The possibility and potential of composting are newly estimated for the establishment of integrated waste management system in Korea. Problems arised in landfill and incineration of garbage have forced this trend to occur, but the composting of garbage still has many problems due to its high moisture content and low C/N ratio.
In order to control the high moisture content and low C/N ratio, it is general measure to add bulking agent for garbage composting. Many researches have been made on the bulking agent effect on composting of sludge especially. However, moisture content in determination of optimum bulking agent mixing ratio was not scarecely reviewed. The amount of bulking agent has to be determined to satisfy both C/N ratio and moisture content.
In this study, 1) the effect of addition of biodegradable carbon source on composting of materials of low C/N ratio, 2) the effect of bulking agent on composting reaction as a carbon source, and 3) amount of optimum bulking agent needed for moisture control were investigated.
From the results of this study, the following conclusions can be made :
1) In terms of nitrogen preservation and carbonaceous compound destruction, biodegradable carbon addition improved composting efficiency.
2) Optimum C/N ratio had reversed relationship with biodegradable carbon potential.
3) Addition of bulking agent facilitated aeration rather than serve as carbon source which resulted in enhanced composting.
4) Desirable C/N ratio and moisture content were 30 and 60% respectively. However, these two conditions cannot be satisfied together with the same amount of bulking agent. This study suggested that 72g bulking agent per 100g garbage should be mixed based on C/N ratio of 25 and moisture content of 55% for effective composting.
5) The small bottle test used in this study showed similar results with that of bigger scale experiment indicating its versatility as a monitoring test system for full scale composting plant.
