Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.56.01.18.5439
In-Vessel Co-Composting of Food Waste Employing Enriched Bacterial Consortium
Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
; Department of Biotechnology, Amicable Knowledge Solution University
Quan Wang
; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
Meijing Wang
; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
Hongyu Chen
; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
Xiuna Ren
; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
Junchao Zhao
; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
Zengqiang Zhang
; College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to develop a good initial composting mix using a bacterial consortium and 2 % lime for effective co-composting of food waste in a 60-litre in-vessel composter. In the experiment that lasted for 42 days, the food waste was first mixed with sawdust and 2 % lime (by dry mass), then one of the reactors was inoculated with an enriched bacterial consortium, while the other served as control. The results show that inoculation of the enriched natural bacterial consortium effectively overcame the oil-laden co-composting mass in the composter and increased the rate of mineralization. In addition, CO2 evolution rate of (0.81±0.2) g/(kg·day), seed germination index of (105±3) %, extractable ammonium mass fraction of 305.78 mg/kg, C/N ratio of 16.18, pH=7.6 and electrical conductivity of 3.12 mS/cm clearly indicate that the compost was well matured and met the composting standard requirements. In contrast, control treatment exhibited a delayed thermophilic phase and did not mature after 42 days, as evidenced by the maturity parameters. Therefore, a good composting mix and potential bacterial inoculum to degrade the oil are essential for food waste co-composting systems.
Keywords
oily food waste; composting mix formulation; bacterial consortium; lime
Hrčak ID:
197376
URI
Publication date:
30.3.2018.
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