Abstract
Mass reduction and physicochemical properties of the produced compost were investigated during composting domestic food wastes without additive. A small composter used in this study had the height of 15 cm from the center of bottom half circle (diameter 24 cm) up to under the lid, the side length of 50 cm and the horizontal lid angle of $50^{\circ}$ and was operated at the heating unit temperature of $85^{\circ}$. It was mixed by the rotating arm for two minutes in every half hour while supplied with air flow at 3 L/min for 10 minutes in every half hour. This condition was found in a preliminary experiment as optimal for keeping the water content of composting material in the optimal range without adding any bulking materials. The domestic food wastes were added into the composter at the rate of 1 kg/day without additives during composting. The results were as follows; during the composting process, water content maintained in the range of $51.0{\sim}53.5%$. Hemicellulose and lignin contents did not show any tendency, but cellulose content decreased. During the composting process, $NH_3-N$ and $NO_2-N$ were not detected due to nitrification. The contents of inorganic compounds did not increase during the composting process. They were in the range of $1.32{\sim}1.71%\;P_2O_5$, $1.29{\sim}1.48%\;CaO$, $0.41{\sim}0.49%\;MgO$, and $0.38{\sim}0.74%\;K_2O$. For 20 days, weight reduction rate was 67.5% in wet basis, and decomposition rate was 48% in dry basis. Concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, As) was less than the limiting value of the compost. Maturity of the produced compost was 3 grade through reaching maximum temperature of $46{\sim}48^{\circ}C$.
본 연구에서는 소형 퇴비화 용기의 최적 조건에서 미생물이나 퇴비화 보조제를 첨가하지 않고 가정에서 발생되는 음식물쓰레기를 매일 1 kg씩 투입하여 퇴비화를 진행하였다. 실험결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다; 퇴비화 진행과정 중 수분함량은 $51.04{\sim}53.45%$로 유지되었다. 질소는 퇴비화 진행과정에서 산화되어 암모니아성 질소 및 아질산성 질소로서 검출되지 않았다. Hemicellulose, Lignin은 시간의 경과에 따라 뚜렷한 경향을 나타내지 않았으나, Cellulose는 점차 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 중금속의 함량은 Cu, Cd, Pb, Hg, As는 검출되지 않았고 Cr은 $9.8{\sim}13.8$ mg/kg으로 부산물 비료의 기준치 300 mg/kg보다 낮았으며, Zn은 $25{\sim}100$ mg/kg이었다. 무기성분은 $P_2O_5$ $1.32{\sim}1.71%$, CaO $1.29{\sim}1.48%$, MgO $0.41{\sim}0.49%$, $K_2O$ $0.38{\sim}0.74%$로 퇴비화 과정 중 큰 변화가 없었다. 20일 동안 퇴비화한 후 무게 감소율은 습윤 기준 67.5%, 분해율은 48%이었다. 배출된 퇴비의 숙성도는 3등급이었다.