Composting of Tobacco Dust in Different Types of Reactors

N. Kopčić, M. Vuković Domanovac, F. Briški and Z. Ðaković

Abstract
A pilot-scale reactor composting of tobacco dust was conducted to determine the feasibility of composting, nicotine removal and effect of intermittent stirring on the composting performance. Two experiments were carried out in a 240 dm3 packed bed reactor at airflow rate of 0.65 dm3min–1kgVSinitial –1; without stirring (PBRNS); with periodical stirring (PBRS). The third experiment was conducted in a 200 dm3 horizontal reactor with stirrers (HRS) at air flow-rate of 0.38 dm3min–1 kgVSinitial –1. Substrate was automatically agitated every 24 hours for 1 minute at 6.3 rpm. Nicotine was not detected in composting products and nicotine degrading bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens/putida was isolated during the process. At the end of the processes in PBRNS, PBRS and HRS conversions of the volatile matter were 50.6 % (at day 38), 53.0 % (at day 28) and 51.1 % (at day 29), respectively, suggesting that stirring increases the degradation rate of the selected substrate.

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Keywords
composting, Tobacco dust, horizontal reactor, packed bed reactor, stirring