Co-composting of PAH-contaminated soil with poultry manure.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of co-composting poultry manure with soil contaminated with different concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on the degradation of selected PAHs in a static-pile compost system.


METHODS
Mispah form (Food & Agricultural Organisation, FAO : lithosol) soil contaminated with PAHs was co-composted with poultry manure for 19 months. The soil was mixed with wood chips in a ratio of 1:1 to improve aeration and then mixed with poultry manure in a ratio of 4:1. A data logger measured temperature monthly. Residual concentrations of selected PAHs in the compost were determined monthly by gas chromatography/flame ionisation detection (GC/FID). Moisture, pH, ash content and C:N ratios were also monitored monthly. Microbial activity was measured by measuring CO(2) evolution.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained in this experiment have shown that co-composting poultry manure with PAH-contaminated soil is capable of removing large concentrations of high molecular weight PAH from contaminated soil to levels below 1 mg kg(-1) in 19 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The paper adds to the body of knowledge necessary for the development of a cost effective technology for the remediation of soil contaminated with high molecular weight PAHs by providing information on the behaviour of selected PAHs and factors such as nutrient ratio, temperature and pH during composting.
Atagana
H I
HI
Mangosuthu Technikon, Jacobs, Durban, South Africa. atagana@yahoo.com
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011200:Poultry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D008372:Manure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen