Manu Mk

Hong Kong Baptist University · Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture

Microbiological polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are rooted as the most promising bio-replacements of synthetic polymers. Inherent properties of these PHAs further expand their applicability in numerous industrial, environmental, and clinical sectors. To propel these, a new environmental, endotoxin free gram-positive bacterium i.e., Bacillus cereus IBA...

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has emerged as a promising technology for diverting the organic waste from the landfills along with the production of clean energy. AD is a microbial-driven biochemical process wherein the plethora of microbial communities participate in converting the putrescible organic matter into biogas. Nevertheless, the AD process is...

We are racing to manage a phenomenally increasing volume of organic wastes from urban, industrial and agricultural entities. Composting is one of the preferred ways to convert biodegradable wastes into nutrient-rich soil conditioners. The age-old technique of composting process is being improved with innovative scientific means. Biochar, a widely s...

High accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is one of the major concerns during mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of food waste (FW) and sewage sludge (SS). Therefore, improving the stability of the anaerobic digestion process could surpass quick acidification while accelerating methanogenesis. In this study, the suitability of biochar-assiste...

Food waste digestate (FWD) disposal is a serious bottleneck in anaerobic digestion plants to achieve circular bioeconomy. FWD could be recycled into nitrogen-rich compost, however, the co-composting process optimization along with bulking agents, is required to reduce nitrogen loss and unwanted gaseous emissions. In the present study, two different...

Anaerobic digestion is considered an environmentally benign process for the recycling of food waste into biogas. However, unscientific disposal of ammonium-rich food waste digestate (FWD), a by-product of anaerobic digestion induces environmental issues such as odor nuisances, water pollution, phytotoxicity and pathogen transformations in soil, etc...

Chinese medicinal herbal residues (CMHRs) are known for their antipathogenic properties due to the presence of bioactive compounds. Hence, CMHRs could be used as a potential resource to produce biofertilizer with antipathogenic properties for agricultural applications. In this study, a novel approach was used by utilizing the waste-derived bioferti...

This chapter focuses on the possible impacts of food waste management choices over economy, climate, biodiversity, and health in all continents. Biofertilizers are natural compounds having microbial inoculants mixed with biodegradable substances that promote plant growth through seed or soil interactions. Food waste, due to its high organic content...

Food waste digestate (FWD) is an organic waste characterized by high NH4⁺-N content and its composting is challenging due to the higher NH3 emission and nitrogen loss. In the present study, FWD was co-composted with sawdust and mature compost, and zeolite was used as a physical additive for nitrogen conservation. The results demonstrated that amend...

This study evaluates the impact of biochar addition on the performance of anaerobic co-digestion of food waste (FW) and sewage sludge at different total solids (TS) contents (2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5%). Biochar co-digestion improved hydrolysis and acidogenesis by neutralizing volatile fatty acids (VFAs) reducing its inhibitions (2.6-fold removal), which...

Composting of food waste digestate (FWD) is challenging as it requires more bulking agents, and the nitrogen loss is inevitable. To address these issues, FWD composting was conducted at a relatively lower C/N ratio of 15 with zeolite amendment in the dosage range of 5-15%. The impact of zeolite addition on nitrogen loss, NH3 and N2O emissions was a...

To reduce transportation costs and harmful environmental impacts, the household wet biodegradable waste (HWBW) should be segregated and processed at the source of generation. In the present study, the performance of a decentralized rotary drum composter (capacity=160 L) was evaluated for the stabilization of HWBW. The system was divided into four c...

High concentration of NH 4 +-N in food waste digestate (FWD) produced from biological treatment of food waste is considered as a major threat on the composting process resulting in production of immature compost. Hence, a laboratory batch composting study was conducted to examine the feasibility of using biochar as a physical additive to ameliorate...

Direct land application of food waste digestate (FWD) leads to 60-70% of nitrogen loss through NH3 volatilization due to its innate characteristics like high ammonium nitrogen (NH4⁺-N) (∼6000 mg/kg dry matter) and high moisture content (∼75%). Hence, bio stabilization of FWD through composting is a promising solution to curb the environmental and o...

Food waste digestate is a by-product of the anaerobic digestion of food waste. Presence of high ammonium nitrogen content significantly increase the nitrogen loss upon direct application on soil or by conventional composting. In this review, a comprehensive discussion regarding the effective management of food waste digestate is outlined, in which...

Wet waste recycling at generation point will alleviate burden on the overflowing waste dumpsites in developing nations. Drum composting is a potential treatment option for such waste at individual or community level. The present study was aimed to produce compost from wet waste (primarily comprising food waste) in composting drums modified for impr...

Drum composting is a potential mean to recycle the food waste (FW) at the source of generation in developing countries. The present study reports the kinetics of the composting process conducted in three plastic drums each of 125 L capacity. To facilitate natural aeration, 10 mm diameter holes were provided on the periphery of two drums while one d...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Composting of biodegradable municipal solid waste (MSW) fraction is a preferred treatment option in developing countries like India. MSW generated in India contains around 50% of food waste which can be recycled in the form of compost at the source of its generation. To promote decentralized composting for such waste type, properl...

The present study was aimed to develop a continuous composting system for the treatment of household biodegradable fraction of MSW.

Yard waste is a major constituent of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in a town or city. The yard waste acts as bulky material in the aerobic biological degradation (e.g. composting) of food waste. The present study was aimed to examine the physical and chemical characteristics of yard waste containing mainly grass clippings, browny dry leaves...