Composting in small laboratory pilots: performance and reproducibility

The influence of coagulant type on the biological treatment of sewage sludge

Anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting are commonly utilized sludge management methods however, the influence of different coagulant types on these biological processes and their stabilized biomass characteristics have not been fully explained. In this study, the effect of the coagulant used in municipal wastewater treatment on the biological stabilization of sludge was investigated. Fully controlled and monitored small-scale AD and composting bioreactors were utilized. The coagulants tested included an inorganic coagulant (IC), polyaluminium chloride (PAC), and organic coagulants, (OC) polyamine (pAmine) and chitosan (Chit). Overall, the coagulant applied showed a measurable influence on the biological stabilization of sludge. The presence of complex organics compounds from OC in the sludge biomass was found to decrease biomass biodegradability while increasing gas production. During AD, Chit-sludge achieved higher biogas production than pAmine- and PAC-sludges (13 % and 16 %, respectively, in Nm³ CH₄ t^-1VS). In composting, pAmine-sludge achieved the highest feedstock temperature (34-35 °C) and CO₂ gas emissions, followed by Chit- (33 °C) and PAC-sludges (32 °C). Generally, tot-P concentration in PAC-sludge was higher than in pAmine and Chit-sludges both before (20, 17 and 15 g/kg DM, consecutively) and after AD (23, 21 and 20.5 g/kg DM, consecutively), and during the composting (31, 29.5 and 26 g/kg DM, consecutively) process. Tot-N concentrations (g/kg DM) showed a substantial increase after AD (pAmine and PAC ca 50 % and Chit 81 %), while a decrease was observed after composting, specifically in PAC-sludge (PAC 28 %, pAmine and Chit ⁓5 %). The selection of the most suitable coagulant by wastewater treatment facilities depends on the objective of the biological stabilization process. In cases where AD is applied and biogas yield is selected as the target output, the semi-natural OC Chit was found to be the best option among the coagulants tested. Comparably, when the nutrient content of resulting biosolids (AD or composting) is more relevant, it was found that OC-produced sludge contained higher N concentrations, while IC-produced sludge contained slightly higher P concentrations.

Compositional and functional succession of bacterial and fungal communities is associated with changes in abiotic properties during pig manure composting

While both bacteria and fungi are important for the degradation and humification of organic matter during composting, it is unclear to what extent their roles are associated with abiotic compost properties. This study evaluated changes in abiotic compost properties and the succession of bacterial and fungal communities during pig manure composting for 90 days. The compost rapidly reached thermophilic phase (>58 ℃), which lasted for 15 days. Both bacterial and fungal community compositions changed drastically during composting and while bacterial diversity increased, the fungal diversity decreased during the thermophilic phase of composting. Two taxa dominated both bacterial (Bacillales and Clostridiales) and fungal (Eurotiales and Glomerellales) communities and these showed alternating abundance fluctuations following different phases of composting. The abundance fluctuations of most dominant bacterial and fungal taxa could be further associated with decreases in the concentrations of fulvic acid, cellulose, hemicellulose and overall biodegradation potential in the compost. Moreover, bacterial predicted metabolic gene abundances dominated the first three phases of composting, while predicted fungal saprotrophic functional genes increased consistently, reaching highest abundances towards the end of composting. Finally, redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that changes in abiotic compost properties correlated with the bacterial community diversity and carbohydrate metabolism and fungal wood saprotrophic function. Together these results suggests that bacterial and fungal community succession was associated with temporal changes in abiotic compost properties, potentially explaining alternating taxa abundance patterns during pig manure composting.

Vermicomposting: A Valorization Alternative for Corn Cob Waste

As vermicomposting has become a viable alternative for the valorization of organic waste; the objectives of this research were to (1) assess the feasibility of said process for corn cob waste (corn cobs and corn husks) and (2) evaluate the operation conditions for the biodegradation of different mixtures with load material (LM). LM did not include animal excreta as a nitrogen source, a practice widely used in a range of studies. The experiment consisted of an initial phase of pre-composting in order to obtain a partially stabilized substrate. Subsequently, four separate mixtures were made consisting of corn cob waste mixed with consistent load material (LM) containing vegetable waste and eggshells (CR, M1, M2, M3) to obtain a balance substrate able to facilitate degradation using Eisenia fetida earthworms. The following parameters were analyzed during the control process: temperature, pH, humidity, organic material (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The analysis of the final values of the stabilized mixtures showed that vermicomposting is indeed a feasible alternative for the degradation of corn cob waste for use as a soil improver.

