Pollutant control and nutrient recovery of organic solid waste by earthworms: mechanism and agricultural benefits of vermicomposting

The safe disposal of organic solid waste (OSW) has become a widespread concern. Vermicomposting can convert OSW into high-quality organic fertilizer and is considered a promising technology for biological treatment. Due to the dual characteristics of pollution and resources of OSW, this paper focuses on controlling pollutants and recovering nutrients during the bioconversion of vermicomposting. This paper mainly reviews the phenomenal patterns and related mechanisms of OSW decomposition, pollutant detoxification, and nutrient recovery in the process of OSW conversion by vermicomposting, as well as the agricultural benefits of vermicompost. With the synergistic action of earthworms and microorganisms, pollutants in the substrate are broken down and transformed, nutrients are enriched, and the earthworm gut plays a vital role. In addition, vermicompost has shown excellent benefits in improving soil health and crop production. Finally, a brief discussion and outlook on the efficiency improvement of vermicomposting, pollutant control strategies, and the application of vermicompost were presented. Future research may focus on the development of additives, the application of mathematical models, and the design of vermireactors to improve the processing efficiency of vermicomposting and pollutant control. The promotion of vermicomposting should rely on improving vermicomposting technology, governmental publicity and policy support, as well as developing and unification standards. The study's results facilitate the optimization of vermicomposting technology while promoting the safe management of OSW and the sustainable development of organic agriculture.