Compost microorganisms

L. Chen, W. A. Dick, J. G. Streeter, and H. A. Hoitink, Fe chelates from compost microorganisms improve Fe nutrition of soybean and oat. Plant Soil 200 139 (1998). 

Fig. 3a, b GC-MS chromatograms showing the different degradation product patterns after ageing of pre-oxidised LDPE-PO in a biotic mineral medium inoculated with a mixed culture of compost microorganisms and b sterile mineral medium... 

Fig. 4 Changes in carbonyl index for pre-oxidised LDPE-PO degraded at 50 °C in air, in sterile mineral medium and in biotic mineral medium with compost microorganisms...

GC-MS chromatograms in Fig. 4 show that the low molecular weight PCL products were rapidly utilized by compost microorganisms. The unaged PCL films contained some low molecular weight products, i.e., 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid, caprolactone, and its cyclic dimer and trimer (Fig. 4, a). These products were also identified after aging in sterile mineral medium. However, after 2 weeks in... 

Hakarainen, M., Karlsson, S. and Albertsson, A.C. (2000) Rapid (bio)degradation of polylactide by mixed culture of compost microorganisms-low molecular weight products and matrix changes. Polymer, 41,2331-2338. 

During composting, microorganisms break down organic matter and produce carbon dioxide, water, heat and compost ... 

According to ASTM requirements 90% of the carbon of the test materials must be assimilated by the compost microorganisms as dociunented by measuring CO2 production, within a six month period, extendable to one year if radiolabelled carbon is used. Moreover, disintegration of the film or article of the use thickness such that less than 10% of the material remains on a 10 mesh screen after sieving must be proved. Safety of compost must be proved by testing phyto- or ecotoxicity using methods listed in the Standard. 

---