The Effect of Physico - Chemical Environmental Parameters on Early Composting of Paper - Mill Sludge Cakes

이화학적 환경변수가 제지슬러지케이크의 조기부숙에 미치는 영향

The paper manufactories in Sangpyeong Industrial Estates, Chinju, produce more than 80 tons of paper-mill sludge cakes every day, which costs about 840 million won for dump per year. Since the paper-mill sludge is biodegradable, the sludge can he utilized as an organic fertilizer if it is properly decomposed. This may lead to not only dramatic cut of the treatment cost but prevention from secondary environmental contamination due to dump. The primary objective of the study was to explore the quantitative range of major enviromental parameters influencing early composting of paper-mill cakes, naturally pretreated in warn and cold weather. The automatically-controlled reactor was designed, manufactured, and operated for nine days to decompose about 2201 of raw sludge cakes. Four tests(Test 1-Test 4) were implemented for the study of Phase I. Treatments of two levels of initial temperature (40˚C and 28˚C) and two levels of water content + C/N ratio (35% + 40 and 63% + 80) were made to test the significance of their parameters for decomposition of raw sludge cakes pretreated in warm weather. Another four tests (Test 5- Test 8) were implemented for the study of Phase II. Treatments of initial temperature and water content(W/C) + C/N ratio of raw sludge pretreated in cold weather were made to 16˚C and 13% +58 for Test 5, 6˚C and 53% +55 for Test 6, 7˚C and 36% +81 for Test 7, 31˚C and 30% +81 for Test 8. Natural weater condition(pretreatment condition) revealed the importance m composting of the paper-mill sludge cakes. Combination of water content adjustment to about 30% with C/N ratio amendment of about 20 and initial temperature of 30~40˚C was concluded to be the best for early composting of paper-mill sludge cakes with aeration rate and pH fixed. Temperature and C/N ratio were adapted as judging variables for composting degree. In addition, tests for microbial activity were performed to validate the experimental results. Since the temperature and C/N ratio did not coincide in some tests as judging variables for the maturity of the composting sludges, taking one of these parameters could mislead the concept of the maturity (composting conceptually new criterion to provide more reliable information for early composting of paper-mill sludge cakes.