Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes

Composting as a biological waste treatment process holds a lot of promise in Malaysia. Although composting has a long history of application, it is difficult to find published work in the area of kinetics, which is regarded as important from the engineering point of view. As composting operates on t...

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Main Authors: Agamuthu, P., Praven, V.V., Hasan, S., Choong, L.C.
Format: Article
Published: 2000
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Online Access:http://eprints.um.edu.my/5029/
id um-5029
recordtype eprints
spelling um-50292014-10-20T06:18:53Z Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes Agamuthu, P. Praven, V.V. Hasan, S. Choong, L.C. QH301 Biology Composting as a biological waste treatment process holds a lot of promise in Malaysia. Although composting has a long history of application, it is difficult to find published work in the area of kinetics, which is regarded as important from the engineering point of view. As composting operates on the same general biochemical principles as ail biological systems, enzyme kinetics concepts could be applicable in the formulation of kinetic model of the composting process In this study, composting experiments were performed on oil palm empty fruit bunches, garden wastes, chicken dung and garden waste together with municipal sewage sludge. A commercial compost starter was evaluated for its efficacy to speed up the composting process. The kinetic rate constants K-m, K'(m), R-m and R'(m) were determined experimentally. Ii was observed that the Michealis constant (K-m) values were fairly constant (between 1.20 to 1.84) for each waste irrespective of whether compost starter was added. As for the maximum or limiting velocity, R-m and R'(m) values, it was observed that the values were higher with the addition of compost starter, the increase depending on the type of ago-waste and in the case of garden waste and EFB it was almost double when compared to control. The growth characteristics of actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi involved in composting were also evaluated and based on mu(m) and K-s the addition of compost starters showed a positive effect on the growth rate of these microorganisms. 2000 Article PeerReviewed Agamuthu, P.; Praven, V.V.; Hasan, S.; Choong, L.C. (2000) Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes. Environmental Technology <http://eprints.um.edu.my/view/publication/Environmental_Technology.html>, 21 (2). pp. 185-192. ISSN 0959-3330 http://eprints.um.edu.my/5029/
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution University Malaya
building UM Research Repository
collection Online Access
topic QH301 Biology
spellingShingle QH301 Biology
Agamuthu, P.
Praven, V.V.
Hasan, S.
Choong, L.C.
Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
description Composting as a biological waste treatment process holds a lot of promise in Malaysia. Although composting has a long history of application, it is difficult to find published work in the area of kinetics, which is regarded as important from the engineering point of view. As composting operates on the same general biochemical principles as ail biological systems, enzyme kinetics concepts could be applicable in the formulation of kinetic model of the composting process In this study, composting experiments were performed on oil palm empty fruit bunches, garden wastes, chicken dung and garden waste together with municipal sewage sludge. A commercial compost starter was evaluated for its efficacy to speed up the composting process. The kinetic rate constants K-m, K'(m), R-m and R'(m) were determined experimentally. Ii was observed that the Michealis constant (K-m) values were fairly constant (between 1.20 to 1.84) for each waste irrespective of whether compost starter was added. As for the maximum or limiting velocity, R-m and R'(m) values, it was observed that the values were higher with the addition of compost starter, the increase depending on the type of ago-waste and in the case of garden waste and EFB it was almost double when compared to control. The growth characteristics of actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi involved in composting were also evaluated and based on mu(m) and K-s the addition of compost starters showed a positive effect on the growth rate of these microorganisms.
format Article
author Agamuthu, P.
Praven, V.V.
Hasan, S.
Choong, L.C.
author_facet Agamuthu, P.
Praven, V.V.
Hasan, S.
Choong, L.C.
author_sort Agamuthu, P.
title Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
title_short Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
title_full Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
title_fullStr Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
title_full_unstemmed Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
title_sort kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes
publishDate 2000
url http://eprints.um.edu.my/5029/
first_indexed 2018-09-05T16:48:57Z
last_indexed 2018-09-05T16:48:57Z
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