Biodegradation kinetics of ammonium enriched food waste digestate compost with biochar amendment. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manu, M.K.; Wang, Chen; Li, Dongyi; Varjani, Sunita; Xu, Yunjie; Ladumor, Narsi; Lui, Michael; Zhou, Jun; Wong, Jonathan W.C.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 341(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Food waste digestate -- Biochar -- Ammonia mitigation -- Compost quality -- Degradation kinetics; 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.2021.125871
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Food waste digestate can be effectively co-composted with sawdust and mature compost. Biochar additive strategy is effective in reducing nitrogen loss. Biochar amendment enhanced the carbon degradation and humification rate. 10% biochar could reduce 58% of NH3 emission and 50% of nitrogen loss. Compost maturity could be achieved in 15 days with 10% biochar amendment. Abstract: High concentration of NH4 + -N in food waste digestate (FWD) produced from biological treatment of food waste is considered as a major threat on the composting process resulting in production of immature compost. Hence, a laboratory batch composting study was conducted to examine the feasibility of using biochar as a physical additive to ameliorate the inhibitory effect of NH4 + -N and to mitigate the nitrogen loss during FWD composting. FWD was co-composted with tobacco biochar at a dosage of 0%, 2.5%, 5% or 10% (dw) in bench-scale composters with a controlled aeration system. The addition of 10% biochar enhanced the degradation rate resulting in 44% higher carbon decomposition than the control. Besides, 10% biochar amendment reduced NH3 and N loss by 58% and 5%, respectively and significantly reduced NH4 + -N content to HKORC limit of < 700 mg/kg dw within 5 days showing the beneficiary impact of biochar addition.