NAME FADZAI FUNGURA

STUDENT NUMBER N01522920L

DEPARTMENT CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING

COURSE code Tce 5104

LECTURER Dr tshuma

Assignment 1
1. Four elements included in the hierarchy for the planning of waste management system and
effectiveness of each in solid waste management systems.

2. How improper disposal of solid waste affect the health of plants and animals?

Land pollution results from improper disposal of waste material on the land or underground
in a manner that can contaminate soil or ground water. Poor management of landfills may
also result in leachate pollution of surface or underground water. This can directly or
indirectly cause harm to the health of animals and plants.

i. Solid waste especially polymers like plastics are made up of different chemical
elements bound together to form a compound. Polymers are made up of small units
called monomers. However these monomers have a structure similar to the structure
of hormones found in living organisms (people, animals, and fish).I f these polymers
are exposed on the land surface due to the environmental conditions, they are further
degraded into monomers. These monomers are washed away by rains into catchment
areas. As living organisms consume water, monomers are introduced into the system
of living organisms. Introduced monomers are mistaken with the genetic make-up of
living organism hence causing disease.
ii. Untreated liquid leachate from disposed solid waste either from open dumps or
improperly lined landfills percolates into the soil and contaminates ground or surface
 water. When this contaminated water is used for domestic purposes like bathing,
drinking it can expose people or animals to diseases like cholera, dysentery. In plants
liquid leachate can cause stunted growth or death.
iii. Spread of diseases -Solid waste attracts insects, rodent vectors and other disease
causing organism that can transmit and spread diseases to animals or people e.g.
Cholera due to flies ,plague due to rates dwelling in solid waste.
iv. Exhaust fumes from solid waste collection vehicles, improper incineration and
uncontrolled burning of solid waste causes emission of toxic gases such as carbon
monoxide .Long term exposure of these gases can cause respiratory problems and
lung cancers especially to solid waste workers and surrounding residents. In most
developing countries solid waste workers are not provided with adequate safety wear,
hence they are highly exposed to diseases.
v. Emission of greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide from anaerobic
decomposition of organic solid waste leads to air pollution, climate change and
contribute to global warming.
vi. When organic solid waste undergoes decomposition it produces disgusting odor
which can be a serious challenge to the people living close to the landfill or waste
dump.

QUESTION A3

A municipality in Bulawayo has a population of 50,000 and generates 100,000 yd3 of

municipal waste annually. The waste is made up of 30% compacted waste and 70%
uncompacted waste. Assume that the waste has a density of 1,000 lb/yd3 compacted, and 400
lb/yd3 uncompacted.

Given Data

Population = 50 000

Volume = 100 000ydᵌ1

Waste: 30% compacted; 70% uncompacted

Volume of compacted waste = 30/100 x100 000

= 30 000 yd3
Volume of uncompacted waste = 70/100 x 100 000

= 70 000 yd3

Mass of compacted waste = density x volume

Density: compacted = 1000 lb/yd3; uncompacted = 400 lb/yd3

Mass of compacted waste = 1000 x 30 000

= 3 x 107 lb

Mass of uncompacted waste = 400 x 70 000\

= 2.8 x 107 lb

Total waste produced = (2.8 x 107) + (3 x 107)

= 5.8 x 107 lb each year

ii) Weight each person per year = (5.8 x 107)/50000

= 1160 Ib per year

Weight each person per day in the city = 1160/365

= 3.18 lb/day

b. State and explain three advantages and disadvantages of rotary kiln technology in
solid waste incineration?
Advantages of rotary kiln technology
i. The operation of a rotary kiln is flexible because the rate of rotation can be varied to
suit the varied quantities of solid waste injected. Also the rotation effect facilitates
mixing of material to oxygen and heat within the chamber.
ii. It can be used to incinerate solids, liquids and gases, in any combination.
iii. Comparing to other technologies, rotary kiln incineration requires less preparation or
conditioning of waste to be injected such as sorting, grinding and mixing .This is
because it can incinerate waste in all forms.
Disadvantages of rotary kiln incineration
 i. High demand energy -Usually auxiliary fuel mixed with excess air is injected into the
rotating combustion chamber. As a result high amounts of excess air lead to high
demand of auxiliary fuel.
ii. The refractory lining of the rotary kiln can be damaged due to tumbling solids in the
waste injected. As a result maintenance costs can also be high because of the abrasive
characteristics of the waste and exposure of moving parts to high incineration
temperatures.
iii. Relatively high capital cost, operating costs and the need for trained personnel which
makes the rotary kiln technology expensive.

