TEMPERATURE AND pH MONITORING IN WINDROWS FROM ANIMAL FACILITY WASTE COMPOSTING

Macedo Sobrinho, ElianeChristina Almeida, AnnaColen, FernandoOtacílio Santos, Hérculesde Souza Costa, KattyanneViana Brandi, IgorSander Rodrigues Cangussu, Alex

The objective of this study was to monitor temperature and pH in composting windrows constituted of rabbit, guinea pig, mouse and hamster wastes. Wastes from these laboratory animals were mixed to cotton wastes to produce 721.65 kg of composts. There were constructed 6 composting windrows and they were monitored daily for temperature and pH. Composts were watered daily until humidity level was near 55%. The compost piles were turned every 15 days. All the windrows passed through a thermophilic phase followed by a mesophilic phase, and maximum temperature was near 60C. The pH values ranged from 6 to 8 in most of the windrows. In conclusion, characteristics of the compost studied such as humidity, pH, color and absence of foul odors makes it suitable for agricultural use. Keywords: Laboratory animals, environmental pollution, waste management.