A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility of composting of source separated organic matter of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in low, middle and high income areas of Karachi city with a population over 14 million. Results of MSW analysis indicate the presence of high percentage of biodegradable organic matter (71-74%), acceptable moisture content (40-50%) and C/N ratio (38-40:...

The relationship between the bacterial communities in anolyte and anode biofilms and the electrochemical properties of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was investigated when a complex organic waste-decomposing solution was continuously supplied to MFCs as an electron donor. The current density increased gradually and was maintained at approximately 100 to 150 mA m(-2). Polarization curve analyses re...

Anaerobic digestion is an engineered methanogenic decomposition of organic matter under oxygen-free conditions and involves a mixed consortium of different species of anaerobic microoganisms that transform organic matter into biogas. The process is successfully used for the treatment of municipal sludge, animal manure, industrial sludge, and industrial and municipal wastewaters. Applications of...

Earthworms have been successfully used in the vermistabilization of urban, industrial and agricultural wastes in order to produce organic fertilizers and obtain protein for animal feed. Although many species could be used for these ends, given their nutritional requirements and reproductive biology, only Perionyx excavatus and Lampito mauritii are widely used. The most effective use of earthwor...

Anaerobic digestion is a biotechnology that can be used to convert various biodegradable organic materials into methane-rich biogas fuel. The anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste and sewage sludge is a process that has become a promising technology in waste management throughout the world .Digestion occurs in a four-step process: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis...

Solid filtered or centrifuged potato processing wastes were obtained from three potato processors in Idaho. The waste samples were dried and ground to pass a 2-nun sieve and added to soils at rates of 0, 2.5, 10, and 25 g/kg. The 100-g samples of Portneuf silt loam soil containing the waste material was incubated at 26 °C and decomposition of the added wastes was determined by measuring CO, evo...

Food waste which accounts for approximately 30 percent of urban garbage was collected from selected cities of Korea and treated with EM in household recycling and demonstration programs. The quantity of garbage was reduced significantly with no malodors commonly associated with refuse fermentation. The fermented food waste can be used beneficially as an organic fertilizer for crop production. T...

In this study, five different experiments were conducted over a period of 170 days to produce biogas by using a variety of mixtures of organic materials and landfill leachate. The aim of this study is to develop a more robust two-stage biogas plant that can accept a wide spectrum of waste products and continue to function without any malfunction. The facility has 5m3 total digester volume, with...