Sulfur-aided composting facilitates ammonia release mitigation, endocrine disrupting chemicals degradation and biosolids stabilization

Abstract

In order to investigate the potential effect of sulfur (S) aided composting on NH3 volatilization mitigation, bisphenol A (PBA) and estrogens (estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and 17a-ethinylestradiol) degradation and biosolids stabilization, five treatments of S (i.e., 0, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.0%, and 2.0%, dry weight basis) were applied to the mixtures of biosolids and wheat straw during the 50 days of composting stabilization process. Results implicated addition of S decreased alkalinity of compost system, mitigated NH3 volatilization, facilitated degradation of bisphenol A and estrogen in biosolids, and improved biosolids stabilization. Compared to control, the S-added treatments reduced nitrogen loss by 29.39%–97.22%, and degraded PBA and estrogens in biosolids by 25.42–72.63% and 21.11–68.14%, respectively, with S additions in range of 0.25–2.0%. In terms of economic efficiency and ecological risk, S addition at ≤0.50% is suggested for composting stabilization of biosolids.