Abstract
Bulking agents are particularly important for sewage sludge composting. In this study, reusable polypropylene packing (RPP) was mixed with sawdust to improve composting. The effect of the mix ratio of sawdust and RPP on the physicochemical characteristics, nitrogen transformation, and emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) as well as differences in the germination index values was detected in a lab-scale composting experiment. The results showed that the unique use of RPP as a bulking agent increased the moisture content over 70%, which resulted in poorer porosity and a less efficient O2 utilization environment and thus suppressed the degradation of organic matter. The highest CH4 9275.8 mg and lowest CO2 202.6 g emissions were detected after 25 days of composting in the treatment with RPP used as a bulking agent. When the mixing ratio of sawdust and RPP was 1:1, the temperature, oxygen supply, and dissolved organic carbon degradation were improved. The NH3, N2O, and CH4 emissions were reduced by 32.2, 18.3, and 90.7% compared with a treatment with RPP as a unique bulking agent. The RPP had no effect on conserving nitrogen during sludge composting; the total nitrogen loss was reduced from 29.3 to 18.2% when sawdust was mixed with RPP in a ratio of 1:1. Therefore, mixing RPP and sawdust in the dry weight ratio of 1:1 (sawdust: RPP) can be potentially used for reducing composting cost and improving the sewage sludge composting by reducing the amount of sawdust mixed and mitigating GHG and NH3 emissions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awasthi MK, Wang Q, Huang H, Ren X, Lahori AH, Mahar A, Ali A, Shen F, Li R, Zhang Z (2016a) Influence of zeolite and lime as additives on greenhouse gas emissions and maturity evolution during sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 216:172–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.065
Awasthi MK, Wang Q, Ren X, Zhao J, Huang H, Awasthi SK, Lahori AH, Li R, Zhou L, Zhang Z (2016b) Role of biochar amendment in mitigation of nitrogen loss and greenhouse gas emission during sewage sludge composting. Bioresource Technol 219:270–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.07.128
Chen H, Awasthi MK, Liu T, Zhao J, Ren X, Wang M, Duan Y, Awasthi SK, Zhang Z (2018) Influence of clay as additive on greenhouse gases emission and maturity evaluation during chicken manure composting. Bioresour Technol 266:82–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.073
Czekała W, Malińska K, Cáceres R, Janczak D, Dach J, Lewicki A (2016) Co-composting of poultry manure mixtures amended with biochar – the effect of biochar on temperature and C-CO2 emission. Bioresour Technol 200:921–927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.019
De Bertoldi M, Citernesi U, Griselli M (1980) Bulking agents in sludge composting. Compost Sci Land Util 32-35(41):21
Dias BO, Silva CA, Higashikawa FS, Roig A, Sánchez-Monedero MA (2010) Use of biochar as bulking agent for the composting of poultry manure: effect on organic matter degradation and humification. Bioresour Technol 101:1239–1246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.09.024
Doublet J, Francou C, Poitrenaud M, Houot S (2011) Influence of bulking agents on organic matter evolution during sewage sludge composting; consequences on compost organic matter stability and N availability. Bioresour Technol 102:1298–1307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.08.065
Fang M, Wong JWC, Li GX, Wong MH (1998) Changes in biological parameters during co-composting of sewage sludge and coal ash residues. Bioresour Technol 64:55–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-8524(97)00156-9
de Guardia A, Mallard P, Teglia C, Marin A, Le Pape C, Launay M, Benoist JC, Petiot C (2010) Comparison of five organic wastes regarding their behaviour during composting: Part 2. In: nitrogen dynamic Waste Manag 30:415-425 doi: doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2009.10.018
Guo R, Li G, Jiang T, Schuchardt F, Chen T, Zhao Y, Shen Y (2012) Effect of aeration rate, C/N ratio and moisture content on the stability and maturity of compost. Bioresour Technol 112:171–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.099
Guo H, Gu J, Wang X, Nasir M, Yu J, Lei L, Wang J, Zhao W, Dai X (2019) Beneficial effects of bacterial agent/bentonite on nitrogen transformation and microbial community dynamics during aerobic composting of pig manure. Bioresour Technol:122384 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122384
Han Z, Sun D, Wang H, Li R, Bao Z, Qi F (2018) Effects of ambient temperature and aeration frequency on emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases from a sewage sludge aerobic composting plant. Bioresour Technol 270:457–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.09.048
Huet J, Druilhe C, Trémier A, Benoist JC, Debenest G (2012) The impact of compaction, moisture content, particle size and type of bulking agent on initial physical properties of sludge-bulking agent mixtures before composting. Bioresour Technol 114:428–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.031
Idris A, Saed K, Hung Y.-T., (2010) Biotreatment of sludge and reuse. in: Handbook of environmental engineering.
