title: Static, dynamic and inoculum augmented respiration based test assessment for determining in-vessel compost stability.
abstract: The purpose of this work was to evaluate compost (and related industry) stability tests given recent large-scale changes to feedstock, processing techniques and compost market requirements. Five stability tests (ORG0020, DR4, Dewar self-heating, oxygen update rate (OUR) and static respiration) were evaluated on composts from ten in-vessel composting sites. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were strong for the ORG0020, OUR and DR4 (both CO2 and O2 measurement), however, OUR results required data extrapolation for highly active compost samples. By comparison the Dewar self-heating and static respiration tests had weaker correlations, in part the result of under reporting highly active, low pH samples. The findings suggest that despite differences in pre-incubation period both dynamic respiration tests (ORG0020 and DR4) are best suited to deal with the wide range of compost stabilities found.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: t.j.aspray@hw.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Aspray
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Eco Ltd, 75 Derwent Close, Cambridge CB1 8DY, UK.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dimambro
authors.affiliation: Phil Wallace Limited, 26 Westland, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich IP5 3SU, UK.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Environment, Earth and Ecosystems, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.affiliation: Engineering and Innovation, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frederickson
mesh_terms: D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D062611:Solid Waste
keywords: Compost stability; Dynamic respiration; In-vessel composting; Self-heating; Static respiration