Evolution of clostridia and streptomycetes in full-scale composting facilities and pilot drums equipped with on-line temperature monitoring and aeration.

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    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 languageEnglish
    JournalBioresource Technology
    Volume102
    Issue number17
    Pages (from-to)7975-7983
    Number of pages9
    ISSN0960-8524
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Fields of Science

    • 1183 Plant biology, microbiology, virology

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