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theses

Despite numerous economical and environmental benefits associated with recycling, improper recycling practices can have an adverse impact. In the first part of this dissertation, reuse of reed bed biosolids containing Phragmites australis (common reed), considered an invasive species, was explored. It was hypothesized that the high temperatures achieved during composting could destroy the plant rhizomes as well as pathogenic microorganisms, making the biosolids eligible for USEPA Class A status for unrestricted land application. However, prior anaerobic digestion followed by stabilization of reed bed material occurring over 10 years deprived the material of enough available carbon for composting to occur spontaneously. Several inexpensive and easily available organic materials were tested in the laboratory for their ability to stimulate composting of the reed bed biosolids. Phragmites above ground biomass, available abundantly on site, was determined to be a suitable amendment. When tested at 1:2 ratio (dry weight basis) Phragmites above ground biomass to biosolids in the field, although they were effective in killing the rhizomes, high composting temperatures did not last long enough for the product to achieve Class A status. In the second part of this work, water quality issues associated with the wood recycling industry in New Jersey were studied. Leachate and runoff samples from 3 different wood recycling facilities were tested for wastewater parameters over a 15 month period. The concentration ranges were highly variable, but often similar to raw sewage values. However, since this was an uncontrolled study in terms of drainage area, precipitation, and wood mulch volume, no definite conclusions could be drawn. To account for these limitations a controlled study determining leachate concentrations and volumes from definite sized wood mulch stockpiles was carried out over a 2 year period. Correlations were found for loads but not concentrations for several parameters with rain volume and intensity, but not usually with age of the piles. Using these relationships simple equations predicting pollutant and nutrient loads were developed. Dose-response studies done on the leachate samples using zebrafish embryos showed little toxicity. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and pentachlorophenol concentrations were below detection limits, and Cu, Cr, As, Pb, and Zn concentrations were likewise low.

ETD_5540

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Sarat Kannepalli

doi:10.7282/T3FB518G

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.