Module 9
Biological Treatment I-Composting
FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF MSWM
Primary collection
Secondary
collection
Lecture 25
Factors affecting composting process
FACTORS AFFECTING COMPOSTING PROCESS
Temperature
As an environmental factor, temperature
effects the well-being and activities of the
microbial population.
The curve of composting process efficiency
and speed flatten between 35-55 °C, and are
negligible at temperatures above 70 °C.
At temperatures higher than 65 °C, most
Monitoring temperature of the compost pile
non-spore formers die off and spore
formers enter the spore stage and, as such,
are dormant.
Temperature (Cont.)
Colder regions might need addition temperature
control or in-vessel composting
Hot climatic regions such as in India (favorable ambient Source: [Link]
temperatures) support open composting
Source: [Link]
Temperature (Cont.)
Temperature changes during composting and corresponding microbial
communities and organic compounds
Composting phases (Biddlestone and Gray, 1985) Source: Insam and de Bertoli, 2007
Moisture content
Almost all biological activity ceases at moisture
contents lower than about 12%.
A moisture content of 50-60% is generally
considered optimum for composting.
Microbial induced decomposition occurs most
rapidly in the thin liquid films found on the
surfaces of the organic particles.
Whereas too little moisture (<40%) inhibits
bacterial activity, too much moisture (>65%)
results in slow decomposition, odor production in The composting process and important compost factors
anaerobic pockets, and nutrient leaching. affecting this process. (Itävaara et al., 1995)
Often the same materials that are high in nitrogen are very wet, and those that are high in carbon are dry.
Optimum moisture
content ensures proper
microbial activity and
hence proper
degradation of the
waste
As a rule of thumb, the materials are too wet if
water can be squeezed out of a handful and too
dry if the handful does not feel moist to the touch
TOO WET
Optimum
moisture content
Should be free
flowing
Moisture content should be assessed at every turning
Source: [Link]
management/recycling-and-waste-management/composting-spoiled-hay
Particle size
Microbial activity generally occurs on the surface of the organic particles.
Therefore, decreasing particle size, through its effect of increasing
surface area, will encourage microbial activity and increase the rate of
decomposition.
On the other hand, when particles are too small and compact, air
circulation through the pile is inhibited. This decreases O2 available to
microorganisms within the pile and ultimately decreases the rate of
microbial activity.
Recommended size of particle: < 1 cm
Shredding or grinding is beneficial when raw
materials are fibrous (leaves, woody plants or corn
stalks).
Shredding exposes greater surface area making
more susceptible to bacterial invasion.
Shredding material makes it more uniform in size,
aerates it, and makes it easier to handle and keep
moist.
Effect of particle size on
temperature
Fly control is also better when material is
Source:
[Link] pulverized or shredded.
D=24810
Uniform compost made from shredded material is
easy for land application.
Substrate
Combining the different
Biologically kindsorganic
originated of compost
waste.
materials yields a mix that composts well
Although the ideal waste would
contain all necessary nutrients, in
practice it may be necessary at times
to add a chemical nutrient to remedy
a nutrient deficiency.
Kitchen garbage particularly, which tends to be
soft and fairly high in nitrogen, can be dug into
the center of a hot pile where it will disappear
within days Types of wastes that can be used for composting
Source: [Link]
treatment-by-composting
AERATION
Oxygen is a key element in the
respiratory and metabolic
activities of microbes.
The amount of oxygen required
by the microbes is termed
“oxygen demand”.
Air flow in a compost pile
Temperature, moisture content, Source:
size of bacterial population, and [Link]
fundamentals/
availability of nutrients are some
of the key factors that influence
oxygen demand.
Convection currents and other factors affecting aeration of a static compost pile
Source: [Link]
affecting-aeration-of-a-static-compost-pile_fig1_279715396
How turning/mixing effects aeration and subsequently the temperature during composting??
• If the pile begins to cool down, the process starts to
become slower and will thus take longer. If the pile is
turned, it begins to heat up and gets the process going
again, however it can also cool the pile down in order
to prevent loss of nitrogen.
• Adding new material to a pile can affect this too. New
material can cool down the pile and will be behind the
stuff that is already cooking, however, after a pile is
actually up and running, it can easily absorb new
The compost pile is capable of reaching up to 49-77 °C (120-170
material without
Effect ofnecessarily
turning on being slowed down.
temperature. °F) in just a few days. High temperatures can be used to heat
Source: [Link] water, greenhouses or homes
Source: [Link]
Cont.
The inside of the pile gets the hottest so if the pile is
mixed frequently the decay of the matter will be
more even.
By turning, oxygen is allowed to get into the pile
which will allow these microorganisms to breathe.
It also decrease the chance of build up of anaerobic
(without oxygen) bacteria which adds to a stinky
If pile gets too wet, can spread it down, or
compost. open a hole about 3-4” wide with the handle
of the pitchfork, or put sticks underneath for
Source: drainage.
[Link] Source: [Link]
trogen-and-microorganisms/ instructions/hot-compost-composting-in-18-days/
Nutrients: Carbon to Nitrogen (C/N) ratio
The ideal ratio is about ~30 parts of available carbon to 1 part of available nitrogen.
Carbon = Source of energy
Nitrogen = Building cell structures.
If C/N ratio of compost is more, the excess carbon tends to utilize nitrogen in soil to build cell protoplasm
(Robbing of soil).
If C/N ratio is too low the resultant product does not help improve the structure of soil.
Materials that are high in
carbon are typically dry,
“brown” materials, such as
sawdust, cardboard, dried
leaves, straw, branches and
other woody or fibrous
materials that rot down
very slowly.
Materials that are high in
nitrogen are typically moist,
“green” materials, such as
The C:N ratio is a critical factor in lawn/grass clippings, fruit
composting to prevent both nitrogen and vegetable scraps, animal
robbing from the soil and manure and green leafy
conserving maximum nitrogen in the materials that rot down
compost very quickly.
Source:
[Link]
s/needs_carbon_nitrogen.htm
Carbon = dried leaves, shredded paper, straw. (These items are
called BROWNS because they are dry)
Nitrogen = food scraps, grass clippings (These items are called
GREENS - because they are usually wet)
Source: [Link]
composting
(Cont.)
Table: Percent N, C/N, and moisture of selected materials and maximum permissible moisture contents
High C:N will lead to less degradation as more
food and low C:N will lead to fast degradation
and formation of immature compost.
Source: [Link]
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