Influence of green waste, biowaste and paper-cardboard initial ratios on organic matter transformations during composting

The influence of green waste, biowaste and paper-cardboard proportions in initial mixtures on organic matter (OM) evolution during composting in pilot-scale reactors was studied using respirometric procedure, humic substance extraction, crude fiber analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The stabilisation of OM during composting resulted from the degradation of easily biodegradable organic fraction as cellulose and hemicellulose, the relative increase of resistant compounds as lignin, the microbial synthesis of resistant biomolecules, and from humification processes. Little stabilisation of green waste OM during composting was observed, in relation with their large lignin content. With moderate contents of paper-cardboard in initial mixtures (20-40%), cellulose proportion remained favorable to fast OM stabilisation. Larger proportions of paper-cardboard (more than 50%) affected OM stabilisation, probably due to a lack of nitrogen. The influence of biowastes only appeared at the very beginning of composting, because of their large proportions of easily biodegradable OM.     

Aerobic composting of chips from clear-cut trees with various co-materials

Swollen chips made from trees felled during clear-cutting were composted with various organic and inorganic materials in an aerobic composting reactor for 5 months and then piled for 5 months. The organic materials included chicken feces, urea, nitrogenous lime (calcium cyanamide, manure), and material rapidly composted from food garbage in 24-h bacterial fermentation, while the inorganic materials were coal ash and volcanic ash. In this paper, we first attempt to estimate the quality and degree of maturity of each compost from its chemical properties. Furthermore, we try to calculate the maturity of the fermented wood chip composts from their mixture ratio of the initial materials by multiple linear regression analysis. We measured changes in the C/N ratio, nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) content, percentage of humic acid in the alkali soluble fraction (PQ), cation exchange capacity, pH, and EC during the composting period. The degrees of maturity of the composts were estimated via a plant growth test using Chinese cabbage. We found that the CN ratio, NO3-N concentration, and PQ were suitable for estimating the degree of maturity of wood chip composts. For maturity, the CN ratio should be less than 14, the PQ more than 66.2, and the NO3-N concentration more than 853 mgkg-1. We devised an equation to estimate the degree of maturity after 10 months by a multiple linear regression analysis from the mixing ratio of wood chips and the co-composted materials. From the multiple linear regression analysis, the above three indices of compost maturity could be estimated from the mixing ratio of the initial materials. This equation should enable us to determine the degree of compost maturity after 10 months based on the initial mixing ratio.     

畜禽粪便堆肥过程中各种氮化合物的动态变化及腐熟度评价指标

对不同畜禽粪便在堆肥过程中各种含氮化合物的动态变化进行了研究,结合综合性腐熟度评价指标——种子发芽指数（GI）,探讨了畜禽粪便堆肥过程中与氮有关的腐熟度评价指标.结果表明：随着堆肥的进行,除奶牛粪外,其它畜禽粪便的全氮（TN）含量均呈先下降而后平稳变化趋势,奶牛粪则呈先增加而后平稳变化趋势;各种畜禽粪便中,碱解性氮（HN）含量先增后降;NH₄⁺-N含量先下降而后保持平稳;NO₃^- -N含量则持续增加;NH₄⁺ -N/NO₃^- -N迅速降低.堆肥腐熟度指标中,除综合性评价指标GI值外,HN/TN和NH₄⁺ -N/TN也可作为评价畜禽粪便腐熟程度的优选指标,而NO₃^- -N/TN只能作为一般性评价指标.根据综合性评价指标GI值达到腐熟要求的标准（GI>0.50）,除仔猪粪外,其它畜禽粪便在HN/TN<20.77％、NH₄⁺ -N/TN<10.06％及NO₃^- -N/TN>0.38％时基本达到腐熟要求.     

