Evaluation of MSW Compost and Digestate Mixtures for a Circular Economy Application

Isabella Pecorini, Eleonora Peruzzi, Elena Albini, Serena Doni, Cristina Macci, Grazia Masciandaro and Renato Iannelli
Additional contact information
Isabella Pecorini: DESTEC—Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Eleonora Peruzzi: Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), National Research Council of Italy, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Elena Albini: DIEF—Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Serena Doni: Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), National Research Council of Italy, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Cristina Macci: Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), National Research Council of Italy, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Grazia Masciandaro: Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR-IRET), National Research Council of Italy, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Renato Iannelli: DESTEC—Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: In order to obtain a product with agronomic characteristics and biological stability consistent with the EU fertilizer decree for the market of EU fertilising products three different mixtures obtained from sludge digestate from municipal wastewater treatment plant, fresh compost and mature compost have been studied and characterized. For the experimental activity, the raw samples and three mixing ones were collected for the analytical characterization. The biological stability was then assessed for all samples using different stability criteria such as Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate, Rottegrad self-heating factor, Residual biogas potential. Specific enzymatic tests provided information about the status of nutrient cycles (C, P and S) and to overall microbial activity. Physical (bulk density, particle density, air capacity and water content), nutritional (C, N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) and toxicological properties (seedling growth tests on Lepidum sativum L., Cucumis sativus L., Lolium perenne L.) were also evaluated in order to assess the feasibility of agronomic use of the digestate-based mixtures. All the digestate-based mixtures responded to the main characteristics of compost quality requirements proposed in national and international regulations. The evidence found in this study highlighted that the strategy of mixing of sludge digestates with the composts allowed to mitigate the environmental risk posed by each starting material and to valorize their nutrient content.

Keywords: digestate; anaerobic digestion; compost; sludge; amendment properties; stability indexes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:3042-:d:343786

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