title: Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from food waste composting at different temperatures.
abstract: Emissions of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from composting of source-sorted food waste were studied at set temperatures of 40, 55 and 67°C in 10 trials performed in a controlled environment 200L compost reactor. CH₄ and N₂O concentrations were generally low. In trials with 16% O₂, the mean total CH₄ emission at all temperatures was 0.007% of the mineralized carbon (C), while at 67°C this fraction was 0.001%. Total CH₄ production was higher in the 40°C trial and the limited oxygen (1% O₂) trial, with emissions of 0.029 and 0.132% of the mineralized C respectively. An early increase in N₂O production was observed in trials with higher initial nitrate contents. Increased CH₄ and N₂O production in trials at 40 and 55°C after 50% of the initial C was mineralized resulted in higher total greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, the global warming potentials in CO₂-equivalents from CH₄ emissions were higher than from N₂O, except for composts run at 67°C.
authors: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Energy and Technology, Sweden. Electronic address: evgheni.ermolaev@slu.se.
authors: Evgheni
authors: E
authors: Ermolaev
authors: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Microbiology, Sweden.
authors: Åsa
authors: Å
authors: Jarvis
authors: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Energy and Technology, Sweden.
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Sundberg
authors: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Energy and Technology, Sweden.
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Smårs
authors: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Microbiology, Sweden.
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Pell
authors: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Energy and Technology, Sweden.
authors: Håkan
authors: H
authors: Jönsson
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005735:Garbage; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D059027:Recycling; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D062611:Solid Waste; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D008697:Methane
keywords: Aeration; Denitrification; Greenhouse gas; Methanogen; Nitrification; Waste management