Effects of cellulose-based bio-plastics on the aerobic biological stabilization treatment of mixed municipal solid waste: A lab-scale assessment

J Environ Manage. 2022 Sep 15:318:115585. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115585. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Abstract

The aim of this work is to assess how the presence of cellulose-based bio-plastics influence the biological stabilization of mixed Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). For the scope, two cellulose acetate bio-plastics have been mixed with a synthetic mixed waste to create samples with and without bio-plastics. A self-induced biostabilization has been carried out for 7 and 14 days where temperature and off-gas have been monitored continuously. Results about temperature evolution, O2 consumption, CO2 production and respiratory quotient did not show a substantial difference regarding both the duration of the process and the presence of cellulose-based bio-plastics on the mixture. On the average, the temperature peak and the maximum daily O2 consumption and CO2 production were 52.2 °C, 35.81 g O2/kg DM *d and 48.95 g CO2/kg DM *d respectively. Disintegration of bio-plastics samples after 7 and 14 days were comparable (on the average 23.13%). The self-induced biostabilization gave its main contribution after 4 days and resulted almost finished at the end of the day 7 of the process. Results showed that cellulose-based bio-plastics did not give a negative effect on mixed MSW biological stabilization and suggest a possible management, aiming at energy recovery of the outputs.

Keywords: Biological treatment; Cellulose acetate; Oxygen consumption; Synthetic mixed waste.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Cellulose
  • Plastics
  • Refuse Disposal* / methods
  • Solid Waste* / analysis

Substances

  • Plastics
  • Solid Waste
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Cellulose