Manipulation of composting oxygen supply to facilitate dissolved organic matter (DOM) accumulation which can enhance maize growth

Promotion of crop yield by compost application is generally thought to be ascribed to a better supply of macro and micronutrients, however the importance of compost DOM on plant growth has not been well demonstrated. In this study, composting of chicken manure, spent mushroom and sawdust was conducted under aerobic or anaerobic condition to determine the effects of compost DOM on plant growth. It was found that dissolved organic matter (DOM) first increased and then decreased in compost, and DOM of anaerobic compost was slightly higher than that of aerobic compost. When compost extract was applied to maize, among N, P, K and DOM content, it was DOM content that was most significantly and strongly related to plant biomass (r = 0.843, p＜0.001). Compost DOM was also strongly related to soil properties, the improvement of which can also promote plant growth. Compost application confirmed that higher compost DOM results in greater plant biomass. In order to facilitate compost DOM accumulation, we designed a novel composting process which combined aerobic and anaerobic treatments, and the resulting compost (A-Ana compost) with the highest amount of DOM displayed the best performance in promotion of plant growth. A-Ana compost was able to increase maize biomass by 32.71% and 12.40% compared with only anaerobic or aerobic compost, respectively. Therefore, DOM is a critical factor determining compost quality and it is feasible to manipulate composting oxygen supply condition to increase compost DOM, which will lead to increased plant yield.

Organic micropollutants' distribution within sludge organic matter fractions explains their dynamic during sewage sludge anaerobic digestion followed by composting

The simultaneous fate of organic matter and 4 endocrine disruptors (3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) and nonylphenols (NP)) was studied during the anaerobic digestion followed by composting of sludge at lab-scale. Sludge organic matter was characterized, thanks to chemical fractionation and 3D fluorescence deciphering its accessibility and biodegradability. Total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 41% and 56% during anaerobic digestion and composting, respectively. 3D fluorescence highlighted the quality changes of organic matter. During continuous anaerobic digestion, organic micropollutants' removal was 22 ± 14%, 6 ± 5%, 18 ± 9%, and 0% for fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols, respectively. Discontinuous composting allowed to go further on the organic micropollutants' removal as 34 ± 8%, 31 ± 20%, 38 ± 10%, and 52 ± 6% of fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and nonylphenols were dissipated, respectively. Moreover, the accessibility of PAH and NP expressed by their presence in the various sludge organic matter fractions and its evolution during both treatments was linked to both the quality evolution of the organic matter and the physicochemical properties of the PAH and NP; the presence in most accessible fractions explained the amount of PAH and NP dissipated.

Succession of organics metabolic function of bacterial community in swine manure composting

Organics metabolic function of bacterial communities was evaluated in 60 days composting of swine manure and pumice by using MiSeq sequencing, PICRUSt and Biolog tools. The diversity of bacterial communities significantly decreased during the first 10 days, and gradually increased in the cooling and curing phase. The PICRUSt and Biolog analysis indicated that carbohydrate, lipid and amino acids metabolisms were relatively higher in the thermophilic phases. Xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, lipid metabolism, terpenoids and polyketides and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites were mainly detected in the curing phases. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that the succession of bacterial community and organics utilization characteristics were highly affected by the temperature, moisture and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) in the swine composting system.

Evaluation of the disintegration of linen fabric under composting conditions

In recent years, about 10% of the total wastes generated around the world were fabric wastes and, due to the large volume of these wastes, should be well managed. Among the various types of fabrics, some have greater biodegradability and can be decomposed at the acceptable rates under controlled conditions. In this study, the disintegration of linen fabric was investigated under composting conditions. During the composting process, temperature, moisture, and aeration were controlled. According to FTIR spectra of linen fabrics during the composting process, the disintegration of linen fibers was identified as the breakdown of carbonyl groups and hydrogen bonds of cellulosic chains. Regarding the SEM images of linen fabrics, the composting process in the first 45 days led to the breakdown of the fibers, and in the second 45 days of the process, most of the fibers were degraded. Since in the second 45 days of the process, the compost pile temperature is always between 39 and 44 °C and 65-70 °C, it can be concluded that the rate of microbial disintegration of the linen fabric is higher at these temperatures. At the end of the test, the disintegration value of the linen fabric was 55% and the weight loss due to organic matter conversion was 61%. The samples weight loss showed that linen fabric has high biodegradability under composting conditions. The germination index (GI) of the resulting compost was 73.88%, which indicates the produced compost is mature.

