METHODE POUR TRANSFORMER DES DECHETS EN COMPOST

PROCESS FOR CONVERTING WASTE MATERIAL INTO COMPOST

Abrégé anglais

A B S T R A C T
This invention consists of an aerobic windrow
fermentation process for converting treated sewage sludge
into compost. It is made up primarily of three main ingre-
dients i.e. a catalyst, a bio-starter, and the sludge from
municipal sewage treatment plants. The catalyst consists of
a mixture bird droppings which are high in protein with
citrus waste; the bio-starter consists of a fermented mix-
ture of the catalyst with sawdust; and the final compost is
made up of a fermented mixture of the bio-starter and the
treated sewage sludge which, when fermentation is completed,
is shredded to make it suitable for storage packaging, and
use.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-
sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-
1. An aerobic windrow fermentation process for converting
waste material into compost by combining treated urban sewage
sludge with a catalyst, a bio-starter, and sawdust to provide
an adjusted C/N ratio and air permeability to the mixture, in
the proportion of one part of bio-starter to four parts of
sludge; piling the mixture into a conical pile having a maximum
weight of ten ton, or into a pile of any length, having a trian-
gular cross-section, the base of said cross-section being a
maximum of twelve feet in length and having a maximum height of
nine feet, where the total weight of the pile is greater than
ten ton; said triangular cross-section piles being located on
the ground in parallel rows, spaced a minimum of two feet apart;
and said mixture being subjected to temperature, moisture, and
time controlled fermentation.
2. The process in claim 1 wherein the catalyst is com-
posed of equal parts of chicken or other bird droppings which
are rich in protein, and citrus waste which is a good source of
cellulose; both of these ingredients being blended together by
piling and repeated shovelling.
3. The process in claim 1 wherein the bio-starter con-
sists of a mixture of the catalyst and sawdust in the propor-
tion of one part of catalyst and ten parts of sawdust; moisten-
ing the said mixture with water to the extent where a hand
squeezed pad of the mixture still has a tendency to crumble;
the mixture is then piled intoconical piles, not to exceed ten
tons in weight, not to exceed twelve feet in diameter of the
base, nor nine feet in the height of the cone; and subjected
to controlled fermentation for a period of one month.
4. The process in claim 1 wherein the catalyst consists
of equal parts of syrup from distilleries, and ground up

sunflower seed hulls.
5. The process in claim 1 wherein the catalyst consists
of wine pumus with spoiled sunflowers, or bran, or spoiled
ground up grain, in equal parts.
6. The process in claim 1 wherein the catalyst consists
of cotton gin byproducts and citrus waste, in equal parts.
7. The process in claim 1 wherein the catalyst consists
of equal parts of horse manure and ground sunflower seed hulls,
or with ground peanut hulls, or with ground corn cobs, or with
grain dust.

Description

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S P E C I F I C A T I O N
Tis invention consists generally of a process for
the conversion of waste material into a compost for restoring
or enriching soil, and particularly with such a process which
is referred to as Aerobic Windrow Composting.
Hitherto, for many years, it has been the practice
to spread raw or inadequately treated waste such as garbage,
food preparation waste, and human and animal waste on land
used for growing various crops. This material is usually ac-
companie~ by highly D~jectionable odors, ana in recent years
scientists have began to suspect that this practice may be the
cause of transmitting d sease, particularly so in the case
involving the use of human waste.
The conversion of waste material into a compost
substantially overcomes the above objectionable conditions
while at the same time, through metamorphosis, increases the
nutrient value of the waste, and converts it into an easily
handled and saleable con-modity.
Generally, the above-mentioned conversion is a fer-
mentation process which can be carried out under aerobic or
anaerobic conditions. During the process of anaerobic compos-
ting, a number of intermediate malodorous products are formed
this would, of course, interfere with the desireability and
saleability of the product, so that the aerobic process is
preferred. There is also a choice of two ways of accomplish-
ing the aerobic system, i. e. the windrow system, or a me-
chanical system which involves a very high cost of equipment
and manufacture. This invention therefore consists of an
aerobic windrow composting process which is the best selection
based on economic and other practical reasons as described above.
In describing the process reference will be made to
the attached drawings in which,-
,' 1. ~