Jiang T, Schuchardt F, Li G, Guo R, Zhao Y (2011) Effect of C/N ratio, aeration rate and moisture content on ammonia and greenhouse gas emission during the composting. J Environ Sci 23:1754–1760. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(10)60591-8
Jiang J, Kang K, Wang C, Sun X, Dang S, Wang N, Wang Y, Zhang C, Yan G, Li Y (2018) Evaluation of total greenhouse gas emissions during sewage sludge composting by the different dicyandiamide added forms: Mixing, surface broadcasting, and their combination. Waste Manag 81:94–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.10.003
Koyama M, Nagao N, Syukri F, Rahim AA, Kamarudin MS, Toda T, Mitsuhashi T, Nakasaki K (2018) Effect of temperature on thermophilic composting of aquaculture sludge: NH3 recovery, nitrogen mass balance, and microbial community dynamics. Bioresource Technol 265:207–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.05.109
Kulcu R, Yaldiz O (2004) Determination of aeration rate and kinetics of composting some agricultural wastes. Bioresour Technol 93:49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2003.10.007
Li Y, Li W (2015) Nitrogen transformations and losses during composting of sewage sludge with acidified sawdust in a laboratory reactor. Waste Manag Res 33:139–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x14564642
Li Y, Li W, Liu B, Wang K, Su C, Wu C (2013a) Ammonia emissions and biodegradation of organic carbon during sewage sludge composting with different extra carbon sources. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 85:624–630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2013.04.013
Li Y, Li W, Wu C, Wang K (2013b) New insights into the interactions between carbon dioxide and ammonia emissions during sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 136:385–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.061
Li W, Wu C, Wang K, Meng L, Lv L (2017) Nitrogen loss reduction by adding sucrose and beet pulp in sewage sludge composting. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 124:297–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2017.03.013
Li X, Shi X-S, Yang Z-M, Xu X-H, Guo R-B (2019a) Effects of recyclable ceramsite as the porous bulking agent during the continuous thermophilic composting of dairy manure. J Clean Prod 217:344–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.148
Li Y-b, Jin P-f, Liu T-t, Lv J-h, Jiang J-s (2019b) A novel method for sewage sludge composting using bamboo charcoal as a separating material. Environ Sci Pollut R 26:33870–33881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2534-9
Li X, Shi X-S, Lu M-Y, Zhao Y-Z, Guo R-B, Peng H (2020) Improved nitrogen conservation capacity during composting of dairy manure amended with oil shale semi-coke as the porous bulking agent. J Hazard Mater 388:121742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121742
Liang C, Das KC, McClendon RW (2003) The influence of temperature and moisture contents regimes on the aerobic microbial activity of a biosolids composting blend. Bioresour Technol 86:131–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-8524(02)00153-0
Lim S-S, Park H-J, Hao X, Lee S-I, Jeon B-J, Kwak J-H, Choi W-J (2017) Nitrogen, carbon, and dry matter losses during composting of livestock manure with two bulking agents as affected by co-amendments of phosphogypsum and zeolite. Ecol Eng 102:280–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.02.031
Liu W, Huo R, Xu J, Liang S, Li J, Zhao T, Wang S (2017) Effects of biochar on nitrogen transformation and heavy metals in sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 235:43–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.052
Luo W, Chen TB, Zheng GD, Gao D, Zhang YA, Gao W (2008) Effect of moisture adjustments on vertical temperature distribution during forced-aeration static-pile composting of sewage sludge. Resources, Conserv Recycl 52:635–642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2007.08.004
Maia GDN, Day VGB, Gates RS, Taraba JL, Coyne MS (2012) Moisture effects on greenhouse gases generation in nitrifying gas-phase compost biofilters. Water Res 46:3023–3031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.03.007
Malińska K, Zabochnicka-Świątek M, Dach J (2014) Effects of biochar amendment on ammonia emission during composting of sewage sludge. Ecol Eng 71:474–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.012
Mao H, Zhang H, Fu Q, Zhong M, Li R, Zhai B, Wang Z, Zhou L (2019) Effects of four additives in pig manure composting on greenhouse gas emission reduction and bacterial community change. Bioresour Technol 292:121896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121896
McGuckin RL, Eiteman MA, Das K (1999) Pressure drop through raw food waste compost containing synthetic bulking agents. J Agric Eng Res 72:375–384. https://doi.org/10.1006/jaer.1998.0383
