title: Evolution of process control parameters during extended co-composting of green waste and solid fraction of cattle slurry to obtain growing media.
abstract: This study aimed to monitor process parameters when two by-products (green waste - GW, and the solid fraction of cattle slurry - SFCS) were composted to obtain growing media. Using compost in growing medium mixtures involves prolonged composting processes that can last at least half a year. It is therefore crucial to study the parameters that affect compost stability as measured in the field in order to shorten the composting process at composting facilities. Two mixtures were prepared: GW25 (25% GW and 75% SFCS, v/v) and GW75 (75% GW and 25% SFCS, v/v). The different raw mixtures resulted in the production of two different growing media, and the evolution of process management parameters was different. A new parameter has been proposed to deal with attaining the thermophilic temperature range and maintaining it during composting, not only it would be useful to optimize composting processes, but also to assess the hygienization degree.
authors.affiliation: GIRO Unit, Research and Technology, Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Carretera de Cabrils km 2, 08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: rafaela.caceres@irta.cat.
authors.forename: Rafaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cáceres
authors.affiliation: GIRO Unit, Research and Technology, Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Carretera de Cabrils km 2, 08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Narcís
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coromina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, Brzeźnicka 60a, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malińska
authors.affiliation: GIRO Unit, Research and Technology, Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Carretera de Cabrils km 2, 08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Marfà
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D006813:Humidity; D018545:Lactuca / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012212:Rheology; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014866:Waste Products; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products; D014867:Water; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Degree-hour; Green waste; Growing medium; Physico-chemical properties; Separated cattle slurry