Nitrogen loss reduction by adding KH2PO4-K2HPO4 buffer solution during composting of sewage sludge

Nitrogen loss through gaseous emission, mainly ammonia emission, was an inevitable problem during sewage sludge composting. In this study, MgSO₄ + K₃PO₄ (Run A), K₂SO₄ + KH₂PO₄-K₂HPO₄ (Run B) and MgSO₄ + KH₂PO₄-K₂HPO₄ (Run C) were mixed with mixtures before composting, aiming at researching the effects of buffer solution on reducing nitrogen loss during composting. Ammonia loss of Run C was reduced by 53.8% and 45.5%, and nitrogen loss of Run C was decreased by 61.2% and 67.1%, compared to that of Run A and Run B, respectively. Besides, organic matter degradation of Run C was 36.8%. Among the three amended treatments, nitrogen loss in Run C was effectively reduced and organic matter degradation was slightly improved. The addition of MgSO₄ and KH₂PO₄-K₂HPO₄ was confirmed to be effective to maintain a desired pH range for struvite precipitation as well as to reserve more ammonia in the compost to promote the formation of struvite.

A flexible control system designed for lab-scale simulations and optimization of composting processes

Understanding and optimization of composting processes can benefit from the use of controlled simulators of various scales. The Agricultural Research Organization Composting Simulator (ARO-CS) was recently built and it is flexibly automated by means of a programmable logic controller (PLC). Temperature, carbon dioxide, oxygen and airflow are monitored and controlled in seven 9-l reactors that are mounted into separate 80-l water baths. The PLC program includes three basic heating modes (pre-determined temperature profile, temperature-feedback ("self-heating"), and carbon dioxide-dependent temperature), three basic aeration modes (airflow dependence on temperature, carbon dioxide, or oxygen) and enables all possible combinations among them. This unique high flexibility provides a robust and valuable research tool to explore a wide range of research questions related to the science and engineering of composting. In this article the logic and flexibility of the control system is presented and demonstrated and its potential applications are discussed.

Functional characteristics and influence factors of microbial community in sewage sludge composting with inorganic bulking agent

The metabolic function of microbial community dominated organics and nutrients transformation in aerobic composting process. In this study, the metabolic characteristics of bacterial and fungal communities were evaluated in 60 days composting of sludge and pumice by using FUNGuild and PICRUSt, respectively. The results showed that microbial community structure and metabolic characteristics were distinctively different at four composting periods. Bacterial genes related to carbohydrate metabolisms decreased during the first 30 days, but bacterial sequences associated with oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acids synthesis were enhanced in curing phase. Most of fungal animal pathogen and plant pathogen disappeared after treatment, and the abundance of saprotroph fungi increased from 44.3% to 97.8%. Oxidation reduction potential (ORP) significantly increased from -28 to 175 mV through incubation. RDA analysis showed that ORP was a crucial factor on the succession of both bacterial and fungal communities in sludge composting system.

Microbial strategies and biochemical activity during lignocellulosic waste composting in relation to the occurring biothermal phases

Typically, hardly-degradable lignocellulosic waste is a component or a co-component of the composted mass. The aim of the work was to present the dynamics and succession of microbial communities during small temperature changes, conditioned by the availability of lignocellulosic polymer and feather waste (the presence of N) in composts with qualitatively and quantitatively different lignocellulosic waste, but most of all, to draw attention to the previously not considered microbial strategies in the composted mass. Decomposition of lignocellulose during composting was similar to the priming effect in the soil, because it was associated with the successive occurrence of two groups of microorganisms. The first group of microorganisms, using easily accessible fraction of the lignocellulose complex, was named the first-strategist group, i.e., non-nutritionally specialized group of microorganisms. The second group, utilizing the hard-to-degrade fraction of lignocellulose, was named second-strategist microorganisms, i.e., nutritionally-specialized group of microorganisms. Biodegradation of the lignocellulose complex in compost I enriched with grass (42.86% pine bark, 34.28% grass, 20.0% sawdust and 2.86% chicken feathers) was faster than in compost II that did not contain any grass, but included more hardly degradable components (25.54% pine bark, 10.63% wheat straw, 51.07% sawdust, 12.76% chicken feathers). In compost I, a higher temperature in the thermophilic phase was recorded; larger amounts of non-specialized mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria in the first weeks of composting and a higher abundance of ligninolytic, xylanolytic fungi and cellulolytic bacteria were observed already in biothermal phase 3 with limited access to easily available C and energy sources. During this period, phosphatase, dehydrogenase and respiratory activities were higher in compost I than compost II. This work demonstrates that the succession of particular groups of microorganisms may help determine the start of biodegradation of recalcitrant ligninocellulosic components during composting.

