Biowaste Management Technology

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and classifications related to biowaste management technologies as discussed in the lecture by Dr. Zama Eric.

What is biowaste?

Waste derived from living or once living sources.

What are the types of biodegradable waste?

Food waste, kitchen waste, green waste, and paper.

What is the waste management hierarchy?

A priority listing of waste management options used in decision making.

What is the definition of waste according to UNEP?

Waste is any unwanted or unusable material that needs to be discarded.

What are the properties of biowaste?

Physical, chemical, and biological indicators.

What is composting?

The biological decomposition of organic waste by microorganisms under aerobic conditions.

What are the main outputs from anaerobic digestion?

Biogas and digestate.

What are the advantages of incineration?

Reduces waste volume by ~90%, minimizes hazardousness, and generates renewable energy.

What are the disadvantages of pyrolysis?

Requires pre-processing of waste, has toxic by-products, and is cost-intensive.

What is gasification?

A waste treatment process that converts organic materials into syngas at high temperatures.

What is the importance of the C:N ratio in composting?

It is crucial for supporting efficient microbial breakdown.

What are the stages of anaerobic digestion?

Hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis.

What are common physical properties of waste?

Moisture content, bulk density, porosity, and particle size.

What is the significance of composting parameters like humidity?

Maintaining optimal humidity (50-60%) is vital for active microorganism function.

What does BOD stand for?

Biochemical Oxygen Demand, a measure of organic material in waste.

What are examples of hazardous waste?

Chemicals, batteries, fluorescent lamps, and pesticides.

How is waste generated globally?

All human activities generate waste that must be managed.