Abstract
Anaerobic digestion of organic wastes is clearly encouraged by current regulations in Europe. In complement to the energy supply it represents, this biological treatment process also allows the recycling of organic matter and nutrients contained in biodegradable wastes. Indeed the digestion residue can be further promoted as soil improver or fertilizer. The sustainability of anaerobic digestion plants partly depends on the management of these digestion residues. Digestates present particular characteristics that can reduce their direct agricultural valorization and minimize by the way the benefit of such a biological treatment. Thus the first part of this two part paper aims at reviewing and discussing a wide range of biochemical, biological and physical indicators used to assess the agronomic quality of organic products and the feasibility of an aerobic treatment by composting. The definition of agronomic quality is very complex and no single parameter can be picked out to assess the quality of solid digestates coming from different sources. A relevant choice of these parameters will lead to state on digestates agricultural use, whether they can be directly used on soil after digestion or if they need a composting post-treatment before utilization. The second part of this two part paper will choose indicators to characterize several digestates in order to assess their future agricultural use.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
European Parliament and Council: Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on waste. (2006)
European Parliament and Council: Position of the European Parliament adopted at second reading on 17 June 2008 with a view to adoption of Directive 2008/…/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste repealing certain Directives. (2008)
Fricke, K., Santen, H., Wallmann, R., Huttner, A., Dichtl, N.: Operating problems in anaerobic digestion plants resulting from nitrogen in MSW. Waste Manage. 27(1), 30–43 (2007)
Walker, L., Charles, W., Cord-Ruwisch, R.: Comparison of static, in-vessel composting of MSW with thermophilic anaerobic digestion and combinations of the two processes. Bioresour. Technol. 100(16), 3799–3807 (2009)
Poggi-Varaldo, H.M., Trejo-Espino, J., Fernandez-Villagomez, G., Esparza-Garcia, F., Caffarel-Mendez, S., Rinderknecht-Seijas, N.: Quality of anaerobic compost from paper mill and municipal solid wastes for soil amendment. Water Sci. Technol. 40(11–12), 179–186 (1999)
Abdullahi, Y.A., Akunna, J.C., White, N.A., Hallett, P.D., Wheatley, R.: Investigating the effects of anaerobic and aerobic post-treatment on quality and stability of organic fraction of municipal solid waste as soil amendment. Bioresour. Technol. 99(18), 8631–8636 (2008)
Salminen, E., Rintala, J., Harkonen, J., Kuitunen, M., Hogmander, H., Oikari, A.: Anaerobically digested poultry slaughterhouse wastes as fertiliser in agriculture. Bioresour. Technol. 78(1), 81–88 (2001)
Meissl, K., Smidt, E.: High quality composts by means of cocomposting of residues from anaerobic digestion. Compost Sci. Util. 15(2), 78–83 (2007)
Kupper, T., Fuchs, J.: Compost et digestat en Suisse. Connaissance de l’environnement no 0743, p.124. Office fédéral de l’environnement, Berne (2007)
Paavola, T., Rintala, J.: Effects of storage on characteristics and hygienic quality of digestates from four co-digestion concepts of manure and biowaste. Bioresour. Technol. 99(15), 7041–7050 (2008)
Tambone, F., Scaglia, B., D’Imporzano, G., Schievano, A., Orzi, V., Salati, S., Adani, F.: Assessing amendment and fertilizing properties of digestates from anaerobic digestion through a comparative study with digested sludge and compost. Chemosphere 81(5), 577–583 (2010)
