Enhancement of the thermophilic stage in cattle waste composting by addition of tofu residue

The microbial degradation and temperature rise during the composting of a cattle waste and rice straw mixture blended with tofu (soybean curd) residue was investigated using an insulated and unheated in-vessel composter (effective volume, 12 1) and a static pile with passive aeration. The addition of 11% (dry weight basis) of tofu residue shortened the time required for temperature to reach the thermophilic phase and increased the duration of the temperatures above 55 degreesC significantly, but the maximum temperature was not affected by the additive level. As shown by the change in BOD, most of the easily biodegradable matter in the tofu residue was consumed during 12 days of composting. The same results were observed in the temperature profile of the static pile with passive aeration. Tofu residue addition yielded a higher maximum temperature and a nearly two times longer duration of temperatures above 55 degreesC in almost all locations of the pile. The use of tofu residue as a co-composting material would promote thermophilic degradation throughout the entire composting mass. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.