Initial characterization as an on-field decision-making tool for biological treatment of institutional wastes

Abstract

Abstract: The familiar haze impregnated profusely with PM 2.5 enveloping the atmosphere of Delhi NCR is a common sight for most of India. Even though the country boasts an agrarian economy, it still lacks a standardized understanding of the potential for the biological treatment of agricultural and organic wastes. Initial characterization provides meaningful insights into the waste’s physical, chemical, and biological construct to understand treatment and disposal aspects better. Notwithstanding the different treatment techniques available for waste management on the global front, the majority of times, these units fail due to a myopic waste characterization. This paper introduces the importance of initial characterization through proximate and ultimate analysis of some prominent agricultural straws and compares it with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW). It validates the claims by demonstrating their thermal, chemical, and morphological differences. It further suggests possible biological treatment options for establishing an integrated waste management system. Organic waste was segregated from the MSW fractions, and the farm residues were collected from the vicinities of IIT Indore, and initial reconnaissance provided the scope and the need for proposing an intervention through biological pretreatment in the future. This preliminary attempt will aid in structuring waste management practitioners’ thought processes to save time and make quick, effective decisions. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.