Analysis of the feasibility of the use as fertilizers, of leachates from a mechanical biological treatment plant for municipal solid waste Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • The main environmental issue associated with the compost production is the production of a liquid leachate. However, compost leachate may also be considered as a source of nutrients and used as fertilizer. Chemical properties were determined for a raw leachate from a mechanical biological treatment plant for municipal solid waste, to check if it meets the adequate requirements for using as commercial fertilizer according to the proposal of regulation of the European Parliament of 2016, for fertilizers. This study intends to access if the leachate can be used as potential source for fertilizers. It qualitatively meets the requirements established for the composition of commercial fertilizers and the production cost of leachate as raw material is low. Preliminary results showed low concentrations of heavy metals and suitable amounts of nutrients after the concentration of the leachate by simple batch distillation.
  • The main environmental issue associated with the compost production is the production of a liquid leachate. Therewith, compost leachate may also be considered as a source of nutrients and used as fertilizer. The main pollution issue associated with this compost treatment is the production of a liquid leachate that is characterized by high organic load. Although municipal waste compost leachate is one of the problems of compost production, it may be considered as a source of nutrients. Compost leachate from municipal wastes contains carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements that can be used as nutrients by plants. The advantages of the use of organic wastes such as compost leachate as fertilizers are evident. Their use would reduce the consumption of commercial fertilizers which need in their production high cost and energy. Leachate is a waste product, which means that no direct production costs are associated. The use of leachate in agriculture also means that the costs at waste treatment plants can be reduced, since processes for nitrogen and phosphorus removal would not be necessary. In that point of view, this work aims to determine the chemical properties for a raw leachate from a mechanical biological treatment plant for municipal solid waste, to check if it meets the adequate requirements for using as commercial fertilizer according to the proposal of regulation of the European Parliament of 2016, for fertilizers. This study intends to assess if the leachate can be used as potential source for fertilizers. It qualitatively meets the requirements established for the composition of commercial fertilizers and the production cost of leachate as raw material is low. Preliminary results showed low concentrations of heavy metals and suitable amounts of nutrients after the concentration of the leachate by simple batch distillation.
  • This work was financially supported by Project VALORCOMP, funded by FEDER through Program INTERREG V-A Spain−Portugal (POCTEP) 2014–2020.
  • This work was financially supported by: Project VALORCOMP, funded by FEDER through Program INTERREG V-A Spain − Portugal (POCTEP) 2014–2020.

publication date

  • January 1, 2018