Changes in the chemical composition of water-extractable organic matter during composting: Distribution between stable and labile organic matter pools

Aerobic decomposition and stabilization of organic matter during the composting of waste materials is primarily due to the biochemical transformation of water-soluble compounds in the liquid phase by the microbial biomass. For this reason water-soluble organic matter represents the most active fract...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Chemosphere (Oxford) 2007-02, Vol.66 (11), p.2166-2176
Main Authors:	Said-Pullicino, D., Kaiser, K., Guggenberger, G., Gigliotti, G.
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions Amino sugars Applied sciences Biological and medical sciences Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes Biotechnology Carbon Isotopes - analysis Chemical Fractionation Composting Environment and pollution Exact sciences and technology Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology General agronomy. Plant production Humic Substances - analysis Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects Italy Lignin-decomposition products Liquid-state NMR Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Neutral and acidic carbohydrates Organic Chemicals - analysis Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries Pollution Refuse Disposal Soil - analysis Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet Time Factors Urban and domestic wastes Wastes Water-extractable organic matter
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Aerobic decomposition and stabilization of organic matter during the composting of waste materials is primarily due to the biochemical transformation of water-soluble compounds in the liquid phase by the microbial biomass. For this reason water-soluble organic matter represents the most active fraction of compost, both biologically and chemically, and thus should directly reflect the biochemical alteration of organic matter. This work aims to elucidate the microbial-mediated processes responsible for the distribution of soluble organic matter between stable and labile pools with composting time. Accordingly, chemical analysis as well as UV absorption, and 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy of samples collected during the industrial composting of urban waste revealed microbial induced transformation of water-extractable organic matter over time. The chemical composition changed from labile, hydrophilic, plant-derived organic compounds in the beginning to predominately stable, hydrophobic moieties comprising lignin-derived phenols and microbially-derived carbohydrates at later stages of composting.
ISSN:	0045-6535 1879-1298