Recycling of Faecal Sludge: Nitrogen, Carbon and Organic Matter Transformation during Co-Composting of Faecal Sludge with Different Bulking Agents

Musa Manga (), Barbara E. Evans, Tula M. Ngasala and Miller A. Camargo-Valero
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Musa Manga: The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 357 Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Barbara E. Evans: BioResource Systems Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Tula M. Ngasala: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
Miller A. Camargo-Valero: BioResource Systems Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of locally available bulking agents on the faecal sludge (FS) composting process and quality of the final FS compost. Dewatered FS was mixed with sawdust, coffee husk and brewery waste, and composted on a pilot scale. The evolution of physical and chemical characteristics of the composting materials was monitored weekly. Results indicate that bulking agents have a statistically significant effect ( p < 0.0001) on the evolution of composting temperatures, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen forms, organic matter mineralisation, total organic carbon, maturity indices, quality of the final compost and composting periods during FS composting. Our results suggest reliable maturity indices for mature and stable FS compost. From the resource recovery perspective, this study suggests sawdust as a suitable bulking agent for co-composting with FS—as it significantly reduced the organic matter losses and nitrogen losses (to 2.2%), and improved the plant growth index, thus improving the agronomic values of the final compost as a soil conditioner. FS co-composting can be considered a sustainable and decentralised treatment option for FS and other organic wastes in the rural and peri-urban communities, especially, where there is a strong practice of reusing organic waste in agriculture.

Keywords: carbon losses; nitrogen losses; compost maturity indices; nutrients recovery; heavy metals; micro; and macro-nutrients; faecal sludge composting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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