이 연구는 발생원내에서 다양한 미생물을 이용하여 음식물쓰레기를 액상소멸하는 감량방법에 관한 것이다. 실험에 사용된 반응기는 미생물이 담지된 목질재료의 woodchip과 스폰지가 함께 사용되었고, 일정한 주기로 음식물쓰레기가 섞이게 하는 교반장치로 구성되었다. 실험기간 100일 동안 음식물쓰레기의 무게변화는 누적된 총 음식물쓰레기량 대비하여 약 99%까지 감소하였다. 잔류된 약 1%는 음식물쓰레기내에 내재된 생물유래의 난분해성 물질(cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin 등)이 축적된 결과로 생각된다. 실험기간 동안 발생된 폐수의 성상 변화로 pH는 실험 초기 약 3.3에서 24시간 후에 약 5.8로 점차 증가한 반면, 염분, COD, BOD, SS, T-N 및 T-P의 농도는 점차적으로 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 음식물쓰레기의 소멸반응이 진행됨에 따라 7종의 다양한 미생물들을 동정하였으며, 소멸반응 초기의 미생물 개체수는 약 $3.3{ imes}10^4$ cell/mL이었고 15 일 후에는 약 $5.1{ imes}10^6$ cell/mL로 대체로 일정한 개체수를 유지하여 소멸반응이 안정화된 것으로 생각되었다. 이들 실험 결과는 음식물쓰레기의 감량화뿐만 아니라, 미생물에 의한 유기물 분해도 동시에 이루어지고 있는 것으로 판단된다.
This study investigated the reduction of food waste through the slurry phase decomposition in a source of food waste by microorganisms. The reactor used in the experiment was composed of both woodchip with wood material and sponges with polyurethane material as media of attached microorganisms, and food waste was mixed with a constant cycle consisted of a stirring device. During the experimental period of 100 days, the change in weight over the cumulative total amount of food waste added was reduced by 99%. Approximately, 1% of the residual food waste could be inherently recalcitrant materials (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, etc.) and thus was thought to be the result of the accumulation. The initial pH in wastewater generated from food waste was low with 3.3 and after 24 hours treatment this pH was increased to 5.8. The concentrations of COD, BOD, SS, salinity, TN and TP were gradually decreased. Food waste decay was proceeded by the seven species microorganisms identified and confirmed in this study, making a slurry phase and thus reducing residual food wastes. In the initial phase, the microbial population was approximately $3.3{ imes}10^4$ cell/mL, and after 15 days this population was a constant with $5.1{ imes}10^6$ cell/mL which means a certain stabilization for the reduction of food wastes. From these results, it can be considered that organic matter decomposition as well as the weight loss of food wastes by microorganisms is done at the same time.
