HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sikora, L. J. Articles by Troeschel, T. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sikora, L. J. Articles by Troeschel, T. A. Agricola Articles by Sikora, L. J. Articles by Troeschel, T. A.

Laboratory Composter for Simulation Studies¹

ABSTRACT

A self-heating laboratory composter comprised of a covered, double-walled, insulated tank containing water, an air-tight cylinder submerged in the tank, an inner screen mesh cylinder that held the organic material, a heater-circulator, and a differential temperature control system was built and tested for use in studies simulating the biochemical changes that occur during composting. A mixture of raw, limed sewage sludge and woodchips was composted, and the weight-loss data obtained were similar to that from the pilot plant composting facility at Beltsville, Md. The mixture lost 33% of its wet weight, and 9% of its dry weight during 28–50 d of composting. Six to ten percent of the total N was lost. There were two major temperature peaks, which correlated with CO₂ increases. Peak NH₃ evolution occurred when CO₂ evolution decreased. All preliminary data indicate that the laboratory composter provides a comparable simulation of a large composting facility.

Key Words: self-heating • sewage sludge • weight loss • nitrogen loss

¹ Contribution from Biological Waste Management & Organic Res. Lab., Agric. Environ. Quality Institute, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705.

² Microbiologist, USDA-ARS, and Agronomists, Maryland Environ. Service, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Received for publication February 18, 1982.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. A. Vadas, J. J. Meisinger, L. J. Sikora, J. P. McMurtry, and A. E. Sefton Effect of Poultry Diet on Phosphorus in Runoff from Soils Amended with Poultry Manure and Compost J. Environ. Qual., September 1, 2004; 33(5): 1845 - 1854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.A. Butler, L.J. Sikora, P.M. Steinhilber, and L.W. Douglass Compost Age and Sample Storage Effects on Maturity Indicators of Biosolids Compost J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2001; 30(6): 2141 - 2148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. H. Dao, L. J. Sikora, A. Hamasaki, and R. L. Chaney Manure Phosphorus Extractability as Affected by Aluminum- and Iron By-Products and Aerobic Composting J. Environ. Qual., September 1, 2001; 30(5): 1693 - 1698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]