Pure oxygen-based MSW bio-stabilization: Preliminary results of a full scale investigation

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) bio-stabilization usually involves the use of air for the biological treatment of the residual fraction of separate collection. Air is the suitable solution when the system is operating normally. However, frequently emergencies, such as the overload of the plant and the resulting longer waste treatment times, suggest the need to reduce the times of the stabilization cycle. The pure oxygen used with air may represent an interesting solution for this aim. This paper deepens the bio-stabilisation of waste by means of a full-scale experiment involving the combined use of air and pure oxygen. The activities were carried out at the Massafra mechanical- biological treatment (MBT) plant, in the Southern-Italy, characterized by a treatment capacity of 220,000 tons per year. The preliminary results highlighted the technical feasibility of the proposal. However, future investigations have to be carried out with the primary purpose of enhancing the oxygen diffusion into the waste.