Keywords
microorganisms
composting
How to Cite
Abstract
Biodegradation of food waste is a key component of sustainable waste management that can bring significant environmental and economic benefits. The use of biological methods for waste disposal represents environmentally friendly technologies with high efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of biodegradation of food waste using microorganisms from the environment in an aerobic process in an ECHO respirometer in accordance with ISO 14855-1:2012. The biodegradation process was carried out at 58 °C ± 2 °C and adequate humidity. During the experiment, CO2 production and O2 consumption were monitored, and the degree of biodegradation was determined. In the study, combinations based on variable organic waste content and the dose of microorganisms in suspension were used. In addition, a commercial biopreparation designed to promote composting was used. A significant improvement in the degree of waste biodegradation was observed with the addition of microorganisms isolated from the environment. Increasing the dose of microorganisms did not significantly improve the efficiency of the process. The commercial biopreparation used was characterised by low efficiency, and no increase in the degree of biodegradation of waste was observed after its use.
References
Acevedo, M., Acevedo, L., Restrepo-Sánchez, N. & Peláez, C. (2005). The inoculation of microorganisms in composting processes: need or commercial strategy? Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 17, (12), http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd17/12/acev17145.htm
Ai, B., Li, J., & Song, J. (2013). Butyric acid fermentation from rice straw with undefined mixed culture: Enrichment and selection of cellulolytic butyrate-producing microbial community. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 15(6), 1075-1082. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285943878_Butyric_Acid_Fermentation_from_Rice_Straw_with_Undefined_Mixed_Culture_Enrichment_and_Selection_of_Cellulolytic_Butyrate-Producing_Microbial_Community
Ai, C., Liang, G., Sun, J., Wang, X., & He, P. (2013). Different roles of bacteria and fungi in maintaining the stability of microbial community structure during composting. Scientific Reports, 3, 1160.
Bernal, M. P., Alburquerque, J. A., & Moral, R. (2009). Composting of animal manures and chemical criteria for compost maturity assessment. Bioresource Technology, 100(22), 5444-5453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.11.027
Chan, M. T., Selvam, A., & Wong, J. W. C. (2016). Reducing nitrogen loss and salinity of ‘struvite’ food waste composting by zeolite amendment. Bioresource Technology, 200, 838-844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.093
Chong, Z., Xin-Hui, X., & Min-Sheng, L. (2004). Production of multi-enzymes consisting of alkaline amylase and cellulase by mixed alkalophilic culture and their potential use in the saccharification of sweet potato. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 19(2), 181-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2004.01.001
Gajalakshmi, S., & Abbasi, S. A. (2008). Solid waste management by composting: State of the art. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 38(5), 311-400. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643380701413633
Goldstein, J. (Ed.). (1994). Composting source separated organics. Pennsylvania: The JG Press Inc.
Golueke, C. G. (1991). Principles of composting. In C.G. Golueke (Ed.), The biocycle guide to the art and science of composting (pp. 14-27). Pennsylvania: The JG Press Inc.
Gouin, F. R. (1992). The composting process. In R. Rynk (Ed.), On-farm composting handbook (pp. 6-13). New York: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service.
Greff, B., Szigeti, J., Nagy, A., Lakatos, E., & Varga, L. (2022). Influence of microbial inoculants on co-composting of lignocellulosic crop residues with farm animal manure: A review, Journal of Environmental Management, 302, Part B, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114088.
Gutowska, A., Michniewicz, M., Ciechańska, D., & Szalczyńska, M. (2013). Methods of research to assess biodegradability of biomass materials. Chemik, 67(10), 945-954. https://yadda.icm.edu.pl/baztech/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-cdbeb32d-9fc5-45b3-9272-3882e4245d58/c/Gutowska.pdf
Jurado, M., López, M. J., Suárez-Estrella, F., Vargas-García, M. C., López-González, J. A., & Moreno, J. (2014). Exploiting composting biodiversity: study of the persistent and biotechnologically relevant microorganisms from lignocellulose-based composting. Bioresource Technology, 162, 283-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.145
Kacprzak, M., Fijałkowski, K., Grobelak, A., Rosikoń, A., & Rorat, A. (2015). Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. early diagnosis and seasonal monitoring in the sewage treatment process by EMA-qPCR method. Polish Journal of Microbiology, 64(2), 143-148. https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2015-021
Kwon, S. H., & Lee, D. H. (2004). Evaluation Korean food waste composting with fed batch operation II: Using properties of exhaust gas condensate. Process Biochemistry, 39(9), 1047-1055. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-9592(03)00230-9
Lee, B., Kim, B. K., Lee, Y. J., Chung, C. H., & Lee, J. W. (2010). Industrial scale of optimization for the production of carboxymethyl cellulase from rice bran by a marine bacterium, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis A-53. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 46(1), 38-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2009.07.009
Li, Z., Lu, H., Ren, L., & He, L. (2013). Experimental and modeling approaches for food waste composting: A review. Chemosphere, 93(7), 1247-1257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.06.064
Li, H., Yang, Z., Zhang, C., Shang, W., Zhang, T., Chang, X., Wu, Z., & He, Y. (2024). Effect of microbial inoculum on composting efficiency in the composting process of spent mushroom substrate and chicken manure, Journal of Environmental Management, 353, 120145, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120145.
Liang, C., Das, K. C., & McClendon, R. W. (2003). The influence of temperature and microbial diversity on odor control in composting. Bioresource Technology, 84(3), 213-219.
Madigan, M. T., Martinko, J. M., & Parker, J. (1999). Brock biology of microorganisms (8th ed.). New York: Prentice Hall.
Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of June 18, 2008 on the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Fertilizers and Fertilization. Journal of Laws No. 119, item 765. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=wdu20081190765 (in Polish).
Regulation of the Minister of Environment of September 9, 2002 on soil quality standards and soil quality standards. Journal of Laws No. 165, item 1359. https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=wdu20021651359 (in Polish).
Rynk, R., van de Kamp, M., Willson, G. B., Singley, M. E., Richard, T. L., Kolega, J. J., Gouin, F. R., Laliberty, Jr., Kay, D., Murphy, D. W., & Hoitink, H. A. J. (1992). On-farm composting handbook (NRAES-54). Ithaca: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service.
Wang, X., Selvam, A., & Wong, J. W. C. (2016). Influence of lime on struvite formation and nitrogen conservation during food waste composting. Bioresource Technology, 217, 227-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.117
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Economics and Environment