Changes in the apolar organic fraction through the composting process

The organic fraction soluble in different organic solvents with increasing polarity was studied during the composting process, following its transform ation from raw material until the stable final product with the aim to esta blish new quality indices of compost maturity. All apolar fractions during the composting process had a reduction higher than 50%. Part of the compoun ds have been utilized by the microflora as energetic material and to perfor m the biotransformations, and part has been transformed in molecule like th e humic molecules. However, in our conditions a relevant part (36%) of apol ar material is recovered at the end of the biotransformation. The spectrosc opic analysis indicates in the final product an increase of Lipidic compoun ds, as esters or acids as well as hydrocarbons with longer Linear aliphatic chain.