Improving the quality of municipal organic waste compost

The effects of different municipal organic waste (MOW) management practices (shredding, addition of carbon-rich materials and inoculation with earthworms) on organic matter stabilization and compost quality were studied. Four static piles were prepared with: (i) shredded MOW; (ii) shredded MOW+woodshavings; (iii) non-shredded MOW; and (iv) non-shredded MOW+woodshavings. After 50 days, a part of each pile was separated for vermistabilization, while the rest continued as traditional thermophilic composting piles. At different sampling dates, and in the finished products, the following parameters were measured: pH, electrical conductivity, carbon dioxide evolution, and concentrations of organic matter, total nitrogen, water-soluble carbon, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and extractable phosphorus. Shredded treatments exhibited faster organic matter stabilization than non-shredded treatments, evidenced specially by earlier stabilization of carbon dioxide production and shorter thermophilic phases. Woodshavings addition greatly increased quality of final products in terms of organic matter concentration, and pH and electrical conductivity values, but decreased total nitrogen and available nutrient concentrations. Vermicomposting of previously composted material led to products richer in organic matter, total nitrogen, and available nutrient concentrations than composting only, probably due to the coupled effect of earthworm activity and a shorter thermophilic phase.     

Effects of olive mill wastewater addition in composting of agroindustrial and urban wastes

In order to study the suitability of olive mill wastewater (OMW) for composting, thisliquid waste was added to two different mixtures of agroindustrial and urban wastesand the composting process was compared with two other piles of similar composition,but without OMW. These four piles were studied in a pilot plant using the Rutgers staticpile system. The addition of OMW produced a greater proportion of degradable organic matter or a higher degradation rate, higher electrical conductivity values, greater losses of total N and lower nitrification than in piles without OMW. Its addition also restricted the increase of the cation exchange capacity and provoked the appearance of phytotoxicity or a longer persistence of phytotoxicity. However, in general, all the composts showed increases in the cation exchange capacity, the percentage of humic acid-like carbon, the polymerisation ratio of these humic substances (which revealed that the organic matter had been humified during composting) and the germination index, the latter indicating the reduction of phytotoxicity during the process.     

Performance characteristics of three aeration systems in the swine manure composting

Pilot composting of swine manure mixed with rice straw was carried out to evaluate performance characteristics of three aeration systems: forced aeration, passive aeration and natural aeration. It was expected to provide academic basis for farmers to select an advisable aeration system. The results showed that the thermophilic durations were long enough to satisfy the sanitary standard, and swine manure could reach maturity. The indexes of the composting, including physical changes, pH value, TOC, OM, TKN, WSC, WSN, solid C/N ratio, water-soluble C/N ratio, TOM, NH4+-N, (NO3(-) + NO2(-))-N, and GI had no significant difference among the treatments (P > 0.05) except the average temperature profiles (P12 = 0.001, P13 = 0.036). Economic analysis showed that a passive aeration system was suitable for a small-scale swine farm, and forced aeration system should be considered to apply in the middle and large-scale swine farms with a high extent of industrialization. But, in order to avoid too high temperature occurring during composting, an active aeration control system needed to be developed.     

Dynamics of pruning waste and spent horse litter co-composting as determined by chemical parameters

Co-composting of pruning waste and horse manure was monitored by different parameters. A windrow composting pile, having the dimensions 2.5m (height) x 30m (length) was established. The maturation of pruning waste and horse manure compost was accompanied by a decline in NH(4)(+)-N concentration, water soluble C and an increase in NO(3)(-)-N content. Organic matter (OM) content during composting followed a first-order kinetic equation. This result was in agreement with the microbiological activity measured by the CO(2) respiration during the process. The correlation at a high level of probability found between the OM loss and CO(2) evolution showed that both parameters could be used to indicate the degree of OM degradation that is the maturity and stability phases of the compost studied. Humification parameters data from the organic matter fractionation did not show a clear tendency during the composting time, suggesting that these parameters are not suitable for evaluating the dynamics of the process.     

