Microbial characterization during composting of biowaste

Use of the co-composting time extract agar to evaluate the microbial community changes during the co-composting of activated sludge and date palm waste

“…This result is in line with data reported by Tønner-Klank et al (2007). Chroni et al (2009) showed that most of the microbial groups examined exhibited their highest counts towards the end of the thermophilic phase. Many factors such as oxygen content, moisture, composition of the raw composted substrate, pH and temperature affect the succession of microbial communities during composting.…”

“…Hassen et al (2001);Marshall et al (2004); Bhatia et al (2013), showed that the initial phase of the composting process is characterised by the intense activity and growth of mesophilic microflora which reach abundances two to four orders of magnitude higher than the thermophilic group. Chroni et al (2009) demonstrated that relatively low temperatures (around 50°C) seem to facilitate the survival of total mesophilic bacteria.…”

“…Nevertheless, toward the end a reinstatement of fungal microflora was noted. Chroni et al (2009) explained that the thermophilic fungi exhibited a small increase as temperature rose in the first month of composting, stabilizing thereafter. Steger et al (2007), showed that fungi and actinobacteria commonly proliferate during periods with comparatively low temperatures (\45°C).…”

“…3a). Chroni et al (2009) show that high numbers of proteolytic bacteria can be expected to appear after the end of the thermophilic stage, as a result of a large amount of proteins that are released when microorganisms die.…”

“…The evolution and the performance of the composting process are dependent on the microorganisms that populate composted substrates and are able to degrade the organic waste (Chroni et al 2009). During the composting process, the microbial metabolic pathway influences the physico-chemical parameters, which in turn lead to changes of microbial community succession.…”