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Improving food waste composting efficiency with mature compost addition
Yumei Wang1, Ya Tang2, Zengwei Yuan3
1Department of Environment, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
Bioresource Technology
|February 10, 2022
Summary
Adding mature compost to food waste composting significantly accelerates the process and enhances compost maturity. This method boosts key bacterial communities, improving organic matter degradation and metabolic functions for better compost quality.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Soil Science
Background:
- Food waste composting is crucial for sustainable waste management.
- Understanding microbial dynamics is key to optimizing composting efficiency.
- Mature compost can potentially influence the composting process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of mature compost addition on food waste composting.
- To analyze changes in physicochemical properties, bacterial communities, and metabolic functions.
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind mature compost's influence.
Main Methods:
- Pilot-scale composting experiments with and without mature compost (C20 vs. C0).
- Analysis of physicochemical properties, including volatile solids reduction.
- Microbial community analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing to track bacterial succession and metabolic function.
Main Results:
- Mature compost amendment increased volatile solids reduction by 71.4% and shortened the composting period by 7 days.
- Increased abundance of bacteria (SBR1031, Actinomarinales) related to maturity during initial and cooling stages.
- Enhanced amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism due to increased Ureibacillus, Lysinibacillus, Limochordaceae, and Tepidimicrobium abundance.
Conclusions:
- Mature compost addition accelerates food waste composting and promotes compost maturity.
- Specific bacterial communities introduced by mature compost enhance organic matter degradation.
- This study reveals mechanisms of bacterial succession and metabolic function enhancement in composting.
