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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 12, No. 1, 2015, pp. 1-14
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Bioline Code: st15001
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2015, pp. 1-14
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Comparison of different biological treatment scenarios for the organic fraction of municipal solid waste
Lombardi, L.; Carnevale, E.A. & Corti, A.
Abstract
The possibility of applying anaerobic digestion
(AD) process of the source-selected organic fraction (SSOF)
of municipal solid waste in the south of Tuscany (IT)
territory was proposed and evaluated. With respect to a
reference scenario, in which the overall amount of SS-OF
and garden waste—expected in 2013—is addressed to
aerobic composting process, three alternative scenarios
were proposed, modeled, and compared by life cycle
assessment (LCA). The first one is based on realizing six
AD plants upstream of each already existing aerobic plant.
The second one is based on realizing only three centralized
anaerobic plants. The third alternative is based on codigestion
of a part of the SS-OF with sludge from waste
water treatment plants in existing sludge AD plants; the
remaining part of SS-OF is processed in devoted AD plants
upstream of each already existing aerobic plant. LCA
results show that AD application is always favorable with
respect to the reference scenario in which organic wastes
are aerobically processed. AD allows for net production of
thermal and electric energy, generating negative impacts
due to avoided emissions and avoided resource consumptions.
Among the compared alternatives of AD application,
the scenario based on decentralized plants (one anaerobic
plant upstream of each existing aerobic plant) resulted to be
most favorable, collecting the best value for almost all the
considered environmental indicators.
Keywords
Biodegradable waste; Anaerobic digestion; Co-digestion; Life cycle assessment; Compost
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