Composting of recovered rock wool from hydroponics for the production of soil amendment

Istenič, Darja (author), Prosenc, Franja (author), Zupanc, Neva (author), Turel, Matejka (author), Holobar, Andrej (author), Milačič, Radmila (author), Marković, Stefan (author), Mihelič, Rok (author)

Due to its fibrous structure and high water holding capacity, rock mineral wool (RMW) has boosted the development of hydroponics. Consequently, the amount of waste RMW has also increased tremendously, which has stimulated the research and development of RMW reuse options. In this study, composting and degradability of RMW from hydroponics (gRMW) were tested in combination with different ratios of biowaste compost, including physical and chemical properties of the starting and final materials, and potential ecological hazards of the final product. gRMW had high water holding capacity and low organic matter content, which was easily degradable. Limits of toxic elements according to EU regulation were not exceeded. Degraded gRMW mixtures with compost did not exhibit toxicity to plants or aquatic bacteria and showed intermediate or limited habitat function for earthworms, which preferred the sole gRMW not mixed with compost. Overall, degraded gRMW exhibited parameters of safe soil amendment.

• Language: English
• Keywords: recycling, circular economy, horticulture, bioassay, hexavalent chromium, respirometer
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences; FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering; BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 29280-29293
• Numbering: Vol. 31, iss. 20
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-156154
• UDC: 57
• ISSN on article: 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33041-2
• COBISS.SI-ID: 191675139
• Publication date in RUL: 10.05.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Environmental science and pollution research
• Shortened title: Environ. sci. pollut. res. int.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 1614-7499
• COBISS.SI-ID: 512607257

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: kamena volna, hidroponika, kompostiranje, krožno gospodarstvo, biološki preizkusi