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- Title
Changes of PAHs and C humic fractions in composts with sewage sludge and biochar amendment.
- Authors
Kopeć, Michał; Smreczak, Bożena; Ukalska-Jaruga, Aleksandra; Mierzwa-Hersztek, Monika; Gondek, Krzysztof
- Abstract
Changes in the content of (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) PAHs and transformation of humic substances during composting of maize straw with sewage sludge and biochar amendment were investigated. Biochar was applied as an agent for improving physical and chemical properties of the composting mix. The composting process has lasted 140 d and was carried out in laboratory conditions. The total content of organic carbon, its soluble forms in hot and cold water, as well as fractional composition of humic substances, and the group of 16 PAHs were investigated during the study. The major changes in the content of individual PAHs were noticed in the first 20 d when the temperature of composting mixtures reached 60°C. Biochar is the source of PAHs, but in the biochar-enriched combination the greatest reduction of the content of those compounds was noticed. The lowest decrease of PAHs concentration was detected in the case of maize straw compost characterized by the smallest volume of mesopores. The content of organic carbon soluble in hot water in the composted materials ranged from 15.1% to 20.2%, whereas in cold water extracts varied from 3.6% to 4.8%, as compared with the total Corg concentration. The humic acid:fulvic acid ratio (Cha:Cfa) indicating the organic matter decomposition was highest in the combination where the greatest reduction of PAHs was observed. The biochar-enriched compost was characterized by the largest population of fungi and presumably this group of microorganisms was responsible for effective PAH degradation.
- Subjects
COMPOSTING; SLUDGE composting; SEWAGE sludge; BIOCHAR; HUMUS; POLYCYCLIC aromatic hydrocarbons; HOT water
- Publication
Desalination & Water Treatment, 2017, Vol 97, p234
- ISSN
1944-3994
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5004/dwt.2017.21629