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Levels of ATP in different organic wastes under composting conditions
Author(s) -
Montes Juan Antonio,
Sánchez Antoni
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1928
Subject(s) - compost , cow dung , manure , organic matter , municipal solid waste , thermophile , chicken manure , wastewater , waste management , amendment , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , biodegradable waste , environmental science , environmental chemistry , agronomy , environmental engineering , biology , biochemistry , fertilizer , organic chemistry , political science , law , engineering , enzyme
BACKGROUND: The concentration of ATP in selected samples from the composting process of several organic wastes (municipal solid wastes, wastewater sludge, animal by‐products and cow manure) has been determined in order to characterize the aerobic biological activity of such wastes. RESULTS: The values obtained ranged from 0 (in old stable compost from cow manure) to 0.07 µmol ATP g −1 dry matter in thermophilic samples of municipal solid wastes composting. In general, it was found that ATP levels were in agreement with the stage of the composting process (initial stage, thermophilic period and maturation). On the other hand, ATP concentration correlated well ( P < 0.05) with the overall respiration activity during a complete composting process of municipal solid waste at full scale. CONCLUSION: ATP concentration can be used to determine the biological activity of organic solid wastes in different stages of their biological treatment and to predict compost stability prior to soil application. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry