Effect of inoculation with a microbial consortium that degrades organic acids on the composting efficiency of food waste

Summary In order to overcome the excessive acidification problem, a microbial consortium for the degradation of organic acids (MCDOA), which acts synergistically in degrading organic acids, was developed and used as an inoculum to improve the efficiency of food waste composting. MCDOA could eliminate the initial lag phase of the pile temperature rise because of excessive acidification and effectively shorten the composting period. Fluorescence regional integration analysis of the excitation‐emission matrix spectra of dissolved organic matter showed that compared with raw material, in compost with MCDOA inoculation, the percent fluorescence response (Pi,n) values of Regions I, II and IV decreased by 95.11%, 94.19% and 87.41%, respectively, and Pi,n of Region V increased by 172.57%. The decreased and increased levels were markedly higher than in the two control groups (MgO and K2HPO4 treatment, and uninoculated compost). These findings revealed that MCDOA accelerated the degradation of proteinaceous compounds and the formation of complicated humic‐like materials. Bacterial profiles implied that MCDOA could improve the indigenous bacterial community structure and diversities of acetic and propionic acid‐degrading and lignin‐degrading bacteria, which might account for the high composting efficiency and degree of humification of the inoculated compost. Microbial consortium degrading organic acids (MCDOA) could eliminate initial lag phase of pile temperature rise and shorten composting period effectively.