Skip to main content

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Effect of moisture content of a wood matrix on a small-scale biodegradation system for organic solid waste

Abstract

The optimum working moisture content of a wood matrix for the garbage automatic decomposer-extinguisher (GADE) machine was investigated using a small-scale degradation reactor. A formula feed for rabbits was used as the model waste. The degradation experiment was conducted under controlled conditions such as moisture content, environmental temperature, and airflow rate. The degradation rate was estimated precisely from weight loss and the CO2 evolution rate. The degradation rate were nearly constant at a moisture content of 30%–80% on a-wet-weight basis. Microorganisms from the environment propagated in the reactor with no inoculums added. The number of microorganisms showed a trend similar to that of the degradation rate. The microorganism community changed according to the moisture content of the matrix and were considered to attain a constant degradation rate at a wide range of moisture content of a matrix.

References

  1. Terazawa M, Tamai Y, Sunagawa M, Horisawa S, Miura T (1992) A novel system for garbage complete decomposition using sawdust and aerobic soil bacteria. In: Hall DO, Grassi G, Scheer H (eds) Proceedings of the 7th European conference on biomass, energy and environment, agriculture and industry, Florence, Italy, pp 589–594

  2. Terazawa M, Horisawa S, Tamai Y, Yamashita K (1999) Biodegradation of non-lignocellulosic substances I. J Wood Sci 45: 354–358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Inoue T, Kimura T, Morishita T, Kumada K, Sekiguchi T (1996) Changes of the state in a small scale biodegradation system. In: Fujita K (ed) Proceedings of 7th ISWA international congress and exhibition, No. 2, Fukuoka, Japan, pp 149–150

  4. Kawamoto K, Nochi K (1997) The characterization and estimation of performance of a small scale biodegradation machine (in Japanese). In: Fujita K (ed) Proceedings of the 8th annual conference of the Japan Society of Waste Management Experts, Saitama, Japan, pp 283–286

  5. Horisawa S, Sunagawa M, Tamai Y, Matsuoka Y, Miura T, Terazawa M (1999) Biodegradation of non-lignocellulosic substances. II. The changes in physical and chemical properties of sawdust before and after using as an artificial soil. J Wood Sci 45: 492–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Suler DJ, Finstein MS (1977) Effect of temperature, aeration and moisture on CO2 formation in bench-scale, continuously thermophilic composting of solid waste. Appl Environ Microbiol 33: 345–350

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Kaneko H, Fujita K (1985) Effect of moisture on decomposition rate in composting (in Japanese). Proc Environ Sanit Eng Res 21: 115–122

    Google Scholar 

  8. Yamaguchi M (1992) Synthesis composition tables of cereal (in Japanese). In: Resources Council of Science and Technology Agency: food analysis tables. Ishiyaku, Tokyo, pp 2–21

  9. Yamaguchi M (1992) Synthesis composition tables of fish and meat (in Japanese). In: Resources Council of Science and Technology Agency: food analysis tables. Ishiyaku, Tokyo, pp 56–122

  10. Yamaguchi M (1992) Synthesis composition tables of fruits and vegetables (in Japanese). In: Resources Council of Science and Technology Agency: food analysis tables. Ishiyaku, Tokyo, pp 130–187

  11. Soil Microbiological Society of Japan (1992) Experimental method for soil microorganisms (in Japanese) Yokendo, Tokyo, p 17

  12. Kaneko H, Fujita K (1986) The moisture limit for optimum composting. Proc Jpn Soc Civil Eng 369: 303–309

    Google Scholar 

  13. Inoue T, Yamada J, Morishita T, Kumada K, Sekiguchi T (1997) Changes of the state and bacterial flora in a small scale biodegradation system (in Japanese). In: Fujita K (ed) Proceedings of the 8th ISWA international congress and exhibition I, Saitama, Japan, pp 287–289

  14. Yoshii H (1975) The water activity of food (in Japanese). Miso Sci Technol 260: 5–13

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fujita K, Nieda Y, Kitawaki S (1985) Effect of pH level on composting (in Japanese). J Solid Wastes 15: 31–39

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kitawaki S, Fujita K (1984) Inhibition by lower fatty acids in composting (in Japanese). Proc Environ Sanit Eng Res 20: 175–181

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sakae Horisawa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Horisawa, S., Tamai, Y., Sakuma, Y. et al. Effect of moisture content of a wood matrix on a small-scale biodegradation system for organic solid waste. J Wood Sci 46, 317–321 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00766223

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00766223

Key words