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Co-composting of Paper Mill Sludge and Hardwood Sawdust Under Two Types of In-Vessel Processes.
- Source :
- Journal of Environmental Science & Health, Part B -- Pesticides, Food Contaminants, & Agricultural Wastes; Jan2004, Vol. 39 Issue 1, p139-151, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Recycling of organic residues by composting is becoming an acceptable practice in our society. Co-composting dewatered paper mill sludge (PMS) and hardwood sawdust, two readily available materials in Canada, was investigated using uncontrolled and controlled in-vessel processes. The composted materials were characterized for total C and N, water-soluble, acid-hydrolyzable, and non-hydrolyzable N, extractable lipids, and by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometry. In the controlled scale process, the loss of organic matter was approximately 65% higher than in the uncontrolled process. After undergoing initial fluctuations in N fractions during the first two days of composting, by the end of the process, concentrations of water-soluble N decreased while those of acid-hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable N increased in the controlled process, whereas in the uncontrolled process, water-soluble N increased, but N in the other two fractions decreased continuously, indicating that the biochemical transformations of organic matter were not completed. Data on extractable lipids and FT-IR spectra suggest that the compost produced from the controlled process was bio-stable after 14 days, while the uncontrolled process was not stabilized after 18 days. In addition, FT-IR data suggest the biological activity during composting centered mainly on the degradation of aliphatic structures while aromatic structures were preserved. The co-composting of the PMS and hardwood sawdust can be successfully achieved if aeration, moisture, and bio-available C/N ratios are optimized to reduce losses of N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03601234
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Environmental Science & Health, Part B -- Pesticides, Food Contaminants, & Agricultural Wastes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12293208
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1081/PFC-120027445