Modeling the aerobic conversion process of organic waste into organic fertilizers using Aspen HYSYS

Abstract

Waste stemming from various sources and manifested in diverse physical states is growing at a threatening pace globally. Uncontrolled disposals and ineffective waste management practices are escalating issues for societies, ecosystems, and economies. Advances and designs are projected toward transforming waste into a resource. This study treats organic waste by designing and optimizing an aerobic composting system. Effective aerobic composting systems depend on physical, chemical, and biological factors. The feedstock should be carefully selected for efficient composting, and the end-product must be thoroughly tested. Temperature, aeration rate, and moisture levels are the dominating factors regulating the process. We depicted the diverse advantages and drawbacks of the process through the triple-bottom-line assessment to project the current system toward circular economy and sustainability. Using the literature suggestions, we modeled the process using ASPEN HYSYS, but the conversion rate obtained is only 23.04%. After modifying different variables like temperature, pressure, flow rates, and addition of units, the conversion rate reached 100%. We added wind turbines, eco-friendly reactors, recycled streams, and biochar filters to make the process eco-friendly, economically efficient, and socially adaptable. The obtained process is cheap, affordable, and suitable for use in rural areas.