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MICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN COMPOSTING MUNICIPAL SEWAGE SLUDGE
Citation:
Vestal, J. AND V. McKinley. MICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN COMPOSTING MUNICIPAL SEWAGE SLUDGE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-86/025.
Description:
Research was conducted to identify the most important operational parameters which limit the growth and decomposition activity of composting sludge microbiota. Sensitive and nonselective biochemical methods of monitoring microbial biomass and activity were tested and used to study the interactions between the microbial communities and temperature, the primary factor affecting their activity during composting. Optimum temperatures for microbial activity and biomass were generally within the 35 to 55 degree range. Biokinetic analyses revealed that compost samples from low-temperature (25 to 45 degrees C) areas of the pile had much greater microbial activity (14C) substrates than did samples from high temperature (60 to 75 degrees C) areas. The microbial communities became better adapted to increasing temperatures as composting progressed, but their temperature optimum was never greater than 55 C. Biomass was monitored by measuring the lipid phosphate content (an important cell membrane component) of the compost.