Strategies for evaluating the sanitary quality of composting.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate different strategies for description of the sanitary quality of industrial-scale composting.


RESULTS
The investigation included microbiological analyses of waste at different stages during the process (spot test analysis), as well as physical and chemical parameters. The elimination of indicator organisms was also investigated by means of direct process evaluation, based on inoculation of the waste. At the four investigated facilities, the sanitary process was very efficient when evaluated by the direct process evaluation, indicated by an efficient elimination of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis inoculated into the waste. The sanitization was poor when evaluated by spot test analysis at the two windrow facilities, while good agreement was found at the two in-vessel facilities.


CONCLUSIONS
The direct process evaluation is a valuable tool for identifying parameters for process optimization in different zones and for measuring elimination patterns of pathogens not normally present in the waste, but it is unreliable for evaluating the overall sanitary process.


CONCLUSIONS
The spot test analysis is an accurate method for the analysis of the sanitary process. In addition, it is simple and inexpensive to perform, which makes it very cost-effective for supervision of the sanitary quality of industrial-scale composting.
Christensen
K K
KK
SOLUM AS, Department for Process and Product Development, Hedehusene, Denmark. kc@solum.dk
Carlsbaek
M
M
Kron
E
E
D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011786:Quality Control; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012499:Sanitation / Q000592:standards*; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D013696:Temperature; D014887:Weather
D009930:Organic Chemicals