Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions
A significant concentration of pharmaceuticals has been detected within composted sewage sludge. Their uncomplete removal and lack of monitoring during composting neglects their potentially toxic effects when used as a soil organic amendment. Previously, we successfully implemented a bioaugmentation...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Gabriela Angeles-De Paz Juan Cubero-Cardoso Clementina Pozo Concepción Calvo Elisabet Aranda Tatiana Robledo-Mahón |
| author_facet | Gabriela Angeles-De Paz Juan Cubero-Cardoso Clementina Pozo Concepción Calvo Elisabet Aranda Tatiana Robledo-Mahón |
| author_sort | Gabriela Angeles-De Paz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A significant concentration of pharmaceuticals has been detected within composted sewage sludge. Their uncomplete removal and lack of monitoring during composting neglects their potentially toxic effects when used as a soil organic amendment. Previously, we successfully implemented a bioaugmentation–composting system focused on toxicity and pharmaceuticals’ concentration reduction. This method, however, comprised a long inoculant-acclimatization period, making it an unprofitable technology. Hence, this work aimed to explore a shorter and yet effective composting process by simultaneously implementing the inoculation of a native microbial consortium and the fungus <i>Penicillium oxalicum</i> XD 3.1 in composting piles of sewage sludge and olive prunings. All the piles were subjected to frequent inoculation, windrow turning, and monitoring of the physicochemical and biological parameters. Additionally, both the bioaugmentation stability and pharmaceuticals degradation were evaluated through different analysis and removal rates calculations. One hundred days earlier than previous attempts, both bioaugmentation treatments achieved adequate composting conditions, maintained core native populations while improving the degrading microbial diversity, and achieved around 70–72% of pharmaceutical remotion. Nevertheless, only <i>Penicillium</i> inoculation produced favorable toxicity results ideal for organic amendments (acute microtoxicity and phytotoxicity). Thus, a shorter but equally stable and effective degrading bioaugmentation–composting with <i>P. oxalicum</i> was achieved here. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7dc31536bd5442d5ae68974a9e530107 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-7dc31536bd5442d5ae68974a9e5301072025-01-24T13:37:25ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-01-011116710.3390/jof11010067Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real ConditionsGabriela Angeles-De Paz0Juan Cubero-Cardoso1Clementina Pozo2Concepción Calvo3Elisabet Aranda4Tatiana Robledo-Mahón5Environmental Microbiology Group, Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, 18003 Granada, SpainEnvironmental Microbiology Group, Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, 18003 Granada, SpainEnvironmental Microbiology Group, Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, 18003 Granada, SpainEnvironmental Microbiology Group, Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, 18003 Granada, SpainEnvironmental Microbiology Group, Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, 18003 Granada, SpainEnvironmental Microbiology Group, Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, 18003 Granada, SpainA significant concentration of pharmaceuticals has been detected within composted sewage sludge. Their uncomplete removal and lack of monitoring during composting neglects their potentially toxic effects when used as a soil organic amendment. Previously, we successfully implemented a bioaugmentation–composting system focused on toxicity and pharmaceuticals’ concentration reduction. This method, however, comprised a long inoculant-acclimatization period, making it an unprofitable technology. Hence, this work aimed to explore a shorter and yet effective composting process by simultaneously implementing the inoculation of a native microbial consortium and the fungus <i>Penicillium oxalicum</i> XD 3.1 in composting piles of sewage sludge and olive prunings. All the piles were subjected to frequent inoculation, windrow turning, and monitoring of the physicochemical and biological parameters. Additionally, both the bioaugmentation stability and pharmaceuticals degradation were evaluated through different analysis and removal rates calculations. One hundred days earlier than previous attempts, both bioaugmentation treatments achieved adequate composting conditions, maintained core native populations while improving the degrading microbial diversity, and achieved around 70–72% of pharmaceutical remotion. Nevertheless, only <i>Penicillium</i> inoculation produced favorable toxicity results ideal for organic amendments (acute microtoxicity and phytotoxicity). Thus, a shorter but equally stable and effective degrading bioaugmentation–composting with <i>P. oxalicum</i> was achieved here.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/67compostingsewage sludgepharmaceuticalseco-efficiencybiodegradationbioaugmentation |
| spellingShingle | Gabriela Angeles-De Paz Juan Cubero-Cardoso Clementina Pozo Concepción Calvo Elisabet Aranda Tatiana Robledo-Mahón Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions Journal of Fungi composting sewage sludge pharmaceuticals eco-efficiency biodegradation bioaugmentation |
| title | Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions |
| title_full | Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions |
| title_short | Optimizing Bioaugmentation for Pharmaceutical Stabilization of Sewage Sludge: A Study on Short-Term Composting Under Real Conditions |
| title_sort | optimizing bioaugmentation for pharmaceutical stabilization of sewage sludge a study on short term composting under real conditions |
| topic | composting sewage sludge pharmaceuticals eco-efficiency biodegradation bioaugmentation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/67 |
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