title: Characterizing the transformation and transfer of nitrogen during the aerobic treatment of organic wastes and digestates.
abstract: The transformation and transfer of nitrogen during the aerobic treatment of seven wastes were studied in ventilated air-tight 10-L reactors at 35 °C. Studied wastes included distinct types of organic wastes and their digestates. Ammonia emissions varied depending on the kind of waste and treatment conditions. These emissions accounted for 2-43% of the initial nitrogen. Total nitrogen losses, which resulted mainly from ammonia emissions and nitrification-denitrification, accounted for 1-76% of the initial nitrogen. Ammonification was the main process responsible for nitrogen losses. An equation which allows estimating the ammonification flow of each type of waste according to its biodegradable carbon and carbon/nitrogen ratio was proposed. As a consequence of the lower contribution of storage and leachate rates, stripping and nitrification rates of ammonia nitrogen were negatively correlated. This observation suggests the possibility of promotingnitrification in order to reduce ammonia emissions.
authors.affiliation: Irstea, UR GERE, 17 Avenue de Cucillé, CS 64427, F-35044 Rennes Cedex, France. yang.zeng@irstea.fr
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Amaury
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Guardia
authors.forename: Mylène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daumoin
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Benoist
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005740:Gases; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D062611:Solid Waste; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen