Process for the biological degradation of organic-containing waste matter

Claim 1

A biological degradation process for the treatment of organic-containing waste matter for producing a waste matter sludge material, the process containing a step for contacting microorganisms with the organic-containing waste matter, which comprises adding to the organic-containing waste matter a microbial activity and microbial population-enhancing concentration of a mineral composite consisting essentially of a naturally occurring glacial deposit comprising from about 4-48 wt. percent Si, 2-35 wt. percent Ca, 1-20 wt. percent Al, 1-15 wt. percent Fe, 0.5-12 wt. percent Mg, 0.1-8 wt. percent Na, 0.01-5 wt. percent K, 0.001-2 wt. percent Ti, 0.0005-2 wt. percent Mn, 0.0005-2 wt. percent P, 0.0005-1 wt. percent Ba and 0.0005-0.5 wt percent Zn, the mineral composite being in a biologically active size of below about 70% mesh size at 100 mesh, said concentration being below about 1 part by weight mineral composite per 15 parts by weight of organic matter contained in the waste matter to be treated and above about 1 part by weight mineral composite per 400 parts by weight of organic matter.