Evaluation of sewage sludge-based compost by FT-IR spectroscopy

The aerobic batch composting fermentations of sewage sludge with wood chips and maturity compost as co-composting additives were carried out in an open type lab-scale reactor. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to monitor the composting process, evaluate the degradation rate and thus determine the maturity. Although the composition of the input mixture strongly affects the shape of the infrared (IR) spectra, typical bands of components can be selected and used to follow the composting process. The appearance, shape and intensity of the nitrate band at 1384 cm 1 was well pronounced and evident for a sewage sludgebased compost maturity. An increase of the pe…