Effect of temperature on biodegradable solid waste digestion

Introduction
Waste management is the collection, transport, disposal, managing and monitoring of waste materials. Among different types municipal waste (Garbage) occupy a major share in the total solid waste materials. Main sources of Municipal Solid Waste are
House hold waste Commercials Street sweeping Hotels and restaurants Clinics and dispensaries Construction and demolition Horticulture Sludge

Despite the increase in technologies, generation and disposal of solid waste continue to be a major problem in both developed and developing countries.

Methods to dispose waste and its demerits

Incineration:
Wastes are subjected to combustion and converted residue and gaseous products. This method is mostly suited for hazardous waste such as biological or hospital waste. This method can release dangerous gases during combustion and create serious environmental problems.

Landfilling:
In this method waste is segregated buried in isolated locations This method has increased the ground water contamination The leachate reaches to the groundwater making it undesirable for drinking purposes. Such ground water harbours different pathogenic bacteria and can cause major outbreak of diseases

 Biological composting:
Segregated, biodegradable part of the waste are used for biological composting. This require space and this method is very slow.

Recycling:
Recycling is performed only for cans, plastics and papers

Among all the methods land filling is the cheapest however, it is a slow process

 Hypothesis:
Biodegradation is highly depends on temperature

Aim:
Design a reactor and To find out the effect of temperature on biodegradable solid waste digestion

Methodology
Segregation of solid waste Pulverization of solid waste

Biological digestion

Monitoring digestion at different temperature

Reactor Design
Tank was made up of acrylic Dimensions :

Observations
Table 2: Height of waste layer each day

Day

Height of waste + soil in the reactor

14 cm 13.5cm

Height of solid waste

6 cm 5.5cm

Height of waste and soil in the control tank

14 cm

6/9/2012 7/9/2012

8/9/2012 11/9/2012 12/9/2012

12.5cm 12cm 11cm

4 cm 3.5cm 3 cm

Result & Conclusion

In comparison with the control, rate of the degradation was fast in simulated reactor