Viability of the conversion of leachate effluents, from a mechanical biological treatment plant for municipal solid waste, to fertilizers Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Disposal of municipal waste is a major environmental problem. Increased urbanization and industrialization, especially in developing countries, requires municipal authorities to handle larger amount of municipal waste than in the past. Considerable attention has been paid to the land application of municipal solid waste composts and sewage sludge worldwide in recent years. In this context, the main environmental issue associated with the compost manufacture process is the production of a waste liquid leachate very complex in terms of composition. However, compost leachates may also be considered as a source of nutrients and can be converted to fertilizers. Therefore, this study intends to assess if a particular raw effluent leachate, originated from a mechanical biological treatment plant for municipal solid waste, can be used as a potential source for fertilizers. For this purpose, physical and chemical properties of the waste leachate stream were determined to evaluate if it meets suitable requirements for using as commercial fertilizer according to the proposal of regulation of the European Parliament of 2016. Samples of leachate were collected from the open tank where the effluent is stored, before it is sent to the treatment process. The physical and chemical characterization procedures were developed in order to establish the main properties relating to the leachate samples regarding commercial fertilizer content specifications. The selected parameters measured were pH, conductivity, dry mass, ashes content, TOC and inorganic carbon content.
  • This work was financially supported by: Project VALORCOMP, funded by FEDER through Programme INTERREG V-A Spain − Portugal (POCTEP) 2014–2020.

publication date

  • January 1, 2018