Structural characterization of bagasse-derived composts with different maturities and their solubility enhancing effect on PCE and toluene

• Three bagasse compost teas were prepared to dissolve PCE and toluene.
• The raw bagasse sample (0-month) had the smallest surface tension reducing power.
• The 3-month compost tea could dissolve the largest amount of PCE.
• The 6-month compost tea could dissolve the largest amount of toluene.
• Compost teas could be used as surfactant to dissolve hydrophobic pollutants.

This study aimed to explore the structure variation of bagasse-derived composts during their maturation process. The surface tension and dissolved carbon content of their extract (compost tea) were measured, and the compost structure was analyzed using FTIR and 13C NMR. The FTIR and 13C NMR analyses showed that the alkyl and aromatic contents of the investigated composts increased as the composting time increased from 0 to 6 months. The aqueous solubility enhancements of tetrachloroethene (PCE) and toluene by bagasse-derived compost tea with different maturities were investigated. The PCE and toluene solubility enhancement experiments were conducted at various compost concentrations. The most PCE and toluene solubility were enhanced by 3 and 6-month bagasse-derived composts, respectively. This observation was due to the structural transformation from alkyl to aromatic functional groups in the composting process.