Abstract
This study was performed to examine the effects of rice straw as bulking materials on temperature, pH, weight and volume reduction, porosity, C/N ratio, salinity, and conductivity in aerobic composting of food wastes. Volume ratios of food wastes to rice straw in reactor control, RS-1, RS-2, RS-2 and RS-4 were 4:0, 4:1. 4:2. 4:3 and 4:4, respectively. Reactors were operated for 24days with 1 hour stirring by lrpm and 2hours aeration per day. The values of pH of food wastes and rice straw were 4.39 and 7.4, respectively. The lowering of the volume ratio of food wastes to rice straw resulted in the high reaction temperature and the fast weight and volume reduction rates. C/N ratio in control was larger than that in rice straw containing reactors. Salinity and conductivity in reactors were condensed and increased by reaction days.