The effects of seed inoculation on the rate of garbage composting

Abstract

Enhancement of composting efficiency by seeding specialized inoculum was studied quantitatively by means of general composting parameters, kinetic constant, and maximum degradation rate of compostable substrates. General parameters such as temperature, CO2 and O-2 concentrations, pH, and dry matter decrease were improved by inoculating specialized microorganisms. Seed inoculation increased final percent conversion of garbage to 87.5%, while 72.7% of garbage degraded without inoculation. It was obvious that the seed inoculation could enhance composting rate from the comparison of kinetic constants and maximum degradation rates. The decomposition rates of organic matter in initial stage of inoculated case were 4 to 5 or 1.7 to 2.1 times higher than the values in the case of no inoculation, in terms of kinetic constant and maximum degradation rate, respectively. It was suggested that seed inoculation is applicable to the on-site treatment because it could initiate composting reaction efficiently without initial lag period.