Chemical and microbiological hazards associated with recycling of anaerobic digested residue intended for agricultural use

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.025· OSTI ID:21578445

Govasmark, Espen ^[1]; Staeb, Jessica ^[2]; Holen, Borge ^[3]; Hoornstra, Douwe ^[4]; Nesbakk, Tommy ^[5]; Salkinoja-Salonen, Mirja ^[4]

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1. Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research - Soil and Environment, Fredrik A. Dahlsvei 20, NO-1432 Aas (Norway)
2. Universitaet Stuttgart, Institut fuer Siedlungswasserbau, Wasserguete- und Abfallwirtschaft, Abteilung Hydrochemie, Bandtaele 2, D-70569 Stuttgart (Buesnau) (Germany)
3. Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research - Plant Health, Hogskoleveien 7, NO-1432 Aas (Norway)
4. University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Biocenter, Viikinkaari 9, FIN-00014 (Finland)
5. Mjosanlegget AS, Roverudmyra Miljostasjon, Asmarkveien 301, NO-2600 Lillehammer (Norway)

In the present study, three full-scale biogas plants (BGP) were investigated for the concentration of heavy metals, organic pollutants, pesticides and the pathogenic bacteria Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli in the anaerobically digested residues (ADR). The BGPs mainly utilize source-separated organic wastes and industrial food waste as energy sources and separate the ADR into an ADR-liquid and an ADR-solid fraction by centrifugation at the BGP. According to the Norwegian standard for organic fertilizers, the ADR were classified as quality 1 mainly because of high zinc (132-422 mg kg{sup -1} DM) and copper (23-93 mg kg{sup -1} DM) concentrations, but also because of high cadmium (0.21-0.60 mg kg{sup -1} DM) concentrations in the liquid-ADR. In the screening of organic pollutants, only DEHP (9.7-62.1 mg kg{sup -1}) and {Sigma} PAH 16 (0.2-1.98 mg kg{sup -1} DM) were detected in high concentrations according to international regulations. Of the 250 pesticides analyzed, 11 were detected, but only imazalil (<0.30-5.77 mg kg{sup -1} DM) and thiabendazol (<0.14-0.73 mg kg{sup -1} DM) were frequently detected in the ADR-fiber. Concentrations of imazalil and thiabendazol were highest during the winter months, due to a high consumption of citrus fruits in Norway in this period. Ten percent of the ADR-liquid samples contained cereulide-producing B. cereus, whereas no verotoxigenic E. coli was detected. The authors conclude that the risk of chemical and bacterial contamination of the food chain or the environment from agricultural use of ADR seems low.

• OSTI ID: 21578445
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Vol. 31, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.025; PII: S0956-053X(11)00332-1; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BACILLUS CEREUS
CENTRIFUGATION
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ESCHERICHIA COLI
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FOOD CHAINS
FRUITS
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
LIQUIDS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NORWAY
ORGANIC WASTES
PESTICIDES
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POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
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BACILLUS
BACTERIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
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FLUIDS
FOOD
HYDROCARBONS
LAWS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REGULATIONS
SCANDINAVIA
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTES
WESTERN EUROPE