Gomez, X., Cuetos, M.J., Garcia, A.I., Moran, A.: Evaluation of digestate stability from anaerobic process by thermogravimetric analysis. Thermochim. Acta 426(1–2), 179–184 (2005)
Gomez, X., Cuetos, M.J., Garcia, A.I., Moran, A.: An evaluation of stability by thermogravimetric analysis of digestate obtained from different biowastes. J. Hazard. Mater. 149(1), 97–105 (2007)
Drennan, M.F., Distefano, T.D.: Characterization of the curing process from high-solids anaerobic digestion. Bioresour. Technol. 101(2), 537–544 (2010)
Evanylo, G., Sherony, C., Spargo, J., Starner, D., Brosius, M., Haering, K.: Soil and water environmental effects of fertilizer-, manure-, and compost-based fertility practices in an organic vegetable cropping system. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 127(1–2), 50–58 (2008)
AFNOR: FD CR 13456 Amendements du sol et supports de culture—Etiquetage, spécifications et listes de produits (2001)
Kirchmann, H., Witter, E.: Composition of fresh, aerobic and anaerobic farm animal dungs. Bioresour. Technol. 40(2), 137–142 (1992)
Kirchmann, H., Bernal, M.P.: Organic waste treatment and C stabilization efficiency. Soil Biol. Biochem. 29(11–12), 1747–1753 (1997)
Lashermes, G., Nicolardot, B., Parnaudeau, V., Thuries, L., Chaussod, R., Guillotin, M.L., Lineres, M., Mary, B., Metzger, L., Morvan, T., Tricaud, A., Villette, C., Houot, S.: Indicator of potential residual carbon in soils after exogenous organic matter application. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 60(2), 297–310 (2009)
Van Soest, P.J., Wine, R.H.: Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. IV—determination of plant cell-wall constituents. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 50, 50–55 (1967)
Kayhanian, M.: Biodegradability of the organic fraction of municipal solid-waste in a high-solids Anaerobic digester. Waste Manage. Res. 13(2), 123–136 (1995)
Buffiere, P., Loisel, D., Bernet, N., Delgenes, J.P.: Towards new indicators for the prediction of solid waste anaerobic digestion properties. Water Sci. Technol. 53(8), 233–241 (2006)
Hartmann, H., Ahring, B.K.: Strategies for the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: An overview. Water Sci. Technol. 53(8), 7–22 (2006)
Gunaseelan, V.N.: Regression models of ultimate methane yields of fruits and vegetable solid wastes, sorghum and napiergrass on chemical composition. Bioresour. Technol. 98(6), 1270–1277 (2007)
Eleazer, W.E., Odle, W.S., Wang, Y.S., Barlaz, M.A.: Biodegradability of municipal solid waste components in laboratory-scale landfills. Environ. Sci. Technol. 31(3), 911–917 (1997)
Tambone, F., Genevini, P., D’Imporzano, G., Adani, F.: Assessing amendment properties of digestate by studying the organic matter composition and the degree of biological stability during the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of MSW. Bioresour. Technol. 100(12), 3140–3142 (2009)
Komilis, D.P., Ham, R.K.: The effect of lignin and sugars to the aerobic decomposition of solid wastes. Waste Manage. 23(5), 419–423 (2003)
AFNOR: XP U44-162 Amendements organiques et supports de culture—Fractionnement biochimique et estimation de la stabilité biologique—Méthode de caractérisation de la matière organique par solubilisations successives (2005)
Hachicha, S., Sellami, F., Cegarra, J., Hachicha, R., Drira, N., Medhioub, K., Ammar, E.: Biological activity during co-composting of sludge issued from the OMW evaporation ponds with poultry manure-Physico-chemical characterization of the processed organic matter. J. Hazard. Mater. 162(1), 402–409 (2009)
Campitelli, P., Ceppi, S.: Effects of composting technologies on the chemical and physicochemical properties of humic acids. Geoderma 144(1–2), 325–333 (2008)
