Effect of light Sphagnum peat on odour formation in the early stages of biowaste composting

Jukka M. Kurola; Mona Arnold; Merja H. Kontro; Matti Talves; Martin Romantschuk

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.014

Effect of light Sphagnum peat on odour formation in the early stages of biowaste composting

Jukka M. Kurola (Corresponding Author), Mona Arnold, Merja H. Kontro, Matti Talves, Martin Romantschuk

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the effects of two bulking materials, Sphagnum peat and pine wood chips, on the early stages of biowaste composting in two pilot-scale processes. Emphasis was placed on studying the formation conditions of malodorous compost gases in the initial phases of the processes. The results showed that gas emission leaving an open windrow and a closed drum composting system contained elevated concentrations of fermentative microbial metabolites when acid Sphagnum peat (pH 3.2) was used as a bulking material. Moreover, the gas emission of the peat amended drum composter contained a high concentration of odour (up to 450,000 ou m⁻³ of air). The highest odour values in the outlet gas of peat amended composts coincided with the elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds such as acetoin and buthanedion. We conclude that the acidifying qualities of composting substrates or bulking material may intensify odour emission from biowaste composts and prolong the early stages of the composting process.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	779-786
Number of pages	8
Journal	Waste Management
Volume	30
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.014
Publication status	Published - 2010
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

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title = "Effect of light Sphagnum peat on odour formation in the early stages of biowaste composting",

abstract = "In the present study, we investigated the effects of two bulking materials, Sphagnum peat and pine wood chips, on the early stages of biowaste composting in two pilot-scale processes. Emphasis was placed on studying the formation conditions of malodorous compost gases in the initial phases of the processes. The results showed that gas emission leaving an open windrow and a closed drum composting system contained elevated concentrations of fermentative microbial metabolites when acid Sphagnum peat (pH 3.2) was used as a bulking material. Moreover, the gas emission of the peat amended drum composter contained a high concentration of odour (up to 450,000 ou m−3 of air). The highest odour values in the outlet gas of peat amended composts coincided with the elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds such as acetoin and buthanedion. We conclude that the acidifying qualities of composting substrates or bulking material may intensify odour emission from biowaste composts and prolong the early stages of the composting process.",

author = "Kurola, {Jukka M.} and Mona Arnold and Kontro, {Merja H.} and Matti Talves and Martin Romantschuk",

year = "2010",

doi = "10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.014",

language = "English",

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journal = "Waste Management",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of light Sphagnum peat on odour formation in the early stages of biowaste composting

AU - Kurola, Jukka M.

AU - Arnold, Mona

AU - Kontro, Merja H.

AU - Talves, Matti

AU - Romantschuk, Martin

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - In the present study, we investigated the effects of two bulking materials, Sphagnum peat and pine wood chips, on the early stages of biowaste composting in two pilot-scale processes. Emphasis was placed on studying the formation conditions of malodorous compost gases in the initial phases of the processes. The results showed that gas emission leaving an open windrow and a closed drum composting system contained elevated concentrations of fermentative microbial metabolites when acid Sphagnum peat (pH 3.2) was used as a bulking material. Moreover, the gas emission of the peat amended drum composter contained a high concentration of odour (up to 450,000 ou m−3 of air). The highest odour values in the outlet gas of peat amended composts coincided with the elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds such as acetoin and buthanedion. We conclude that the acidifying qualities of composting substrates or bulking material may intensify odour emission from biowaste composts and prolong the early stages of the composting process.

AB - In the present study, we investigated the effects of two bulking materials, Sphagnum peat and pine wood chips, on the early stages of biowaste composting in two pilot-scale processes. Emphasis was placed on studying the formation conditions of malodorous compost gases in the initial phases of the processes. The results showed that gas emission leaving an open windrow and a closed drum composting system contained elevated concentrations of fermentative microbial metabolites when acid Sphagnum peat (pH 3.2) was used as a bulking material. Moreover, the gas emission of the peat amended drum composter contained a high concentration of odour (up to 450,000 ou m−3 of air). The highest odour values in the outlet gas of peat amended composts coincided with the elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds such as acetoin and buthanedion. We conclude that the acidifying qualities of composting substrates or bulking material may intensify odour emission from biowaste composts and prolong the early stages of the composting process.

U2 - 10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.014

DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2009.12.014

M3 - Article

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SP - 779

EP - 786

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JF - Waste Management

SN - 0956-053X

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