Effects of bagasse ash additive on the physiochemical and biological parameters of filter cake and bagasse co-composting process

This study was focused on the effects of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) additive on process parameters and compost quality of Co-composting of filter cake and bagasse. Filter cake and bagasse were mixed and sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) from a heating power plant of sugar mill. Three compost mixes (M) were obtained: MA with 0%, MB with 10% and MC with 20 wt % of fuel ash. These three different mixes were composted in an experimental composter as three parallel experiments for 3 weeks each. The physical, chemical and biological parameters were monitoring during composting. Significantly, ash additives decreased the total organic carbon; measured by mineralization the breaking down of the organic matter was more rapid in the MC than in the MA, as well as increased the pH during composting. Interesting, the pH decreased was most important in MA and attend 5 for the first week of composting, and then it gradually increased to pH around 8 at the end of the process. The results indicated that ash inhibits the pH drop due to production of organic acids during composting. The acidity of the material was reported as affects the process during the initial phase of rising temperature and quality of the final product. The temperature reached up to 50-55oC during thermophilic phase, the greater temperature was obtained for MC. At the end of composting, the electrical conductivity increased in the MC, especially in MC, but don't exceed limit (4 mS/cm) for prevent phytotoxicity of the compost. The SCBA additive was likely to speed up the composting process of bagasse with filter cake from 44 days to 33 days.