Municipal solid waste compost amendment in agricultural soil: changes in soil microbial biomass

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Maturity degree of composts from municipal solid wastes evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in association with chemical analysis was applied to assess the maturity reached by the organic fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) subjected to composting processes with manual and fixed aeration and sampled at different composting times. Thermograms showed that the difference in the treatments, i.e., the manual aeration and the fixed aeration, had no relevant effect on the stabilization and maturation of OM in the substrates. Common thermal effects observed were: a low temperature endotherm assigned to dehydration and/or loss of peripheral polysaccharides chains; a medium temperature exotherm assigned to loss of peptidic structures, and a high temperature exotherm assigned to oxydation and polycondensation of aromatic nuclei of the molecule. Results obtained suggest that in the experimental conditions used, a shorter time of composting (about 30 d) appears adequate, in order to limit the extended mineralization of OM, whereas a prolonged composting time (up to 132 d) would produce a compost of poor quality with high ash content and low OM content.

Probing the LSND mass scale and four neutrino scenarios with a neutrino telescope

We show in this Letter that the observation of the angular distribution of upward-going muons and cascade events induced by atmospheric neutrinos at the TeV energy scale which can be performed by a kilometer-scale neutrino telescope, such as the IceCube detector, can be used to probe a large neutrino mass splitting, |Δm 2| ∼ (0.5-2.0) eV 2, implied by the LSND experiment and discriminate among four neutrino mass schemes. This is due to the fact that such a large mass scale can promote non-negligible v μ → v e, v τ/v μ → v e, v τ conversions at these energies by the MSW effect as well as vacuum oscillation, unlike what is expected if all the neutrino mass splittings are small. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in some Brazilian municipal solid waste compost

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), listed as per the Stockholm Convention (α -HCH, β -HCH, γ -HCH, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDE, aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, PCBs 28, 52, 118, 138, 153, and 180), were analyzed in municipal solid waste (MSW) compost samples from three different Brazilian composting plants located in three São Paulo State cities: Araras, Araraquara and São Paulo (Vila Leopoldinha). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out using gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (Ion Trap, electron impact ionization), respectively. The samples were analyzed in triplicate and the target POPs were not detected by GC-ECD. Twelve pollutants were identified in two samples when qualitative analysis (GC-MS) was used (β -HCH, γ -HCH, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, and p,p′-DDE, PCBs 28, 118, 138, 153 and 180). The composting process has advantages such as urban solid waste reduction and landfill life-span increase, however the MSW compost quality, which can be utilized for agricultural purposes, should be evaluated and be controlled. This kind of study is the first step in making available information to answer questions regarding MSW compost for sustainable agricultural use, such as the pollutants accumulation in soil and in groundwater, and plants uptake. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Influencia de la separación de residuos sólidos urbanos para reciclaje en el proceso de incineración con generación de energía

This work analyses the recuperation of the energy of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) through the incineration process. It considers the up to date tendency of segregation (separation) of plastic, paper and cardboard, glass and metals and their influence in the fluxes of mass and energy in the incineration system of MSW. For its development was used information related to the generation of MSW in Bauru city and the Combust software. The results so obtained allowed the estimation of the Caloric power of the typical MSW and also of this residue when one considers the separations of paper/cardboard and plastic for recycling.

Energia de briquetes produzidos com rejeitos de resíduos sólidos urbanos e madeira de Eucalyptus grandis

The incentive for consumption and production in large quantity in modern society generates enormous amounts of urban solid residues in the form of municipal solid waste (MSW). With the intention of reducing these residues of the municipal waste tips and to generate energy, briquettes with mixtures of MSW and residues of Eucalyptus grandis were produced. The briquettes were manufactured with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of MSW in the mixture with wood waste and 12% of moisture content. The analyzed parameters used to choose the best treatments were combustion analysis versus ash content, mechanical strength and energy content. The briquettes up to 10% of MSW showed low resistance, and above 15% showed large increase in ash content. Therefore, the treatment that fulfilled the requirements for combustion versus ash content and mechanical resistance was of at least 15% of MSW, since the source of the ash is unidentified. Considering the net energy content, the best treatment was 25% of MSW, with 17,175 kJ kg-1. Nevertheless, it is strongly advised that further studies related to gas emissions are necessary.

