Electric field-assisted aerobic composting: From basic principles to applications

Aerobic composting is an effective method for the resourceful disposal of organic solid waste. The primary factors that limit the effectiveness of conventional aerobic composting are low oxygen utilization and insufficient pile temperature. To address these challenges, a novel electric field-assisted aerobic composting (EAC) process has been developed, which applies a low-voltage electric field to traditional aerobic compost piles to enhance oxygen utilization and increase pile temperature. EAC technology demonstrates excellent environmental benefits in improving compost maturity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting heavy metal immobilization, and controlling antibiotic risks. These features and advantages position EAC as a promising new technology for aerobic composting. However, a comprehensive and critical review of the advancements in the principles, design, and optimization of the EAC system is still lacking, which restricts the scalability and developmental potential of the technology. Herein, this review critically analyzes the current advancements in the EAC process and provides directions for future applications, thereby offering essential insights for overcoming challenges and developing more economically efficient composting strategies.