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Batham et al., J Bioremed Biodeg 2013, 4:7

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DOI: 10.4172/2155-6199.1000205
Bioremediation & Biodegradation
Jo

ISSN: 2155-6199

Research Article Open

OpenAccess
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Implementation of Bulking Agents in Composting: A Review

Manish Batham*, Richa Gupta and Archana Tiwari
School of Biotechnology, Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidhyalaya (State Technological University), Airport Bypass Road, Bhopal–462033, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract
For many centuries bulking agents in composting has been used for better and improved compost production.
In recent years bulking agents or bulking particles received much attention because of efficiency and usefulness in
composting, pollution control and economically sound. The industrial and agricultural waste management problem
is increasing very fast and composting using bulking agents can make more effective solution for this problem.
This paper reviews information on the use of bulking agents in composting and addressing the efficiency and
environmental concerns of composting. Different bulking agents and usefulness and efficiency in composting are
also presented.

Keywords: Composting; Bulking Agents; Carbon to Nitrogen ratio
Introduction
The aerobic composting is the process of decomposition of organic
substrates in presence of oxygen [1]. The composting process may be
more effective when the carbon-to nitrogen ratio and the moisture
content will specific according to material of compost [1,2]. For
maintaining the moisture and carbon-to nitrogen ratio the bulking
agents play a very important role in the composting. The bulking
agents also called the bulking particles are the very effective to control
the air supply, moisture and other important composting parameters
[3]. There are different types of bulking agents used in the composting
such as wood chips, saw dust, grass hay, wheat straw, corn stalks, grass
clippings, rabbit manure, fruit and vegetable waste, garden trimmings,
horse manure, deciduous leaves, cow dung, etc [3,4].
These bulking agents are use in the composting process according
to need of the compost, such as nutritive value, moisture, pH and air
supply to compost material. Different bulking agents used in different
composting process such as food waste composting, vermicomposting,
composting of industrial waste, agricultural waste composting and
composting of weeds, etc [5-7]. It has been shown in a study that the
bulking agents like rice husk, sawdust and rice bran increased the
degradation and resulted a very good quality compost of food waste
[1]. In another study it has been shown that in vermicomposting of
municipal sewage sludge use of sugarcane trash as bulking agent
resulted the high quality vermistabilization and better nutritive values
[8]. The use of bulking agents in composting process is very useful and
efficient for producing good quality, time efficient and cost effective
compost. There are several examples of effectiveness of bulking agents
in composting as increased nutritive value, fast degradation of materials
which makes bulking agent a very useful composting material. For
the better results of composting the bulking agents should be used in
a specific concentration with compost material [1]. The use of low-
moisture bulking agents such as straw, sawdust, peat, peanut shells,
rice hull etc are very useful in the composting of wet materials like pig
manure [9].
The bulking agents used in composting plays a very important role to
control the problem of the moisture content for the proper composting
and bulking agents also controls the problem of odour by maintaining
the moisture in composting [10]. This paper reviews the use of bulking
agents or bulking particles used in the composting process to increase
the biodegradation of materials and reduce the composting time as well
as improved nutritive values of compost.
Applications of Bulking Agents
Bulking agents are supplemented in the composting process
different purposes like energy source for microbes, appropriate air
movement through the pile by increasing porosity, good absorption
and to enhance the degradation of composting materials. Following
columns throw light on the same.
In composting of water hyacinth
Water hyacinth is an aquatic weed which creates many problems in
water bodies. Composting is most efficient idea to control and utilize
this weed as a compost [11]. In the composting of water hyacinth
bulking agents like cow dung and sawdust are very useful to control
the C/N ratio and moisture content [12,13]. In different studies of
water hyacinth composting different bulking agents have been used
and increased the quality of the compost and resulted time & cost
efficient composting of water hyacinth weed [11]. By the use of bulking
agents different parameters can be maintain in the composting of
water hyacinth such as pH, moisture, temperature, carbon content and
nitrogen content etc. By these examples we can conclude the use of
bulking agents in the composting of water hyacinth is very useful and
beneficial for the composting process and it can also an efficient for
composting time duration and quality of final product.
In composting of food waste
The composting of food waste is very important composting process
because food waste is a problem creating waste such as odour problem
and pollution [3]. The composting is a suitable way to utilize the food
waste as compost and also the solution of odour and pollution problem.
Numerous bulking agents including sawdust, rice bran, rice husk, wood
shavings and peanut shells are used in the food waste composting
*Corresponding author: Manish Batham, School of Biotechnology, Rajiv Gandhi
Proudyogiki Vishwavidhyalaya (State Technological University), Airport Bypass Road,
Bhopal–462033, India, Tel: +919752953706; E-mail: manishbatham2@gmail.com,
er.richagupta@gmail.com, anubiotech97@gmail.com
Received July 16, 2013; Accepted September 06, 2013; Published September
12, 2013
Citation: Batham M, Gupta R, Tiwari A (2013) Implementation of Bulking
Agents in Composting: A Review. J Bioremed Biodeg 4: 205. doi:10.4172/2155-
6199.1000205
Copyright: © 2013 Batham M, et al. This is an open-a ccess article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original author and source are credited.

