Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter

Small scale co-composting of faecal matter from dry toilet systems with shredded plant material and food waste was investigated in respect to heat development and deactivation of faecal indicators under tropical semiarid conditions. Open (uncovered) co-composting of faecal matter with shredded plant...

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Main Authors: Germer, J., Boh.M.Y., Schoeffler, M., Amoah, Philip
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40502
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author Germer, J.
Boh.M.Y.
Schoeffler, M.
Amoah, Philip
author_browse Amoah, Philip
Boh.M.Y.
Germer, J.
Schoeffler, M.
author_facet Germer, J.
Boh.M.Y.
Schoeffler, M.
Amoah, Philip
author_sort Germer, J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Small scale co-composting of faecal matter from dry toilet systems with shredded plant material and food waste was investigated in respect to heat development and deactivation of faecal indicators under tropical semiarid conditions. Open (uncovered) co-composting of faecal matter with shredded plant material alone did not generate temperatures high enough (<55 C) to reduce the indicators sufficiently. The addition of food waste and confinement in chambers, built of concrete bricks and wooden boards, improved the composting process significantly. Under these conditions peak temperatures of up to 70 C were achieved and temperatures above 55 C were maintained over 2 weeks. This temperature and time is sufficient to comply with international composting regulations. The reduction of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella senftenberg in test containment systems placed in the core of the compost piles was very efficient, exceeding 5 log10-units in all cases, but recolonisation from the cooler outer layers appeared to interfere with the sanitisation efficiency of the substrate itself. The addition of a stabilisation period by extending the composting process to over 4 months ensured that the load of E. coli was reduced to less than 103 cfug and salmonella were undetectable.
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spelling CGSpace405022025-06-17T08:23:50Z Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter Germer, J. Boh.M.Y. Schoeffler, M. Amoah, Philip composting experiments faeces food wastes vegetation Small scale co-composting of faecal matter from dry toilet systems with shredded plant material and food waste was investigated in respect to heat development and deactivation of faecal indicators under tropical semiarid conditions. Open (uncovered) co-composting of faecal matter with shredded plant material alone did not generate temperatures high enough (<55 C) to reduce the indicators sufficiently. The addition of food waste and confinement in chambers, built of concrete bricks and wooden boards, improved the composting process significantly. Under these conditions peak temperatures of up to 70 C were achieved and temperatures above 55 C were maintained over 2 weeks. This temperature and time is sufficient to comply with international composting regulations. The reduction of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella senftenberg in test containment systems placed in the core of the compost piles was very efficient, exceeding 5 log10-units in all cases, but recolonisation from the cooler outer layers appeared to interfere with the sanitisation efficiency of the substrate itself. The addition of a stabilisation period by extending the composting process to over 4 months ensured that the load of E. coli was reduced to less than 103 cfug and salmonella were undetectable. 2010-02 2014-06-13T14:47:48Z 2014-06-13T14:47:48Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40502 en Limited Access Elsevier Germer, J.; Boh. M. Y.; Schoeffler, M.; Amoah, Philip. 2010. Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter. Waste Management, 30:185-191. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2009.09.030
spellingShingle composting
experiments
faeces
food wastes
vegetation
Germer, J.
Boh.M.Y.
Schoeffler, M.
Amoah, Philip
Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter
title Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter
title_full Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter
title_fullStr Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter
title_full_unstemmed Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter
title_short Temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co-composting of faecal matter
title_sort temperature and deactivation of microbial faecal indicators during small scale co composting of faecal matter
topic composting
experiments
faeces
food wastes
vegetation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40502
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