Summary
Raw and cured compost samples from a large-scale urban composter were studied over a period of eight months to gain information on bacterial species present. Total viable, aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, lactose-positive bacteria, antibiotic and metal-resistant bacteria and thermophilic bacteria were enumerated. Both raw and cured compost samples contained metal and antibiotic-tolerant bacteria (<Log 3.0 to Log 8.5 CFU g−1 compost) as well as high numbers (as high as Log 7.4 CFU g−1 dry weight compost) of thermophilic bacteria isolated by growth at 55 °C. Selected colonies were also identified using the Biolog 95 substrate identification system.Escherichia coli andSalmonella spp. were not detected in compost samples.
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Andrews, S.A., Lee, H. & Trevors, J.T. Bacterial species in raw and cured compost from a large-scale urban composter. Journal of Industrial Microbiology 13, 177–182 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01584004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01584004