Effects of bulking agents on greenhouse gases and related genes in sludge composting

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Jan;344(Pt B):126270. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126270. Epub 2021 Nov 2.

Abstract

The effect of organic bulking agents on CO2, NH3, N2O and CH4 emission and related genes was evaluated in 40 days sludge composting with wood chip, wheat straw and rice husk, respectively. The results showed wood chip had the highest C/N of 111.3, total porosity of 93.13% and aeration porosity of 78.98% among three bulking agents. Wheat straw had the highest water-holding porosity of 25.62%, which could be critical factor increasing CH4 production and reducing NH3 emission. Moreover, there was no significant difference in N2O emission rates in three composting systems with three bulking agents. RDA analysis showed a negative correlation between mcrA and NH + 4-N. Nitrate content in raw feedstock was dominant factor limiting N2O yield due to low amoA. The continuous increase of oxidation-reduction potential was significantly positive correlated with pmoA and negative correlation with nirK and norB, which reduced N2O and CH4 production in the curing period.

Keywords: Ammonia; Bulking agent; Composting; Methane; Nitrous oxide.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / analysis
  • Composting*
  • Greenhouse Gases* / analysis
  • Methane / analysis
  • Nitrous Oxide / analysis
  • Sewage
  • Soil

Substances

  • Greenhouse Gases
  • Sewage
  • Soil
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Methane