Evaluation of the influence of rice husk amendment on compost quality in the composting of sewage sludge

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2023-04, Vol.373, p.128748-128748, Article 128748
• Main Author: Aydın Temel, Fulya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bulking agent; Carbon; Co-composting; Composting; Moisture content loss; Nitrogen - analysis; Oryza; Sewage - chemistry; Soil; TN loss; TOC loss
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128748

[Display omitted] •The co-composting of rice husk and sewage sludge was investigated.•The main physical-chemical factors affecting composting were examined.•The addition of 25% rice husk reduced TN and TOC losses.•The temperature of pile increased above 55 °C with the adding rice husk.•Compost quality was improved by increasing rice husk ratio. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of rice husk addition on compost quality and maturity in sewage sludge composting using a pilot scale aerated in-vessel reactor. During the composting process, changes in compost quality and physicochemical factors including pH, temperature, moisture content, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) were monitored. In the pile containing 25% rice husk, the lowest losses occurred with 52.49% for TOC and 23.24% for TN, while C/N ratio in the final compost was 18.82, achieving mature and quality compost. The moisture contents of the final composts were found as 50.72% in the control group while it was 31.73% and 28.18% in the reactors containing 10% and 25% rice husk, respectively. These results suggested that rice husk addition was beneficial for reducing moisture content and balancing the C/N ratio in sewage sludge composting.