Municipal yard waste composting: process parameters, windrow gases, and leachate quality

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dc.contributor.authorChristian, Archer H.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairBerry, Duane F.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairEvanylo, Gregory K.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCollins, Eldridge R. Jr.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSimpson, Thomas W.en
dc.contributor.departmentCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:37:59Zen
dc.date.adate2009-06-11en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:37:59Zen
dc.date.issued1995-08-14en
dc.date.rdate2009-06-11en
dc.date.sdate2009-06-11en
dc.description.abstractA Municipal Yard Waste Composting Research and Demonstration Project was conducted to examine the process, quality of leachate, and viability of this technology for large-scale, low-technology application. Project research objectives were: 1) to characterize C/N, temperature, and moisture relationships of yard waste during composting and the elemental composition of the finished compost; 2) to investigate the oxygen (O₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) relationships in the composting yard waste; and 3) to quantify water quality parameters of the leachate from yard waste composting mixes. Mixes of 3 parts leaves/1 part grass, 2 parts woodchips/1 part grass, and leaves alone were composted in windrows. Process control was by a front-end loader/back-hoe according to a 60°C maximum temperature set-point, initially, and by temperature plateaus or moisture conditions following most active composting. Composting was more efficient with the presence of grass clippings. Some CH₄ was observed within windrows microsites, even under overall aerobic conditions. Occasional methane production not in excess of approximately 4x10⁻² mmol/l reflects inconsequential anaerobiosis. Leachate from individual windrows was minimal but contained high concentrations of total Kjehldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus, and biological oxygen demand. Soil degradation processes should ameliorate these. The leaf/grass mix generated the greatest quantities of carbon dioxide, strongly correlated oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, steepest temperature profile, and the highest concentrations of plant nutrients in material composted for between 8 and 24 weeks. Low-technology composting of yard wastes can be an effective, low-cost alternative to landfilling, with substantial societal and environmental benefits.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentix, 169 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-06112009-063549en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06112009-063549/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/43168en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1995.C475.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 34185599en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectwaste materialen
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1995.C475en
dc.titleMunicipal yard waste composting: process parameters, windrow gases, and leachate qualityen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineCrop and Soil Environmental Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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