Potential of chopped heath biomass and spent growth media to replace wood chips as bulking agent for composting high N-containing residues

We investigated the potential of C-rich byproducts to replace wood chips as bulking agent (BA) during composting. The impact of these alternatives on the composting process and on compost stability and characteristics was assessed. Three BA (chopped heath biomass and spent growth media used in strawberry and tomato cultivation) were used for processing leek residues in windrow composting. All BA resulted in stable composts with an organic matter (OM) content suitable for use as soil amendment. Using chopped heath biomass led to high pile temperatures and OM degradation and a nutrient-poor compost with high C/P ratio appropriate for increasing soil organic carbon content in P-rich soils. Spent substrates can replace wood chips, however, due to their dense structure and lower biodegradation potential, adding a more coarse BA is required. Generally, the nutrient content of the composts with growth media was higher than the composts with wood chips and chopped heath biomass.

Stabilisation of spent mushroom substrate for application as a plant growth-promoting organic amendment

Over three million tonnes of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) are produced in Europe every year as a by-product of the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus. The management of SMS has become an increasing challenge for the mushroom production industry, and finding environmentally and economically sustainable solutions for this organic residue is, therefore, highly desirable. Due to its physical properties and nutrient content, SMS has great potential to be employed in agricultural and horticultural sectors, and further contribute to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, such as peat. However, SMS is often regarded as not being stable and/or mature, which hampers its wide use for crop production. Here, we demonstrate the stabilisation of SMS and its subsequent use as organic fertiliser and partial peat replacement in horticulture. The stabilisation was performed in a laboratory-scale composting system, with controlled temperature and aeration. Physical and chemical parameters were monitored during composting and provided information on the progress of the process. Water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) content was found to be the most reliable parameter to predict SMS stability. In situ oxygen consumption indicated the main composting phases, reflecting major changes in microbial activity. The structure of the bacterial community was also found to be a potential predictor of stability, as the compositional changes followed the composting progress. By contrast, the fungal community did not present clear successional process along the experiment. Maturity and quality of the stabilised SMS were assessed in a horticultural growing trial. When used as the sole fertiliser source, SMS was able to support Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass) growth and significantly improved grass yield with a concentration-dependent response, increasing grass biomass up to 300%, when compared to the untreated control. In summary, the results indicated that the method employed was efficient in generating a stable and mature product, which has a great potential to be applied in horticulture. This study represents a step forward in the management of SMS residue, and also provides an alternative to reduce the use of peat in horticulture, alleviating environmental impacts to peatland ecosystems.

Improving the product stability and fertilizer value of cattle slurry solid fraction through co-composting or co-ensiling

Separating dairy cattle slurry in a liquid and solid fraction (SF) is gaining more interest, since it enables a more targeted use of both fractions. However, the valorization of the SF is limited on P-rich soils, due to its high P content, and the export or use as bedding material requires sanitation. Therefore, we investigated the influence of composting or ensiling the SF, whether or not mixed with bulking agents, on the product quality in terms of fertilizer value, sanitation and stability. Ensiling can be considered as a controlled storage method for conserving C and nutrients. Soil amendment with co-ensiled SF resulted in a higher N mineralization and crop growth compared to amendment of co-composted SF. Co-composting SF with structure-rich feedstock materials optimized the composting process and sanitation when compared with composting pure SF and did not increase the risk for extreme-heat-resistant spores of thermophilic aerobic spore-forming bacteria (X-TAS). Further, the composts contained more P per unit of fresh weight than the silages, beneficial for the export of the composted SF. The oxygen uptake rate was found to be less powerful to determine the stability of fresh, composted and ensiled SF.