Mohajer A, Trémier A, Barrington S, Martinez J, Teglia C, Carone M (2009) Microbial oxygen uptake in sludge as influenced by compost physical parameters. Waste Manag 29:2257–2264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2009.03.017
Nigussie A, Bruun S, Kuyper TW, de Neergaard A (2017) Delayed addition of nitrogen-rich substrates during composting of municipal waste: effects on nitrogen loss, greenhouse gas emissions and compost stability. Chemosphere 166:352–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.09.123
Ogunwande GA, Osunade JA, Adekalu KO, Ogunjimi LAO (2008) Nitrogen loss in chicken litter compost as affected by carbon to nitrogen ratio and turning frequency. Bioresour Technol 99:7495–7503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.02.020
Onwosi CO, Igbokwe VC, Odimba JN, Eke IE, Nwankwoala MO, Iroh IN, Ezeogu LI (2017) Composting technology in waste stabilization: on the methods, challenges and future prospects. J Environ Manag 190:140–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.12.051
Pan J, Cai H, Zhang Z, Liu H, Li R, Mao H, Awasthi MK, Wang Q, Zhai L (2018) Comparative evaluation of the use of acidic additives on sewage sludge composting quality improvement, nitrogen conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction. Bioresour Technol 270:467–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.09.050
Paradelo R, Moldes AB, Barral MT (2013) Evolution of organic matter during the mesophilic composting of lignocellulosic winery wastes. J Environ Manag 116:18–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.12.001
Pereira RF, Cardoso EJBN, Oliveira FC, Estrada-Bonilla GA, Cerri CEP (2018) A novel way of assessing C dynamics during urban organic waste composting and greenhouse gas emissions in tropical region. Bioresour Technol Rep 3:35–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2018.02.002
Petric I, Sestan A, Sestan I (2009) Influence of initial moisture content on the composting of poultry manure with wheat straw. Biosyst Eng 104:125–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2009.06.007
Richard TL, Hamelers H, Veeken A, Silva T (2002) Moisture relationships in composting processes. Compost Sci Util 10:286–302
Thompson AG, Wagner-Riddle C, Fleming R (2004) Emissions of N2O and CH4 during the composting of liquid swine manure. Environ Monit Assess 91:87–104. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EMAS.0000009231.04123.2d
Tiquia SM, Tam NFY, Hodgkiss IJ (1996) Effects of composting on phytotoxicity of spent pig-manure sawdust litter. Environ Pollut 93:249–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0269-7491(96)00052-8
TMECC (2002) Test methods for the examination of composts and composting. In: Thompson, W., Leege, P., Millner, P., Watson, M.E. (Eds.). The US Composting Council, US Government Printing Office.
Tuomela M, Vikman M, Hatakka A, Itävaara M (2000) Biodegradation of lignin in a compost environment: a review. Bioresour Technol 72:169–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(99)00104-2
Varadachari C, Ghosh K (1984) On humus formation. Plant Soil 77(2):305–313
Villaseñor J, Rodríguez L, Fernández FJ (2011) Composting domestic sewage sludge with natural zeolites in a rotary drum reactor. Bioresour Technol 102:1447–1454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.09.085
Wang M-J (1997) Land application of sewage sludge in China. Sci Total Environ 197:149–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0048-9697(97)05426-0
Wang X, Selvam A, Chan M, Wong JWC (2013) Nitrogen conservation and acidity control during food wastes composting through struvite formation. Bioresour Technol 147:17–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.060
Wang J, Hu Z, Xu X, Jiang X, Zheng B, Liu X, Pan X, Kardol P (2014) Emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases during combined pre-composting and vermicomposting of duck manure. Waste Manag 34:1546–1552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.04.010
Wang M, Awasthi MK, Wang Q, Chen H, Ren X, Zhao J, Li R, Zhang Z (2017) Comparison of additives amendment for mitigation of greenhouse gases and ammonia emission during sewage sludge co-composting based on correlation analysis. Bioresour Technol 243:520–527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.06.158
Wang Q, Awasthi MK, Ren X, Zhao J, Li R, Wang Z, Wang M, Chen H, Zhang Z (2018) Combining biochar, zeolite and wood vinegar for composting of pig manure: The effect on greenhouse gas emission and nitrogen conservation. Waste Manag 74:221–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.01.015
Wang X, Zheng G, Chen T, Nie E, Wang Y, Shi X, Liu J (2019a) Application of ceramsite and activated alumina balls as recyclable bulking agents for sludge composting. Chemosphere 218:42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.103
