In-vessel composting

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In-vessel composting generally describes a group of methods that confine the

aerobic decomposition
conditions.

This technique is generally used for municipal scale

organic waste processing, including final treatment of sewage biosolids, to a stable state with safe pathogen levels, for reclamation as a soil amendment. In-vessel composting can also refer to aerated static pile composting with the addition of removable covers that enclose the piles, as with the system in extensive use by farmer groups in Thailand, supported by the National Science and Technology Development Agency there.[2]
In recent years, smaller scale in-vessel composting has been advanced. These can even use common roll-off waste dumpsters as the vessel. The advantage of using roll-off waste dumpsters is their relatively low cost, wide availability, they are highly mobile, often do not need building permits and can be obtained by renting or buying.

Evaluation is ongoing with regard to the health risks associated with compost derived from sewage biosolids—including identifying safe levels of contaminates such as

PFASs ("forever chemicals").[3][4][5]

Offensive

volatile organic compounds
) during the hot aerobic composting involved is the objective of the biofilter, and as the filtering material saturates over time, it can be used in the composting process and replaced with fresh material.

A more advanced systems design is able to limit the odor issues considerably, and it is also able to raise the total energy and resource output by integrating in-vessel composting with anaerobic digestion. Through anaerobic decomposition it is also possible to reduce pathogen levels similarly to that of traditional aerated composting when the anaerobic bioreactors operate at thermophilic temperatures, between 41 and 122 °C (106 and 252 °F).§[6]

Gallery

  • Biosolids composting facility – receiving and mixing bays and five reactor chambers
    Biosolids composting facility – receiving and mixing bays and five reactor chambers
  • Composting chamber material after one week
    Composting chamber material after one week
  • Composting chamber material after two weeks
    Composting chamber material after two weeks
  • Air supply and exhaust system for enclosed composting
    Air supply and exhaust system for enclosed composting
  • Exhaust biofilter mound
    Exhaust biofilter mound

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-935817-19-5
  2. ^ Aerated Static Pile composting Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Toxic 'Risk Assessment of Pollutants in Biosolids". EPA. EPA. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  4. ^ "PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024". EPA. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  5. ^ "'I don't know how we'll survive': the farmers facing ruin in America's 'forever chemicals' crisis". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  6. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.01.053
    .
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