Changes in selected hydrophobic components during composting of municipal solid waste

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine changes in bitumen content and fatty acid composition during 180 days of composting of municipal solid waste. Bitumen was extracted with ethanol and benzene mixture (1:2), while fatty acids were extracted with petroleum ether and identified in gas chromatography. Bitumen carbon and fatty acid carbon were calculated as a difference of organic carbon before and after the extraction. The results indicated that the content of bitumen decreases threefold stronger than other components. During thermophilic phase of composting of municipal solid waste, the total content of bitumen is able to decrease about fivefold, while fatty acid content can decrease about tenfold. Unsaturated fatty acids are more intensively decomposed during the composting process, while saturated fatty acids are more resistant.