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Vermicomposting Process

  • Chapter
Biosolids Treatment Processes

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 6))

Abstract

Vermicomposting is a novel municipal biosolids and solid waste treatment process that uses earthworms (Oligochaete annelids) for the biodegradation of the biosolids and/or solid waste. This system is alternately called earthworm conversion, vermicomposting, vermistabilization, worm composting, or annelidic consumption. The worms maintain aerobic conditions in the organic substances while accelerating and enhancing the biological decomposition of the organic substances. The main product of the vermicomposting (earthworm conversion) process is the worm’s castings. In some process arrangements, there may be a net earthworm production. The excess earthworms may then be sold as fish bait or animal protein supplement. Earthworm marketing is a complex problem; for municipal biosolids applications, surplus earthworms might be considered as a byproduct, while the principal product is the castings, which can be a resource.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE (Dean & Director, Assistant to the President and Vice President)

  2. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE (Dean & Director, Assistant to the President and Vice President)

  3. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, NY

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE (Dean & Director, Assistant to the President and Vice President)

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH

    Yung-Tse Hung PhD, PE, DEE (Professor)

  5. NEC Unified Solutions, Irving, TX

    Kathleen Hung Li BS, MS (Senior Technical Writer)

Authors
  1. Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE
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  2. Yung-Tse Hung PhD, PE, DEE
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  3. Kathleen Hung Li BS, MS
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zorex Corporation, Newtonville, NY

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE

  2. Lenox Institute of Water Technology, Lenox, MA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  3. Krofta Engineering Corporation, Lenox, MA

    Lawrence K. Wang PhD, PE, DEE  & Nazih K. Shammas PhD  & 

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH

    Yung-Tse Hung PhD, PE, DEE

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Wang, L.K., Hung, YT., Li, K.H. (2007). Vermicomposting Process. In: Wang, L.K., Shammas, N.K., Hung, YT. (eds) Biosolids Treatment Processes. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 6. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-996-7_22

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