Evaluation of Effective Microorganisms on home scale organic waste composting

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2018-06, Vol.216, p.41-48
• Main Authors: Fan, Yee Van, Lee, Chew Tin, Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír, Chua, Lee Suan, Sarmidi, Mohamad Roji, Leow, Chee Woh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composting; Effective microorganisms; Escherichia coli; Food and organic waste composting; Home scale; Humic acid; Humic Substances; Nutrient content; Soil; Solid Waste
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.019

Home composting can be an effective way to reduce the volume of municipal solid waste. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Effective Microorganism™ (EM) for the home scale co-composting of food waste, rice bran and dried leaves. A general consensus is lacking regarding the efficiency of inoculation composting. Home scale composting was carried out with and without EM (control) to identify the roles of EM. The composting parameters for both trials showed a similar trend of changes during the decomposition. As assayed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the functional group of humic acid was initially dominated by aliphatic structure but was dominated by the aromatic in the final compost. The EM compost has a sharper peak of aromatic CC bond presenting a better degree of humification. Compost with EM achieved a slightly higher temperature at the early stage, with foul odour suppressed, enhanced humification process and a greater fat reduction (73%). No significant difference was found for the final composts inoculated with and without EM. The properties included pH (∼7), electric conductivity (∼2), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C: N 100%), humic acid content (4.5–4.8%) and pathogen content (no Salmonella,