Gaseous emissions and air treatment during composting

Composting of organic by-products of domestic, industrial or agricultural origin is developing rapidly. This method of material recovery is fully in line with the principles of sustainable development, as the production of an organic soil improver from waste is a technically and economically attractive alternative to energy recovery (incineration with heat recovery, methanization, gasification, etc.). . However, the operation of composting plants has an impact on the area in question, and in particular it can cause significant odor nuisance for the neighborhood. . Particular attention must therefore be paid to this issue, so as to limit the inconvenience that could result from the operation of the installations, while controlling the operating costs associated with the implementation of an air treatment system.

The aim of this article is to set out the background to odour emissions from composting and to present the means available to limit the nuisance caused by these gaseous effluents. In this context, the first part is devoted to a presentation of composting processes and their implementation, in order to define optimal operating conditions aimed at reducing odor production at source. The issues of ventilation and the capture of the gaseous effluents generated are also addressed. The second part deals with the characterization of odorous effluents in quantitative and qualitative terms, depending on the ventilation modes selected for capture and extraction to the air treatment devices. The third part specifies the criteria for choosing a complete treatment system to eliminate odorous molecules. A methodological approach is then proposed for drawing up specifications that take all parameters into account. Finally, the last part consists in showing a successful industrial implementation...