Integration of Composting and Vermicomposting Bioprocesses Enables the Treatment of Tobacco Waste and Improves the Quality of Final Inputs

Integration of Composting and Vermicomposting Bioprocesses Enables the Treatment of Tobacco Waste and Improves the Quality of Final Inputs | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Integration of Composting and Vermicomposting Bioprocesses Enables the Treatment of Tobacco Waste and Improves the Quality of Final Inputs Thiago Edwiges, Natielly Pereira Ochoa, David Negrisoli, Carlos Vitor Ribeiro Pereira, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9021457/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The environmentally safe management of nicotine-rich tobacco waste remains a major challenge, as incineration generates greenhouse gases and toxic emissions, while alternative valorization routes are often costly or technically constrained. Although composting and vermicomposting can mitigate toxicity and stabilize organic matter, evidence of their integrated application to tobacco waste remains limited. This study compared composting alone with an integrated strategy combining short pre-composting followed by vermicomposting to convert seized tobacco waste into agronomically valuable inputs. Three composting piles (200 kg each) were prepared with increasing tobacco waste content (0–50% w/w). Key physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, volatile solids, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio) and degradation kinetics were monitored. Composting achieved adequate thermophilic exposure (> 55°C during days 14–22) and high organic matter stabilization, with maximum degradation > 64%. The integrated process markedly reduced phytotoxicity and increased the germination index (GI%) to 221% at a 1:99 (waste:water) dilution for the highest tobacco-content treatment. Principal component analysis indicated that vermicomposting shifted end-products toward more phytostimulant profiles than composting alone. Overall, integrating composting with vermicomposting provides a technically feasible, low-cost alternative to incineration, enabling the valorization of tobacco waste within a circular economy framework. bioprocess integration waste valorization germination index circular economy Full Text Supplementary Files Highlight.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 28 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 04 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 03 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9021457","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":613879401,"identity":"1897a755-df74-4d6b-82e1-9ff07276db39","order_by":0,"name":"Thiago 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Although composting and vermicomposting can mitigate toxicity and stabilize organic matter, evidence of their integrated application to tobacco waste remains limited. This study compared composting alone with an integrated strategy combining short pre-composting followed by vermicomposting to convert seized tobacco waste into agronomically valuable inputs. Three composting piles (200 kg each) were prepared with increasing tobacco waste content (0\u0026ndash;50% w/w). Key physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, volatile solids, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio) and degradation kinetics were monitored. Composting achieved adequate thermophilic exposure (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;55\u0026deg;C during days 14\u0026ndash;22) and high organic matter stabilization, with maximum degradation\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;64%. 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