Solid waste management

Physical, chemical and biological properties

of MSW (CO2-PO3)

CO2-PO4
Course outcomes

Program outcome

1.

PO3: Ability to identify, formulate and

solve engineering problems
PO4: Ability to use a system approach to
design
and
evaluate
operational
performance

2.

3.

4.

Have an overall understanding of

management and legislative aspects
related to municipal solid waste
services
Apply knowledge of science and
engineering in the design and
management of collection, transfer
and disposal of solid waste
Understand and discuss issues
related to solid wastes services such
as waste minimization and the
impact of this sector on society and
economy
Have an appreciation of issues
related to industrial and hazardous
wastes

Content of lecture

Physical properties of MSW

Chemical properties of MSW
Biological properties of MSW
Physical,
chemical
and
transformation of solid waste

biological

Physical properties of MSW

Specific weight @ Density

Moisture content
Particle size and distribution
Field capacity
Compacted waste porosity

All of these parameters

need to be measured
before disposal of MSW
at landfill

Recall previous lecture

Specific weight @ Density

Figure 1 : Type of waste with its range of weight

Figure 2 : Type of compaction tools with is range

of density

Description
Specific weight is defined as the weight of a material per unit volume (e.g. kg/m3 , lb/ft3 )
Usually it refers to uncompact waste.
It varies with geographic location, season of the year, and length of time in storage.
Significant
1.
Specific weight provided information for predicting : storage volume, after compaction in a collection truck and (collection of waste)
after compaction within a landfill cell (landfill design)

Exercise
During a sampling event at a tipping floor of a MRF, MSW is found to contain the
following components:

Component

Density (kg/m3)

Amount in sampled waste

(% by Wt)

Food waste

290

22

Mixed plastics

60

12

Glass

200

Ferrous and alumunium

200

12

Textiles

60

Dust, dirt

500

28

What is the average density of this solid waste mixture?

Answer : 254 kg/m3

Moisture
Definition : The moisture in a sample is expressed as percentage of the wet weight of
the MSW material

Significant
1.
It is useful for estimating heat content, landfill sizing, and transports requirements
2.
It can be expressed either as a % of the wet weight or as a % of the dry weight of the material.
3.
The wet-weight method is more commonly used and is expressed as follows :

M = (w-d)/w X 100
W = initial weight of sample as delivered (kg)
d = weight of sample after drying at 105oC (kg)

Example : Moisture content

Using the data for a MSW sample provided above, determine the average moisture content
of the sample. Base your calculations on a 100kg sample size

Solution
Component

Moisture content
(%)

Wt(%)

Moist
weight

Dry weight

Paper waste

25

25

(1-0.07)(25)

Yard waste

55

18

18

(1-0.55)(18)

Food waste

65

20

20

(1-0.65)(20)

Plastic

(1-0.02)(5)

Wood

20

(1-0.20)(8)

Glass

(1-0.03)(7)

Metals

(1-0.03)(9)

Textile

12

(1-0.08)(8)

Total

100

Dry weight = [(moist weight)(100- % moisture]/100

Dry weight = [(100-72)/100](100%) = 28%

72.21

Particle size distribution

Field capacity (FC)

Definition : Amount of moisture retained by mixed solids against the force gravity. Field
capacity varies with the degree of pressure applied to the waste and the state of decomposition
of the waste.
This parameter is very critical because (1) aerobic microbial activity is optimized at/or
slightly below the field capacity (2) to predict leachate formation in landfills, compost piles,
or storage piles.

FC =0.6 0.55 (W/[4500 + W])

FC = % of dry weight of waste, W = overburden weight calculated at midheight of the
waste in lift (kg)

Field capacity
Significant of Field capacity parameter

Hydraulic conductivity (K) of compacted waste

K loose sample of MSW = 15 x 10-5 m/s

K dense baled waste MSW = 7 x 10-6 m/s
K for shredded waste MSW = 10-4 to 10-6 m/s

Discussion
How to apply knowledge of physical, chemical and biological characteristics of MSW in
Figure 1 ?

Figure 1