We are glad to announce that Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI) will be conducting a special colloquium on “Application of instrumental tools to explore the science of composting” on 17 Nov 2023, 12 noon at Seminar Hall, Narendrapur Campus.

Speaker : Dr. Sudipta Tripathi, School of Environment and Disaster Management, RKMVERI, Narendrapur Campus
Co-ordinator: Prof. Abhijit Chakrabarti

Abstract

Composting is an established method of managing organic solid waste. Organic polymers in wastes undergo transformation processes, resulting in mature and stable compost which is appropriate for crop growth. However, the application of unstable and premature compost to soil leads to immobilization rather than mineralization. Therefore, before applying any organic waste to the land, it is imperative to do research on the stability and maturity of compost.

Several advanced instrumental approaches may be used to study the change and mineralization of organic matter. The degradation of polypeptides, polysaccharides, aliphatic, aromatic, carboxylic, phenolic groups, and lignin during composting was confirmed using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. When characterizing the mineralization of organic waste, thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are mostly employed. A gradual decrease in the mass loss of compost signifies net mineralization and degradation. A UV-vis spectroscopy approach is employed to evaluate the level of humification. A high degree of humification of organic materials is indicated by fast decline in the humification index during the composting process. Studying the germination and respiration indices can additionally inform us about the age and stability of compost.