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Title: Molecular composition of recycled organic wastes, as determined by solid-state {sup 13}C NMR and elemental analyses

Journal Article · · Waste Management
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [4];  [5]
  1. Environmental Futures Centre, School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 (Australia)
  2. Environmental Futures Centre, School of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111 (Australia)
  3. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870 (Australia)
  4. Formerly NSW Department of Primary Industries, Richmond, NSW 2753 (Australia)
  5. Graduate School of Environment, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109 (Australia)

Highlights: • Model estimated the molecular C components well for most RO wastes. • Molecular nature of organic matter in RO wastes varied widely. • Molecular composition by NMR modelling preferable to extraction techniques. • Some model shortcomings in estimating molecular composition of biochars. • Waste molecular composition important for carbon/nutrient outcomes in soil. - Abstract: Using solid state {sup 13}C NMR data and elemental composition in a molecular mixing model, we estimated the molecular components of the organic matter in 16 recycled organic (RO) wastes representative of the major materials generated in the Sydney basin area. Close correspondence was found between the measured NMR signal intensities and those predicted by the model for all RO wastes except for poultry manure char. Molecular nature of the organic matter differed widely between the RO wastes. As a proportion of organic C, carbohydrate C ranged from 0.07 to 0.63, protein C from <0.01 to 0.66, lignin C from <0.01 to 0.31, aliphatic C from 0.09 to 0.73, carbonyl C from 0.02 to 0.23, and char C from 0 to 0.45. This method is considered preferable to techniques involving imprecise extraction methods for RO wastes. Molecular composition data has great potential as a predictor of RO waste soil carbon and nutrient outcomes.

OSTI ID:
22300311
Journal Information:
Waste Management, Vol. 33, Issue 11; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English