Gaseous emissions in municipal wastes composting: Effect of the bulking agent

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. In this study, the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), CH 4 , N 2 O and NH 3 during composting non-source selected MSW, source selected organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) with wood chips as bulking agent (OF_wood) and source selected OFMSW with polyethylene (PE) tube as bulking agent (OF_tube) and the effect of bulking agent on these emissions have been systematically studied. Emission factors are provided (in kg compound Mg -1 dry matter): OF_tube (CH 4 : 0.0185±0.004; N 2 O: 0.0211±0.005; NH 3 : 0.612±0.269; VOC: 0.688±0.082) and MSW (CH 4 : 0.0549±0.0171; N 2 O: 0.032±0.015; NH 3 : 1.00±0.20; VOC: 1.05±0.18) present lower values than OF_wood (CH 4 : 1.27±0.09; N 2 O: 0.021±0.006; NH 3 : 4.34±2.79; VOC: 0.989±0.249). A detailed composition of VOC is also presented. Terpenes were the main emitted VOC family in all the wastes studied. Higher emissions of alpha and beta pinene were found during OF_wood composting processes.