred in‐vessel technology for large sludge treatment centres using woodchip as a bulking agent. These automated systems (i) accelerate the composting process, (ii) maximise throughput on a smaller footprint, and (iii) achieve better control of odour emissions. A maturation trial with composted material from the US Filter agitated‐bay system confirmed that a horticultural‐grade product could be attained. Small‐scale maturation trials showed that seeding with mature green waste compost can accelerate nitrification to such a rate that near zero levels of ammonia can be achieved after one month of maturation.