A FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC-MATTERDEGRADATION IN A BENCH-SCALE SOLID SUBSTRATE FERMENTATION (COMPOSTING) SYSTEM

The degradation of organic matter was evaluated by a quantitative Four ier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis technique. The deg radation process was conducted in a bench-scale reactor under controll ed operational conditions of 50 degrees C, with 50-60% moisture conten t, and subjected to uniform aeration for 325 h. During the composting process, ATP concentration increased from 0.1 to 8 mu g/g and the maxi mum CO2 evolution and O-2 consumption rates reached 0.04 and 0.085 mmo l/g-h, respectively. Polysaccharide content decreased approximately 50 % while lignin content remained unchanged. Three regions of the FTIR s pectra were used for quantification: 1070-974, 1705-1614, and 2995-288 7 cm(-1), which correspond to polysaccharides and aromatic and aliphat ic compounds, respectively. The actual spectra quantification consiste d of peak identification using a second derivative and curve fitting t echnique, followed by normalization using the internal standard CaCO3. The results obtained with the spectra quantification technique was th en compared to commonly used wet chemistry extraction procedures. Reas onable correlation between the two techniques was obtained. (C) 1996 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.