The assessment of using NaOH extraction to determine the amount of humic substances in composted material

Metoda oznaczenia zawartości substancji humusowych zastosowana w badaniach jest powszechnie używana do oznaczania stężeń wspomnianych związków w kompostach. Celem przeprowadzonych badań wstępnych pracy była ocena przydatności metody ekstrakcji za pomocą roztworu 0,5 M NaOH w materiałach pobranych z kolejnych faz kompostowania w celu określenia stopnia dojrzałości produktu. Próbki do badań pobrano z miejskiej oczyszczalni ścieków Przedsiębiorstwa „Wodociągi Słupsk” o średniodobowym przepływie docelowym wynoszącym około 28 200 m3 ścieków. Wsadem do kompostowania były odwodnione i przefermentowane osady ściekowe zmieszane ze słomą, korą i zrębkami. Uzyskane w badaniach wyniki w przypadku materiałów z fazy gorącej były obarczone dużym błędem. Na tej podstawie uznano, iż ekstrakcja substancji humusowych za pomocą roztworu NaOH może być metodą zalecaną jedynie dla dojrzałego produktu kompostowania.The research method which was used in these studies is commonly used to determine concentrations of humic acids and humin acids in the soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of NaOH extraction method of materials taken from the first and last phase of composting. The samples were taken from wastewater treatment plant, which flow target was approximately 28 200 m 3 of sewage. The feedstock for composting was dehydrated and fermented sewage sludge mixed with straw, bark and wood chips. Five samples were tested; compost from the second week of composting - hot phase of composting (the sample 1), compost from the fifth week of composting (the sample 2) - end of the hot phase of composting, mature compost (the sample 3) - and of the maturing phase, compost prepared to further use, the dehydrated and fermented sewage sludge and the straw. The sample 1 contained 5.24 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humic acids and 3.38 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humin acids. The sample 2 contained 5.85 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humic acids and 3.52 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humin acids. The sample 3 contained 4.53 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humic acids and 3.11 g/ kg dry matter of the carbon of the humin acids. The sample 4 contained 6.34 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humic acids and 3.29 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humin acids. The sample 5 contained 6.56 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humic acids and 6.14 g/kg dry matter of the carbon of the humin acids. The humic substances, and also the lignin, the cellulose and the hemicellulose were extracted in this method. For this reason, the results of the materials taken from the hot stage may be obviously erroneous. Because of the fact that the mineralisation in the maturing phase of the composting was ended, it can be concluded, that the humic acids have dominated in the final compost. This indicates that the composting was successful. This results suggested, that the NaOH extraction of the humic substances may be recommended only for the mature product of composting - compost