Chapter 23
Composting Practices for the Remediation
of Matrices Contaminated by Recalcitrant
Organic Pollutants
Ondřej Lhotský, Stefano Covino, and Tomáš Cajthaml
Abstract Composting has been known since ancient times. Nowadays this process
is widely used for stabilization of biodegradable wastes and preparation of organic
fertilizers. Due to low substrate selectivity and high biodiversity, the compostinhabiting microbial consortia are capable of breaking down organic matter of
different nature including those artificial chemical compounds that are persistent in
the natural environment. Therefore, composting practices can be utilized for ex situ
remediation of different matrices contaminated with recalcitrant organic pollutants.
Composting and compost addition are a sustainable and effective bioremediation
option, especially for the treatment of soil contaminated with mixtures of hydrocarbons (fuels, lubricating oils, creosote, etc.), explosives, phenols, some pesticides,
and emerging pollutants. In order to understand the bioremediation technology
based on composting processes, it is necessary to introduce the general principles
of composting organic wastes. Therefore, this chapter consists of two parts. The first
part concerns the general principles of composting organic wastes including information on the composting process, stages of composting, factors affecting the
composting process, and composting systems. The second part focuses on the actual
O. Lhotský (*)
DEKONTA a.s., Prague, Czech Republic
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
e-mail: lhotsky@dekonta.cz
S. Covino
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
T. Cajthaml
Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_23
467
Composting Practices for the Remediation
of Matrices Contaminated by Recalcitrant
Organic Pollutants
Ondřej Lhotský, Stefano Covino, and Tomáš Cajthaml
Abstract Composting has been known since ancient times. Nowadays this process
is widely used for stabilization of biodegradable wastes and preparation of organic
fertilizers. Due to low substrate selectivity and high biodiversity, the compostinhabiting microbial consortia are capable of breaking down organic matter of
different nature including those artificial chemical compounds that are persistent in
the natural environment. Therefore, composting practices can be utilized for ex situ
remediation of different matrices contaminated with recalcitrant organic pollutants.
Composting and compost addition are a sustainable and effective bioremediation
option, especially for the treatment of soil contaminated with mixtures of hydrocarbons (fuels, lubricating oils, creosote, etc.), explosives, phenols, some pesticides,
and emerging pollutants. In order to understand the bioremediation technology
based on composting processes, it is necessary to introduce the general principles
of composting organic wastes. Therefore, this chapter consists of two parts. The first
part concerns the general principles of composting organic wastes including information on the composting process, stages of composting, factors affecting the
composting process, and composting systems. The second part focuses on the actual
O. Lhotský (*)
DEKONTA a.s., Prague, Czech Republic
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
e-mail: lhotsky@dekonta.cz
S. Covino
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
T. Cajthaml
Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech
Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_23
467