Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

KINETIC ANALYSIS OF CARBON BIODEGRADATION IN AEROBIC REACTOR COMPOSTING PROCESS

Manjula G. and S. Revathi

Abstract

Series of experimental studies were conducted with regard to bioconversion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste along with dairy waste water at different carbon/nitrogen ratios. The experiments were carried out in specially designed aerobic reactors. About 10 kg of wastes were loaded into the reactors and variations in physico-chemical parameters were studied. Kinetic analysis on biodegradation of total organic carbon over a period of up to 30 days in reactor composting trials was carried out. Reaction rate constants were derived from the decomposition curve of total organic carbon during the process of reactor composting. Mean residence time were also calculated to evaluate optimum mix ratios. The studies indicate that the rate of composting was higher in mix ratio 1:9 with reaction rate constant of 0.049 day-1 and mean residence time of 20.4 days.