Abstract

This article presents a review of the porous physical characteristics, phenomena and simulation models so far investigated and applied in the management of biodegradable wastes (BW), summarising the main properties of porous media and the dynamics of fluids within its voids. The aim is to highlight how the description of biodegradable wastes as porous media and the use of porous media models can facilitate the development of new sustainable and affordable technologies for BW recycling. However, it is pointed out how the lack of physical experimental data and of tailored modelling tools has so far hampered the use of this approach. Therefore, it is suggested that a simpler way to design and implement modelling tools simulating BW treatment technologies is by modifying available models designed originally for other porous media, such as soil and rock.

Keywords

Municipal solid waste; human and animal excreta; nutrient recycling; computational fluid dynamic; heat and mass transfer; composting; landfills

Published in

Waste Management and Research
2012, Volume: 30, number: 10, pages: 1001-1015
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD

SLU Authors

• Sundberg, Cecilia

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Agostini, Francesco

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Other Environmental Engineering


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X12452444

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/39818