Heat Energy and Gas Emissions during Composting of Sewage Sludge

The composting of sewage sludge and maize straw mixtures was investigated in this study. The aim was to analyze the influence of different proportions of sewage sludge and maize straw in the mixtures on composting process dynamics (expressed by heat production) and gas emissions. The results showed that all examined mixtures reached a strong thermophilic phase of composting; however, the lowest dynamic of temperature growth was observed in the case of the biggest sewage sludge content (60% of sewage sludge in the composting mixture). The ammonia concentration inside bioreactor chambers was directly related to the content of sewage sludge in the composted mixture. Excessive contents of sewage sludge had a considerable effect on very low C/N ratios and high losses through ammonia emissions. Tests were carried out in reactors with a capacity of 160 dm(3) under controlled conditions. All mixtures were aerated by the average air-flow of about 2.5 dm(3).min(-1), i.e., the minimum air-flow that allows a temperature of about 70 degrees C to be reached and a sufficiently long thermophilic phase, which ensures proper composting.