title: PARAFAC modeling of fluorescence excitation-emission spectra for rapid assessment of compost maturity.
abstract: Assessment of compost maturity is crucial for achieving high quality compost in order to guarantee its marketability. In this context, a novel technique that combines fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis to assess compost maturity is presented. A total of 60 fluorescence EEMs of composts were successfully decomposed into a three-factor model using PARAFAC analysis. Components 1 [excitation/emission (Ex/Em) wavelengths=(230, 330)/410] and 2 [Ex/Em wavelengths=(250, 350)/450] were attributable to humic-like and fulvic-like substances, whereas component 3 [Ex/Em wavelengths=(220, 280)/340] belonged to protein-like substances. Pearson correlation analysis between the common maturity indices and log scores of three components demonstrated that components 1 and 3 are more suitable to assess compost maturity than component 2. These results reveal that EEM-PARAFAC could be applied as a valuable tool for assessing compost maturity, given its high sensitivity and selectivity.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Lab for Organic Solid Waste Utilization, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China.
authors.forename: Guang-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yi-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Min-Jie
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Dong-Yang
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xing-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qi-Rong
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water