Compostagem de resíduos agroindustriais: um estudo de caso na região de Pombal - PB.

Abstract

The use of natural resources has increased in recent years, resulting in a higher generation of solid wastes. In view of that, composting appears as a tool capable of transforming organic waste into humus, being able to contribute to economic benefits and relieving environmental pressures caused by the improper disposal of such residues. In this work, a compost pile was mounted on a concrete floor that belongs to the Solid Waste Laboratory of Pombal Campus of the Federal University of Campina Grande. In order to conduct this study, it was used waste from the Diana sweet industry (green banana peels), from the own Pombal Campus (remains of jurema-preta and marmeleiroprunings), and from rural properties surrounding Pombal Campus (ovine manure). The banana peels and vegetation prunings were ground so that to uniform particle diameters. Along this study, the following parameters were monitored: temperature, pH, volatile solids, oxygenation, moisture content and carbon/nitrogen ratio. The compost produced based on agro-industrial residues reached most of the minimum requirements established by Brazilian law. The carried out composting process showed to be effective for the treatment of agro-industrial wastes in semiarid Paraiba.