The effects of electric field assisted composting on ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions varied with different electrolytes

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Cao, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Misselbrook, T. H., Bai, Z., Wang, H. and Ma, L. 2022. The effects of electric field assisted composting on ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions varied with different electrolytes. Bioresource Technology. 344 (Part A), p. 126194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126194

AuthorsCao, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Misselbrook, T. H., Bai, Z., Wang, H. and Ma, L.
Abstract

Enhancing electron transfer through directly elevating electric potential has been verified to reduce gaseous emissions from composting. Reducing electric resistance of composting biomass might be a choice to further strengthening electron transfer. Here, the effects of chemical electrolytes addition on gaseous Nitrogen emission in electric field assistant composting were investigated. Results suggest that adding acidic electrolyte (ferric chloride) significantly reduced ammonia (NH3) emission by 72.1% but increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emission (by 24-fold) (P < 0.05), because of a dual effect on nitrifier activity: i) an elevated abundance and proportion of ammonia oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonadaceae, and ii) delayed growth of nitrite oxidizing bacteria. Neutral and alkaline electrolytes had no negative or positive effect on N2O or NH3 emission. Hence, there is a potential trade-off between NH3 and N2O mitigation if using ferric chloride as acidic electrolyte, and electrolyte addition should aim to enhance electron production promote N2O mitigation.

KeywordsComposting; Electric field; Chemical electrolytes; Electron transfer; N2O emission
Year of Publication2022
JournalBioresource Technology
Journal citation344 (Part A), p. 126194
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126194
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
OnlineJan 2022
ISSN0960-8524
PublisherElsevier Sci Ltd

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