title: Evaluation of commercial compost quality.
abstract: Ten commercial composts were evaluated on the basis of chemical, physical and biological characteristics and compared with a compost produced by a safe matrix in controlled conditions. FT-IR spectra, (13)C CP-MAS NMR spectra and molecular weights were also assayed on humic acids extracted from the composts. The results show that the origin of the starting materials affects the quality of the end products especially for their heavy metal content and genotoxic effect. The presence of a high percentage of low molecular weight fractions generally recorded in the humic acids from commercial composts could be due to uncorrected composting process. FT-IR and (13)C CP-MAS NMR spectra agree with functional group assignments, characterising the level of humification. The results show that commercial composts can display harmful properties probably due to the origin of the starting material, therefore a regulation about both compost production and characterisation should be suitable.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia Agroambientale e Forestale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Area della Ricerca di Roma, Via Salaria Km 29,300; 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tomati
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Simone
mesh_terms: D004249:DNA Damage; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D031306:Vicia
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D019216:Metals, Heavy