Particulate matter concentrations and size distributions during different stages of municipal solid waste biostabilization

Particulate matter (PM) is released during waste management operations as a result of various mechanical and chemical processes. The emission of specific chemical compounds is influenced by transformations occurring during the phases of aerobic waste biodegradation. This study provides a thorough analysis of particle number concentrations (PNC) and PM concentrations measured at a composting facility handling organic waste, with a focus on the detailed fractionation of PM to identify which fractions predominate in different areas of the composting site. PNC measurements were conducted using an Optical Particle Sizer, which detects the number of particles within the 0.3 – 10 μm size range through single-particle counting. Differences in PNC observed between the compost piles and other areas of the facility were minimal. The average mass concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 on the waste piles were 1.71 μg/m3, 4.5 μg/m3, and 19.77 μg/m3, respectively. Similar to PNC, higher PM concentrations were observed for fresh and maturing compost piles, with increases of up to 86% compared to mature piles at the end of the process. These findings provide critical insights into the distribution of airborne particles within a biodegradable waste composting facility, an environment with significant implications for environmental monitoring and public health.