Changes in organic matter and microbial communities during sludge vermicomposting

ZHOU Hongyi; XU Xinyan; JIANG Shengjie; XING Meiyan; LEI AYE Seinn; MAUNG WIN Khin; LI Xiaowei

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202508017

Volume 43 Issue 8

Aug. 2025

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(8): 187-194

ZHOU Hongyi, XU Xinyan, JIANG Shengjie, XING Meiyan, LEI AYE Seinn, MAUNG WIN Khin, LI Xiaowei. Changes in organic matter and microbial communities during sludge vermicomposting[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 187-194. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508017

Citation:

ZHOU Hongyi, XU Xinyan, JIANG Shengjie, XING Meiyan, LEI AYE Seinn, MAUNG WIN Khin, LI Xiaowei. Changes in organic matter and microbial communities during sludge vermicomposting[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 187-194. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508017

Citation:

ZHOU Hongyi, XU Xinyan, JIANG Shengjie, XING Meiyan, LEI AYE Seinn, MAUNG WIN Khin, LI Xiaowei. Changes in organic matter and microbial communities during sludge vermicomposting[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 187-194. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508017

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Changes in organic matter and microbial communities during sludge vermicomposting

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508017

1. College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China;
2. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
3. College of Industrial Chemistry, University of Yangon, Yangon 11181, Myanmar;
4. Myanmar Water Engineering and Products Company, Yangon 11181, Myanmar

Received Date: 2025-05-08
Accepted Date: 2025-07-08
Rev Recd Date: 2025-06-13

Abstract

Abstract

Conventional techniques such as landfill and incineration for sewage sludge treatment carry risks of secondary pollution， making vermicomposting technology an increasingly attractive eco-friendly alternative. This approach leverages the synergistic interaction between earthworms （Eisenia fetida） and microorganisms to significantly shorten composting cycles while enhancing the nutrient content and water retention capacity of the final product. Earthworms improve microbial community structures， accelerate organic matter decomposition， and generate high-value vermicast through feeding activities and mechanical agitation. These advantages demonstrate substantial potential in organic waste degradation and resource recovery. Although the efficacy of vermicomposting in treating textile mill sludge and sugar industry waste has been validated in previous studies， systematic investigations into organic matter transformation mechanisms during vermicomposting for sewage sludge treatment remain inadequate. Five experimental groups with varying sludge-to-cattle manure ratios were established in this study， i.e. V1 （100% sludge）， V2 （70% sludge + 30% manure）， V3 （50% sludge + 50% manure）， V4 （30% sludge + 70% manure）， and V5 （100% manure）. Analytical techniques including organic carbon analysis and infrared spectroscopy were employed to monitor organic matter transformation and humic acid characteristics during vermicomposting. The results showed significant reductions of 27.1%， 31.3%， and 30.9% in volatile suspended solids， total organic carbon， and C/N ratio， respectively， after vermicomposting of sewage sludge. Infrared spectral analysis further revealed structural modifications in humic acid， confirming the effectiveness of earthworm-mediated organic matter transformation. Meanwhile， total bacterial count， respiration rate， and dehydrogenase activity substantially decreased by 70.3%， 89.3%， and 88.0%， respectively， indicating the enhancement of organic matter degradation and microbial stability. Notably， vermicomposting exhibited superior performance in sludge stabilization， biostability， and maturity. The findings imply the feasibility of vermicomposting for sewage sludge treatment， and multi-species comparisons and extended monitoring are required in future study to validate the technology's robustness in practical scenarios.
- sewage sludge,
- vermicomposting,
- organic matter degradation,
- stabilization,
- microbial stability

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References(27)

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