Design of experiment (DOE) based screening of factors affecting municipal solid waste (MSW) composting

A design of experiment (DOE) based methodology was adopted in this study to investigate the effects of multiple factors and their interactions on the performance of a municipal solid waste (MSW) composting process. The impact of four factors, carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N), moisture content (MC), type of bulking agent (BA) and aeration rate (AR) on the maturity, stability and toxicity of compost product was investigated. The statistically significant factors were identified using final C/N, germination index (GI) and especially the enzyme activities as responses. Experimental results validated the use of enzyme activities as proper indices during the course of composting. Maximum enzyme activities occurred during the active phase of decomposition. MC has a significant effect on dehydrogenase activity (DGH), β-glucosidase activity (BGH), phosphodiesterase activity (PDE) and the final moisture content of the compost. C/N is statistically significant for final C/N, DGH, BGH, and GI. The results provided guidance to optimize a MSW composting system that will lead to increased decomposition rate and the production of more stable and mature compost.

Combining woody biomass for combustion with green waste composting: Effect of removal of woody biomass on compost quality

The question was tackled on how the green waste compost industry can optimally apply the available biomass resources for producing both bioenergy by combustion of the woody fraction, and high quality soil improvers as renewable sources of carbon and nutrients. Compost trials with removal of woody biomass before or after composting were run at 9 compost facilities during 3 seasons to include seasonal variability of feedstock. The project focused on the changes in feedstock and the effect on the end product characteristics (both compost and recovered woody biomass) of this woody biomass removal. The season of collection during the year clearly affected the biochemical and chemical characteristics of feedstock, woody biomass and compost. On one hand the effect of removal of the woody fraction before composting did not significantly affect compost quality when compared to the scenario where the woody biomass was sieved from the compost at the end of the composting process. On the other hand, quality of the woody biomass was not strongly affected by extraction before or after composting. The holocellulose:lignin ratio was used in this study as an indicator for (a) the decomposition potential of the feedstock mixture and (b) to assess the stability of the composts at the end of the process. Higher microbial activity in green waste composts (indicated by higher oxygen consumption) and thus a lower compost stability resulted in higher N immobilization in the compost. Removal of woody biomass from the green waste before composting did not negatively affect the compost quality when more intensive composting was applied. The effect of removal of the woody fraction on the characteristics of the green waste feedstock and the extracted woody biomass is depending on the season of collection.

Production of nitrate-rich compost from the solid fraction of dairy manure by a lab-scale composting system

In the present study, we developed an efficient composting process for the solid fraction of dairy manure (SFDM) using lab-scale systems. We first evaluated the factors affecting the SFDM composting process using different thermophilic phase durations (TPD, 6 or 3days) and aeration rates (AR, 0.4 or 0.2 lmin(-1)kg(-1)-total solid (TS)). Results indicated that a similar volatile total solid (VTS) degradation efficiency (approximately 60%) was achieved with a TPD of 6 or 3days and an AR of 0.4 l min(-1) kg(-1)-TS (hereafter called higher AR), and a TPD of 3days resulted in less N loss caused by ammonia stripping. N loss was least when AR was decreased to 0.2 l min(-1) kg(-1)-TS (hereafter called lower AR) during the SFDM composting process. However, moisture content (MC) in the composting pile increased at the lower AR because of water production by VTS degradation and less water volatilization. Reduced oxygen availability caused by excess water led to lower VTS degradation efficiency and inhibition of nitrification. Adding sawdust to adjust the C/N ratio and decrease the MC improved nitrification during the composing processes; however, the addition of increasing amounts of sawdust decreased NO3(-) concentration in matured compost. When an improved composting reactor with a condensate removal and collection system was used for the SFDM composting process, the MC of the composting pile was significantly reduced, and nitrification was detected 10-14days earlier. This was attributed to the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Highly matured compost could be generated within 40-50days. The VTS degradation efficiency reached 62.0% and the final N content, NO3(-) concentration, and germination index (GI) at the end of the composting process were 3.3%, 15.5×10(3)mg kg(-1)-TS, and 112.1%, respectively.

Mechanism and kinetics of organic matter degradation based on particle structure variation during pig manure aerobic composting

Characterization of the dynamic structure of composting particles may facilitate our understanding of the mechanisms of organic matter degradation during pig manure-wheat straw aerobic composting. In this study, changes in the size, shape, pores, chemical compositions, and crystal structures of pig manure particles during composting were investigated. The results showed that the median diameter (D50) decreased exponentially, while the particle aspect ratio and sphericity were unchanged, suggesting that particles were degraded uniformly along different radial directions. Pores had a mean diameter of 15-30 μm and were elliptical. The particle porosity increased linearly mainly because of hemicellulose degradation. Furthermore, the influence of particle structure variation on the first order rate constant (k) of organic matter degradation was corrected, which may facilitate the optimization of operation conditions. The k value was proportional to the reciprocal of D50 according to the specific surface area of particles, and it decreased with increased porosity due to the stabilized chemical compositions and crystal structures of particles. However, the applicability of these data to other composting materials should be verified.

