Aerobic

stabilisation of
biodegradable
waste
 Aerobic stabilisation: definition
Biological degradation and transformation process for organic substances
by a variety of microbes, in aerobic conditions and in solid state. The
process is exergonic, results in heating up of the stabilizing material, and
it leads to the formation of carbon dioxide and water. A humus rich
material is generated. Under specific quality control of the substrate and
of the process the final product may be classified as Compost: a
stabilized and sanitised product which is beneficial to plant growth.
 Aims
 Reduction of volume and mass of organic waste
 Recirculation of organics into the natural cycle
 Increasing of the Carbon Sink pool
 Energy recovery (if anaerobic digestion is adopted as a
treatment before composting)
 Stabilisation and hygienization of organic waste as a
pretreatment before landfilling
 Fulfilment of regulations and laws
 The Actors

• Bacteria

Streptococcus Rods Cocci

•
Actinobacteria
Actinomycetes

Phycomyces Phellinius Coprinus -Specie

blakesleeanus pini

• Fungi

• (Protozoa and
animals)
Ciliary Flagellates Worms
 Organisms methabolism

• Bacteria: Rod shaped or cocci, can be

extremely fast-growing, mobile or imobile,
but needs water-film to move
• Actinomycetes: String-shaped bacteria,
slower growing, sensitive to pH change
• Fungi: Grow as hyphae can therefore
penetrate dry material, less sensitive to pH
change, degrade lignin, cellulose etc.
• (Others: worms, beetles etc. )
Degradation Phases during Composting
80
me
le di
70 d ab um anaerobic bacteria
ra
eg

de
yd
60

gr
aerobic bacteria

ad
sil

ab
ea

50

le
fungi unwanted
40 har
dly
deg
30 rad
able
substances
20

10

0
Meso- Thermophilic Cooling phase Maturation
Phase
Maturation phase : Actynomicetes are very active;
phenols and phenolic acids generated by the
degradation of lignins, tannins and poliphenols
are polymerized to humic substances.
 Degradability of organic compounds

Organic material Degradation rate

Sugars Readily degradable by
Starches, glycogen, pectin, fatty acids and bacteria,
glycerol actinomycetes and
Lipids, fats and phospholipids fungi
Amino acids
Nucleic acids
Protein
Hemicellulose and cellulose Slower to degrade
Chitin mostly by
Low molecular weight aromatics and aliphatics actinomycetes and
fungi

Lignocellulose Usually resistant, but

Lignin degradable by fungi
Biodegradation of organic waste: Process choice

Composting Digestion

green waste
rural biowaste
municipal biowaste
kitchen waste
food waste
restaurant waste
slaughterhouse waste
sewage sludge
slurry

Moisture
Structure

(R. Stegmann)
 Temperature
- course of temperature depends on: amount of substrate, isolation,
aeration, climatic conditions and porosity of composting mass.
- temperature influences e.g.kinds of microorganism, release of water
and ammonia and degradation processes.

Four phases:
1. Mesophilic phase: up to app. 42°C.
2. Thermophilic phase: between 50-75°C; release of energy resulting
from degradation of organic substance (storage by microbs in form of
ATP and release in form of heat); overshooting 70°C causes self-
limitation (most microorganisms become inactive); some thermophilic
bacteria still cause degradation; hygienisation of substrate for
composting (according some national european regulations: pile
temperature > 55°C for two weeks or >65°C for one week).
3. Cooling phase: decrease of temperature.
4. Maturation phase: further decrease up to surrounding temperature.

(R. Stegmann)
 Temp. ranges for microorganisms

°C Psycrofilic Mesofilic Thermofilic Performance

-4 - 25 bacteria

10 - 25 fungi bacteria

25 - 30 actinomycetes highest biodiversity

30 - 45 highest biodiversity

45 - 55 bacteria

55 - 65 actinomycetes highest sanitation

65 - 75 highest sanitation
Degradation Phases during Composting

unwanted

80
me
le di
70 d ab um anaerobic bacteria
ra
eg

de
yd

60

gr
aerobic bacteria

ad
sil

ab
ea

50

le
fungi
40 har
dly
deg
30 rad
able
substances
20

10

0
Meso- Thermophilic Cooling phase Maturation
Phase
Degradation rate = f (temperature)
Windrows turning is
important in order to
keep teperature in the
optimal range: 55-
60°C

Turnings

Time, days
Temperature = f (time)
Controlling parameters:

•Oxygen
•C/N
•Moisture
 Oxygen influence

Importance: aerobic organisms need molecular oxygen dissolved in water

- acceptor of electrons for respiration
- oxidant for a lot of organic substances
O2 – demand: depends on temperature, composition and water content of
material
Fertig (1981)
- for easily degradable substances: 1.2 – 1.7 l O2/(kg TS*h) resp. 5.9–7.9 l
air/(kg TS*h)
- mostly 1.2 - 2.0 g O2/g biological degradable substance
- for very slow reacting substances (e.g. methane) also up to 4.0 g O2/g
In absence of O2: Inhibition of aerobic degradation process, growth of anaerobic
microorganisms with formation of odours, low pH, low evaporation

KROGMANN & KÖRNER 2000; KEBEKUS 1998 (FERTIG 1981): (HAUG 1993)
 Process parameters: C/N ratio
Importance: nutrients for metabolisms of microorganisms
- composition of microbial biomass (in % TS):
C: 46 – 52; N: 10 – 14 bacteria
C: 45 – 55; N: 4 – 7 mold fungi
- except nitrogen, enough macro and micro nutrients are
contained in most biowaste
C/N ratios in substrates:
- optimum: around 25-35:1
If C/N <20, nitrogen is removed from the soil, if <<15 N is
released in form of ammonia, toxic for the soil
If C/N > 40, delay of degradation may occur (insufficient N)

KROGMANN & KÖRNER 2000; KEBEKUS 1998

 C/N-ratio
Material C/N
Old, woody, green waste 100
Conifer mulch 30-100
Wheat straw 60-125
Sawdust 100-500
Bark 100-130
Prunings 100-150
Paper/cardboard 200-500
Fresh, green garden waste 10-20
Grass clippings 12
Kitchen waste 15-23
Fruit residues 35
Animal manure 15-25
Mixed municipal solid waste 20-40
Sewage sludge 5-15
 pH-value

Importance: each organic has a pH-value within growth is possible and

usually has a well defined pH-optimum.
- pH-value in most ecosystems:
- suitable for most microorganisms:
- harmful for most microorganisms:
- possible range for composting:
1983)
- optimum composting:
-
5–9
5–9
<3; >11,5
3 – 11 (de Bertoldi et al.
5 – 12 (Wilson 1985)
7 – 8 (Flemming et al,1995)
5.5 – 8 (de Bertoldi et al. 1983)

Krogmann & Körner 2000; KEBEKUS 1998, KÖRNER 1999; Madigan et al., 1984
 AIR POROSITY

Water content
Importance
- water film on the substrate surface is most
important region for microbial activity
- dissolving and transporting of nutrients

Ranges of microbial acitivity

- optimum: 40-70 % substrate specific
- minimum: 12-25 % water requirements of microorganisms

- maximum:  70 % competition between air and water in

pores (Oxygen transfer low in water!)
- more than:  70 % limited oxygen supply

KROGMANN & KÖRNER 2000; BIDLINGMAIER 1983; KUTZNER & JÄGER 1994; KEBEKUS 1998
 Processing time

• Windrow composting with turning: 3 weeks

at a temperature >55 °C
Composting: Flow-sheet

Waste input
Mixing
Shredding
Sieving
Pre-processing Magnetic separation
Sorting
Composting
Classing,
Post-processing Sieving,
Air classification,
Odour control Sorting

Compost and its use

•Pre-processing
 Pre treatment: shredding
Archimede screw shredder

Maximum input size of branches: 70 - 80 mm

Output size: fino a 20 – 50 mm
Working load: 50 – 100 m3/h depending from the engine power
Pre treatment: shredding
 Pre treatment: shredding
Hammer shredder

Working load: 150 – 250 m3/h,

depending from the engine power
 Pre treatment: shredding
Teeth cutter shredder

Cutting teeth Post shredding grate

Opposite cutting edge

 Pre treatment: mixing
Orizontal

Vertical
•Technologies
 •Outdoor
Technologies
 Static outdoor technology: windrows

• Triangle, trapezoid, tabular windrows

• natural ventilated, passive or active
aerated
• with / without cover / roof
• with / without Turning:

1.0-2.0 m natural ventilated

2.5-3.0 m active aerated

3.0-4.0 m
Static outdoor technology: Aerated windrows/piles

Suction Pressure Natural

aerated aerated aeration

Matured
compost
Porous media
Odour
Condensed
filter
water trap
 Outdoor technologies
Height 1,5 – 2 m
Static aerated windrow Width 2,5 – 3 m
Length : no limit
Air flow: 50 – 100 m3/h*m2
3,5 – 7 m3/h*t
Aerated windrow
Aerated windrow
 Agitation
Windrow turning machine
 Agitation
Sloped belt turning machine

Width up to 3 m, height up to 3 m.
Working load 1800 m3/h per una potenza installata di 150 kW.
Windrow technologies: Temperature control

Windrows turning is
important in order to
keep teperature in the
optimal range: 55-
60°C

Turnings

Time, days
 •Indoor
Technologies
 Indoor technology: aerated pile
• Height: 1.8-3.3 m
Width: e.g. 35 m
• Active aeration, different aeration
aeras
• Turning frequencies once/ day -
once/ week
• Retention times: 4-12 weeks,
partly curing in windows

Krogmann & Körner, 2000

Indoor technology: Channelled piles

Usually placed
under a roof
Air blowers

Turning machine
Indoor aerated piles
Indoor agitation: moving floor
 Indoor Agitation
MACCHINE RIVOLTATRICI SU CARROPONTE
 Indoor Agitation
MACCHINE RIVOLTATRICI SU CARROPONTE
 Environmental issues

NH3, N2O, CH4

Bioaerosols and odours

Leachate