As the full-scale experiments by Poulsen and Bester (2010)
were carried out for a relatively short time period (24 d) and were
based on simple grab samples, the data may not be fully representative
for full-scale composting that typically lasts for 5 to 8 weeks.
One additional full-scale experiment (dataset 3) was therefore carried
out. This experiment was conducted at a composting facility
operated by FASAN I/S, Næstved, Denmark. The reason for choosing
this site was that Komtek closed down a few weeks after initiation
of the bench-scale experiments due to economic difficulties. It was,
therefore, not possible to collect samples from a full-scale pile for an adequate period of time at Komtek. Samples were instead collected
from a full-scale compost pile at FASAN I/S for a period of
6 weeks starting May 16th, 2013 (the regular composting time at
FASAN I/S). This site was selected because the compost material
used here was very similar to that composted at Komtek (it consisted
of 25% yard waste, 23% screening residue, 34% sewage sludge
and 18% straw by weight) and that it was composted under similar
conditions with respect to compost temperature and moisture content.
Thus, as material composition and composting conditions
across both full- and bench-scale experiments are similar, results
in terms of relative micro-pollutant removal should be
comparable.