Degradation of the seaweed wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by a composting process with the inoculation of Bacillus sp. HR6.

Disposal of the seaweed wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) by inoculating the halotolerant bacterium Bacillus sp. HR6 was examined in an experimental scale composting system. Strain HR6 was effective in initiating the composting process of wakame, and there was a rapid increase in temperature to over 54.9-55.7 degrees C after 18-20 h. The composting process of wakame could be carried out despite a high NaCl content, 28.2 mg/g, although lower salinity resulted in a shorter lag time and higher weight reduction. In a larger scale composting process with aeration, two peaks of temperature change were found which corresponded well to oxygen consumption and CO2 emission during the process. The pH increased to 8.83 and organic materials were reduced to 93.4% after 72 h. The initial N and C contents were 3.9 and 34.0%, respectively, both of which decreased during the composting process. The changes in the viable cell numbers suggested that strain HR6 predominated before 24 h and other microorganisms including HR6 were present in a mixed state during the later period of composting. The total content of alginate (TA), 32.2% in the initial stage, decreased to 29.2% after 72 h, while water soluble alginate (WSA) increased, indicating that the solubilization and decomposition of alginate had occurred during the composting process.