Biodrying performance and combustion characteristics related to bulking agent amendments during kitchen waste biodrying

Biodrying of kitchen waste amended with different bulking agents was carried out to evaluate performance, heat values and combustion characteristics. Results showed that adding bulking agents produced higher water removal rates of 55.6% - 65.4%. Addition of bulking agents also yielded higher volatile solid contents related to slower degradation. Lower heat values of bulking agent treatments increased from 2000-3218 kJ.kg(-1) to 8544-9849 kJ.kg(-1). Organic degradation did not influence ignition or combustion temperatures during the second combustion stage, but did influence combustion rate. Maximum combustion rate and temperature of the third combustion stage remained stable. Bulking agents produced higher apparent activation energies compared with the control, although biodrying made combustion of kitchen waste easier, because of an overall decrease in apparent activation energy.