Effects of alkyl polyglycoside (APG) on composting of agricultural wastes

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.02.002· OSTI ID:21550374

Fabao, Zhang ^[1]; Peizhi, Xu; Shuanhu, Tang; Kaizhi, Xie; Xu, Huang; Qiaoyi, Huang ^[1]

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1. Soil and Fertilizer Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nutrient Cycling and Farmland Conservation, Guangzhou 510640 (China)

Composting is the biological degradation and transformation of organic materials under controlled conditions to promote aerobic decomposition. To find effective ways to accelerate composting and improve compost quality, numerous methods including additive addition, inoculation of microorganisms, and the use of biosurfactants have been explored. Studies have shown that biosurfactant addition provides more favorable conditions for microorganism growth, thereby accelerating the composting process. However, biosurfactants have limited applications because they are expensive and their use in composting and microbial fertilizers is prohibited. Meanwhile, alkyl polyglycoside (APG) is considered a 'green' surfactant. This study aims to determine whether APG addition into a compost reaction vessel during 28-day composting can enhance the organic matter degradation and composting process of dairy manure. Samples were periodically taken from different reactor depths at 0, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. pH levels, electrical conductivity (EC), ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, seed germination indices, and microbial population were determined. Organic matter and total nitrogen were also measured. Compared with the untreated control, the sample with APG exhibited slightly increased microbial populations, such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. APG addition increased temperatures without substantially affecting compost pH and EC throughout the process. After 28 days, APG addition increased nitrate nitrogen concentrations, promoted matter degradation, and increased seed germination indices. The results of this study suggest that the addition of APG provides more favorable conditions for microorganism growth, slightly enhancing organic matter decomposition and accelerating the composting process, improving the compost quality to a certain extent.

• OSTI ID: 21550374
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 31; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
COMPOST
COMPOSTING
CONTROL
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
FERTILIZERS
FUNGI
GERMINATION
INOCULATION
MANAGEMENT
MANURES
MATERIALS
MATTER
MICROORGANISMS
NITRATES
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC MATTER
ORGANIC WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
PROCESSING
SEEDS
SURFACTANTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES