Impacts and mechanism of coal fly ash on kitchen waste composting performance: The perspective of microbial community

Abstract

Aerobic composting is eco-friendly and sustainable practice for kitchen waste (KW) disposal to restore soil fertility and reduce environmental risks. However, KW compact structure, perishable nature, acidification by anaerobic acidogens, inhibits the metabolism of aerobic microbes, insufficient breakdown of organic matters, and prolong the composting duration. This study, co-composted coal fly ash (FA), to regulate bacterial dynamics, co-occurrence patterns and nutrients transformation in KW composting. Our results indicated, FA created suitable environment by increasing pH and temperature, which facilitated the proliferation and reshaping of microbial community. FA fostered the relative abundances of phlya (Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Actinobacteriota) and genera (Bacillus, Paenibacillus and Lysinibacillus), which promoted the nutrients transformation (phosphorus and nitrogen) in KW compost. FA enhanced the mutualistic correlations between bacterial communities, promoted the network complexity (nodes & edges) and contains more positive connections, which reflect the FA amendment effects. KW mature compost seed germination index reached >85% of FA treatment, indicated the final products fully met the Chinese national standard for organic fertilizer. These findings might provide opportunity to advance the KW composting and collaborative management of multiple waste to curb the current environmental challenges.

Keywords: Co-occurrence pattern; Coal fly ash; Composting; Heavy metals; Kitchen waste; Microbial community.