Wang R, Zhao Y, Xie X, Mohamed TA, Zhu L, Tang Y, Chen Y, Wei Z (2019b) Role of NH3 recycling on nitrogen fractions during sludge composting. Bioresour Technol:122175 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122175
Wei Y, Li J, Shi D, Liu G, Zhao Y, Shimaoka T (2017) Environmental challenges impeding the composting of biodegradable municipal solid waste: a critical review. Resour Conserv Recycl 122:51–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.01.024
Winkler MKH, Bennenbroek MH, Horstink FH, van Loosdrecht MCM, van de Pol GJ (2013) The biodrying concept: an innovative technology creating energy from sewage sludge. Bioresour Technol 147:124–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.138
Wu C, Li W, Wang K, Li Y (2015) Usage of pumice as bulking agent in sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 190:516–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.03.104
Wu S, Shen Z, Yang C, Zhou Y, Li X, Zeng G, Ai S, He H (2017) Effects of C/N ratio and bulking agent on speciation of Zn and Cu and enzymatic activity during pig manure composting. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 119:429–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.09.016
Yang F, Li GX, Yang QY, Luo WH (2013) Effect of bulking agents on maturity and gaseous emissions during kitchen waste composting. Chemosphere 93(7):1393–1399
Yang Y, Awasthi MK, Ren X, Guo H, Lv J (2019) Effect of bean dregs on nitrogen transformation and bacterial dynamics during pig manure composting. Bioresour Technol 288:121430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121430
Zeng J, Shen X, Han L, Huang G (2016) Dynamics of oxygen supply and consumption during mainstream large-scale composting in China. Bioresour Technol 220:104–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.070
Zhang L, Sun X (2016) Influence of bulking agents on physical, chemical, and microbiological properties during the two-stage composting of green waste. Waste Manag 48:115–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.11.032
Zhang L, Sun X (2018) Influence of sugar beet pulp and paper waste as bulking agents on physical, chemical, and microbial properties during green waste composting. Bioresour Technol 267:182–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.040
Zhang J, Chen M, Sui Q, Tong J, Jiang C, Lu X, Zhang Y, Wei Y (2016) Impacts of addition of natural zeolite or a nitrification inhibitor on antibiotic resistance genes during sludge composting. Water Res 91:339–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.01.010
Zhang Q, Hu J, Lee D-J, Chang Y, Lee Y-J (2017) Sludge treatment: current research trends. Bioresour Technol 243:1159–1172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.070
Zhong X-Z, Ma S-C, Wang S-P, Wang T-T, Sun Z-Y, Tang Y-Q, Deng Y, Kida K (2018) A comparative study of composting the solid fraction of dairy manure with or without bulking material: performance and microbial community dynamics. Bioresour Technol 247:443–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.116
Zhou H-B, Ma C, Gao D, Chen T-B, Zheng G-D, Chen J, Pan T-H (2014) Application of a recyclable plastic bulking agent for sewage sludge composting. Bioresour Technol 152:329–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.10.061
Zhou H, Zhao Y, Yang H, Zhu L, Cai B, Luo S, Cao J, Wei Z (2018a) Transformation of organic nitrogen fractions with different molecular weights during different organic wastes composting. Bioresour Technol 262:221–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.04.088
Zhou Y, Selvam A, Wong JWC (2018b) Chinese medicinal herbal residues as a bulking agent for food waste composting. Bioresour Technol 249:182–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.212
Zmora-Nahum S, Markovitch O, Tarchitzky J, Chen Y (2005) Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as a parameter of compost maturity. Soil Biol Biochem 37:2109–2116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.03.013
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51508167, 41805123), the Key Scientific Research Project of Universities in Henan Province (Grant Nos. 16A560022, 17B610006), and the PhD research startup foundation of Henan Normal University (Grant Nos. 5101219170108, 5101219170113).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOCX 22368 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Y., Song, J., Liu, T. et al. Influence of reusable polypropylene packing on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions during sewage sludge composting—a lab-scale investigation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 40653–40664 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10469-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10469-w