®
The community composting
Technology patented for the
bioxidation of the organic matter and
the bioxidation of the compost
Rev. 11/2014
AmbiComunity
The community composting
waste to treat and the minimum number of components for a
composting plant is of three units.
Controls
The whole process is controlled by our exclusive
software ambiControl, which
ch measures and monitors the
parameters, in order to set the best operative conditions.
AmbiComunity is a technology created, developed and patented
by Ambientalia, for the aerobic bioxidation of the organic matter
and for the accelerated maturation of compost. This technology is
a suitable plant for thee community composting, thanks to its
modulation and its structure.
The organic fraction of waste, is almost constituted by
moisturised matter as by-product
product of differenced sorting (before
selected, is suitably mixed with structuring material.
Before the beginning, the composting container in stainless steel,
has been specifically designed in order to mix the organic matter
with green waste and structuring material. During the filling the
products are maintained within the drum in aerobic conditions,
and thanks
hanks to a handling device the aeration of the matter is
ensured.
Back view of ambiComunity
This system allows to manage the composting process without
provoking environmental impact. This type of plant has been
developed for the small local communities, in order to support
the management
agement of the organic collection and the composting.
The process takes place in the composting drum, and helps in
reducing dispersal of waste caused by the wind, in avoiding
runaway of leakages, and odoriferous gases. The containers
present variable dimensional range, according to the amount of
Side
de view of ambiComunity
Utilizing ambiComunity, the proximity
composting plant
Description of the composting process
“Composting” is commonly referred to the aerobic stabilisation of
organic matter, of residual of animals and vegetables. Thanks to
this process occurs the formation of molecules with a short chain,
easy to digest, hygienised and rich in humid matter. Thanks to this
structure the matter is suitable for the fertilisation of the soil.
The process is carried out by different strains of micro-organisms,
operating in an aerobic environment such as bacteria, fungi,
Actinomycetes, algae and protozoa, usually present in organic
fraction of the biomass or artificially introduced.
The process may be briefly described with the following reaction:
organic material + O2 > compost + CO2 + H2O + NO3- + SO4 -- + heat
Actually, the main role of the aerobic treatment consists in the
stabilisation of the organic matter, in fact the main aims are as
follow:
•
•
Decrease of the fermentative processes, that cause the
release of the odoriferous emissions;
Reduction of the amount of waste to deliver to the
landfill.
Materials suitable for composting must have such biochemical
characteristics as to ensure a regular actuation of the process; in
particular they must be easily biodegradable by micro-organisms
to such a degree as to ensure the latter sufficient nutriment and a
correct process. These materials are:
•
vegetable refuse;
•
highly biodegradable organic substance-content waste
deriving from manufacturing, commercial and services activities;
•
organic fractions from domestic use;
•
sludge from urban and agri-food purification;
•
zootechnical excrement.
The various micro-organisms operate at defined heat levels, and
their activity is influenced by the process temperatures to the
extent that they can be distinguished in three classes:
psychrophilic, mesophilic and thermophilic. Actually, each group
presents different levels of performances, according to the
thermic range, that is almost comprised between 0-30°C and 3045°C.
Then, the increasing of the temperature in the biomass, causes
the selection of the microbial population, in favour of the
thermophilic species, whose optimal working conditions are
between 50-65°C.
The composting process takes place in anaerobic environment,
and is characterised by the only presence of aerobic microbes.
However, when the operative conditions are optimal, in the
biomass takes place the formation of anaerobic pockets which
trigger reactions due to anaerobic fermentations. The main byproduct of these fermentations are methane and butyric acid,
that have mephitic odour. Is fundamental to control these gases,
in order to guarantee the quality of the product, and to do not
affect the compost with anaerobic reactions.
Composting stages
During the composting process, on the biomass occur the
following stages:
-
Bioxidation.
-
Maturation.
