Process for treating decomposable organic waste materials

Claim 2

A process for the sustained treatment of decomposable wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially drying a first quantity of said wet material, spreading said first quantity of material to form an absorbent pad; mixing with said first quantity of partially dry material an additional quantity of sewage sludge to produce a mixture having an initial moisture content sufficient to initiate aerobic decomposition; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until decomposition substantially ceases and said mixture is partially dry; successively repeating said steps of adding wet material of the same or similar type and periodically turning the mixture until decomposition ceases; and from time to time removing from said partially dried mixture a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 3

A process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially drying a first quantity of said wet sewage sludge to a moisture content of about 30%, spreading said first quantity of material to form an absorbent pad; spreading an additional quantity of sewage sludge in wet condition upon said pad and mixing said quantities together, the amount of said additional quantity being sufficient to provide a mixture having a moisture content of about 40 to 60%; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until decomposition therein has substantially ceased and the moisture content has reduced to about 30%; successively repeating the aforesaid steps of adding wet sewage sludge to partially dried material and then periodically turning the mixture until decomposition thereof ceases; and from time to time removing from said partially dried mixture a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 4

A process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially drying a first quantity of said wet sewage sludge to a moisture content of about 30%, spreading said first quantity of material to form an absorbent pad; spreading an additional quantity of sewage sludge in wet condition upon said pad and mixing said quantities together, the amount of said additional quantity being sufficient to provide a mixture having a moisture content of about 40 to 60%; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until decomposition therein has substantially ceased and the moisture content has reduced to about 30%; successively repeating the aforesaid steps of adding wet sewage sludge to partially dried material and then periodically turning the mixture until decomposition thereof ceases; and from time to time removing from said partially dried mixture a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 5

A process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: spreading a first quantity of partially dry sludge and leveling it to provide an absorbent pad; mixing a quantity of wet sludge with said first quantity in proportions sufficient to provide an initial moisture content within the range which supports initiation of the composting process; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until aerobic decomposition has substantially ceased and the moisture content thereof has reduced; successively repeating said steps of mixing wet sludge with the previously dried mass of sludge and periodically turning the mixture until decomposition has substantially ceased; and from time to time removing from said partially dried mass a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 6

A process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: spreading a first quantity of partially dry sludge and leveling it to provide an absorbent pad; mixing a quantity of wet sludge with said first quantity in proportions sufficient to provide an initial moisture content within the range which supports initiation of the composting process; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until aerobic decomposition has substantially ceased and the moisture content thereof has reduced; successively repeating said steps of mixing wet sludge with the previously dried mass of sludge and periodically turning the mixture until decomposition has substantially ceased; and from time to time removing from said partially dried mass a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 7

A process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially drying a first quantity of wet sewage sludge to a moisture content of about 30%, spreading said first quantity of sludge to provide an absorbent pad; mixing with said first quantity of sludge an additional quantity of wet sludge in proportions sufficient to achieve a mixture having an initial moisture content of about 40 to 60%; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until aerobic decomposition has substantially ceased and the moisture content thereof has reduced to about 30%; successively repeating said steps of mixing wet sludge with the previously dried material and periodically turning the mixture until decomposition has substantially ceased; and from time to time removing from said partially dry mass a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 8

A process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially drying a first quantity of wet sewage sludge to a moisture content of about 30%, spreading said first quantity of sludge to provide an absorbent pad; mixing with said first quantity of sludge an additional quantity of wet sludge in proportions sufficient to achieve a mixture having an initial moisture content of about 40 to 60%; periodically turning said mixture in ambient uncontrolled atmospheric air to aerate the same by exposure to naturally occurring quantities of ambient air until aerobic decomposition has substantially ceased and the moisture content thereof has reduced to about 30%; successively repeating said steps of mixing wet sludge with the previously dried material and periodically turning the mixture until decomposition has substantially ceased; and from time to time removing from said partially dry mass a portion of partially dry humus-like substance.

Claim 9

A batch process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially concentrating a first quantity of wet sewage sludge to a moisture content of about 50%, spreading said first quantity to allow initiation of aerobic decomposition, periodically turning said sludge to aerate the same until decomposition therein substantially ceases and the moisture content has decreased to about 30%, leveling said first quantity of sludge to provide an absorbent pad; spreading an additional quantity of wet sludge upon said pad and mixing said quantities together, the amount of said additional sludge being sufficient to provide a batch mixture having an initial moisture content of about 40 to 60%; periodically turning said batch mixture to aerate the same until decomposition thereof substantially ceases throughout said batch mixture and the moisture content has decreased to about 30%, leveling said batch mixture to form an absorbent pad for another batch; successively repeating said steps of adding wet sludge, mixing, turning and leveling each time obtaining an increased mass of partially dry humus-like substance; and from time to time removing from said partially dry mass the portion of humus-like substance not used as the absorbent pad for the next batch.

Claim 10

A batch process for the sustained treatment of wet sewage sludge to produce a partially dry humus-like substance, the steps comprising: partially concentrating a first quantity of wet sewage sludge to a moisture content of about 50%, spreading said first quantity to allow initiation of aerobic decomposition, periodically turning said sludge to aerate the same until decomposition therein substantially ceases and the moisture content has decreased to about 30%, leveling said first quantity of sludge to provide an absorbent pad; spreading an additional quantity of wet sludge upon said pad and mixing said quantities together, the amount of said additional sludge being sufficient to provide a batch mixture having an initial moisture content of about 40 to 60%; periodically turning said batch mixture to aerate the same until decomposition thereof substantially ceases throughout said batch mixture and the moisture content has decreased to about 30%, leveling said batch mixture to form an absorbent pad for another batch; successively repeating said steps of adding wet sludge, mixing, turning and leveling each time obtaining an increased mass of partially dry humus-like substance; and from time to time removing from said partially dry mass the portion of humus-like substance not used as the absorbent pad for the next batch.