Infrared spectroscopic evaluation of wheat straw compost prepared using lignocellulolytic fungi

FT-IR has been used to determine changes at molecular level during biological activities of composting and to assess compost stability. Two lignocellulolytic fungi, Aspergillus niger and A. oryzae were used for composting. The FT-IR scan of compost suggests that there were notable changes at 60 and 90 days of composting. The absorbance bands of treated and untreated wheat straw spectra showed a characteristic behavior during composting process. However, certain modifications like extending the composting time, analysis of ignited material and utilization of pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometric technique can certainly give an insight into different stages of composting process for organic and inorganic substances. The objective of present investigation was to undertake spectroscopic characterization of organic matter in compost.