HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gonzalez-Vila, F. J. Articles by Martin, F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Gonzalez-Vila, F. J. Articles by Martin, F. Agricola Articles by Gonzalez-Vila, F. J. Articles by Martin, F.

Identification of Free Organic Chemicals Found in Composted Municipal Refuse¹

ABSTRACT

Composted municipal refuse can be considered as a low-grade fertilizer, but its use on land is limited by the level of contamination from heavy metals and toxic chemicals. In order to evaluate the qualitative composition of the organic fraction of these materials, three Spanish refuse composts were analyzed.

The samples were sequentially extracted with ether and ethanol, which constitute the total lipids extract. The nonsaponifiable fraction is made up of n-alkanes, in the range of C₁₈ to C₃₂, as well as olefins. The saponifiable fraction contains n-fatty acids from C₁₄ to C₂₆ and some branched fatty acids. The method used for separation and identification of specific organic compounds in sediments was adapted for municipal composts and the resulting methylene chloride extract subjected to gradient chromatography on alumina. The fractions eluted from the column with pentane, and pentane-methanol contained aliphatic hydrocarbons; the benzene fraction was made up of phthalate esters, and the benzene-methanol and methanol fractions contained a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, n-fatty acid methyl esters, and some individual compounds. The presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons and fatty acids in municipal composts suggested a microbial origin, while phthalate esters may arise from the debris of plastic packaging.

Key Words: aliphatic hydrocarbons • fatty acids • fatty acid methyl esters • phthalate esters

¹ Contribution of the Centro de Edafologia y Biologia Aplicada del Cuarto, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Apartado 1052, Sevilla, Spain.

² Soil Biochemists.

Received for publication February 5, 1981.