Geo-environmental investigation: A brief review and a few suggestions for brazilian contaminated sites

This paper presents a brief review about site investigation procedures for contaminated sites recommended by Brazilian and Canadian environmental agencies as well as discusses the theme of geo-environmental investigation as applied to Brazilian practice. The main definitions on the theme are reviewed and some guidelines are proposed for conducting a geo-environmental investigation of Brazilian contaminated sites using different site and laboratory investigation techniques based on the presented review and on the experience obtained from the investigation of a solid waste disposal site in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Energetic, ecologic and fluid-dynamic analysis of a fluidized bed gasifier operating with sugar cane bagasse

This work aims to study the thermodynamic, ecological and fluid-dynamic aspects of a circulating fluidized bed gasifier using sugar cane bagasse as biomass, in order to estimate a model of its normal operation. In the initial stage was analysed the composition of biomass selected (sugar cane bagasse) and its lower heating value (LHV) was calculated. The energy balance of the gasifier was done, being the volumetric flow of air, synthesis gas and biomass estimated. Also the power produced by this gasifier was theoretically estimated. Then the circulating fluidized bed gasifier was designed for operation with approximately 100 kg/h of processed biomass. Cross-sectional area of the reactor, feeder size, diameter of the exit zone of the gases and minimum height of the expanded bed were selected. Some bed gasifier hydrodynamic factors were also studied. The minimum fluidization velocity, fluidization terminal velocity, and average fluidizing velocity were calculated, in order to understand the fluid-dynamic behaviour of gasification of this fuel. It was obtained a theoretical model that can support a possible prototype of circulating fluidized bed gasifier biomass. Finally, there were studied the ecological aspects of the gasifier, through an overall methodology. Ecological efficiencies were estimated for two scenarios: first considering the carbon cycle and thereafter disregarding the carbon cycle. In both cases, it can be proved the ecological viability of the project. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of hybrid waste-to-energy for medium-sized cities

Urban centers have a huge demand for electricity and the growing problem of the solid waste management generated by their population, a relevant social and administrative problem. The correct disposal of the municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in cities is one of the most complex engineering problems that involves logistics, safety, environmental and energetic aspects for its adequate management. Due to a national policy of solid wastes recently promulgated, Brazilian cities are evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of incinerating the non-recyclable waste. São José dos Campos, a São Paulo State industrialized city, is considering the composting of organic waste for biogas production and mass incineration of non-recyclable waste. This paper presents a waste-to-energy system based on the integration of gas turbines to a MSW incinerator for producing thermal and electric energy as an alternative solution for the solid waste disposal in São José dos Campos, SP. A technical and economic feasibility study for the hybrid combined cycle plant is presented and revealed to be attractive when carbon credit and waste tax are included in the project income. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Experimental study of bottom feed updraft gasifier

The updraft biomass gasifiers currently available produce a gas with high tar content. For almost all downstream applications a substantial reduction of the tar concentration is required. The gravimetric tar concentration behavior in producer gas, obtained at a modified updraft fixed bed gasifier, was studied. The feedstock feeding system was modified respect to the traditional updraft gasification design in order to decrease the tar concentration in the producer gas; the material is feeding continuously through a conduit in the base of the reactor over the grate. The caloric power of the syngas obtained was slightly lower than the typical value for this type of reactor and the highest efficiency obtained for the woodchip gasification was 77%. The highest tar concentration obtained during the experiments was 1652.7 mg N m-3 during the first our of experiments, comparable with the smaller value reported for the updraft reactors, this value is reduced significantly after the stabilization of the gasification process in the reactor. The smaller value obtained was 21 mg N m-3. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Avaliação termodinâmica, termoeconômica e econômica da integração de sistemas de gaseificação da biomassa em uma usina sucroalcooleira

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Gestão dos resíduos sólidos urbanos na microrregião homogênea serra de Botucatu: caracterização física dos resíduos sólidos domésticos na cidade de Botucatu/SP

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Potencial de geração de energia elétrica a partir de resíduos sólidos urbanos para Bauru e região

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Viabilidade energética e econômica da incineração de resíduo sólido urbano considerando a segregação para reciclagem

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise econômica preliminar da implantação de incinerador de resíduos sólidos urbanos na região de Bauru

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)