Hyperthermophilic Composting Technology for Organic Solid Waste Treatment: Recent Research Advances and Trends

Abstract

Organic solid waste is considered a renewable resource that can be converted by various technologies into valuable products. Conventional thermophilic composting (TC), a well-studied and mature technology, can be applied to organic solid waste treatment to achieve waste reduction, mineralization, and humification simultaneously. However, poor efficiency, a long processing period, as well as low compost quality have always limited its wide application. In order to overcome these shortages, hyperthermophilic composting (HTC) has been recently put forward. This paper reviews the basic principle, process flow, operation parameters, research advances, and application status of HTC. Compared with the TC process, the shorter composting period and higher temperature and treatment efficiency, as well as more desirable compost quality, can be achieved during HTC by inoculating the waste with hyperthermophilic microbes. Additionally, HTC can reduce greenhouse gas emission, increase the removal rate of microplastics and antibiotic residues, and achieve in-situ remediation of heavy metal-polluted soils, which greatly improve its application potential for organic solid waste treatment. This paper also proposes the limitations and future prospects of HTC technology for a wider application. As a result, this review advances our understanding of the HTC process, which promotes its further investigation and application.

Application of microbial agents in organic solid waste composting: a review

“…106,107 Studies have shown that during the composting process, mesophiles produce proteases, lipases, cellulases and amylases, which are used to break down complex organic matter, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, into simple substances, such as glucose and amino acids, for better absorption and utilization. [108][109][110] During the process of normal-temperature composting, the bacterial activity generates heat. This heat raises the temperature of the compost, thus promoting the transformation of organic matter; however, the temperature needs to be controlled within the appropriate range to ensure it does not become too high.…”

“…2), ultra-high-temperature composting is a potentially promising and valuable method for OSW treatment due to its efficient, rapid and stable degradation of OSW, resulting in a product that can be returned to the land for resource recycling. 109 Taken together, ultra-high-temperature composting has become the best means of OSW treatment; however, during the application process, a variety of factors, such as the scale of treatment, technical difficulty, economy and environment, need to be Figure 2. Comparison of conditions and performance of three composting types considered during the design.…”

Decentralized Processing Performance of Fruit and Vegetable Waste Discarded from Retail, Using an Automated Thermophilic Composting Technology

“…Despite the fact that many municipal waste management operators still regard organic waste as a major challenge, these materials are in fact important renewable resources, that may be converted into valuable products (such as compost) using different novel processing technologies. Compost is used for a variety of purposes, including mushroom cultivation, mulching, improving soil structure in orchards, and producing brew compost tea [4]. A reduction of worldwide food losses and the use of vegetable waste to produce valuable agricultural fertilizers might be a solution to increase future food security [5,6].…”

Gas, Water and Solid Waste Treatment Technology

“…The increasing trends in gas pollution, water pollution, and solid waste pollution have an adverse impact on human health and ecological habitats. Various technologies have been deployed to treat different pollutants [1,2]. Nevertheless, many of these technologies render poor performance or are yet to be economically feasible for commercial deployment.…”

“…Moreover, a novel cooling method based on metal spheres is presented, which allows the energy recovery from the molten slags. Two points present novelty in this work: (1) the method for measuring the metal spheres temperature; (2) and the estimation of the energy that could be recovered from these systems in slag manufacturing. The results forecasted that the temperature achieved by the metal spheres was in the range of 295-410 • C in the center and 302-482 • C on the surface.…”