• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 1996

The study on the ripening of leather waste sludge was performed to vemistabilize the sludge effectively using a laboratory scale darkened wood box reactor ($10{\times}10{\times}20cm$). The acceptable feed conditions for earthworm of Eh, alkalinity were obtained in the 30th and 35th days, respectively. The value of pH was gradually decreased from 7.8 to 7.1 through the ripening time. The contents of heavy metals of the ripened sludge were estimated as lower levels compared to the other regulatory standards for compost. After the ripening time for 50days, the physico-chemical properties of the sludge were estimated as pH 7.1, water content 72%, redox potential 85mV, electrolytic conductivity $2,620{\mu}mhos/cm$ and alkalinity 450 ppm as $CaCO_3$, respectively. In the ripened sludge, survival rate of the earthworms for 50 days was about 75%, and the live weight increase rate was about 230% at the temperature range of $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. Moreover, hatching rate of the earthworm cocoons was about 87% and the highest value was obtained in the 20~30th days. From the above results, it was evaluated that leather waste sludge could be vermistabilized effectively by earthworms, when the sludge was ripened during 50 days.