2023: Volume 3, Issue 3
Current Issue
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PDFImpact of the Addition of Sugar Beet Lime Sludge on the Composting of Argan Oil By-Products
Meriem Mobaligh1, Omar Saadani Hassani1, Youssef Ait Rahou2, and Khalid Fares1*
1Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
2Laboratory of Agro-Foods, Biotechnologies and Valorisation of Bioressources Vegetales, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco
*Corresponding author: Khalid FARES, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box: 2390, 40001 Marrakech, Morocco; Email: [email protected]
Received Date: October 20, 2023
Publication Date: October 27, 2023
Citation: Mobaligh M, et al. (2023). Impact of the Addition of Sugar Beet Lime Sludge on the Composting of Argan Oil By-Products. Catalysis Research. 3(3):17.
Copyright: Mobaligh M, et al. © (2023).
ABSTRACT
The argan tree is a multi-purpose tree. Every part of the tree is a source of income or food for the user. The extraction of argan oil from the fruit results in three by-products: the shell, the pulp and the cake. The pulp and meal are mainly used as fodder or as a source of heat, while the shell is the most competitive renewable energy source for the production of heat and electricity. In this study, and for the first time in this field, we set out to test the recovery of these by-products, in particular pulp and cake, through composting while using sugar lime sludge.
The physicochemical monitoring during the composting process revealed that the temperature of the three windrows followed a typical evolution, including a long thermophile phase that was maintained for more than two months at the level of the three windrows. The humidity was maintained at the ideal composting level (40 %) through regular watering, to ensure good microbial activity. The degradation of organic matter is better in the presence of a beet sugar lime sludge 30 % (33.94 %) compared to (16.15 %) and (5.95 %) for windrows based on 15 % beet sugar lime sludge and the control, respectively. The pH of windrows based on this agri food waste was corrected from the start of composting compared to the control windrow due to the alkaline character of the beet sugar lime sludge. In terms of final quality, the composts produced from the beet sugar lime sludge comply with the NFU 44-051 standard. A germination index higher than 50% showed the absence of any phytoxicity. As well as for the humification parameters suggest that these two composts are mature and well humified compared to the control compost.
Our results provide a sustainable solution for the recovery of argan by-products and carbonation lime from the sugar industry, thus promoting environmental protection and the circular economy.
Keywords: beet sugar lime sludge; composting; physicochemical parameters; organic matter; phytotoxicity; humification parameters