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Reducing Ammonia Emission during Food Waste Composting and Enhancing Compost Quality Using Different Additives
Hafiz Muhammad Sarfraz1, Abdul Ghafoor2, Shoaib Ahmad3
1Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University Lahore, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Chemistryopen
|July 16, 2026
Summary
Transforming food waste into valuable compost is key to sustainable waste management. Adjusting pH levels significantly reduces ammonia emissions, improving compost quality and supporting climate goals.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Agronomy
- Waste Management
Background:
- Global food waste (FW) generation is a significant environmental challenge.
- Composting offers a profitable solution for FW, promoting zero-waste and sustainable practices.
- Improving compost quality is crucial for effective waste management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of additives on compost quality.
- To determine the effect of pH adjustment on ammonia emissions.
- To assess the benefits of compost application in agricultural soil.
Main Methods:
- Composting FW with various additives.
- Monitoring ammonia (NH3) emissions at different pH levels (7, 6, and 5).
- Assessing compost quality using seed germination tests (tomato) and analyzing soil nutrient enhancement (phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium).
Main Results:
- Adjusting pH to 7, 6, and 5 reduced ammonia emissions by 20%, 45%, and 55%, respectively.
- Achieved a 142% germination index for tomato seeds and 100% germination for all seeds.
- Compost application increased soil total phosphorus by 2%, total nitrogen by 1.4%, and total potassium by 2.4%.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing pH is effective in reducing ammonia emissions during composting.
- The produced compost is high-quality, promoting plant growth and soil fertility.
- Sustainable composting practices contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 13.
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