Correction factors for large-scale greenhouse gas assessment from pulp and paper mill sludge landfill sites

Assessments of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in managed areas are facing various challenges. A non-flow-through, non-steady-state (NFT-NSS) chamber coupled to a frame permanently inserted into the landfilled substrates is a standard method for quantifying GHG emissions in managed areas, such as pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) landfill sites. Frequent measurements are needed to minimize uncertainties on GHG emission factors at the landfill site scale. However, maintaining a frame inserted into the substrates for a long time period is often impossible due to landfilling management operations. Therefore, GHG measurements using NFT-NSS chambers placed directly on substrates' surface could be an interesting option. Our objectives were to determine the relationships between CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes measured with (F + ) and without (F-) a frame inserted in the substrates' surface and to develop correction factors for fluxes measured without a frame. Measurements were made at different PPMS landfill sites in the province of Québec, Canada. Stronger GHG flux relationships were observed at the provincial (across sites) than the specific site scale: the variance in GHG fluxes from F- chambers explained up to 80 % of variance in fluxes from F + chambers. The measured CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in F- chambers were on average 53, 78, and 63 % lower, respectively, than those estimated by the models at provincial scale. The correction factors developed with this approach could greatly extend the number of sites where in situ GHG measurements can be done and would help refining GHG inventories at the provincial and national levels.

Deinking sludge compost stability and maturity assessment using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis

Thermal composting is an important and useful way to transfer raw organic matter into value-added product rich in humic substances. Furthermore, thermal composting is a very promising way to reduce deinking paper sludge pollutions, which are difficult to remove. The objective of this study was to investigate the behaviour of the composting process of deinking paper sludge with poultry manure over 14 months. Two composts were used: C1 (70/30: deinking paper sludge/poultry manure) and C2 (50/50: deinking paper sludge/poultry manure). The compost stability and maturity were assessed via physico-chemical and thermal analyses: thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy analysis provided chemical information for the presence of aromatic, phenolic, aliphatic and polysaccharidic structures. Thermogravimetry analyses revealed that both deinking paper sludge composts were rich in humic acids. The ratio E4/E6 (fulvic acids/humic acids) was also carried out to characterise the maturity index of composts. After 14 months, the compost C2 is more stable, mature and rich in humic acids than compost C1. Furthermore, the addition of poultry manure to the deinking paper sludge-based composts enhanced the formation of humic substances. From 0 to 14 months of composting, the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls decreased from 0.2 to 0.1 mg kg^-1 and from 0.6 to 0.2 mg kg^-1 for C1 and C2, respectively.