Qualitative modifications of humic acid-like and core-humic acid-like during high-rate composting of pig faeces amended with wheat straw

Humic acid-like (HA-like) and core-humic acid-like (core-HA-like) were characterized during the high-rate composting process by CP-MAS ¹³C NMR, pyrolysis-gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS), and elemental analysis. Results obtained indicated that humification proceeded through a relative concentration of aromatic fractions due to the faster degradation of the O-alkyl and alkyl fractions. Core-HA-like, after purification of the parent material, showed a large reduction of the O-alkyl fraction in terms of HA-like. We concluded that HA-like consisted of refractory organic molecules, such as lignin and biopolymers, which formed a stable structure (core-HA-like) coated with degradable material associated with the core by weak physical association, ether or ester bounds.