The Effect of Co-Additives (Biochar and FGD Gypsum) on Ammonia Volatilization during the Composting of Livestock Waste

Andi Febrisiantosa, Balasubramani Ravindran and Hong L. Choi
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Andi Febrisiantosa: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea
Balasubramani Ravindran: Department of Environmental Energy and Engineering, Kyonggi University, Youngtong-Gu, Suwon 16227, Korea
Hong L. Choi: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: The effectiveness of co-additives for improving livestock waste composting (reduction of air pollution and conservation of nutrients) was investigated. Biochar and Flue gas desulphurization gypsum (FGD gypsum) were used to supplement the composting of a mixture of slaughter waste, swine slurry, and sawdust. Different compositions of additives (0% or 5% each, 10% biochar or FGD gypsum) were tested in triplicate on the laboratory scale. In addition, the effects of two different aeration schemes (continuous and intermittent) were also investigated. Ammonia volatilization, physicochemical characteristics, and compost maturity indices were investigated. The results indicated that the use of the co-additive (Biochar and FGD gypsum) during composting of livestock waste led to a reduction of ammonia volatilization by 26–59% and to a 6.7–7.9-fold increase of nitrate accumulation. The total ammonia volatilization of intermittent aeration treatment was lower than that of continuous aeration using co-additives treatment. It was concluded that co-additives (biochar and FGD gypsum) might be utilized in livestock waste composting to reduce ammonia volatilization and improve nutrient conservation.

Keywords: livestock waste; composting additives combination; ammonia; volatilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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