Abstracts from Recent Issues: Vol. 28, No.

2, May, 2002
Briquettes Of Olive Cake As A Potential Source Of Thermal Energy

Defining Options For Integrated Management Of Minicipal Solid Waste In Large Cities
Of Low-Income Economies—The Case Of The Accre Metropolis In Ghana

Leachate Generation And Transport From Solid Waste Disposal At A Former Quarry
Site

Reduction Of Volatile Organic Compounds And Stabilization Of Industrial Biosoilds

Through Composting

Solid Waste Management In Kuwait

Solid Waste Workers:  Occupational Exposures And Health

 
 

Briquettes Of Olive Cake As A Potential Source Of Thermal Energy

Mohamad I. Al-Widyan, Adnan I. Khdair

Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural Engg. & Technology

Ghassan Tashtoush
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engg.

College of Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology

P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, JORDAN

ABSTRACT
Mediterranean countries produce annually large amounts of olive cake that impose
disposal and environmental problems. This study involved an assessment of the potential
of olive cake cylindrical briquettes as an energy source. Batches of the briquettes were
burned in a lab-size metal, refractory-lined stove. The assessment was based on
monitoring the combustion behavior of briquettes in the stove, measuring the various
combustion temperatures, evaluating the stove performance, and sampling and analyzing
exhaust emissions. It was found that despite their poor ignitability, the briquettes would
burn efficiently and satisfactorily given adequate combustion air quantity and
distribution. The stove efficiency burning the briquettes reached 80% with an average
total burning time of 80 minutes per 520-gram batch. The flame temperature reached 350
°C with natural airflow and increased up to 500 °C as combustion air reached 196%
theoretical. Carbon monoxide concentration in the exhaust gases decreased as airflow
rate increased, which indicated better combustion with higher airflow rate for the ranges
considered.

Key Words: Solid waste, Olive cake, Briquettes, Combustion, Exhaust gases, Stove
 

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Defining Options For Integrated Management Of Minicipal Solid Waste In Large Cities
Of Low-Income Economies—The Case Of The Accre Metropolis In Ghana

N. Fobil
Graduate Research Assistant
Environmental Science Programme, Faculty of Science

D.  Carboo
Senior Lecturer
Department of Chemistry

C. Christian, 
Lecturer
Department of Biochemistry

University of Ghana
P.O. Box 71, Legon, Accra, GHANA

ABSTRACT
Waste management and planning authorities need to know and understand the materials
they will be handling or disposing in order to be able to set up effective sustainable waste
management programmes. Also, in setting up a waste management programme for a
region or city, it is critical to have reliable data on waste stream characteristics such as
the nature, characteristics, types and quantities of waste components in the waste streams
of that locality. This will allow them to choose with fair certainty the kind of
management options to consider for the implementation of an integrated solid waste
management programme. The objective of this study was to analyse household solid
waste to determine the type, nature and quantities of materials in the waste as generated
so to provide useful information on the potentially available management choices in the
Accra metropolis. Results of the study show that, domestic solid waste in the metropolis
can be routed via three distinctly different stream types; namely the High-Income Low-
Density Population Waste Zone (HILDWZ), Middle-Income Medium-Density Waste
Zone (MIMDWZ), and Low-Income High-Density population Waste Zone (LIHDWZ).
These waste streams were also shown to consist of entirely different proportions of the
waste components, but with an average percentage composition of 60% organic or
putrescible materials, 8% paper & card, 8% plastic & rubber materials, 3% metal & cans,
2% glass, 11% residue or inert materials, and 2% miscellaneous or other waste.

Key Words: Pulverized waste, integrated waste management, waste stream, low-income,
variability coefficient, Ghana and sustainable

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Leachate Generation And Transport From Solid Waste Disposal At A Former Quarry
Site

M. El-Fadel, E. Bou-Zeid
American University of Beirut
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
Bliss Street, P.O. Box 11-0236
Beirut, LEBANON

W. Chahine
Lebanese University
Department of Civil Engineering
Roumieh, LEBANON

ABSTRACT
The present research work simulates leachate quantity generated at a 2000 tons/day
landfill facility and assesses leachate migration away from the landfill in order to control
associated environmental impacts, particularly on groundwater wells down gradient of
the site. The site offers unique characteristics in that it is a former quarry converted to a
landfill and is planned to have refuse depths in excess of one hundred meters, making it
one of the deepest in the world. The modeling estimated leachate quantity and potential
percolation into the subsurface using the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance
(HELP) model. A three-dimensional, multi-phase, variably saturated model (PORFLOW)
was adopted to simulate subsurface flow and contaminant transport in a fractured porous
medium. While the models showed that significant potential adverse impacts were
confined to the immediate vicinity of the landfill, simulation results confirmed the
importance of point-of-compliance specifications in landfill performance criteria.

