Treatment of smuggled cigarette tobacco and food solid waste in a 2000 L facultative reactor

Abstract

Organic waste is among the solid waste produced worldwide. When such residue is improperly accumulated and disposed of, it generates environmental impacts, polluting soils, rivers and the air. The objective of the present study was to investigate the use of a 2000 liter capacity reactor for composting domestic organic waste, wood chips and smuggled cigarette tobacco. Physicochemical analyzes (pH, temperature, humidity and C/N ratio), biological (germination test and pathogens) and spectroscopic (UV-Vis and FTIR) analyzes were performed to monitor the process. In addition, the influence of two different C/N ratios was investigated. C/N ratio analyses and phytotoxicity tests showed that the compound reached maturity over a period of 120 days. Spectroscopic analyzes of UV-Vis and FTIR showed efficiency, indicating the degradation of compounds of simpler structure and the formation of humified compounds. The microbiological and heavy metal analyses of the final compounds revealed that the results are in accordance with the legislation. The different C/N ratios showed very close results, not affecting the composting process. Thus, the proposed treatment of domestic organic waste and smuggled cigarette tobacco in facultative reactors of 2000 liters was seen to be efficient and produced mature compound in the different C/N ratios studied.