Assessing the Impact of Residual Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics on Screw Press Performance in a Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant Optimized with Anaerobic Digestion

Rzgar Bewani (), Abdallah Nassour, Thomas Böning, Jan Sprafke and Michael Nelles
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Rzgar Bewani: Department of Waste and Resource Management, Rostock University, 18051 Rostock, Germany
Abdallah Nassour: Department of Waste and Resource Management, Rostock University, 18051 Rostock, Germany
Thomas Böning: Department of Waste and Resource Management, Rostock University, 18051 Rostock, Germany
Jan Sprafke: Department of Waste and Resource Management, Rostock University, 18051 Rostock, Germany
Michael Nelles: Department of Waste and Resource Management, Rostock University, 18051 Rostock, Germany

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Mechanical–biological treatment plants face challenges in effectively separating organic fractions from residual municipal solid waste for biological treatment. This study investigates the optimization measures carried out at the Erbenschwang MBT facility, which transitioned from solely aerobic treatment to integrated anaerobic digestion using a screw press. This study focused on evaluating the efficiency of each mechanical pretreatment step by investigating the composition of the residual waste, organic fraction recovery rate, and screw press performance in recovering organic material and biogas to press water. The results showed that 92% of the organic material from the residual waste was recovered into fine fractions after shredding and trommel screening. The pressing experiments produced high-quality press water with less than 3% inert material (0.063–4 mm size). Mass balance analysis revealed that 47% of the input fresh mass was separated into press water, corresponding to 24% of the volatile solids recovered. Biogas yield tests showed that the press water had a biogas potential of 416 m 3 /ton VS, recovering 38% of the total biogas potential. In simple terms, the screw press produced 32 m 3 of biogas per ton of mechanically separated fine fractions and 20 m 3 per ton of input residual waste. This low-pressure, single-step screw press efficiently and cost-effectively prepares anaerobic digestion feedstock, making it a promising optimization for both existing and new facilities. The operational configuration of the screw press remains an underexplored area in current research. Therefore, further studies are needed to systematically evaluate key parameters such as screw press pressure (bar), liquid-to-waste (L/ton), and feed rate (ton/h).

Keywords: mechanical–biological treatment; municipal solid waste; screw press; organic fractions; optimization of MBT; anaerobic digestion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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