title: Utilization of solar energy in sewage sludge composting: fertilizer effect and application.
abstract: Three reactors, ordinary, greenhouse, and solar, were constructed and tested to compare their impacts on the composting of municipal sewage sludge. Greenhouse and solar reactors were designed to evaluate the use of solar energy in sludge composting, including their effects on temperature and compost quality. After 40 days of composting, it was found that the solar reactor could provide more stable heat for the composting process. The average temperature of the solar reactor was higher than that of the other two systems, and only the solar reactor could maintain the temperature above 55°C for more than 3 days. Composting with the solar reactor resulted in 31.3% decrease in the total organic carbon, increased the germination index to 91%, decreased the total nitrogen loss, and produced a good effect on pot experiments.
authors: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors: Yiqun
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Yu
authors: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors: Shengwen
authors: S
authors: Liang
authors: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China. Electronic address: zongpingw@hust.edu.cn.
authors: Zongping
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors: Zizheng
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
authors: Ya
authors: Y
authors: Xiong
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D029069:Impatiens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012722:Sewage
keywords: Compost; Fertilizer effect; Pot experiments; Sludge; Solar energy