Mr Graham Howell

Laboratory Manager (Environment, Earth and Ecosystems)

graham.howell@open.ac.uk

01908655487

Biography

Professional biography

I am a researcher and laboratory manager for the Ecosystems Laboratories, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences. While at The Open University, I have led development of the Ecosystems Research Group laboratories with facilities for analysis of compost and organic waste, soil, water, and liquid and gaseous emissions. A key interest has been the development of respirometry and anaerobic digestion facilities for studies on stability and biodegradability of compost and waste materials. As a researcher I have focussed on biodegradable waste management.

Previous experience ranges from running soil laboratories and soil amendment trials on papaya and chilli at Srisaket Horticulture Research Centre in Thailand, to editing the Peat Alternatives Manual (Friends of the Earth, 1991).

Chartered Resource and Waste Manager, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).

Full member, British Society of Soil Science/ Institute of Professional Soil Scientists.

Research interests

Most of my research has centred on biodegradable waste processing and emissions. I have been involved in a range of projects relating to biodegradable waste processing including composting, vermicomposting, and anaerobic digestion. These involve biologically active systems at a process-level, with gaseous emissions including greenhouse gases. Examples include studies on biofilters aimed at mitigation of environmental impact from composting sites producing odorous gases. A study on vermicompost in 2003 was the first to confirm significant emission of nitrous oxide from composting facilities which employ earthworms as the main processing agent.

Other research projects I’ve been involved in include soil acidification of volcanic soils, and methane emissions from paddy rice soils.

Impact and engagement

I have worked with academic colleagues, industrial partners and government agencies in developing standard aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability tests. For example, the DR4 and BM100/BMc tests, developed by The Open University and WRc PLC, are used for determining biodegradability losses during Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) of household waste. Both of the test methods were subsequently adopted by the Environment Agency for use in the statutory evaluation of MBT plants commencing in 2005. A further Defra-funded research project used these tests to characterise a wide range of untreated and treated waste types to help predict the relationship between biodegradability and environmental impact from disposal and application to land. This both validated the use of the DR4 and BM100 test methods and provided an extensive biodegradability data base. I also adapted the upflow percolation leaching test for solid organic waste samples.

As part of a WRAP-funded project with Southampton University team, I ran the laboratory trials for development of the anaerobic “Residual Biogas Potential (RBP)” test. This test forms a key part of the PAS110 evaluation criteria for determining anaerobic digestate stability prior to application to land.

I was involved in the development and review of B.S.I. UK specification for waste-derived compost (PAS100) methods for WRAP in 2005 and 2009 including the PAS100 bioassay compost quality tests.

I have also overseen the development of a range of techniques related to my research interests and for commercial clients. The Ecosystems technical team have undertaken biodegradability and other characterisation services for compliance testing, expert witness and other contracts.

Projects

Methane bioreactor, testing and development. (SE-09-191-GH)

To run tests on a novel bioreactor rig as provided by an external company. This will include modifying the apparatus to some extent. The OU will prepare bacterial growth media, run tests using the control software as supplied, take gas samples and analyse gy gas chromatography (GC). The technology is potentially important in greenhouse gas mitigation.

Analysis, oxygen demand to OECD 301F

Independent assessment service, REAL CCS and BCS approved laboratories

To provide independent checks of REAL Approved Laboratories for conformance with the Compost Certification Scheme (CCS) and Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS) terms and conditions (T&C’s) for Approved Labs

{Lab Services} Ammonia CapChar Wales - Emissions reductions from farmyard manure storage

In Wales, ammonia emissions have increased by 8% over the past 17 years. 93% of atmospheric ammonia is emitted from agricultural activities, with 38.7% from cattle manure management consisting of livestock housing, manure storage and outdoor concrete yards. A Farming Facts and Figures, Wales 2022 report indicates that there were 9,300+ dairy and beef holdings in Wales, who will need to reduce their ammonia emissions in the coming years. Currently most concrete FYM stores and all temporary heaps are open to weathering, which increases the production of ammonia. The Ammonia CapChar Wales project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of covering farmyard manure stores and temporary field heaps with biochar, as well as integrating biochar into an on farm manure composting system to significantly reduce ammonia emissions during storage, by stabilising the material. This project will explore how a new local, circular, sustainable solution can be created to produce biochar via on-farm pyrolysis technology, providing savings and new revenue streams. By deploying this technology, biochar could be used in other agricultural practices leading to further ammonia emission reduction efficiency gains. This project will develop an ammonia emissions reductions evidence pack that will inform Welsh Government and other interested stakeholders on the merits of biochar production and use with cattle manure management systems.

{Lab Services} Bulrush Bales investigation (part 1)

Following discussion with Bulrush staff the following notes program of work is intended to investigate issues reported for potting mix materials. This work is exploratory and intended to establish hypotheses that may be tested in future work, with an intention to publish where appropriate.

[Lab services] Phase 2 Investigation of growing media

Proposed program of work to investigate stability of growing media blended from a range of ingredients. The intention is to aid replacement of peat in growing media products for professional horticulture while avoiding the potential instability in storage that has been found in some blends.

[Lab Services] Growing Media moisture tests 2024

Respirometry to establish effects of a wide moisture of moisture, following up previous results on 3 types of samples

Lowland Peat water analysis (Liverpool Funding)

Analysis of water samples collected by Dr Mike Peacock and collaborators from a) lowland peat sites and b) mesocosm studies. Basic analysis for pH and conductivity, elemental analysis by ICP-OES and TOC, and ions by Ion Chromatography.

Lowland Peat water analysis (SLU Funding)

Waterbeach MBT Environmental Monitoring 2017

Waterbeach Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) waste processing plant; environmental monitoring to fulfil contractual schedules. Includes sampling and biodegradability testing of input and output batches from the composting process, composition of input to plant, gaseous emissions from the plant output stack, process gas flows, contributions to plant optimisation and associated research.