Evolution of Biochemical Parameters During Composting of Urban Wastes

Compost Science & Utilization, (2004), Vol. 12, No. 2, 153-160

Saviozzi, R. Cardelli, R. Levi-Minzi and R. Riffaldi

Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

An experiment was performed for evaluating the most suitable biochemical parameters to measure dynamics of substrate transformation during composting of the organic fraction derived from pre-selected urban wastes and wood bark mixture. Changes of chemical (organic C, hydrosoluble sugars, total and mineral N, humified fraction, volatile acids and phenolic compounds) and biochemical (microbial respiration, biomass C, qCO2, dehydrogenase, catalase, urease activities, FDA, and BIF) parameters were monitored for 120 days. Limited changes in organic C, total nitrogen, and humification characteristics were observed during composting. Dehydrogenase and catalase activities, BIF and FDA showed small changes during composting. Urease activity and, with some limitations regarding the early stages of composting, microbial respiration and qCO2, were found to be the most suitable parameters to measure dynamics of substrate transformation during composting of preselected urban wastes.

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