Changes in tannin and saponin components during co-composting of Camellia oleifera Abel shell and seed cake

This study investigated the co-compost product of the shell and seed cake of Camellia oleifera Abel, which is a small evergreen tree in the family Theaceae. Tannin and saponin contents in compost samples at different time-points and their compositional changes, as well as their relationships with nutrients and compost maturity, were analyzed using an UPLC-triple-TOF/MS system. Our results showed that tannins in the compost samples mainly consisted of 11 phenolic acid compounds, of which four small-molecule phenolic acid compounds were found in low contents. Saponins mainly consisted of five saponin aglycones (A, B, C, D, E) and four of their derivatives in C. oleifera. Microbially secreted enzymes converted the large-molecule phenolic acid compounds into small-molecule compounds and their derivatives, while saponins were decomposed into saponin aglycones. Contents of tannin and saponin had correlations with the C/N ratio, germination index (GI), and the Solvita maturity index. After composting, the content of tannin was reduced to less than 1%, and the content of saponin was not more than 2%. And compost products were safe.