Efficiency of Organic Waste Decomposition in Small-aerated Composting Bin
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Abstract
The objective of this research is to compare the efficiency of small composting bin between passive and active system and to determine the optimum air flow of the active system in order to enhance decomposition efficiency. Organic waste consisting of mango, banana, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, grapefruit and orange peels 8 kg in total were mixed with 4 kg of shredded leaves. Initial C/N ratio and moisture content of composting materials were 32 and 55% respectively. Small HDPE plastic bin size 60-liter (60 cm height and diameter 37 cm) was used as composting bin. Aeration rate was varied from 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 to 0.9 L/min-kg organic matter in order to compare the degradation efficiency and to determine the optimum flow rate. The result showed that the composting pile with aeration rate at 0.7 L/min-kg had the highest temperature at 53 oC, higher than the passive system (44.75 oC) and the highest decomposition efficiency at 70%. The process took 21 day and pH of the final product was 6.16, C/N ratio was 15.04, potassium was 3.20% and electrical conductivity was 1.48 dS/m, which met the standard of compost. However, the moisture content was 39.4% and phosphorus was 0.3%, which did not meet the standard of compost.
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References
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