Vermicomposting and Other Zoocomposting Systems for Solid Waste Valorization

Dr. Pratiksha Patnaik received her BSc and MSc degrees in ecology and environmental sciences, topping in both programmes and receiving gold medals. She later obtained her PhD in 2018 for her path-breaking researches on zoocomposting with a focus on valorizing phytowaste and food waste. Besides several research papers in prestigious journals, Dr Pratiksha’s work has resulted in a book, Prosopis juliflora: Attributes, Impact, Utilization, published by Elsevier, and four patents.Dr. Tabassum-Abbasi has received her BTech, MTech, and PhD degrees in instrumentation and control engineering, environmental engineering, and environmental technology, respectively – all from Pondicherry University. She too has been a class topper throughout, receiving gold medals. She has been working as an Assistant Professor at the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, since January 2019, earning promotion to senior grade in 2022, and Selection Grade in 2025. She has also spent an year (2023-2024) in post-doctoral research at the University of Edinburgh as a British Council Women in Science Fellow. Besides 87 research papers on bioprocess engineering and sustainability in highly cited journals and books, she has received three patents, and has registered another two. She has authored a book and has another two in press.Prof S. A. Abbasi is presently Distinguished Professor at the School of Advanced Engineering, UPES, Dehradun. He has been a full university Professor and Director (1987-2015) and Emeritus Professor (2015-2024) at the Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University. Prior to that, he was the founder and head of the Water Quality & Environment Division at the Centre for Water Resources, Kozhikode (1979-1987), and a Visiting-cum-adjunct Professor at California State University (1984-1987). He has also been a Visiting Professor at the universities of Minnesota, Florida, Nevada, California−Berkeley, Malaya, and Al-Ahsa.With 50 books, close to 400 papers in indexed journals, 12 patents, over 25,000 citations, and a Hirsch Index currently at 84, Prof Abbasi is among the world’s foremost experts in the fields of bioprocess engineering, process safety, and environmental engineering. In the Stanford University and ScholarGPS assessments, he is ranked among the world’s top 0.5% scientists, and the latest AD Scientific rankings puts him among India’s top two in environmental science and engineering (https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/pondicherry-university-professor-felicitated/article33349572.ece).Among numerous coveted honours and awards received by Prof Abbasi are the National Design Award in Environmental Engineering, the IPCL Award for Safety and Hazard Management in Petroleum Industries, the National Hydrology Award, the International Desalination Association’s prize, The Trever Kletz Award, and Fellowships of the National Academy of Sciences and the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers. Prof Abbasi is also well-known for his poetry (ghazal and geet), fiction, and his work on fostering inter-faith harmony. Details of his oeuvre can be found at https://vidwan.inflibnet.ac.in/profile/61966.

• PrefaceForewordThe AuthorsPart IComposting: A General IntroductionChapter 1Composting as It Occurs in Nature in Comparison to Human-Controlled CompostingChapter 2Distinguishing Features of Human-Controlled CompostingPart IIEarthworm-Based Zoocomposting: VermicompostingChapter 3Distinguishing Features of Earthworm-Based Zoocomposting (Vermicomposting)Chapter 4Earthworms and a Brief History of Appreciating ThemChapter 5Design and Operation of Conventional VermireactorsChapter 6The Shortcomings of the Conventional Vermicomposting Technology, which Necessitated Development of the High-Rate Vermicomposting Paradigm and the Associated TechnologyChapter 7The Paradigm of High-Rate Vermicomposting and Its ValidationChapter 8Vermireactors Designed on the Basis of the High-Rate Vermicomposting ParadigmChapter 9Design and Performance Evaluation of Machines for Separating Earthworm-Vermicast-Substrate MixturesChapter 10Effect of Vermicomposts Derived from Phytomass and Waste Paper on Different Species of Commonly Used PlantsChapter 11Transformations Caused by Vermicomposting Which Convert Even Toxic and Allelopathic Weeds into Benign Organic FertilizersChapter 12Long-Term Impact on the Growth and Fecundity of Successive Generations of Earthworms Fed Exclusively on One or the Other Species of WeedsChapter 13First-of-Its Kind Success in Rapidly Vermicomposting a Xerophyte and Utilizing the Product as an Organic FertilizerChapter 14Vermicomposting as an Ideal Foil to Upgrade Macrophyte/Algae-Based Sewage Treatment Systems into Close-Loop BiorefineriesPart IIIUse of Black Soldier Flies in ZoocompostingChapter 15The Unique Role of Black Soldier Flies in the Zoocomposting of Food WasteChapter 16A Novel, Versatile, Effective, Yet Inexpensive System for Carrying out BSF-Mediated Zoocomposting of Difficult-to-Treat Food and Abattoir Waste: ZOCOFAPart IVZoocomposting with Termites: TermigradationChapter 17Termites and Their Unique Ability to Biodegrade Ligninous Waste and Fix NitrogenChapter 18Opening a New Frontier in Bioprocess Technology: Direct Use of Termites in Biodegrading Highly Ligninous Waste