The course is focused on the state-of-the-art of processes, technologies and facilities for waste treatment. The aim is to transfer knowledge, and expertise on waste production, collection, selection, treatment and plant design in the framework of actual national and EU environmental strategies and regulation.
Slides of the lectures
T.H. Christensen (ed.) (2011) Solid Waste Technology and Management, Wiley
Tchobanoglous George, Noto La Diega Carlo, Sirini Piero, Ingegneria dei rifiuti soliti McGraw-Hill (2009)
Roger T.Haug The Practical Handbook of Compost Engineering, Lewis Publishers (1993)
Learning Objectives
To acquire knowledge on solid waste from the point of view of production, management and treatment.
To acquire expertise on waste selection and characterization methods
To acquire knowledge on the regulatory framework at national and EU level on waste management from the point of view of circular economy implementation.
To understand the state-of-the-art of processes and technologies for waste treatment.
To acquire expertise on waste treatment plant design
To acquire the capacity of analysing treatment trains through energy and mass balances.
At the end of the class the students will be able to describe and preliminarily size the main processes for recovery energy from waste. They will be able to select the appropriate process for recovery energy from a given waste stream. They know the main EU waste legislation and the reference technical standards.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic physical chemical and biological processes of waste and gaseous effluents
Teaching Methods
Lectures, exercises, guided visits
Further information
Type of Assessment
The final exam will consist in an oral discussion aimed at evaluating the knowledge and capabilities learned and the final score will depend on the quality of the oral exam. It is always necessary to be registered for the exam in the online system to enable the electronic registration of the score.
The exam is aimed at verifying, through the oral tests:
the knowledge of waste production, management and treatment and of the regulatory framework at national and EU level;
the expertise on waste treatment plant design and on waste selection and characterization methods;
the understanding of the state-of-the-art of processes and technologies for waste treatment.
the ability of designing and of critically analyzing waste treatment trains on the basis of waste characterization, technical solutions and energy and mass balances.
Course program
1. Definition, composition and classification of waste
Waste analysis and physical-chemical characterization for waste management and treatment plant design. Classification of waste and production at EU and national level. Data collection and elaboration for waste management.
2. Waste management integrated system
Circular economy, sustainable production and waste management. Definition of management phases: collection, separate waste collection, selection, treatment and disposal. Solutions for waste and hazardous waste production reduction. Targets of waste management, comparison among different systems and alternatives scenario analyses. Treatment plants site selection.
3. Separate waste collection, selection and impact on waste treatment
Separate waste collection systems and their impact on recycled streams quality; implementation of innovative separate waste collection systems. Recovered matter contamination and degreadation. Waste collection and pretreament with design purposes.
4. Aerobic and anaerobic waste treatment plants.
Aerobic and anaerobic biological processes for waste treatment; microbiology, thermodynamics and kinetics of composting process; characterization of organic matrices and compost quality standards; composting technologies and treatment train; anaerobic treatment of organic waste; odor management and gaseous effluents treatment.
5. Mechanical-biological waste treatment plants.
Bio-drying and mechanical-biological waste treatment plants; processes, technologies and types of mechanical-biological treatment plants. Design and integration in the waste management system mechanical-biological plants.
6. Incineration and energy recovery plants.
Waste-to-energy processes: combustion, gasification and pyrolysis; fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic aspects; notes on the modeling of combustion and gasification processes. Waste-to-energy plants for direct combustion: matter and energy balances and environmental performance; air pollution control systems and reuse or disposal of ashes. Main types of gasifiers for urban and special waste. Design elements of thermochemical plants.