Co-composting of filter cake and bagasse; by-products from a sugar mill

Thailand has nearly 2 million tonnes of filter cake waste containing 1.8% total N from the sugar cane industry to dispose of annually. Compost studies were conducted to determine how rapidly this material can be converted to a stable product that may be useful in crop production, and to characterize the N transformations. Two kinds of sugar mill by-products were composted, filter cake and filter cake mixed with bagasse, at a 2:1 ratio to reduce the C:N ratio in an attempt to reduce N loss during composting. Materials were mixed manually at 3-5 day intervals during the composting process. Both composts were analyzed at least weekly to measure temperature, pH, NH4+, NO3-, total N content, C loss, and germination index. For both mixtures, the thermophilic stage lasted 15-20 days and was higher than ambient for nearly 80 days. The degradation of organic matter (OM) was rapid in both mixtures to approximately 40 days, after which it began to stabilize. Both mixtures achieved maturity at approximately 90 days as indicated by a stable C/N, low NH4+/NO3-, lack of heat production and a germination index higher than 80%. Mixing filter cake with bagasse helped conserve N during composting. Because N was in excess, approximately 12-15% was lost from the composts. Mixing more bagasse with the filter cake may result in further reduction in N losses. Both composts have potential for use in crop production.     

Heterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis: NO2-, NO3-, N2O, and NO production in exponentially growing cultures.

Heterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis DSM 30030 was not restricted to media containing organic forms of nitrogen. In both peptone-meat extract and defined media with ammonium and citrate as the sole nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively, NO2-, NO3-, NO, and N2O were produced under aerobic growth conditions. Heterotrophic nitrification was not attributable to old or dying cell populations. Production of NO2-, NO3-, NO, and N2O was detectable shortly after cultures started growth and proceeded exponentially during the logarithmic growth phase. NO2- and NO3- production rates were higher for cultures inoculated in media with pH values below 7 than for those in media at alkaline pH. Neither assimilatory nor dissimilatory nitrate or nitrite reductase activities were detectable in aerobic cultures.     

Heterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis: NO2-, NO3-, N2O, and NO production in exponentially growing cultures

Heterotrophic nitrification by Alcaligenes faecalis DSM 30030 was not restricted to media containing organic forms of nitrogen. In both peptone-meat extract and defined media with ammonium and citrate as the sole nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively, NO2-, NO3-, NO, and N2O were produced under aerobic growth conditions. Heterotrophic nitrification was not attributable to old or dying cell populations. Production of NO2-, NO3-, NO, and N2O was detectable shortly after cultures started growth and proceeded exponentially during the logarithmic growth phase. NO2- and NO3- production rates were higher for cultures inoculated in media with pH values below 7 than for those in media at alkaline pH. Neither assimilatory nor dissimilatory nitrate or nitrite reductase activities were detectable in aerobic cultures.     

Relationships between biological and chemical parameters on the composting of a municipal solid waste

The aim of this work was to study the combined relationships between biological and chemical parameters with the humification index (HI) and degree of polymerisation (DP) during the composting of a municipal solid waste. During the composting, biological parameters increased during the first 15 days. After the second week, the dehydrogenase, urease, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities decreased 64%, 50.1%, 49.6%, 24.1% and 58.3%, respectively, compared with their initial values, possibly due to the decreasing of the water-soluble carbon content (WSC). The WSC contents decreased possibly due to the degradation of the microorganisms as carbon and energy sources. The HI increased (66% compared to the initial values) indicating an increase in the structural complexity of the humic substances. The factorial analysis indicates a relationship between the biological properties, WSC and HI and DP. The linear regression analysis indicates the high correlation coefficients found between the HI and DP with chemical and biological properties, and therefore, it can be concluded that combination of chemical and biological parameters can be used to determine the compost maturity.     

生物炭对黄壤中氮淋溶影响:室内土柱模拟

土壤氮素的淋失作用不仅造成土壤营养元素的损失,而且对河流和湖泊等环境水体的富营养化具有重要贡献.采用土柱室内模拟方法,通过模拟降雨淋滤,研究了生物炭对土壤淋溶液体积、pH和电导率以及NH4+-N和NO3--N淋溶的影响.试验中所用的生物炭是以桉树木屑为原料制成,分别按照炭土质量比1％、2％、4％、10％施用于土壤中.结果显示,与对照相比,向土壤添加10％、4％、2％、1％生物炭分别减少土壤水分损失14％、0.03％、0.02％和0.01％;随生物炭添加量增加,淋溶液的pH和电导率也逐渐增加;土壤生物炭添加量为10％、4％、2％时,NH4+-N淋溶量分别增加235％、28.1％、31.6％,NO3--N淋溶量分别增加4.2％、14.5％、25.6％;但生物炭添加量为1％的土柱NH4+-N淋溶量减少15.8％,NO3--N淋溶量减少19.2％.本研究表明,桉树生物炭对土壤氮淋溶与其施用量有关,1％施用量能减少氮淋溶,过量施用将增加氮淋溶,这种作用是否与生物炭种类有关有待进一步研究.     

