Physico-chemical changes and kinetics for mineralisation of EFB composting

Composting is a biochemical process, highly dependent on temperature and aeration rate. This research aims at studying the mineral dynamics, developing an empirical model and optimising the composting of EFB. Mineralisation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were found to be affected by...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sim, Vivienne Jie Wei
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Curtin University 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1771
Description
Summary:Composting is a biochemical process, highly dependent on temperature and aeration rate. This research aims at studying the mineral dynamics, developing an empirical model and optimising the composting of EFB. Mineralisation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were found to be affected by both variables. Optimisation of the process shows the highest yield of nitrogen (1.86%) can be obtained at a temperature of 41.5°C and aeration rate of 0.37L/min.kg, over composting period of 42 days.