Diacono, M., Montemurro, F.: Long-term effects of organic amendments on soil fertility. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 30(2), 401–422 (2010)
Tuomela, M., Vikman, M., Hatakka, A., Itavaara, M.: Biodegradation of lignin in a compost environment: A review. Bioresour. Technol. 72(2), 169–183 (2000)
Albrecht, R.: Co-compostage de boues de station d’épuration et de déchets verts: Nouvelle méthodologie du suivi des transformations de la matière organique, p. 189. Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III (2007)
Bernal, M.P., Paredes, C., Sanchez-Monedero, M.A., Cegarra, J.: Maturity and stability parameters of composts prepared with a wide range of organic wastes. Bioresour. Technol. 63(1), 91–99 (1998)
Bustamante, M.A., Paredes, C., Marhuenda-Egea, F.C., Perez-Espinosa, A., Bernal, M.P., Moral, R.: Co-composting of distillery wastes with animal manures: Carbon and nitrogen transformations in the evaluation of compost stability. Chemosphere 72(4), 551–557 (2008)
Harada, Y., Inoko, A.: The measurement of the cation-exchange capacity of composts for the estimation of the degree of maturity. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 26(1), 127–134 (1980)
Novoa-Munoz, J.C., Simal-Gandara, J., Fernandez-Calvino, D., Lopez-Periago, E., Arias-Estevez, M.: Changes in soil properties and in the growth of Lolium multiflorum in an acid soil amended with a solid waste from wineries. Bioresour. Technol. 99(15), 6771–6779 (2008)
Fialho, L.L., da Silva, W.T.L., Milori, D., Simoes, M.L., Martin-Neto, L.: Characterization of organic matter from composting of different residues by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Bioresour. Technol. 101(6), 1927–1934 (2010)
Siebert, S.: Quality requirements and quality assurance of digestion residuals in Germany. In: ECN/ORBIT Worshop The future for Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Waste in Europe. Nüremberg, Germany (2008)
AFNOR: NF U44-051 Amendements organiques—Dénominations, spécifications et marquage. (2006)
AFNOR: NF U44-095 Amendements organiques—Composts contenant des matières d’intérêt agronomique, issues du traitement des eaux. (2002)
Mosquera-Losada, M.R., Munoz-Ferreiro, N., Rigueiro-Rodriguez, A.: Agronomic characterisation of different types of sewage sludge: Policy implications. Waste Manage. 30(3), 492–503 (2010)
Hargreaves, J.C., Adl, M.S., Warman, P.R.: A review of the use of composted municipal solid waste in agriculture. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 123(1–3), 1–14 (2008)
AFNOR: NF U42-001 Engrais—Dénominations et spécifications. (2009)
Walter, I., Martinez, F., Cala, V.: Heavy metal speciation and phytotoxic effects of three representative sewage sludges for agricultural uses. Environ. Pollut. 139(3), 507–514 (2006)
Kapanen, A., Itavaara, M.: Ecotoxicity tests for compost applications. Ecotox. Environ. Safe. 49(1), 1–16 (2001)
AFNOR: FD CR 13455 Amendements du sol et supports de culture—Principes directeurs pour la sécurité des utilisateurs, de l’environnement et des plantes. (2001)
BSI: PAS 110:2010 Specification for whole digestate, separated liquor and separated fibre derived from the anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable materials. (2010)
CCME: PN 1340 Guidelines for Compost Quality. (2005)
Tognetti, C., Mazzarino, M.J., Laos, F.: Improving the quality of municipal organic waste compost. Bioresour. Technol. 98(5), 1067–1076 (2007)
Cossu, R., Raga, R.: Test methods for assessing the biological stability of biodegradable waste. Waste Manage. 28(2), 381–388 (2008)
Fricke, K., Santen, H., Wallmann, R.: Comparison of selected aerobic and anaerobic procedures for MSW treatment. Waste Manage. 25(8), 799–810 (2005)
