Sulfur-aided composting facilitates ammonia release mitigation, endocrine disrupting chemicals degradation and biosolids stabilization.

In order to investigate the potential effect of sulfur (S) aided composting on NH3 volatilization mitigation, bisphenol A (PBA) and estrogens (estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and 17a-ethinylestradiol) degradation and biosolids stabilization, five treatments of S (i.e., 0, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.0%, and 2.0%, dry weight basis) were applied to the mixtures of biosolids and wheat straw during the 50 days of composting stabilization process. Results implicated addition of S decreased alkalinity of compost system, mitigated NH3 volatilization, facilitated degradation of bisphenol A and estrogen in biosolids, and improved biosolids stabilization. Compared to control, the S-added treatments reduced nitrogen loss by 29.39%-97.22%, and degraded PBA and estrogens in biosolids by 25.42-72.63% and 21.11-68.14%, respectively, with S additions in range of 0.25-2.0%. In terms of economic efficiency and ecological risk, S addition at ≤0.50% is suggested for composting stabilization of biosolids.