Assessing odour nuisance from wastewater treatment and composting facilities in Greece.

The problem of odour nuisances in Greece was explored using: (a) field measurements of a range of malodorous compounds (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, benzene, toluene, xylenes, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, methyl-mercaptan and carbonyl sulfide) from selected wastewater treatment plants and composting facilities; and (b) questionnaires, completed by wastewater treatment plant operators, to investigate potential odour problems, the odour abatement technologies used, and potential interest and motives for adopting such technologies. The sparse information available in the literature is also exploited. Results indicate that on several occasions there was an odour problem, often stemming from the uncontrolled city sprawl, which results in mixed and often conflicting land uses.

Methane and carbon dioxide emission in a two-phase olive oil mill sludge windrow pile during composting.

The aim of this work was to make some preliminary evaluations on CO(2) and CH(4) emissions during composting of two-phase olive oil mill sludge (OOMS). OOMS, olive tree leaves (OTL) and shredded olive tree branches (OTB) were used as feedstock for Pile I and Pile II with a 1:1:1 and 1:1:2v/v ratio, respectively. Each pile was originally 1.

Heavy metals fractionation during the thermophilic phase of sewage sludge composting in aerated static piles.

An aerated static pile system with temperature feedback control was used for the composting of sewage sludge amended with olive tree leaves in a 1:1 (SS1) and 1:2 (SS2) v/v ratio, on two different occasions. The two piles were approximate 20 m3 each of similar dimensions; 2.0 wide at the base, 1.

Bioaerosol generation at large-scale green waste composting plants.

Bioaerosol release from composting plants is a cause of concern because of the potential health impacts on site workers and local residents. A one-year monitoring was undertaken in a typical composting plant treating green wastes by windrowing in the open. Aspergillus fumigatus spores and mesophilic bacteria were used as monitoring parameters and were collected in a six-stage Andersen sampler impactor from the air at different locations and during different operational activities.

Sanitary aspect of using partially treated landfill leachate as a water source in green waste composting.

Shredded green wastes were composted in windrows, at the Harewood Whin landfill, near the city of York, in West Yorkshire, UK. Landfill leachate were added twice during the second and fourth week of the process in two piles. One pile was turned once every week for eight weeks and the other was turned twice, during the same period.

Biofiltration at composting facilities: effectiveness for bioaerosol control.

Biofiltration was evaluated as a method to control the airborne microorganisms released at composting facilities. Seven commercial composting plants were selected for this study because of their different operating conditions and biofilter designs. In all plants, the biofilters were originally designed for odor control.

The removal of NH3-N from primary treated wastewater in subsurface reed beds using different substrates.

Subsurface flow experimental reed beds, were designed and built based on a combination of two design methodologies, that of the WRc and Severn Trent Water plc (3) and that of the USA, EPA (17). Four different growing media were used with a combination of top soil, gravel, river sand and mature sewage sludge compost, aiming to determine the best substrate for ammonia removal. Eight units were constructed, two for each material.