Ponsa, S., Gea, T., Alerm, L., Cerezo, J., Sanchez, A.: Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic stability indices through a MSW biological treatment process. Waste Manage. 28(12), 2735–2742 (2008)
Komilis, D.P., Tziouvaras, I.S.: A statistical analysis to assess the maturity and stability of six composts. Waste Manage. 29(5), 1504–1513 (2009)
Baffi, C., Dell’Abate, M.T., Nassisi, A., Silva, S., Benedetti, A., Genevini, P.L., Adani, F.: Determination of biological stability in compost: A comparison of methodologies. Soil Biol. Biochem. 39(6), 1284–1293 (2007)
Barrena Gomez, R., Vazquez Lima, F., Sanchez Ferrer, A.: The use of respiration indices in the composting process: A review. Waste Manag. Res. 24(1), 37–47 (2006)
Brinton, W.F., Evans, E., Droffner, M.L., Brinton, R.B.: Standardized test for evaluation of compost self-heating. Biocycle 36(11), 64–69 (1995)
Lasaridi, K., Protopapa, I., Kotsou, M., Pilidis, G., Manios, T., Kyriacou, A.: Quality assessment of composts in the Greek market: The need for standards and quality assurance. J. Environ. Manage. 80(1), 58–65 (2006)
Lossin, R.: Measurement of the Chemical Oxygen Demand of Compost. Compost Sci. 31–32 (1971)
Mathur, S.P., Owen, G., Dinel, H., Schnitzer, M.: Determination of compost biomaturity. 1. Literature-review. Biol. Agric. Hortic. 10(2), 65–85 (1993)
Tiquia, S.M.: Microbiological parameters as indicators of compost maturity. J. Appl. Microbiol. 99(4), 816–828 (2005)
Wu, L., Ma, L.Q., Martinez, G.A.: Comparison of methods for evaluating stability and maturity of biosolids compost. J. Environ. Qual. 29(2), 424–429 (2000)
de Guardia, A., Tremier, A., Martinez, J.: Chapter 16—Indicators for determination of stability of composts and recycled organic wastes. In: Lens, P., Hamelers, B., Hoitink, H., Bidlingmaier, W. (eds.) Resource Recovery and Reuse in Organic Solid Waste Management, pp. 338–376. IWA Publishing, London (2004)
Tremier, A., de Guardia, A., Mallard, P.: Indicateurs de stabilisation de la matière organique au cours du compostage et indicateurs de stabilité des composts: Analyse critique et perspectives d’usage. TSM 10, 105–129 (2007)
Hassen, A., Belguith, K., Jedidi, N., Cherif, A., Cherif, M., Boudabous, A.: Microbial characterization during composting of municipal solid waste. Bioresour. Technol. 80(3), 217–225 (2001)
Moletta, R.: Le traitement des déchets. Paris, France (2009)
Cote, C., Masse, D.I., Quessy, S.: Reduction of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms by psychrophilic anaerobic digestion in swine slurries. Bioresour. Technol. 97(4), 686–691 (2006)
Bendixen, H.J.: Safeguards against pathogens in danish biogas plants. Water Sci. Technol. 30(12), 171–180 (1994)
Sahlstrom, L.: A review of survival of pathogenic bacteria in organic waste used in biogas plants. Bioresour. Technol. 87(2), 161–166 (2003)
Forster-Carneiro, T., Perez, M., Romero, L.I.: Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of source-sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Bioresour. Technol. 99(15), 6763–6770 (2008)
Igoni, A.H., Ayotamuno, M.J., Eze, C.L., Ogaji, S.O.T., Probert, S.D.: Designs of anaerobic digesters for producing biogas from municipal solid-waste. Appl. Energy 85(6), 430–438 (2008)
Barrena, R., d’Imporzano, G., Ponsa, S., Gea, T., Artola, A., Vazquez, F., Sanchez, A., Adani, F.: In search of a reliable technique for the determination of the biological stability of the organic matter in the mechanical-biological treated waste. J. Hazard. Mater. 162(2–3), 1065–1072 (2009)
Ekama, G.A., Sotemann, S.W., Wentzel, M.C.: Biodegradability of activated sludge organics under anaerobic conditions. Water Res. 41(1), 244–252 (2007)