Key Words: Solid waste landfilling, leachate generation, HELP, subsurface transport,
PORFLOW

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Reduction Of Volatile Organic Compounds And Stabilization Of Industrial Biosoilds

Through Composting

K.C. Das, M.Y. Minkara, J.R. Kastner, 

Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering

S.M. Hassan
Department of Crop & Soil Sciences

The University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30602-4435

ABSTRACT
Industrial biosolids containing high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are
sometimes regulated as hazardous wastes restricting their direct beneficial reuse.
Therefore, they are disposed off in landfills or through incineration, which tend to be
expensive and environmentally unsustainable options. Composting was examined as a
potential method for the reduction of VOCs in these industrial biosolids. The goal of this
research project was to monitor the presence of VOCs in biosolids during the composting
process. Volatilization due to high temperature and air stripping along with microbial
biodegradation were responsible for eliminating more than 85% of the major VOCs
within a period of 14 d and more than 93% after 35 d of composting. Industrial biosolids
compost product was comparable in compost stability, nutrients, and other agronomic
properties to municipal biosolids compost produced under the same conditions.
Therefore, composting could be used to stabilize industrial biosolids containing VOCs
and convert them into a beneficial product. 

Key Words: Industrial biosolids, Disposal, VOCs, Biodegradation, Volatilization, Air

stripping
 

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Solid Waste Management In Kuwait 

Jasem M. Alhumoud, Ph.D.

Department of Civil Engineering
Kuwait University
P.O. Box 5969
Safat 13060
KUWAIT

ABSTRACT
The main objective of this paper is the investigation of current solid waste management
practices in Kuwait. Recent literature on solid waste management in Kuwait has been
reviewed and data analyzed on the total amount of solid waste generated in Kuwait. The
results show a rapid increase in the total amount of municipal solid wastes and significant
changes in their composition. These are related to the increased population in Kuwait and
the lavish spending. The total solid waste generation has reached 1.4 kg per capita per
day. Vehicles for waste collection include rear-loading compactors, non-compacting
trucks, container hauling trucks, open tippers, and side loaders. Refuse analysis indicated
a high percentage of food and paper/cardboard products. The total amount of industrial
solid waste in Kuwait was about 1.24 tonnes in 1997. Also, the total amount of
pharmaceutical wastes was about 25.2 tonnes in the same year. Factors affecting the
important management issues in the operation of Kuwait’s solid waste management
system are discussed. Key design data and other useful information selected from a
variety of reliable sources are presented. The adoption of modern waste management
practices should be emphasized in order to achieve greater efficiency.

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Solid Waste Workers:  Occupational Exposures And Health

Lora E. Fleming , MD Ph.D. MPH MSc, Melissa Danits, MPH

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
University of Miami School of Medicine
1801 N.W. 9th Avenue, Highland Park Building, Suite 200
Miami, FL   USA 33136

Judy A. Bean, Ph.D.

Biostatistics Program
Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH

James Englehardt, Ph.D., Jeff An, MSc,

Nicolette John, MS, Jeffrey Rogers, BS
Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

ABSTRACT
Although solid waste generation is increasing worldwide, the occupational exposures and
 health risks of solid waste workers are not well understood. This review focuses on the
peer-reviewed published medical, epidemiologic, and toxicologic literature, and available
governmental reports. Studies from developed and less developed nations, as well as
studies on other relevant workforces (such as hazardous waste workers), were also
reviewed. Solid waste workers are exposed to significant levels of physical, chemical and
biological toxins. Injury, as well as acute and chronic musculoskeletal, dermal, and
respiratory health effects, are well documented among these workers. Engineering
controls, exposure monitoring, education, personal protection, and other interventions are
under-utilized in protecting solid waste workers from exposure and health effects.
Specific recommendations are suggested for reducing exposures and occupational health
effects of solid waste workers. Additional research is needed to further characterize the
exposures and health effects of these workers.

Key Words: Literature Review, Solid Waste, Occupational Disease, Occupational Injury,
Exposures, Solid Waste Workers

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