iv. High load of particulates on air pollution control devices since the kilns can used to
burn all forms of waste.
c. State and explain the criteria for the selection of a landfill site.
Depth of water table
The water level in the ground water table should be sufficiently below the base of any
excavation to enable landfill development. Also the Landfills should not be very close to
significant water bodies e.g. dams, rivers. This eliminates contamination of water bodies by
liquid leachate, which can be hazardous for aquatic life.
Proximity to air- ports or residential areas
Landfills should be located away from air-ports to avoid mist, dust, birds destructing
airplanes.
Distance from collection
The suitability of access roads. The site of the landfill must be accessible to road for easy
transportation of the waste to the landfill.

4. A scientific way of disposing domestic solid waste.

Domestic waste comprises largely of organic waste, which is largely from food preparation
and leftovers foodstuffs, paper, plastic, metals, glass and other materials that are used in the
homes. Some domestic waste in organic form can be easily degradable while other inorganic
waste is non-biodegradable material like plastics and tins are also found within the waste.
Composting can be used to dispose domestic waste in a scientific way. The initial step starts
by segregating domestic waste into organic and inorganic waste. All the organic waste should
be kept aside for composting
Composting is a biological waste management process which uses microorganisms e.g.
bacteria, fungi to break down nutrients organic waste to produce a valuable product. This
process Composting requires moisture content of 50% and 70% with good porosity and
permeability to supply adequate water amounts to the microorganism’s .The biological
treatment process is accomplished by allowing to micro-organisms feed and respire thus
degrading waste component. Other environmental conditions such as pH, carbon/nitrogen
ratio, supply of oxygen facilitates the degradation rate of organic waste. In the biological
process, the biodegradable organic waste portion containing carbon is broken down into
gaseous products like CO2 water molecules and energy, while nitrogen in waste is broken
down to amino acids. The final product produced is called compost. Heat generated during
the composting process denatures many unwanted organisms such as weed seeds and
pathogens.

A ratio of carbon/nitrogen (C/N) between 20 and 35, a ratio of carbon/phosphorus (C/P)

between 50 and 150, trace elements, vitamins and minerals ensure enhanced microbial
growth. The organic matter can be degraded over several weeks or months given a well
maintained system. There are three major designs used in composting. The first design is an
aerobic static pile. Compost is formed into piles and aerated with blowers or vacuum pumps.
The second design uses a vessel similar to a bio-reactor. After being placed in the vessel, the
compost is mechanically agitated and aerated. The third method is called windrow
composting. Domestically aerobic static pile is the best method to apply[ CITATION pla14 \l
12297 ].
In the process of composting, microorganisms break down organic matter and produce carbon
dioxide, water, heat, and humus, the relatively stable organic end product. Under optimal
conditions, composting proceeds through three phases: 1) the mesophilic, or moderate-
temperature phase, which lasts for a couple of days, 2) the thermophilic, or high-temperature
phase, which can last from a few days to several months, and finally, 3) a several-month
cooling and maturation phase. Different communities of microorganisms predominate during
the various composting phases. Initial decomposition is carried out by mesophilic
microorganisms, which rapidly break down the soluble, readily degradable compounds. The
heat they produce causes the compost temperature to rapidly rise. As the temperature rises
above about 40°C, the mesophilic microorganisms become less competitive and are replaced
by others that are thermophilic, or heat-loving. At temperatures of 55°C and above, many
microorganisms that are human or plant pathogens are destroyed. Because temperatures over
about 65°C kill many forms of microbes and limit the rate of decomposition, compost
managers use aeration and mixing to keep the temperature below this point[ CITATION
Min00 \l 12297 ].
During the thermophilic phase, high temperatures accelerate the breakdown of proteins, fats,
and complex carbohydrates like cellulose and hemicellulose, the major structural molecules
in plants. As the supply of these high-energy compounds becomes exhausted, the compost
tempera

QUESTION A5
Referring to Question 1, state and explain fully how solid waste obtained from domestic
waste can be used for a specific need for the community and describe fully the technology
that can be used. [15]