A Study on Optimal Conditions of Sludge Treatment by Vermistabilization

지렁이 양식을 이용한 슬러지 처리 최적조건에 관한 연구

Vermistabilization is the stabilization of organic wastes using earthworms. The worms maintain aerobic conditions in the waste, accelerating and enhancing the biological decomposition of the waste. This study was carried out to find out fundamental factors affecting the performance of the process such as temperature, moisture content and pH condition of nightsoil sludge, and to evaluate the worms excreta (casting) as fertilizer. The results could be summarized as follows; the optimum range of temperature was observed 10~3$0^{\circ}C$ while survival rate of eathworm decreased rapidly at 35$^{\circ}C$ within 6 days and death occurred at 5$^{\circ}C$. Those of moisture content and pH condition were 50~70% and 5~8, respectively. Earthworms were revealed to change the composition of N in nightsoil sludge consisting of$NH_3$-N (71%), $NO_2$-N (2%) and $NO_3$-N (27%) into that $NH_3$-N (24%), $NO_2$-N (1%), $NO_3$-N (75%) in earthworm excreta, respectively The concentrations of NH$_3$and H$_2$S gas in pig manure were reduced by 59.2% and 45.2% in case of mixing pig manure with casting.