Coal fly ash and lime addition enhances the rate and efficiency of decomposition of food waste during composting

To evaluate the use of coal fly ash (CFA) on the decomposition efficiency of food waste, synthetic food waste was mixed with lime at 1.5% and 3% (equivalent to 0.94% and 1.88% CaCO₃, respectively), CFA at 5%, 10% and 15% with lime so as to achieve CaCO₃ equivalent of 1.88% and composted for 42 days in a thermophilic 20 l composter with two replicates each. Alkaline materials at 1.88% CaCO₃ equivalent successfully buffered the pH during the composting and enhanced the decomposition efficiency. When these buffering was achieved with CFA + lime, the composting period could be shortened to ∼28 days compared with ∼42 days in 3% lime. Organic decomposition in terms of CO₂ loss, carbon turnover and nitrogen transformation were significantly higher for treatments with 1.88% CaCO₃ equivalent. Nutrient transformations and compost maturity parameters indicated that addition of CFA (5–10%) with lime at 1.88% CaCO₃ equivalent enhances the decomposition efficiency and shortens the composting period by 35%.     

Effects of compositions on food waste composting

The objective of this work was to provide a method of predicting important parameters (composting time, highest temperature, final and lowest pH values, cumulative CO(2) evolution, and percentages of material losses) that characterized the composting process of synthetic food waste in terms of weight fractions of protein and fat. Experimental results showed that final products of all 12 experimental runs passed multiple maturity tests. Quadratic equations obtained by the multi-regression analysis were also developed for quick estimation. The models were tested for real kitchen waste and the agreements between experimental and predicted results were fair.     

Removal of nitrogen from industrial wastewaters by three-step nitrification and denitrification.

The removal of nitrogen from industrial wastewaters carrying about 1,000 mg NH4-N and urea-N/l was investigated on a laboratory scale. The use of a three-step nitryfying activated sludge with adjustment of pH from step to step resulted in 99% oxidation of both forms of nitrogen to nitrites. The efficiency of nitrification was 18 mg N/l/h. Total time of wastewater aeration depended on nitrogen concentration and was 33-54 hours. Complete dentrification of NO2-N was obtained in packed-bed reactor with the use of acetic acid as a carbon source. Efficiency of denitrification was 361 mg N/l/h.     

Allantoin-N concentration changes and analysis of the influencing factors on its changes during different manure composting

Allantoin is one of important nitrogenous compounds in manure. In this study, the simulation experiment of aerobic composting was adopted to explore concentration changes, degradation and relevant influencing factors of allantoin-N during six manure composting. The result showed that the allantoin-N concentration was markedly different among different manures. The various livestock and poultry excreted 1.92-11.14gkg(-1) allantoin-N which accounted for 9.98-32.27% of the total excreted nitrogen. The changing trend of the allantoin-N concentration firstly increased (for 0-14 days), then decreased (for 14-70 days) during different manure composting, and the allantoin-N concentration after composting was lower than the initial allantoin-N concentration in all manure composting. During allantoin degradation for 14-70 days of composting, the half-life of allantoin-N was 57.76 days in broiler manure, 46.21 days in layer-hen manure, 27.73 days in hog manure, 25.67 days in sow manure, 38.51 days in young pig manure and 15.75 days in dairy manure, and the sequence in the half-life was chicken manure>pig manure>dairy manure. Allantoin degradation conformed to first-order kinetics. Through the correlation analysis, hippuric acid, hydrolyzable nitrogen, amino acid-nitrogen, HUN fraction, NO(3)(-)-N and total hydrolyzable nitrogen could be closely related to allantoin-N transforming during composting. Humification could be the main influencing factor for reducing allantoin-N concentration during composting.     

