%0 Journal Article
%T Physical-Chemical Analysis and Comparison with Standards of the Compost Produced in Sanandaj, Iran
%A Shahram Sadeghi
%A Mahbobeh Dehvari
%A Pegah Bahmani
%A Pari Teymouri
%A Ahmad Fattahi
%A Mojtaba Sadeghnia
%A Reza Ali Fallahzadeh
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 2
%N 10
%P 1-6
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2015
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1101855
%X Improper disposal of solid waste is one of the main causes of
environmental pollution. Converting solid waste into compost and using it as an
organic fertilizer in agriculture are an effective waste management method. Quality
of such fertilizer may affect both human and environmental health. Therefore,
in this study, compost from the compost plant of Sanandaj City was analyzed for
its physical-chemical characteristics and the results were compared with the
standards. In this descriptive-analytical study, compost samples were collected
throughout a 3-month period in spring season at intervals of 15 days (2 samples
in each sampling) for chemical analysis. In the present study, parameters such
as pH, organic matter, EC, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, arsenic,
lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium were studied. According to the results, the
mean pH, EC, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium and potassium
were 7.657, 8.883 ds/m, 37.793%, 26.46%, 2.50%, 0.424%, 0.685 and 0.67%, respectively.
The average concentrations of heavy metals were 0.398, 95, 1.575, <0.5 and
40.275 mg/kg for arsenic, lead, cadmium,
mercury and chromium, respectively. Results from this study were compared with
the standards set for compost. Organic matter content, sodium, arsenic,
mercury and chromium were almost within the acceptable ranges. Lead and cadmium
concentrations were lower than the standard. But, the values of pH and EC, the
percentages of carbon and nitrogen, and also the amounts of phosphorus and potassium
were in accordance with the standards. The results of this study show that the
quality of the produced compost in the studied plant is almost acceptable.
%K Compost
%K Physical-Chemical Analysis
%K Sanandaj
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/3149794