New kinetic modelling parameters for composting process

This study aims to assess the composting process of sawdust, wheat-straw and chicken manure and to define the best blend proportion as a function of organic matter loss. Chicken manure, sawdust, and wheat-straw were mixed at different ratios and composted in reactors. The obtained outcomes revealed that the optimum mixture ratio was found in a mixture of 60 % chicken manure, 30 % sawdust, and 10 % wheat-straw. Three kinetic parameters were used in the models including daily process average temperature, area characterized by temperatures under the process temperature curve, and area characterized by temperatures between the ambient and process temperature (ALAT) as an alternative of process temperature. In addition to these statistical values, modelling efficiency was defined. Statistical analyses revealed that all the evaluated models were found suitable for this study; however, when ALAT was used as a function of temperature, the predictability level of all the models improved.