~077~
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a typical windrowof the compost in the process of fermentation, and
Figure 2 shows a ~ariation in the diagram shown in
Figure 1.
The ingredients which constitute the chief cvmpon-
ents of the process are partially dewatered sludge which re-
sults from urban sewage treatment and which contains about 30%
solids; sawdust which is a product of manufacture and which is
essential to the production of compost being a convenient
source of carbon to adjust the C/N ratio and to provide perme-
ability to thè mixture ~or the entry and passage of air there-
through; and air, the oxygen of which is necessary to support
the various bacterial reactions.
The manufacture of the final compost consists of the
blending of three major components and the ultimate reaction
betwe~n them. These components are a catalyst, a bio-starter,
and the above mentioned sludge.
The catalyst consists-of one part to one part of
chicken or other bird droppings which normally contain a high
percentage of protein; and citrus waste which is a good source
of cellulose. These two ingredients are blended together by
repeated shovelling and piling into a conical pile. This blen-
ding process is repeated about five times.
To make the bio-starter, the above mentioned catalyst
is mixed with sawdust in the proportion of one part of catalyst
to ten parts oY sawdust. The mixture is -then moistened to the
extent that when a handful of the mixture is squeezed, the
resulting patty crumbles rather than remaining in tact. If
necessary, additional water and or catalyst can be added to
meet the abo~e requirements. The mixture is then piled into a
conical shaped pile whicg is ready for fermen-tation. A properly
prepared bio-starter should begin fermen-ta-tion within 48 hours
during summer temperatures, and within 96 hours during winter
2.
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1077'~9
conditions~
Any excessive delay in the ~tart of the f~rmentation
as indicated above may be due to either an exces~ or shortage o~
moisture in the pile, this can be corrected by breakln~ up and
rebu~lding the pile. The fermentation is complete in one month.
The conlcal piles referred to above mu~t not exceed
a di~neter o~ 12 feet at the base nor be higher than 9 feet at
the peak.
Various standard tests are applied at predeter,nined
intervals ~or temperature rise and fall, and mould growth ~hich
i~ usually accompanied by an ammonia-like odor~
A preferred way of blending the blo-starte~ with the
~a~te sludge i8 to use a quantity o~ ten ton, whl¢h ls 0quivalent
to ten ¢ubic yards of sludge. The proportion used is one part of
bio-starter to ~our parts of sludge~ and the tests and control
are the same as applied to the blending of the catalyst with
the sawdust in the makin~ o~ the bio~starter. In addition, the
temperature is check0d every three days. When the temperature
drops, the pile is turned. After the second turning a fungus
growth appears all over the p~le and continues to do so until
the acidity of the pile has dropped to a PH of a~proximately 7.05.
The fungu~ gro~rth appear~ in the form of mushroomq which gro~
during the night and fade in the daylight. A new crop o~ mush-
rooms appears every night, and as soon as this gro~th decreases
markedly the compost is shredded in a suitable shredding machine
for the purpose of activating and generating more heat whereby
the growth of the fungus is terminated~ and the process is com-
pleted. The entire process usually lasts a period of about t~elve
weeks. For the purpose of storing and shipping, the product is
ar~a~ and packed in plastic bags.
The conical structure of the pile as described above
and sho~n in Figure l of the drawings is used for processing
quantitles up to lO ton. For larger quantities, it is necessary
to pile the various materials in long piles having a triangular
3.

10'7 7'~9
cross-se¢tion as shown in Figure 2 o~ the dra~ings, also having a
12 ~oot~max~mum ba~e dlmsnsion ~nd a maximum 9 ~oot height.
There is no l~mit to the length Or the plle, ~ince the length
does not affect the fermentation proce~s. me walls o~ the pile
must have an even and smooth ~ur~ace, and any o~ the material
scattered on the gr~und n0ar the base has ~o be remo~ed~
Where more than one row of piles are used, they are
located side by side for the conservation of spa¢e and more con-
venient handling, and to prevent bacteria from one pile from
penetrating an adjacent pile, the said piles are spaced a mini-
mum o~ two ~eet apart.
The fore~oing des¢ription covers the process using
ingredient~ whi¢h are easily available in large quantities in
the area in which the inventor's plant i9 located. However~
there are many materials available in other locations which
can be substituted ~or the ones mentioned abo~e. For instance,
in the making of the catalyst, man~ substitute ingredients can
be used as ~ollows:-
~ a) Syrup ~r~m distilleries and ground sunflower seed
hulls.
(b) Wine pumus with any one of the ~ollowing,- spoiled
sunflower~, spoiled bran, or ground grain in any condition.
(¢) Cotton gin residue and citru~ waste.
(d) Horse manure with one o~ the following,- ground
sunflower seed hulls, ground corn cobs, or grain dust.
Various tests and analyses o~ the ~inished product
done by reliable qcientific organizations show the produ¢t to
contain anly minute traceæ o~ some harmless inor~an~c materials
and no desease carying bacteria o~ any kind~ which can possibly
be transmitted to grains,~ruits,or vegetables grown in this
compost.