engleski

Estimation of optimum moisture content of tobacco solid waste as composting material

Composting is a biological process and its efficiency is controlled by those factors which affect microbial metabolism. Among others, initial moisture content (MC) of solid waste is one of the critical factors for successful biodegradation in closed composting systems. The MC must be high enough to maintain biological activity, but no so high as to reduce oxygen supply needed for aerobic microorganisms. Optimum MC for two different compostable materials was estimated through the relationship "MC vs. FAS" where FAS is the Free Air Space. In this work FAS was calculated measuring porosity of the materials at several moisture content. Values of MC and FAS were linearly correlated with high determination coefficients. According to the results obtained, the optimal MC (for FAS=20-35%) for two different composting materials was estimated to be from 50 to 60 %.

Composting; moisture content; tobacco waste

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