Thesis
Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Composting
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007261
Abstract
The composting process emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs), contributing to local air pollution problems. In the United States, the composting industry must comply with air permitting requirements for emission of criteria air pollutants. The determination of VOC emissions factors (EFs) is of interest to Washington State air permitting authorities. This project measured VOC emissions from green and food waste composting using a small-scale continuously aerated static pile (CASP) system at Washington State University (WSU). The objective was to develop the analysis capability of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Method 25.3 at WSU and compare our results with those from the analytical lab Atmospheric Analysis and Consulting (AAC) in California. The compost piles were divided into 2 Zones: one for positive aeration and the other for negative aeration, both operating simultaneously. Two compost runs, R6 and R7, were conducted with samples collected over several days during the 21-day composting
process. Sampling was conducted simultaneously using both AAC kits and WSU Method 25.3 kits and the results between AAC and WSU agreed within ±20%. It was found that the Method 25.3 sampling is harder during cold weather (5C). Continuous VOC mass flux measurement was measured using Proton Transfer- Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS) through the negative aeration duct throughout the entire composting phase. Results showed that 90% of emissions occurred during the first week of composting. The VOC mass flux through the duct was typically 10 to 100 times higher than the mass flux from the pile surface. For the negatively aerated pile, the VOC emission factors were 0.11 lbs VOC/wet ton for R6 and 1.56 lbs VOC/wet ton for R7. The higher emission factor for R7 is attributed to the use of fresh green waste material, especially from compounds such as monoterpenes.
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Details
- Title
- Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Composting
- Creators
- Dheapika Vijayakumar
- Contributors
- Tom Jobson (Chair)Heping Liu (Committee Member)Von Walden (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 101
- Identifiers
- 99901195441201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis