Vermistabilization of Organic Sludge

유기성 슬러지의 Vermistabilization

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of bulking agents including cow manure, saw dust and rice straw in the ripening of leather sludge for vermistabilization. The changes of the waste properties for ripening time for 50 days were observed according to the various mixture ratios of leather sludge and bulking agents. The pH values of the mixture wastes were decreased from 7.5-8.0 to 6.4-7.3 with the ripening time for 50 days, and it was indifferent of the mixture ratio and type of the bulking agent. The initial value of oxidation-reduction potential(Eh) of the mixture waste was a negative(-)value indicating an unfavorable condition for earthworm life, but the values of Eh were increased with the ripening time. The increase rate of Eh value was proportional to the mixture ratio of bulking agents, but the increase rate for saw dust was higher than that of the cow manure and the rice straw. The value of alkalinity was also changed into the favorable range for earthworm after 50 days except for 10% of the mixture ratio of the bulking agents. When the mixture ratios of the bulking agents were increased from 10% to 40%, the growth characteristics of earthworms were increased from 31.7% to 95% for the survival rate, 103% to 225% for the liveweight increase rate and 32% to 91% for hatching rate of the cocoons. It can be concluded that the proper content of the bulking agents in the leather sludge to ensure effective vermistabilization was over 30%, when the mixture was ripened during 50 days. The contents of heavy metals in the ripened sludge were lower than the other regulatory standards for compost.