J Bioremed Biodeg
ISSN: 2155-6199 JBRBD, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 7 • 1000205
Citation: Batham M, Gupta R, Tiwari A (2013) Implementation of Bulking Agents in Composting: A Review. J Bioremed Biodeg 4: 205. doi:10.4172/2155-
6199.1000205
for adjusting the moisture content, nitrogen content, C/N ratio and
aeration in the compost materials [1]. These bulking agents help in the
better biodegradation of waste and convert it to useful compost [14].
Composting is an effective process to overcome the problem of food
waste odour and the pollution. Bulking agents play an important role
in this process to achieve the goal of good compost. By these bulking
agents can be considered as an important material for composting.
In composting of industrial waste
The composting of industrial waste is very effective and beneficial
method of management of industrial waste. By the composting of
industrial waste the waste material can be converted into useful
compost as well as control the pollution problem [7,15]. The bulking
agents used in industrial waste composting are cotton waste, maize
straw, sawdust, cow dung, grass trimmings etc. these bulking agents
helps in composting process for maintaining moisture, temperature,
C/N ratio and many other parameters of composting [6,7]. In a study
it is proved that the use of cotton waste and maize straw increased
the nutritive values of olive-mill waste water sludge composting [7].
Huge amount of different industrial waste is available in the industries
which can be utilize as a compost and the bulking agents can make this
compost more effective for use. So it is proved that the bulking agents
are very important in the composting of industrial wastes also. The
bulking agents are using now days in all composting process such as
industrial waste composting, agricultural waste composting and food
waste composting etc. so the bulking agents should be considered as an
essential material for composting.
Some Common Bulking Agents
There are many bulking agents are used in the composting for
achieving the high quality compost. These bulking agents have different
functions in the composting process so these uses as the requirement or
need. Some of these bulking agents are discussed as below:
Sawdust
Sawdust is a very common bulking agent used in composting.
Sawdust or wood dust is a by-product of cutting, grinding, drilling,
sanding, or otherwise pulverizing wood with a saw or other tool; it is
composed of fine particles of wood. It use for composting as a bulking
agent which provide the free air space, moisture control and maintain
the carbon to nitrogen ratio [3]. The sawdust is easily available bulking
agent. In the composting of water hyacinth, sawdust is a suitable bulking
agent which helps in biodegradation of water hyacinth [13].
Cow dung
Cow dung is an important bulking agent in the composting and
vermicomposting. It is easily available in a huge amount in many
countries. Basically cow dung is waste product of bovine species
including cow, buffalo, yak etc. it is cheap and cost effective bulking
agent. In the composting of industrial waste, food waste and other cow
dung helps in composting to get good carbon to nitrogen ratio [12,16].
The cow dung is very effective in many organic waste composting and
vermicomposting as sludge, water hyacinth and food waste composting
because it can control the moisture, bulk density, carbon content and
C/N ratio in the compost [12,17].
Bulking agents in vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is process of biodegradation of organic material
with the help of earthworms. For vermicomposting bulking agents are
very important for provide bulk density, moisture control, pH, and C/N
J Bioremed Biodeg
ISSN: 2155-6199 JBRBD, an open access journal
Page 2 of 3
ratio. In the vermicomposting cow dung, poultry waste, sawdust, rice
husk and sugarcane trash etc are use as a bulking agent [12,16,18]. In
vermicomposting process the aeration is very important for earthworms
and the other parameters like pH, temperature and moisture content is
maintained by these bulking agents (Table 1).
Important Functions of Bulking Agents
There are many important functions of bulking agents in the
composting of different organic waste. These are controlling the pH,
moisture, bulk density, carbon to nitrogen ratio, and aeration etc. some
