DEWASTER ® - Sorting out the problems of mixed waste more than has typically been achieved by source sorting and separate collection of OFMSW in prior Danish studies. The remaining app. 40 % of organic matter which was “lost” is to a large extent paper fibres sorted out as part of the screen reject and in the press reject. The separation of paper fibres from bio pulp is desirable in respect to bio gas production, since paper fibres are typically not digested and, thus, simply increase the amount of sludge from the bio gas reactors which has to be disposed of while at the same time creating problems for use of sludge as fertiliser on farm land. He<strong>av</strong>y metals and pollutants in bio pulp fraction The contents in the bio pulp of he<strong>av</strong>y metals and pollutants regulated in present Danish legislation was as follows: (calculated as the <strong>av</strong>erage figures for analysis performed on all samples taken during the EPA Study) He<strong>av</strong>y Metals P016 P017 P018 P019 P030 P031 P032 P033 Pb 33 4 20 3 17 1 20 2 15 5 11 1 38 8 17 0 Cd 27 1 31 3 76 11 32 6 30 2 26 1 28 4 30 23 Cr 23 1 21 4 26 11 18 0 19 0 13 0 39 1 36 3 Cu 4 1 6 0 10 1 4 0 4 1 4 2 7 0 6 0 Hg 650 159 136 72 84 14 54 33 7 3 15 0 6 6 12 0 Ni 29 1 86 86 37 0 26 3 22 1 23 0 22 7 16 3 Zn 4 0 7 2 4 0 3 1 5 0 5 0 5 1 5 0 Values are displayed as <strong>av</strong>erage content of he<strong>av</strong>y metals as percent of permit limit for each metal. Values are based on two measurements (different laboratories). Small numbers are dispersion. In sample P016 Hg is higher than allowed. In sample P017 the level of Hg is allowed when using the rule that some samples may cross the limit up to 50%. Pollutants P016 P017 P018 P019 P030 P031 P032 P033 Avr. NPE 2,2 22 3,3 33 2,0 20 2,3 23 2,4 24 3,6 36 1,7 17 1,8 18 2,4 24 PAH 0,8 27 0,5 17 0,8 27 1,3 43 0,4 13 0,6 18 0,4 12 0,5 16 0,7 22 DEHP 36 72 93 186 130 260 200 400 62 124 29 58 32 64 65 130 81 162 LAS 71 5 29 2 34 3 30 2 21 2 52 4 54 4 25 2 40 3 Values are displayed in mg/kg DM. The small numbers is the percentage of the permit limit (NPE 10, PAH 3, DEHP 50, LAS 1300 mg/kg DM). LAS: Active component (anionic detergent) in detergents and cleaning materials. NPE: Active component (non-ionic detergent) in detergents and cleaning materials, etc. DEHP: Used as plasticiser/"softener" in plastic products, e.g. PVC and Mac183. PAH: The sum of nine individual substances found in oil/tar products page 7 of 9
DEWASTER ® - Sorting out the problems of mixed waste The Danish EPA study shows that in respect to he<strong>av</strong>y metals and other unwanted chemical compounds such as LAS, NPE and PAH, the bio pulp was generally well within the threshold values of current Danish legislation for use in bio gas production. Only the level of DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) was generally above the limit. page 8 of 9