Pilot-scale study of innovative mechanically-enhanced dynamic composting for treating kitchen waste

Haoshu Wang; Yong Qin; Liqing Xin; Qiong Nan; Xingkun Xu; Changxun Zhao; Weixiang Wu

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130176

Pilot-scale study of innovative mechanically-enhanced dynamic composting for treating kitchen waste

Bioresour Technol. 2024 Feb:394:130176. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130176. Epub 2023 Dec 10.

Authors

Haoshu Wang¹, Yong Qin², Liqing Xin³, Qiong Nan³, Xingkun Xu³, Changxun Zhao³, Weixiang Wu³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environment Science and Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety Technology, Zhejiang 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Transper Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
² Institute of Environment Science and Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety Technology, Zhejiang 310058, PR China. Electronic address: qinyong@zju.edu.cn.
³ Institute of Environment Science and Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety Technology, Zhejiang 310058, PR China.

PMID: 38086465
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130176

Abstract

This study introduced a novel mechanically-enhanced dynamic composting (MEDC) method for treating kitchen waste (KW) through partial-mixing and stratified fermentation. A pilot test varied aeration frequencies (AF) to refine control parameters and explore the maturation mechanism. Results showed that a moderate AF (10 min/4 h) achieved optimal efficiency, with a compost germination index of 123 % within 15 d. Moderate AF enhanced the growth of Corynebacterium_1 (25.4 %) and Saccharomonospora (10.5 %) during the low-temperature stage and Bacillus growth (91.3 %) during the maturation stage. Moreover, it enhanced microbial interactions (with an average degree of 19.9) and promoted substrate degradation and transformation, expediting heating and maturation. Multivariate dimensionality reduction analysis showed the MEDC accomplished rapid composting through stratified composting, dividing the reactor into distinct functional zones: feeding, low-temperature, high-temperature, and maturation. This enabled efficient microorganism enrichment and material degradation, expediting KW decomposition and maturation. This study offers a promising alternative for accelerated KW composting.

Keywords: Aeration frequencies; Co-occurrence network; Microorganisms; Partial-mixing; Stratified fermentation.

MeSH terms

Cold Temperature
Composting*
Soil

Substances

Soil