Role of In-Vessel Composting In Stabilizing the Organic Solid Waste

This study was conducted to analyze the physico -chemical characteristics of organic matters separated from Municipal solid waste using a rotary drum reactor ( RDR ) process and static mechanically air blown reactor (ABR). The aeration method of the compost had great influence on the physico-chemical characteristics (temperature, moisture content, pH, organic content) of the compost. In the ABR the temperature was observed to be higher than the RDR which may be due to the daily rotation of the rotary drum as it dissipates the heat generated and interrupt the temperature rise. On analyzing results by ANOVA showed that decrease in the temperature varied significantly between the two reactor ( p<0.05 ), but in both the process the temperature did not attain the thermophilic phase as it was below 50°C. The temperature control methods can be implemented to attain the required thermopilic phase. The present study helps to prove that the pH is not a key factor in the deciding the stability of the compost as it is same in both the cases throughout the experiment. The fertilizing index for TOC was calculated for the MSW compost taking the relative importance of the parameter into consideration. ADR and RDR which showed 4.43 and 5 for TOC. The results indicated that ADR had more advantage over the RDR. After composting the material for duration of 20 days the end product need further curing, hence these methods can be used for preliminary stabilization of compost.