Effects of Different Agro-Based Materials on Composting of Pulp/Paper-Mill Sludge

Abstract

The effects of different volumetric ratios of bulking agents to pulp/paper-mill sludge on composting were studied. Rice husk and corncob were used as bulking agents. Volumetric ratios of bulking agents to pulp/paper-mill sludge were used as 10:100 and 25:100. To monitor the evolution of the composting systems, routine parameters such as temperature, moisture, pH, total N, NH<inf>4</inf>+-N, NO<inf>3</inf>--N, total C, and C/N ratio were analyzed. The results indicated that the agro-based materials significantly affected compost maturity parameters. Moreover, the quality of the product obtained in the composting process treated with the agro-based materials achieved satisfactory stabilization and sanitation for application to land. © Copyright by Polish Academy of Sciences and Institute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences 2014.