Modeling the release of organic contaminants during compost decomposition in soil

Composts, incorporated in soils as amendments, may release organic contaminants during their decomposition. COP-Soil is presented here as a new model to simulate the interaction between organic contaminants and compost, using one module for organic matter and one for organic pollutants, with these modules being linked by several assumptions. Published results of laboratory soil incubations using labeled carbon pollutants from compost were used to test the model for one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), two surfactants and one herbicide. Several simulation scenarios were tested using (i) the organic pollutant module either alone or coupled to the organic matter module, (ii) various methods to estimate the adsorption coefficients (Kd) of contaminants on organic matter and (iii) different degrading biomasses. The simulations were improved if the organic pollutant module was coupled with the organic matter module. Multiple linear regression model for Kd as a function of organic matter quality yielded the most accurate simulation results. The inclusion of specific biomass in the model made it possible to successfully predict the PAH mineralization.

Characterizing the distribution of organic matter during composting of sewage sludge using a chemical and spectroscopic approach

The present study aimed to investigate the evolution of organic matters during sewage sludge composting with different carbon additives including glucose, sucrose and straw.

The operation of cost-effective on-site process for the bio-treatment of mixed municipal solid waste in rural areas

The application of on-site waste treatment significantly reduces the need for expensive waste collection and transportation in rural areas; hence, it is considered of fundamental importance in developing countries. In this study, the effects of in-field operation of two types of mini-scale on-site solid waste treatment facilities on de-centralized communities, one using mesophilic two-phase anaerobic digestion combined with composting (TPAD, 50 kg/d) and another using decentralized composting (DC, 0.6-2 t/d), were investigated. Source-separated collection was applied to provide organic waste for combined process, in which the amount of waste showed significant seasonal variation. The highest collection amount was 0.18 kg/capital day and 0.6 kg/household day. Both sites showed good performance after operating for more than 6 months, with peak waste reduction rates of 53.5% in TPAD process and 63.2% in DC process. Additionally, the windrow temperature exceeded 55 °C for >5 days, indicating that the composting products from both facilities were safe. These results were supported by 4 days aerobic static respiration rate tests. The emissions were low enough to avoid any impact on nearby communities (distance <100 m). Partial energy could be recovered by the combined process but with complicated operation. Hence, the choice of process must be considered in case separately.

Tracking organic matter and microbiota dynamics during the stages of lignocellulosic waste composting

The dynamics of biologically meaningful soluble and polymeric carbon fractions and the combined relationships between physical, chemical and biological parameters during composting of lignocellulosic waste were evaluated. The first thermophilic stage is crucial in determining the further evolution of soluble and polymeric carbon fractions but the dynamics of carbon is still important at the maturation stage. Multivariate data analysis showed that not only are all parameters interrelated but also influence one another's variability. To discern completion of bio-oxidative stage other parameters in addition to temperature should be measured. Evaluation of soluble organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, pH and inorganic nitrogen can be of great use in detecting the composting stage. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms involved in the biodegradation of organic matter and help to prioritize the parameters that contribute at critical stages of the process.

Bacterial communities predominant in the degradation of 13C(4)-4,5,9,10-pyrene during composting

An in-vessel composting bioremediation of (13)C4-4,5,9,10-pyrene and unlabeled pyrene spiked soil amended with fresh wastes was investigated by DNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP) of active bacteria involved. Highest dissipation of (13)C4-pyrene was detected at 55 °C after 42 days composting. The active bacterial communities in the composting changed over time, showing a distinct difference among different stages. α-, β-, γ-Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were detected mainly involving in pyrene degradation at 38 °C over 14 days composting. Streptomyces appeared to dominate the pyrene degradation at 55 °C. β- and γ-Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant pyrene degraders at 70 °C after 42 days composting and at 38 °C after 60 days composting. The results of this study suggest the pyrene degradation was performed by phylogenetically distinct bacterial guilds from the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria during in-vessel composition processes.

