Pure oxygen-based MSW bio-stabilization: Energy, engineering, environmental and process safety aspects

Today, in Italy, mechanical-biological treatment plant (MBT) using pure oxygen are few and with limited knowledge of the functioning. With the intent of strengthening the state of knowledge, this contribution deepens the main energy, engineering, environmental and process safety aspects of a pure oxygen-based full-scale bio-stabilization system treating unsorted municipal solid waste. The activities were conducted at the Massafra MBT plant (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) with a treatment capacity of 220,000 tons per year. After the assessment of the energy consumption related to the conventional aeration system, representing, in this way the “baseline scenario”, the study discussed the main design aspects for a safe operation of the pure oxygen system.