Abstract
This study was performed to estimate the effects of washing of food wastes on temperature, pH, weight and volume reduction and salinity in aerobic composting of food wastes. Weight ratios of food wastes to water in washing were 1:0(Control), 1:1 (W-1), 1:2(W-2), 1:3(W-3) and :4(W-4), respectively. Ratios of food wastes to wood chips in reactor of Control, W-1, W-2, W-3 and W-4 were 5 kg:5 1, respectively. Reactors were operated for 24 days with 1 hour stirring by 1 rpm and 2 hours aeration per day. The increase in the ratio of food wastes to water used in washing resulted in the decrease of the highest reaction temperature and the elongation of the high temperature reaction period. The lowering of the ratio of food wastes to water used in washing resulted in faster pH increase and the steady state in the weight reduction rate and the volume reduction rate of composts. The final salinities of Control, W-1, W-2, W-3 and W-4 were 0.95%, 0.73％, 0.65%, 0.57％ and 0.41％, respectively.
