Co-composting of sewage sludge : fats mixtures and characteristics of the lipases involved

Co-composting of sewage sludge and animal fat mixtures was studied in order to determine the possibility of using this technology to recycle fat-enriched wastes. A maximum fat content of 30% in fat:sludge mixtures is recommended to achieve the international sanitation requirements on compost quality and to avoid an excessive thermophilic composting time. Under these conditions a fat content reduction of 85% was achieved. Biological activity was highly dependent on the moisture content as shown by the respiratory quotient values. Moisture content is a critical control factor because of the hydrophobic nature of fats and should be maintained above 40% in the composting of fats. Biological indices of the compost obtained after 69 days of process (maturity grade: IV; respiration index: 1.1 mg O₂ g OM⁻¹ h⁻¹) indicated a high stability and maturity degree of the material. Lipases responsible for fat hydrolysis were monitored during the composting process and a sample from the thermophilic period was characterized in terms of stability in front of pH and temperature. Optimal conditions for lipase stability were found at 38.3 °C and pH 7.97, however, the maximum lipolytic activity was observed at thermophilic temperatures. Lipases from the thermophilic period were purified by anion exchange chromatography and visualised by SDS-PAGE. Two major bands were observed at molecular weights of 29 and 62 kDa. These bands could not be identified precisely by N-terminal sequence analysis.