Greenhouse gas emission characteristics during kitchen waste composting with biochar and zeolite addition

Aerobic kitchen waste composting can contribute to greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and global warming. This study investigated the effects of biochar and zeolite on GHGs emissions during composting. The findings demonstrated that biochar could reduce N₂O and CH₄ cumulative releases by 47.7 %and 47.9 %, respectively, and zeolite could reduce the cumulative release of CO₂ by 28.4 %. Meanwhile, the biochar and zeolite addition could reduce the abundance of potential core microorganisms associated with GHGs emissions. In addition, biochar and zeolite reduced N₂O emissions by regulating the abundance of nitrogen conversion functional genes. Biochar and zeolite were shown to reduce the impact of bacterial communities on GHGs emissions. In summary, this study revealed that biochar and zeolite can effectively reduce GHG emissions during composting by altering the compost microenvironment and regulating microbial community structure. Such findings are valuable for facilitating high-quality resource recovery of organic solid waste.