Organic Acids as a Decisive Limitation to Process Dynamics During Composting of Organic Matter

The Effects of Goat Manure, Sewage Sludge And Effective Microorganisms on the Composting of Pine Bark

“…Sundberg et al (2004), working with low pH household wastes, concluded that during the initial phase of household waste composting, the process was inhibited by low pH (< 6). Reinhardt (2002) similarly reported inhibition of thermophilic activity at low pH during the composting of food wastes. Acidic pH could have accounted for the low thermophilic microbial activity in the pine bark-sewage sludge composts as the sludge used had an acidic pH (Table 1).…”

An Electronic Nose and Indicator Volatiles for Monitoring of the Composting Process

“…Anaerobic zones in the composting mass will generate several undesirable intermediate metabolites, organic acids and alcohols, and methane during the decomposition process. Several of the volatile organic compounds formed during anaerobic degradation cause unpleasant odours (Reinhardt, 2002).…”

Inhibitory Effects of Organic Acids on Bacteria Growth During Food Waste Composting

“…It can be affected by a number of factors (Qin, et al 2007), and pH level is an important one (Nakasaki et al 1993). During the initial stage of a composting process, pH level drops significantly (Golueke 1977;Nakasaki et al 1993;Krogmann 1994;Reinhardt 2002). Generally, collected food waste is acidic, with pH ranging from 4.5 to 6 (Sundberg et al, 2004).…”

“…The effects of organic acids on the microbial activities have been studied extensively (Russell and Diez-Gonzalez 1998;Reinhardt 2002;Smars et al 2002;Yu and Huang 2009). The tolerance of microorganisms to or-ganic-acid toxicity depends on acid type and concentration, microbial species, and environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture content (Cherrington et al 1991;Beck-Friis et al 2001;Nakai and Siebert 2003;Sundberg and Jonnson 2005).…”

“…Smars et al (2002) pointed out that microorganisms were inhibited under combined effects of high temperature (above 46°C) and low pH in composting processes. Reinhardt (2002) investigated the correlation between microbial activities and formation/accumulation of acetic acid. However, there is a lack of study on combined inhibitory effects of multiple organic acids on microbial activities in composting processes.…”