Article: Determination of the effect of C/N ratio on composting of vegetable-fruit wastes Journal: International Journal of Environment and Waste Management (IJEWM) 2016 Vol.18 No.2 pp.181 - 194 Abstract: In this study, vegetable-fruit wastes were composted aerobically and the effect of various C/N ratios on the process was determined. Eight reactors with various initial C/N ratios were used. Moisture, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N and cellulose were investigated during process. Moisture levels did not changed significantly by the various C/N. Among the highest temperatures reached in the reactors, the lowest ones were seen in the reactors those had the lowest C/N. The reactors with lower C/N were generally stayed at thermophilic phase shorter than the reactors which had higher C/N. The highest decrease in C/N was seen in the reactor that had an initial C/N of 25 and the lowest decrease in C/N was seen in the reactor that had the lowest initial C/N. The reactors which had higher initial C/N than the other reactors had generally lower pH values than the others. The reactor which had the lowest initial C/N had the highest pH values at the beginning of the thermophilic phase. Initial ECs in the reactors with lower C/N were higher than the others. Various C/N ratios significantly effected the cellulose contents during the process. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Determination of the effect of C/N ratio on composting of vegetable-fruit wastes

Authors: E. Işıl Arslan Topal; Ayhan Ünlü; Murat Topal

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Fırat, Turkey ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Fırat, Turkey ' General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, 9th District Office, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, vegetable-fruit wastes were composted aerobically and the effect of various C/N ratios on the process was determined. Eight reactors with various initial C/N ratios were used. Moisture, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N and cellulose were investigated during process. Moisture levels did not changed significantly by the various C/N. Among the highest temperatures reached in the reactors, the lowest ones were seen in the reactors those had the lowest C/N. The reactors with lower C/N were generally stayed at thermophilic phase shorter than the reactors which had higher C/N. The highest decrease in C/N was seen in the reactor that had an initial C/N of 25 and the lowest decrease in C/N was seen in the reactor that had the lowest initial C/N. The reactors which had higher initial C/N than the other reactors had generally lower pH values than the others. The reactor which had the lowest initial C/N had the highest pH values at the beginning of the thermophilic phase. Initial ECs in the reactors with lower C/N were higher than the others. Various C/N ratios significantly effected the cellulose contents during the process.

Keywords: composting; C/N ratio; carbon-to-nitrogen ratio; vegetable waste; fruit waste; moisture levels; temperature levels; pH; electrical conductivity; cellulose content.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2016.080405

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2016 Vol.18 No.2, pp.181 - 194

Received: 11 Feb 2016
Accepted: 01 Jul 2016
Published online: 21 Nov 2016 *

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Title: Determination of the effect of C/N ratio on composting of vegetable-fruit wastes

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