Suppressive performance of food waste composting with polylactic acid: Emphasis on microbial core metabolism pathways and mechanism

Yi Zheng; Ziwei Feng; Pan Wang; Shaoqi Xu; Xin Gao; Lianhai Ren; Tianxue Yang; Xinyu Zhao; Yuquan Wei; Ji Li

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129339

Suppressive performance of food waste composting with polylactic acid: Emphasis on microbial core metabolism pathways and mechanism

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Sep:384:129339. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129339. Epub 2023 Jun 19.

Authors

Yi Zheng¹, Ziwei Feng², Pan Wang³, Shaoqi Xu², Xin Gao², Lianhai Ren³, Tianxue Yang⁴, Xinyu Zhao⁴, Yuquan Wei⁵, Ji Li¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Resources and Environmental Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Organic Recycling Institute (Suzhou) of China Agricultural University, Suzhou 215128, China.
² College of Resources and Environmental Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
³ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
⁵ College of Resources and Environmental Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Organic Recycling Institute (Suzhou) of China Agricultural University, Suzhou 215128, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 37343797
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129339

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of polylactic acid (PLA) on microbial community composition and core metabolism pathways in food waste (FW) composting. The presence of PLA negatively influenced microbial community richness and decreased respectively the abundance of Bacillus, Halocella and Cellvibrio at mesophilic, thermophilic and mature phases. Analysis of microbial metabolism at the gene level help to understand the mechanism in co-composting with FW and PLA. The expression of core functional genes related to lactide metabolism was stimulated by PLA degradation at thermophilic and mature phases. The sum of absolute abundance of functional genes that involved in first and second carbon oxidation of tricarboxylic acid cycle was decreased due to the existence of PLA. The transformation between 2-Oxoglutarate and Succinyl-CoA were interfered in thermophilic phase, which might result in the lower germination index in PLA group (115%) than that in control (186%).

Keywords: Composting; Food waste; Metabolism pathways; Polylactic acid (PLA); Predicted functional gene.

MeSH terms

Composting*
Food
Polyesters
Refuse Disposal*
Soil

Substances

poly(lactide)
Polyesters
Soil