Thermochemolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were applied to determine the structure of humic acids (HA) extracted from a sewage sludge and straw mixture at different steps of composting. The HA extracted from sludge mixture released various compounds, such as mono-, di-, tri-methoxy (alkyl) benzene and (alkyl) benzoic acids, which originated from lignin like derivativ...

This study has analyzed the generation and characteristics of solid waste in Dhaka city, along with the associated environmental impacts and existing solid waste management practices. Special focus was given on the effect of composting on final disposal of solid waste and effect of landfill site location on transportation cost. An estimate of the future generation rate indicates that the presen...

The usability of the solid phase extraction method with Tenax-TA adsorbent for the forecasting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon losses during sewage sludges composting has been evaluated in the present study. Four municipal sewage sludges were composted for 76 days. The PAH content in the sludges ranged from 3674 to 11 236 microg kg(-1). After composting, a significant reduction of PAH conten...

The link between livestock production, manure management, and human health has received much public attention in recent years. Composting is often promoted as a means of sanitizing manure to ensure that pathogenic bacteria are not spread to a wider environment during land application. In a two-year study (1998 and 1999) in southern Alberta, we examined the fate of coliform bacteria during windr...

To evaluate the NH(3), N(2)O, and CH(4) emissions from composting of livestock waste without forced aeration in turned piles, and to investigate the possible relationship between the scale of the compost pile and gas emission rates, we conducted swine manure composting experiments in parallel on small- and large-scale compost piles. Continuous measurements of gas emissions during composting wer...

Municipal solid waste (MSW) compost contains a significant amount of humic substances. In this study, the compost consisted of residual MSW with the metal, plastic and glass removed. In order to enhance degradation processes and the degree of composting humification, complex microorganisms (Bacillus casei, Lactobacillus buchneri and Candida rugopelliculosa) and ligno-cellulolytic (Trichoderma a...

In biosecure composting, animal mortalities are so completely isolated during the degradation process that visual inspection cannot be used to monitor progress or the process status. One novel approach is to monitor the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by decaying mortalities and to use them as biomarkers of the process status. A new method was developed to quantitatively analyze pote...

Small scale co-composting of faecal matter from dry toilet systems with shredded plant material and food waste was investigated in respect to heat development and deactivation of faecal indicators under tropical semiarid conditions. Open (uncovered) co-composting of faecal matter with shredded plant material alone did not generate temperatures high enough (<55 degrees C) to reduce the indicator...

Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has enacted a food waste recycling policy since 2003 as an alternative of landfill and incineration for the final disposal of municipal solid waste. Recycled food waste is currently seen as a valuable material, especially when appropriate technology is developed. This paper conducts a cost/benefit analysis based on six cases of food waste c...

AIMS To determine the microbial succession of the dominating taxa and functional groups of microorganisms and the total microbial activity during the composting of biowaste in a monitored process. METHODS AND RESULTS Biowaste (vegetable, fruit and garden waste) was composted in a monitored composting bin system. During the process, taxonomic and functional subpopulations of microorganisms wer...