Availability of nutrients, removal of nicotine, heavy metals and pathogens in compounds obtained from smuggled cigarette tobacco compost associated with industrial sewage sludge

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2020-01, Vol.699, p.134377, Article 134377
• Main Authors: Zittel, Rosimara, da Silva, Cleber Pinto, Domingues, Cinthia Eloise, Seremeta, Daniele Cristina Hass, da Cunha, Karine Marcondes, de Campos, Sandro Xavier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composting; Heavy metal; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Nicotine; Nicotine - analysis; Nutrients; Organic Chemicals; Pathogens; Reactor; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Tobacco Products; Waste treatment
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134377

This study evaluated the chemical and microbiological properties of the compost obtained from the tobacco of smuggled cigarettes (SCT) and industrial sewage sludge (ISS). The composting was carried out in three reactors from different combinations of residues. The compost was analyzed to verify the percentage of nicotine removal, heavy metals, nutrient content and the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms. The concentration of heavy metals: Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn in the composts obtained from the three reactors was below the values set for their use in soils. The NPK content ranged between 8.31% and 12.43%, indicating that the compost produced can add nutritional benefits to the plants. The nicotine removal, 72.6% (R1), 96.4% (R2) and 99.6% (R3) indicated efficiency of the composting process in reactors in the degradation of this substance. The results of pathogenic microorganism analysis showed that the three composts obtained from reactors R1, R2 and R3 met the sanitation standards for agricultural use according to the normative of maximum limits of contaminants allowed in organic compounds. These results show that the treatment of SCT and ISS by the process of composting in reactors may be an ecologically viable alternative. [Display omitted] •Composting in reactors is an efficient technology for nicotine removal.•Composting of SCT and ISS in reactors produced compost with nutritional properties.•Reactor composting is an efficient technology for producing toxicity-free compost.