Decomposition
(bioxidation)
of
the
organic
matter
The composting process immediately begins with the
destructuralisation of the organic fraction, which is most easily
biodegradable (carbohydrates and hemicelluloses: sugars, organic
acids, amino acids). This phase is carried out by aerobic microorganisms, with the oxygen consumption and the release of
carbon dioxide and heat. Because of the energy that is generated
by the oxidation reactions catalysed by the micro-organisms, the
temperature of the piles increases progressively until reaching the
thermophile range. This phase is known as “high rate phase” and
generally lasts three or four weeks (times may vary depending on
the characteristics of the substratum and the employed
technique). The quickest increase of temperature (up to 55-60°C)
occurs within the subsequent 24-48 hours following the setting
up of the pile. The heat must be suitably dissipated because a
further increase in temperature could lead to an inactivation of
most of the micro-organisms.
During the high rate phase, a sanitation is performed: it occurs
when temperature values are above the threshold of 55°C, at
least for 72h. The effect of this stage is the elimination of
pathogenic bacterial that are potentially harmful for human
health. A great concern is to be given to the thermophile phase,
as it also leads to devitalisation of the seeds of any infesting
plants, which can be present in the feeding mixture.
The composting process occurs in natural conditions as well: it is
simply accelerated, thanks to the biomass aeration, in monitored
and optimized environmental conditions. Finally, the bioxidation
process runs out with the decline of the thermophile
fermentation reactions.
Maturation
The decrease of temperature provokes the maturation of the
biomass, which is considerable as an enlarged mesophilic stage.
At the end of this part, a stabilised material is obtained.
In fact, the main aim of the composting process is obtaining a
stabilised product, characterised by the reaching of biological
maturity, ensuring the absence of environmental impacts.
•
Verify that the atmospheric emissions are comparable
with a properly efficient composting plant.
•
Check the index of Dynamic Respiration (IR). In fact, the
parameters identified after the treatments are below the limits
imposed by law: mg O2/ Kg-1 SV h-1 < 1000.
In order not to jeopardise the microbial population, it is
indispensable to monitor temperature and keep the contribution
of oxygen to the biomass constant. Two techniques can be
employed to get this goal, individually or jointly: overturning of
the piles and forced aeration.
Advantages of ambiComunity
Parameters and indices of process evolution
Process
Micro-organisms play a fundamental role in the decomposition of
organic substance and there is a direct relationship between their
activity and the evolution of the composting process. In other
words, the progress and the speed of the process are strictly
dependent on the factors that influence optimal conditions for
the life of the micro-organisms operating in the different phases
of the process.
Results obtained highlight the plant capacity, that is comparable
to an efficient traditional plant, with high levels of performances.
The steps of the process are continuously monitored by
ambiControl, the special software, developed to control the
working stages, the air flow and the temperature within the
biomass.
Emissions
Utilising ambiComunity for the composting
With ambiComunity is possible to oxidise a relevant range of
waste. The experience of Ambientalia in the management and
construction of composting plants is a warranty in order to
respect the limits imposed by the Italian legislation.
The main objectives of ambiComunity are the following:
•
Control that the stabilisation process that occur is
homogenous within the whole container.
In order to contain the emissions, we have realised a system with
partial recirculation of the air, that allow to cut down the
atmospheric emissions up to the 85% during all the stages of the
process.
The concentration values of the odours produced and released in
the atmosphere are below the limits prescribed by the Italian
legislation for the composting plants.
Functioning and management of the plant
AmbiComunity have been developed for small communities,
apartment buildings, hotels
otels and etc. Wherever is not possible to
install the traditional composting plants of huge dimensions, both
for economic, logistic and management factors.
A plant with appropriate measures, adapted to a small
community, is the best option
in order to optimise
timise and ultimate the cycle of the selected
collection, obtaining compost to utilise on the local land, in order
to manage economically the waste.
Detail of monitoring probe of temperature
installed on ambiComunity
®
Ambientalia S.r.l.
Via Rodolfo Morandi, 76
40060 Toscanella di Dozza (BO), Bologna, Italy
Tel. +39 0542 674004
Fax +39 0542 51722
www.ambientalia.com
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