Dehydrogenase activity as a method for monitoring the composting process

Dehydrogenase enzymatic activity was determined to monitor the biological activity in a composting process of organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Dehydrogenase activity is proposed as a method to describe the biological activity of the thermophilic and mesophilic stages of composting. The maximum dehydrogenase activity was detected at the end of the thermophilic stage of composting, with values within 0.5-0.7mgg dry matter(-1)h(-1). Also, dehydrogenase activity can be correlated to static respiration index during the maturation mesophilic stage.     

Effect of the raw materials and mixing ratio of composted wastes on the dynamic of organic matter stabilization and nitrogen availability in composts of Sub-Saharan Africa

The effect of raw materials and their proportions in initial mixtures on organic matter (OM) stabilization and nitrogen (N) availability during pit composting in Sub-Saharan Africa was assessed using biochemical fractionation and laboratory incubations to characterize composts sampled throughout the composting process. Stabilization of OM occurred more rapidly in mixtures with slaughter-house wastes, it was progressive in mixture with household refuses while tree leaves compost remained unstable. Carbon mineralization from compost samples was positively correlated to water soluble and hemicellulose-like organic fractions. Mixtures containing large proportions of household refuses reached the highest stability and total N but available N remained weak. Slaughter-house wastes in the initial mixtures made possible to reach good OM stabilization and the largest N availability. The nature of initial mixing influenced composting parameters, OM stabilization and N availability. It is suggested mixing household refuses and slaughter-house wastes with tree leaves to reach better amending and fertilizer qualities of composts.     

水稻土模拟土柱中肥料氮素的迁移转化特征

为了明确肥料氮素在模拟土柱中的迁移转化特征,通过布置室内模拟土柱试验,研究了3倍常规施肥水平下（360 mg·kg^-1）水稻土中矿质氮的变化.结果表明： 不同处理、不同土层间NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量差异显著.不施肥对照在整个培养期间养分含量变化不大,不同土层间亦没有显著性差异.施用尿素和硫铵后,土壤NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量显著提高,尤其是0～50 mm土层内,分别达到186.0～2882.1 mg·kg^-1和268.7～351.5 mg·kg^-1,分别相当于对照的4.8～242倍和5.7～316倍,50 mm以下各土层与对照处理相似,表明肥料氮素的迁移转化主要发生在0～50 mm土层内,并且在培养的前14 d变化最大.整个培养期间不同土层内,硫铵处理不同矿质态氮含量是尿素处理的0.7～2.0倍,硝化率是尿素处理的0.9～1.4倍,表明硫铵在水稻土中的转化效率略高于尿素.     

Laboratory composting of extruded poly(lactic acid) sheets

Composting of extruded poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in combination with pre-composted yard waste in a laboratory composting system was studied. Yard waste and PLA mixtures containing 0%, 10%, or 30% PLA (dry weight basis) were placed in composting vessels for four weeks. Exhaust gases were analyzed for carbon dioxide concentration twice per week. After the first week, significantly greater (P < 0.05) amounts of carbon dioxide were generated in vessels with 10% or 30% PLA than in control (0% PLA) vessels. Data indicated that microbial degradation of PLA occurred. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in carbon dioxide emission between 10% and 30% PLA mixtures. Compost pH dropped (from 6.0 to 4.0) after 4 weeks of composting for 30% PLA, but remained unchanged (6.3) for 0% or 10% PLA. Most likely, in the case of 30% PLA, substantial chemical hydrolysis and lactic acid generation lowered the compost pH. The lowered pH likely suppressed microbial activity, thus explaining the lack of difference in carbon dioxide emissions between 10% and 30% PLA mixtures. Gel permeation chromatography showed a notable decrease in PLA molecular weight as a result of composting. It was demonstrated that PLA can be efficiently composted when added in small amounts (<30% by weight) to pre-composted yard waste.