Fate of (14)C-organic pollutant residues in composted sludge after application to soil

Organic micropollutants may be present in biosolids, leading to soil contamination when they are recycled in agriculture. A sludge spiked with (14)C-labelled glyphosate (GLY), sodium linear dodecylbenzene sulphonate (LAS), fluoranthene (FLT) or 4-n-nonylphenol (NP) was composted with green waste and the fate of the (14)C-micropollutant residues remaining after composting was assessed after the compost application to the soil. (14)C-residues were mineralised in the soil and represented after 140d 20-32% of the initial activity for LAS, 16-25% for GLY, 6-9% for FLT and 4-7% for NP. The (14)C-residues at the end of composting that could not be extracted with methanol or ammonia were minimally remobilised or even increased for FLT. After 140d, non-extractable residues represented 38-52% of all of the (14)C-residues remaining in the soil for FLT, 50-67% for GLY, 91-92% for NP and 94-97% for LAS and in most cases, less than 1% of the (14)C-residues were water soluble, suggesting a low direct availability for leaching and microbial or plant assimilation. FLT was identified as the main compound among the methanol-extractable (14)C-residues that may be potentially available. The fate of the (14)C-organic pollutant residues in composts after application to soil could be assessed through a sequential chemical extraction scheme and depended on the chemical nature of the pollutant.

New insights into the interactions between carbon dioxide and ammonia emissions during sewage sludge composting

This study aimed to investigate the role of carbon dioxide in reducing ammonia emissions. Three variations of a composting experiment were conducted in a laboratory-scale reactor, all of which exhibited the three typical composting phases. Approximately 70% of the ammonia emissions occurred within 96-144 h of the thermophilic stage. The maximum rate of change for the carbon dioxide emissions occurred at different times for different carbon source types, mixing rates, and addition times. The rate of change and total concentration of emitted carbon dioxide played a crucial role in ammonia emission due to their relationship to the intensity of ammonia assimilation. The addition of a carbon source that could be utilized by thermophilic microorganisms stimulated ammonia assimilation and thus reduced ammonia emissions. These findings suggested that the addition of a 7:3 mixture of sucrose and straw powder at 108 h is suitable for reducing ammonia emissions.

Simulation of Organic Matter and Pollutant Evolution during Composting: The COP-Compost Model

Organic pollutants (OPs) are potentially present in composts and the assessment of their content and bioaccessibility in these composts is of paramount importance. In this work, we proposed a model to simulate the behavior of OPs and the dynamic of organic C during composting. This model, named COP-Compost, includes two modules. An existing organic C module is based on the biochemical composition of the initial waste mixture and simulates the organic matter transformation during composting. An additional OP module simulates OP mineralization and the evolution of its bioaccessibility. Coupling hypotheses were proposed to describe the interactions between organic C and OP modules. The organic C module, evaluated using experimental data obtained from 4-L composting pilots, was independently tested. The COP-Compost model was evaluated during composting experiments containing four OPs representative of the major pollutants detected in compost and targeted by current and future regulations. These OPs included a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (fluoranthene), two surfactants (4--nonylphenol and a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate), and an herbicide (glyphosate). Residues of C-labeled OP with different bioaccessibility were characterized by sequential extraction and quantified as soluble, sorbed, and nonextractable fractions. The model was calibrated and coupling the organic C and OP modules improved the simulation of the OP behavior and bioaccessibility during composting.

Dissipation pathways of organic pollutants during the composting of organic wastes

The organic pollutants (OPs) present in compostable organic residues can be recovered in the final composts leading to environmental impacts related to their use in agriculture. However, the composting process may contribute to their partial dissipation that is classically evaluated through the concentration decrease in extractable OPs, without identification of the responsible mechanisms as mineralization or stabilization of OP as non-extractable residues (NER) or bound residues. The dissipation of four (14)C-labeled OPs (fluoranthene; 4-n-nonylphenol, NP; sodium linear dodecylbenzene sulfonate, LAS; glyphosate) was assessed during composting of sewage sludge and green waste. The dissipation of LAS largely resulted from its mineralization (51% of initial LAS), whereas mineralization was intermediate for NP (29%) and glyphosate (24%), and negligible for fluoranthene. The NER pathway mostly concerned NP and glyphosate, with 45% and 37% of the recovered (14)C being found as NER at the end of composting, respectively. In the final composts, the proportions of water soluble residues of OPs considered as readily available were <11% of recovered (14)C-OPs. However, most fluoranthene remained solvent extractable (72%) and potentially available, whereas only 18% of glyphosate and less than 7% of both NP and LAS remained solvent extractable in the final compost.