of these discussed following one by one.
pH
The pH is a very important factor in composting and
vermicomposting. It can increase and decrease the rate of biodegradation.
Composting is a biological process of microbial activities and microbes
survives at specific pH. Bulking agents like sawdust, cow dung and rice
husk etc can control the pH value of composting [1,3,13]. For the better
biodegradation of composting materials the pH value should not very
basic and very acidic it should be between the range of 6-8 [1,4,19]. In
different studies it is reported that bulking agents in composting are
responsible for maintain the pH value at optimum range [1,7].
Moisture
Moisture is also a very important parameter of composting it can
maintain the rate of biodegradation of materials. The moisture content
in access amount can be negative for composting process. Bulking
agents like sawdust, rice husk, cotton waste and maize straw can
control the moisture content of composting materials [3,7,20]. When
the moisture content between 55% to 65% the composting will more
effective [1].
Bulk density
The bulk density of composting material plays an important role in
the composting. According to bulk density biodegradation may be slow
or fast. Different bulking agents such as sawdust, cow dung, straw, etc
are use in composting for provide the specific bulk density to compost
material [3,21].
C/N ratio
Carbon to nitrogen ratio of compost is the ratio between carbon
and nitrogen content in compost. it is an most important parameter
of composting because it indicate about the compost quality. The
composting may be more effective when C/N ratio between 30 to 40
[1]. Some studies have shown that C/N ratio at lower than 20 is also
effective [2,22]. To control and maintain the C/N ration in the compost
different bulking agents such as sawdust, rice husk, rice bran, cow dung,
poultry waste etc are used [1,3,12,23].
Aeration
Aeration or air supply is the major factor in the composting rate. It
can highly affect the composting process and rate [1]. Air supply should
Bulking Agent Function References
Sugarcane trash Control carbon content, pH, moisture [18]
Sawdust Control moisture, pH, aeration, bulk density, [3]
temperature
Poultry waste Control carbon content, bulk density [18]
Cow dung Control carbon content, bulk density, Ph [13]
Rice husk Control moisture, temperature [1]
Table 1: Various types of bulking agents and their function.
Volume 4 • Issue 7 • 1000205
Citation: Batham M, Gupta R, Tiwari A (2013) Implementation of Bulking Agents in Composting: A Review. J Bioremed Biodeg 4: 205. doi:10.4172/2155-
6199.1000205
Waste Bulking agent used References
Water hyacinth Cattle manure, sawdust [12]
Piggery waste Straw, sawdust [9]
Water hyacinth Cow dung slurry [12]
Water hyacinth Cow manure [16]
Food waste Chopped hay, sawdust, wheat straw [3]
Olive-mill wastewater sludge Cotton waste, maize straw [7]
Sugarbeet vinasse Phosphate rock [6]
Food waste Rice husk, sawdust, rice bran [1]
Table 2: Different type of waste with bulking agents in different studies of
composting.
be proper in the compost materials for better and fast biodegradation
of materials [23]. To control the aeration and make free air space in
the composting materials different bulking agents such as sawdust, rice
bran, rice husk, cotton waste, maize straw, peanut shells etc are used in
composting [1,9,13] (Table 2).
Conclusion
There is limited information on bulking agents even they are very
effective in composting. Available information on bulking agents
in composting indicates that bulking agents are very effective and
efficient for composting. Bulking agents can reduce the cost, labor,
time duration, and increase the compost quality and nutritive values.
Some bulking agents like sawdust, cow dung and rice husk are able to
maintain the C/N ratio which is most important parameter of compost.
Sawdust, cow dung, rice husk, cotton waste and rice bran are the most
effective and available bulking agent in composting and it is used in
many studies of composting. Use of these bulking agents may be very
efficient and beneficial for compost producers. Available bulking agents’
information is attractive, but much research is needed for more easily
available and more economic bulking agents.
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