Assessment of bacterial and fungal communities in a full-scale thermophilic sewage sludge composting pile under a semipermeable cover. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robledo-Mahón, ; Gómez-Silván, Cinta; Andersen, Gary L.; Calvo, Concepción; Aranda, Elisabet
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 298(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Sewage sludge composting -- Semipermeable membrane -- Illumina MiSeq -- Bacterial diversity -- Fungal diversity; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Microbial communities could be used as a proxy for composting effectiveness. Bacillales and Actinomycetales were dominant throughout the process. Physico-chemical variables were linked with microbial representatives. Ascomycota was the most common phylum at the thermophilic phase. A semipermeable system was an effective technology for excluding pathogens. Abstract: Bacterial and fungal communities in a full-scale composting pile were investigated, with sewage sludge and a vegetal bulking agent as starting materials. Bacillales and Actinomycetales were predominant throughout the process, showing significant abundance. Ascomycota was the predominant fungal phylum during the thermophilic phase, with a shift to Basidiomycota at the end of the process. The bulking material was the principal contributor to both communities by the end of the process, with a signal above 50%. The presence of genera, such as Pedomicrobium, Ureibacillus and Tepidimicrobium at the end of the process, and Chaetomium and Arthrographis in the maturation phase, showed an inverse correlation with indicators of organic matter stabilisation. A semipermeable cover was an effective technology for excluding pathogens. These results indicate that changes in the microbial population and their interrelation with operational variables could represent a useful tool for monitoring composting processes.