title: Analysis of MSW full-scale facilities based on anaerobic digestion and/or composting using respiration indices as performance indicators.
abstract: The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) forces European States to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 35% of 1995 levels. Mechanical-Biological Treatment (MBT) plants are the main alternative to waste incineration and landfilling. In this work, the waste treatment efficiency of six full-scale MBT facilities has been analysed using respiration indices (Dynamic Respiration Index and Cumulative Oxygen Consumption) to monitor plant performance. MBTs relying on anaerobic digestion plus composting achieved a high grade of stability on final compost (0.24±0.09mgO2g-1DMh-1and 20±9mgO2g-1DM for dynamic respiration and cumulative consumption, respectively). On the contrary, MBTs relying only on composting showed a poor performance (1.3±0.2mgO2g-1DMh-1and 104±18mgO2g-1DM for dynamic respiration and cumulative consumption, respectively). These results highlight the usefulness of respirometric balances to assess the performance of MBT full-scale plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colón
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponsá
authors.affiliation: R+D+i Department, URBASER S.A., 28031 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: R+D+i Department, URBASER S.A., 28031 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinot
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: antoni.sanchez@uab.cat.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D017745:Incineration; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012987:Soil; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Composting; Cumulative Respiration Index; Dynamic Respiration Index; MBT