Variabilidad y caracterización temporal y posicional del compostaje de residuos municipales

Abstract

Management and re-use of municipal wastes is currently being directed toward the production of compost materials suitable for agricultural and remediation practices. In this Thesis work, we studied the processes of compost production in the municipal-waste plant of the city of Jaén. We analyzed the evolution of compost composition along with time since the start of the process, season of the year, and position of samples within the treatment units. We also studied the physico-chemical characteristic (pH, electric conductivity, elemental composition…) and environmental quality (poli-phenolic compounds…) in the final compost product, in order to classify it according to national legislation and in terms of it suitability for agricultural uses. Finally, we studied the spatial and temporal variability of the chemistry of different types of waters (underground waters, lixiviate ponds for lixiviates decantation, run-off waters), both in and out the composting plant, in order to assess the effects and impacts of the activity on the water quality of the surrounding environment.