Jones, R., Parker, W., Khan, Z., Murthy, S., Rupke, M.: Characterization of sludges for predicting anaerobic digester performance. Water Sci. Technol. 57(5), 721–726 (2008)
Vikman, M., Karjomaa, S., Kapanen, A., Wallenius, K., Itavaara, M.: The influence of lignin content and temperature on the biodegradation of lignocellulose in composting conditions. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 59(4–5), 591–598 (2002)
Francou, C., Le Villio-Poitrenaud, M., Houot, S.: Influence of waste initial ratios on the dynamic of organic matter stabilisation during composting. TSM 5, 35–43 (2007)
de Guardia, A., Mallard, P., Teglia, C., Marin, A., Le Pape, C., Launay, M., Benoist, J.C., Petiot, C.: Comparison of five organic wastes regarding their behaviour during composting: Part 1, biodegradability, stabilization kinetics and temperature rise. Waste Manag. 30(3), 402–414 (2009)
Mohajer, A., Tremier, A., Barrington, S., Martinez, J., Teglia, C., Carone, M.: Microbial oxygen uptake in sludge as influenced by compost physical parameters. Waste Manage. 29(8), 2257–2264 (2009)
Tremier, A., de Guardia, A., Massiani, C., Paul, E., Martel, J.L.: A respirometric method for characterising the organic composition and biodegradation kinetics and the temperature influence on the biodegradation kinetics, for a mixture of sludge and bulking agent to be co-composted. Bioresour. Technol. 96(2), 169–180 (2005)
Druilhe, C., De Guardia, A., Berthe, L., Tremier, A., Martel, J.-L.: Measurement of waste and compost biodegradability by respirometry. Practical applications. TSM 5, 44–57 (2007)
Vorkamp, K., Herrmann, R., Hvitved-Jacobsen, T.: Characterisation of organic matter from anaerobic digestion of organic waste by aerobic microbial activity. Bioresour. Technol. 78(3), 257–265 (2001)
Moller, H.B., Sommer, S.G., Ahring, B.: Methane productivity of manure, straw and solid fractions of manure. Biomass Bioenerg. 26(5), 485–495 (2004)
Agnew, J.M., Leonard, J.J., Feddes, J., Feng, Y.: A modified air pycnometer for compost air volume and density determination. Can. Biosyst. Eng. 45(6), 27–35 (2003)
Veeken, A., Timmermans, J., Szanto, G., Hamelers, B.: Design of passively aerated compost systems on basis of compaction-porosity-permeability data. In: ORBIT International Conference on Biological processing of organics. Perth, Australia (2003)
Haug, R.T.: The Practical Handbook of Composting Engineering. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida (1993)
Epstein, E.: The Science of Composting. Boca Raton, Florida (1997)
Keener, H.M., Ekinci, K., Elwell, D.L., Michel, F.C.: Principles of composting process optimization. In: International Scientific Symposium on Composting and Compost Utilization 2002. Colombus, USA (2002)
Madejon, E., Diaz, M.J., Lopez, R., Cabrera, F.: New approaches to establish optimum moisture content for compostable materials. Bioresour. Technol. 85(1), 73–78 (2002)
Mohee, R., Mudhoo, A.: Analysis of the physical properties of an in-vessel composting matrix. Powder Technol. 155(1), 92–99 (2005)
Goyal, S., Dhull, S.K., Kapoor, K.K.: Chemical and biological changes during composting of different organic wastes and assessment of compost maturity. Bioresour. Technol. 96(14), 1584–1591 (2005)
Acknowledgments
This research was project funded by the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) and Suez-Environment and carried out in Cemagref research centre in Rennes (Brittany, France).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teglia, C., Tremier, A. & Martel, JL. Characterization of Solid Digestates: Part 1, Review of Existing Indicators to Assess Solid Digestates Agricultural Use. Waste Biomass Valor 2, 43–58 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-010-9051-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-010-9051-5