For the titration method, twenty grams of compost
were placed in one of the 150 ml beakers. Twenty
ml of NaOH (2M) was placed in another 150 ml
beaker. Both beakers were placed in the wide mouth
3.7-liter jar. The jar lid was screwed down tightly to
prevent any gas exchange. To take into account the
initial CO2 content of the 3.7-liter jar, two control jars
were also placed in the incubator. Each control contained
an empty beaker as well as 20 ml NaOH in second
beaker. The jars were placed in the incubator for
48 h at 30°C. This 30°C test temperature is lower than
the 37°C used in the test methods for examination of
composting and compost standard method (Thompson
2002) but has been used by other researchers (Mari
et al. 2003). The CO2 evolved during respiration is
bound by the alkaline absorbing agent according to
the following chemical reaction: