Use of Different Bulking Agents and Inoculation Agent in Composting of Food Industry Process Wastes

• Main Authors: Selnur UÇAROĞLU, Behice Gamze GÜMRAH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bursa Uludag University 2016-12-01
• Series: Uludağ University Journal of The Faculty of Engineering
• Subjects: Treatment sludge; Inoculation Agent; Food industry process waste; Bulking agent; Composting
• Online Access: http://mmfdergi.uludag.edu.tr/article/view/5000190472

<p>The aim of this study was to investigate the compostability of food industry process wastes with different bulking agents for disposal and recovery, and to determine the effect of treatment sludge which was used as inoculation agent. Sunflower stalk and corn cob were mixed to process wastes as bulking agents. Four different compost mixtures were prepared to investigate composting of process wastes. Process wastes and sunflower stalk to first mixture (M1) at ratio of 3:2; process wastes, treatment sludge and sunflower stalk to second mixture (M2) at ratio of 3:1:2; process wastes, treatment sludge and corn cob to third mixture (M3) at ratio of 3:1:2; process wastes, treatment sludge and corn cob to fourth mixture (M4) at ratio of 3:1:3 were added. M1 mixture was prepared without inoculation agent as control mixture.  Temperature, dry matter content, organic matter loss, C/N ratio, pH and electrical conductivity parameters were monitored during the composting process for 28 days. The highest organic matter losses and the highest temperature formed in the process were monitored in M3 reactor. According to the results, for the efficiently composting process; process wastes with treatment sludge as inoculation agent and corn cob as bulking agent at ratio of 3:1:2 were determined.<strong></strong></p>