Quantitative analysis of ammonia and odorous sulfur compounds evolved during thermophilic composting

Abstract

Odorous compounds were generated by thermophilic com posting processes maintained at an isothermal condition of 60°C. From these compounds, ammonia and odorous sulfur compounds were measured. Composts were produced under identical operational conditions from identical raw materials comprised of commercial dog food. It was observed that organic matter decomposition was reproducible, as were the evolution patterns and the quantities of NH 3 and odorous sul fur compounds evolved. Particularly in the cases of dimeth yldisulfide (DMDS) and ammonia (NH3), the evolved quan tities were measured with high accuracy. Under the compost ing conditions used in this study, neither hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) nor dimethylsulfide(DMS) were detected. In contrast, high concentrations of methylmercaptane (MMC), DMDS and NH3 were detected.