title: Composting of de-inking sludge from the recycled paper manufacturing industry.
abstract: Composting of two different types of sludge from the recycled paper manufacturing industry was carried out at laboratory scale. Physico-chemical sludge (PCS) from the de-inking process and biological sludge (BS) from the wastewater treatment plant were composted and co-composted with and without addition of a bulking material. Despite its poor initial characteristics (relatively high C/N ratio, low organic content and moisture), PCS showed excellent behaviour in the composting process, reaching and maintaining thermophilic temperatures for more than 7 days at laboratory scale, and therefore complete hygienization. Pilot scale composting of PCS was also studied, and a respiratory quotient of 1.19 was obtained, indicating a full aerobic biological process. Respiration tests showed a complete stabilization of the material, with final values of the static respiration index in the range of 1.1 mg O2gTOM(-1)h(-1). Composting is proposed as a suitable technology for the effective recycling of this type of sludge from the recycled paper manufacturing industry.
authors.affiliation: Escola Universitària Politècnica del Medi Ambient, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Rbla Pompeu Fabra 1, 08100-Mollet del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gea
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artola
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010209:Paper; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D012987:Soil; D013030:Spain; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen