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Modeling the Life Cycle Inventory of a Centralized Composting Facility in Greece

Authors :
Panagiotis Chazirakis
Apostolos Giannis
Evangelos Gidarakos
Source :
Applied Sciences, Vol 12, Iss 4, p 2047 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Mechanical composting is a popular treatment method for the mechanically separated organic fraction of municipal solid wastes to stabilize the waste material and reduce its environmental impacts. The model and life cycle inventory database are created based on the existing centralized mechanical composting facility located in Chania (Crete, Greece). This study aims to assess all stages of the composting process, wherein input-output flows are comprehensively analyzed based on specific waste fragments. The transfer coefficients are calculated for each waste fragment throughout the processes. The degradation rate is measured as kg of C and N released per Mg of the treated material. The results show that process degradation rates are independent of the initial fragmental composition. This is the first study that accurately models the fate of distinctive waste fragments in a composting plant, while the developed life cycle inventory (with regard to mass and energy balances) can be applied to estimate the environmental impacts regarding mechanical composting the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20763417
Volume :
12
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Applied Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.3ee7dee5921c4f71a869fbbc26428d7d
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/app12042047