Optimization of food waste compost with the use of biochar


Waqas M., Nizami A. S., Aburiazaiza A. S., Barakat M. A., Ismail I. M. I., Rashid M. I.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, cilt.216, ss.70-81, 2018 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 216
  • Basım Tarihi: 2018
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.06.015
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.70-81
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

This paper aims to examine the influence of biochar produced from lawn waste in accelerating the degradation and mineralization rates of food waste compost. Biochar produced at two different temperatures (350 and 450 degrees C) was applied at the rates 10 and 15% (w/w) of the total waste to an in-vessel compost bioreactor for evaluating its effects on food waste compost. The quality of compost was assessed against stabilization indices such as moisture contents (MC), electrical conductivity (EC), organic matters (OM) degradation, change in total carbon (TC) and mineral nitrogen contents such as ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-). The use of biochar significantly improved the composting process and physiochemical properties of the final compost. Results showed that in comparison to control trial, biochar amended compost mixtures rapidly achieved the thermophilic temperature, increased the OM degradation by 14.4 -15.3%, concentration of NH4+ by 37.8-45.6% and NO3- by 50-62%. The most prominent effects in term of achieving rapid thermophilic temperature and a higher concentration of NH4+ and NO3- were observed at 15% (w/w) biochar. According to compost quality standard of United States (US), California, Germany, and Austria, the compost stability as a result of biochar addition was achieved in 50-60 days. Nonetheless, the biochar produced at 450 degrees C had similar effects as to biochar produced at 350 degrees C for most of the compost parameters. Therefore, it is recommended to produce biochar at 350 degrees C to reduce the energy requirements for resource recovery of biomass and should be added at a concentration of 15% (w/w) to the compost bioreactor for achieving a stable compost. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.