Abstract
Vermicomposting (VC) has proven to be a promising method for treating garden, household, and municipal wastes. Although the VC has been used extensively for converting wastes into fertilizers, pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) survival during this process is not well documented. In this study, both lab and field scale experiments were conducted assessing the impacts of earthworms in reducing E. coli concentration during VC of food waste. In addition, other pertinent parameters such as temperature, carbon and nitrogen content, moisture content, pH, volatile solids, micronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), and heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu) were monitored during the study. The lab and field scale experiments were conducted for 107 and 103 days, respectively. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study. Results showed that VC was not significantly effective in reducing E. coli levels in food waste under both lab and field scale settings. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23195-23202 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Environmental Science and Pollution Research |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2016 |
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Keywords
- C/N ratio
- E. coli
- Eisenia fetida
- Food waste
- Vermicomposting
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Chemistry
- Pollution
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Cite this
Assessing the changes in E. coli levels and nutrient dynamics during vermicomposting of food waste under lab and field scale conditions. / Cao, Wenlong; Vaddella, Venkata; Biswas, Sagor; Perkins, Katherine; Clay, Cameron; Wu, Tong; Zheng, Yawen; Ndegwa, Pius; Pandey, Pramod.
In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol. 23, No. 22, 01.11.2016, p. 23195-23202.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the changes in E. coli levels and nutrient dynamics during vermicomposting of food waste under lab and field scale conditions
AU - Cao, Wenlong
AU - Vaddella, Venkata
AU - Biswas, Sagor
AU - Perkins, Katherine
AU - Clay, Cameron
AU - Wu, Tong
AU - Zheng, Yawen
AU - Ndegwa, Pius
AU - Pandey, Pramod
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - Vermicomposting (VC) has proven to be a promising method for treating garden, household, and municipal wastes. Although the VC has been used extensively for converting wastes into fertilizers, pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) survival during this process is not well documented. In this study, both lab and field scale experiments were conducted assessing the impacts of earthworms in reducing E. coli concentration during VC of food waste. In addition, other pertinent parameters such as temperature, carbon and nitrogen content, moisture content, pH, volatile solids, micronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), and heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu) were monitored during the study. The lab and field scale experiments were conducted for 107 and 103 days, respectively. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study. Results showed that VC was not significantly effective in reducing E. coli levels in food waste under both lab and field scale settings. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study.
AB - Vermicomposting (VC) has proven to be a promising method for treating garden, household, and municipal wastes. Although the VC has been used extensively for converting wastes into fertilizers, pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) survival during this process is not well documented. In this study, both lab and field scale experiments were conducted assessing the impacts of earthworms in reducing E. coli concentration during VC of food waste. In addition, other pertinent parameters such as temperature, carbon and nitrogen content, moisture content, pH, volatile solids, micronutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), and heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu) were monitored during the study. The lab and field scale experiments were conducted for 107 and 103 days, respectively. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study. Results showed that VC was not significantly effective in reducing E. coli levels in food waste under both lab and field scale settings. The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) decreased by 54 % in the lab scale study and by 36 % in the field study.
KW - C/N ratio
KW - E. coli
KW - Eisenia fetida
KW - Food waste
KW - Vermicomposting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84986243179&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84986243179&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11356-016-7528-x
DO - 10.1007/s11356-016-7528-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 27604124
AN - SCOPUS:84986243179
VL - 23
SP - 23195
EP - 23202
JO - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
JF - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
SN - 0944-1344
IS - 22
ER -