Manga, M, Camargo-Valero, MA orcid.org/0000-0003-2962-1698 and Evans, BE orcid.org/0000-0001-9815-3141 (2019) Inactivation of viable Ascaris eggs during faecal sludge co-composting with chicken feathers and market waste. Desalination and Water Treatment, 163. pp. 347-357. ISSN 1944-3994
Abstract
Faecal Sludge (FS) contains high concentrations of pathogenic microorganisms that are 10–100 times higher than those in domestic wastewater. Proper and sustainable treatment is required to inactivate these pathogens if FS is to be recycled in agriculture, so as to minimise public health and environmental risks. Composting is one of the common low-cost technologies of sanitising FS in Urban Africa; however, it is associated with longer pathogen inactivation periods that make it commercially uneconomical. This study investigated the effect of different organic wastes types and their mixing ratios with FS on the inactivation efficiency of viable Ascaris eggs (suum and lumbricoides) during composting. Dewatered FS was mixed with market waste (MW), chicken feathers (CF) and sawdust (SD) in different ratios. Compost piles of FS:MW:SD and FS:CF:SD both in volumetric ratios of 1:2:1 and 1:3:1 were set-up in duplicate (3m3 each), composted and monitored weekly for viable Ascaris eggs presence for a period of 15 weeks. The results suggest that the organic waste types have a significant effect on the temperature evolution and pathogen inactivation efficiency while their mixing ratios do not. Piles containing CF achieved the shortest pathogen survival period of 4 weeks compared with 6–8 weeks for those with MW. The temperature–time factor was found to be the most important variable responsible for viable Ascaris eggs inactivation. However, other mechanisms such as microbial antagonism or antibiotic action induced by indigenous microorganisms and toxic by-products such as free ammonia were found to have also played an important role in Ascaris eggs inactivation. All piles attained 100% Ascaris eggs inactivation from FS, and therefore, the compost was safe for use in agriculture. The study findings suggest that composting of FS with CF can reduce Ascaris eggs inactivation periods by 42%, which may thus reduce the operational costs of FS treatment facilities.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Faecal sludge; Composting; Helminth eggs; Viable Ascaris eggs; Chicken feathers |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Civil Engineering (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Department for International Development L13.0080/E11.34A-WP5/479 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Jul 2019 08:37 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2023 21:53 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Desalination Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.5004/dwt.2019.24494 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:148212 |