Monitoring and characterization of compost obtained from household waste and pine sawdust in a facultative reactor by conventional and spectroscopic analyses

Abstract

This study proposes a new facultative reactor configuration for the treatment of organic household waste and pine sawdust. The process was monitored and the compost characterized by conventional (temperature, moisture, pH, ash content and ratio C/N) conjugated with spectroscopic analyses (ultraviolet (UV)/visible (Vis) and infrared (IR)) and germination index. The spectroscopy results revealed enrichment of carbon–carbon unsaturation structures and a degradation of the aliphatic structures. The results showed that stability of the final product was reached after 90 days and that the compost obtained presents substantial richness of stabilized organic matter and an absence of toxicity, so it may be considered as an organic fertilizer. Finally, this study led to the conclusion that the reactor proposed can be a promising technology for the management of organic household waste and sawdust.