En este trabajo, se describe el proceso de compostaje mediante pilas volteadas de la fracción orgánica, recogida selectivamente, de residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU), analizado durante tres años. El compost, aceptable para su uso agrícola, fue aplicado en cultivos de trigo y ajo, combinando tratamientos mixtos con el objetivo de conocer que tipo de fertilización era la que generaba los mejores resultados, y demostrar como la fertilización orgánica puede llegar a ser una alternativa real en nuestros suelos con los consiguientes beneficios ambientales. No se encontraron incidencias de metales sobre los frutos ni los suelos. La producción fue también semejante al control. A pesar de todo esto, en caso de aprobación de la nueva Normativa Europea que se encuentra en fase de discusión, y con las restricciones que se pretenden imponer, el compost de RSU fabricado en la ciudad de Córdoba (España) tendrá grandes dificultades para su uso agrícola si se continúan con las mismas prácticas de gestión debido a su alto contenido en metales.

Compost made from municipal solid waste (MSW) contains heavy metals that can interfere with the use of organic amendment in soil. In order to find effective ways to reduce the potential risk of heavy metals, we have investigated a novel approach by use of organic acid during MSW composting. Citric and oxalic acid dissolutions (0.25 mol x (-1)) were used at determined ratios (kg dried MSW: cm(3) acid). Cr and Ni concentrations were similar in compost, independent of acid contribution. By contrast, Cu concentrations decreased by 63% (at citric acid ratio 1:15), 65% (at citric acid ratios 1:20 and 1:40) and 83% (at oxalic acid ratio 1:40); furthermore, Pb concentrations reduced by 71% (at citric acid ratios 1:20 and 1:40 and at oxalic acid ratio 1:40) and Zn concentrations reduced by 67% (at citric acid ratios 1:10 and 1:20) and 70% (at oxalic acid ratio 1:40). The total metal mass decreased by an average of 12% in the compost fraction, whereas the total percentage of the residual fraction increased by an average of 20%. The acid addition in the studied ratios improved compost quality without negatively influencing biostabilization.

The FIA-photo-Fenton system is based on the flow oxidation of the organic matter. A small amount of the sample containing H2O2 is injected into the acidic flow solution of Fe2+, which passes through a tubular PTFE reactor irradiated with UV light. The generated CO2 is quantified by a conductometric detector and is directly proportional to the dissolved organic carbon concentration in the sample. The optimization studies were performed using EDTA solutions. The average recovery of organic carbon was 83% with a relative standard deviation of 3.7% using a 1:5 molar ratio of Fe2+:H2O2, pH 2.0, 100 muL of sample injection and a liquid flow of 1 mL min-1. After optimization, the DOC concentration was quantified using 13 different organic compounds, where the average recovery was 90%. The rate of the analysis was in average 50 samples hour-1.
O sistema FIA-foto-Fenton é baseado na oxidação em fluxo da matéria orgânica. Uma pequena quantidade de amostra contendo H2O2 é introduzida no fluxo de uma solução ácida de Fe2+, que passa por um reator tubular de PTFE irradiado com luz UV. O CO2 gerado é quantificado condutometricamente e é diretamente proporcional à concentração de carbono orgânico dissolvido na amostra. Os estudos de otimização foram realizados empregando soluções de EDTA. A recuperação média de carbono orgânico foi de 83% com desvio padrão relativo de 3,7% empregando 100 miL de amostra, pH 2,0, razão molar entre Fe2+ e H2O2 de 1:5 e uma vazão de 1 mL.min-1. Após otimização as concentrações de DOC foram quantificadas em 13 diferentes compostos orgânicos, com uma recuperação média de 90%. A velocidade de análise foi em média 50 amostras/h