Resumen

TORRES LOZADA, Patricia et al. The influence of amendment material on biosolid composting of sludge from a waste-water treatment plant. Ing. Investig. [online]. 2005, vol.25, n.2, pp. 53-61. ISSN 0120-5609.

Aerobic composting employing manual turning was evaluated by using the sludge produced by EMCALI EICE ESP’s Cañaveralejo wastewater treatment plant (PTAR-C). Compost (in 1.0 ton piles) consisted of sludge, a fixed proportion of bulking agent (10%) and amendment material. Sugarcane waste and solid organic (marketplace) waste were evaluated as amendment material using 20/80 and 40/60 weight/weight (amendment/sludge) ratios. Incorporating the amendment material improved the compost, being reflected in a faster start for the thermophilic phase, higher temperatures being maintained (>55ºC) and better C/N ratio obtained in the compost in all treatments compared to the pile which had no amendment added to it. Incorporating the bulking agent improved sludge manageability during composting; the best combination was 54% sludge + 10% sugarcane bagasse + 36% liquid sugarcane waste.

Palabras llave : composting; biosolid; amendment material; sugar cane waste; solid organic waste; wastewater treatment plant.