Assessment of respiration activity and ecotoxicity of composts containing biopolymers

The research was conducted to determine if introducing biodegradable polymer materials to the composting process would affect selected biological properties of mature compost. Determination of biological properties of composts composed of testing their respiration activity and toxicity. Respiration activity was measured in material from the composting process by means of OxiTop Control measuring system. The ecotoxicity of composts was estimated by means of a set of biotests composed of three microbiotests using five test organisms. Introduction of polymer materials caused a decrease in respiration activity of mature compost. Similar dependencies as in the case of mass loss were registered. Compost to which a biodegradable polymer with the highest content of starch was added revealed the smallest difference in comparison with organic material composted without polymers. Lower content of starch in a polymer caused lower respiration activity of composts, whereas microorganism vaccine might have accelerated maturing of composts, thus contributing to the smallest respiration of compost. In composts containing biopolymers the following were observed: an increase in germination inhibition − 2.5 times, roots growth inhibition − 1.8 times, growth inhibition of Heterocypris incongruens − four times and luminescence inhibition of Vibrio fischeri − 1.6 times in comparison with the control (compost K1). Composts containing biopolymers were classified as toxicity class III, whereas the compost without polymer addition as class II.

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► Biopolymer materials caused a decrease in respiration activity of mature compost.
► Biopolymers added to organic material cause an increase in its ecotoxicity.
► Battery of biotests-assess the environmental risks associated with the use of composts.