Abstract
The evolution of sporulating bacteria in full-scale composting facilities with online temperature monitoring has been poorly studied, although organic matter recycling increases. We analysed Clostridium perfringens and sulphite-reducing clostridia (SRC) by cultivation, and streptomycetes by real-time PCR in five full-scale, temperature-monitored and aerated composting processes, and two pilot-scale drum composters. Facilities composted woodchips, sawdust, peat, or bark amended sludge or source-separated biowaste. Streptomycetes genes of 0.21–110 x 10E7 copies/g feed increased fast to 0.019–33 x 10E9 copies/g, and then were equal or decreased. SRC of 0.06–2.2 x 10E7 cfu/g feed decreased to 0–600 cfu/g, with re-growth in two facilities. End products were clean of C. perfringens, detected in sludge composts. Although processes contained large quantities of spore-forming bacteria, in the best facilities end products had the high quality. Temperature (>55 C, >2d) was not related to the end compost quality, but relations between waste and bulking agent qualities, aeration, and processing time should be better controlled.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Bioresource Technology |
Volume | 102 |
Issue number | 17 |
Pages (from-to) | 7975-7983 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISSN | 0960-8524 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Fields of Science
- 1183 Plant biology, microbiology, virology