Quantitative analysis of ammonia and odorous sulfur compounds evolved during thermophilic composting

Odorous compounds were generated by thermophilic composting processes maint ained at an isothermal condition of 60 degrees C. From these compounds, amm onia and odorous sulfur compounds were measured. Composts were produced und er identical operational conditions from identical raw materials comprised of commercial dog food. It was observed that organic matter decomposition w as reproducible, as were the evolution patterns and the quantities of NH3 a nd odorous sulfur compounds evolved. Particularly in the cases of dimethyld isulfide (DMDS) and ammonia (NH3), the evolved quantities were measured wit h high accuracy. Under the composting conditions used in this study, neithe r hydrogen sulfide (H2S) nor dimethylsulfide(DMS) were detected. In contras t, high concentrations of methylmercaptane (MMC), DMDS and NH were detected .