Plant combined simulation for compost production starting from sewage sludge

Waste treatment is a major social and economic problem. In Europe, and in Italy in particular, this market is plagued by a great amount of uncertainty. Thus plant operation must be studied carefully under different economic and technical conditions to make such plants more economical. In one interesting method, waste is treated to obtain compost (fertilizer) that can be sold at low cost to create new terrain and landscapes (e.g. golf courses) and as fertilizer for agricultural and floricultural applications. This paper deals with the problem by using simulation techniques applied to a specific plant that is currently in the start-up phase.