Affiliation:
1. Department of Environment Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract
The process of composting which involves the treatment of organic wastes to obtain a stable clean product, has become an increasingly desirable choice, at any scale from home to large waste treatment plants. Composting serves as an alternative to landfilling for managing biodegradable waste while also increasing or preserving soil organic matter, decreasing solid waste, and reducing disposal costs. The compost product improves the condition of the soil, reduces erosion, and helps reduce plant diseases without having adverse impacts on the environment. This study aims to manufacture high-quality compost as a solid waste management method by converting organic waste into a useful resource for the community in a financially and ecologically sustainable manner. We investigated the potential of aerobic composting by controlling the operation process parameters, including monitoring the pH value, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), and moisture content during the composting. We studied the physiochemical and biological changes of composting using a 60-liter bioreactor. The composting process determined an average pH value between 6.9 and 7.8, and it revealed a decrease in TOC from 26.18 to 22.19. Additionally, compost process monitoring indicated a maximum temperature rise of 69 °C over the first three days, and then a decrease after 20 days of air temperature. Total nitrogen in the NH4+/NO3-ratio nitrification decreased to less than 1.4, and the compost in the C/N ratio decreased from 20.75 to 10.035 and setting quality criteria by comparing the final product quality produced through the in-vessel composting.