Browsing by Author "Phiri, A"

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Bioremediation of Transport Industry Contaminants Using Vermicompost
(International Journal of Environmental Engineering Science and Technology Research, 2014-01-01) Manyuchi, M.M; Phiri, A
Transport industries pose environmental challenges due to leaks of engine oils both to soil and water. Engine oil is highly organic therefore there is need to bio-remediate the contaminated soil and wastewater in order to preserve the environment. Soil and wastewater contaminated with diesel engine oil were bio-remediated using vermicompost containing live Eisenia Fetida earthworms and cocoons over a 4 week period. The contaminated soil and water pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored during this period. Furthermore, the wastewater dissolved oxygen (DO) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were determined. The pH in the contaminated soil decreased from 7.2 to 6.2 whilst that in the contaminated wastewater increased from 5.8 to 7.2. The EC in both the diesel contaminated soil and wastewater showed a decrease of more than 19%. The DO in the wastewater showed a decrease upon addition of vermicompost and then later on increased. Lastly, the BOD in the wastewater, decreased by 16.9% upon addition of the vermicompost. Vermicompost can be used for the vermiremediation of soil and wastewater contaminated with engine oil in the transport industries.
Comparison of Vermicompost and Vermiwash Bio-fertilizers from Vermicomposting Waste Corn Pulp
(World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2013-07-07) Phiri, A; Muredzi, P; Manyuchi, M.M; Chitambwe, T
—Vermicomposting is the conversion of organic waste into bio-fertilizers through the action of earthworm. This technology is widely used for organic solid waste management. Waste corn pulp blended with cow dung manure was vermicomposted over 30 days using Eisenia fetida earthworms species. pH, temperature, moisture content, and electrical conductivity were daily monitored. The feedstock, vermicompost and vermiwash were analyzed for nutrient composition. The average temperature and moisture content in the vermi-reactor was 22.5◦C and 42.5% respectively. The vermicompost and vermiwash had an almost neutral pH whilst the electrical conductivity was 21% higher in the vermicompost. The nitrogen and potassium content was 57% and 79.6% richer in the vermicompost respectively compared to the vermiwash. However, the vermiwash was 84% richer in phosphorous as compared to vermicompost. Furthermore, the vermiwash was 89.1% and 97.6% richer in Ca and Mg respectively and was 97.8% richer in Na salts compared to the vermicompost. The vermiwash also indicated a significantly higher amount of micronutrients. Both bio-fertilizers were rich in nutrients specification for fertilizers.
Effect of Drying on Vermicompost Macronutrient Composition
(International Journal of Inventive Engineering and Sciences (IJIES), 2013-09-05) Manyuchi, M.M; Phiri, A; Muredzi, Perkins; Chirinda, N
Vermicomposting is widely being used for bio-conversion of organic wastes into bio-fertilizers. Vermicompost which was obtained from various food wastes was dried at 105◦C for 5 minutes in a moisture analyzer. The dried vermicompost macronutrient composition was analyzed and quantified over the raw vermicompost. The dried vermicompost total nitrogen content was 31.25% lower as compared to the raw vermicompost whereas , the phosphorous and potassium content were 63.75% and 72.86% higher in the dried vermicompost compared to the raw vermicompost respectively. Vermicompost can be dried for easier packaging, storage and transportation as the drying process in overall enhances nutritional value to the vermicompost