DIVERSIFICATION IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST AT DIFFERENT PHASES IN VELLALORE LANDFILL SITE
Balakrishnan M, Soumiya Mithran and Kalaiselvi K
Abstract
The existing evaluation was commenced to estimate the variations prevailing throughout the decomposition of municipal solid waste at vellalore landfill site, through the evaluation of some distinctive physico-chemical aspects and heavy metal concentrations. Alteration in the values of constituent elements of the compost over a period of time, included rise in chlorides, carbonate and bicarbonates, calcium and magnesium, sulphate, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, nitrogen, depletion in moisture, bulk density and particle density, ash content, organic carbon and C:N ratio. In the consecutive stages of composting technique, the physico-chemical testing of compost from the perspective marginal heavy metals concentrations were identified at all the decomposition phases of composting. The values were found to be within the tolerable limits of Ohai- EPA standards. From the outcome, it can be finalized that, windrow composting could generate reasonable quality of compost, which can be utilized as fertilizer or soil amendment.
Keywords: Vellalore, Solid waste, Physico – Chemical parameters, Heavy metals, Compost, Ohai- EPA standards