Aerobic Composting Plant on the Shore

Published on by in Academic

Aerobic Composting Plant on the Shore

Due to some unforeseeable situations, we are being asked to set up an aerobic composting plant on the beach shore.

I was wondering if the system might turn toxic and might lead to the death of aerobic bacteria? 

It would be a great help if someone could comment on this. Thanks in advance.

I have provided an image of the aerobic composting plant (reinforced concrete structure) which would be constructed on the shore.

Media

Taxonomy

11 Answers

  1. Hi

    From the picture it seems as the it is in a tropical weather 

       the shore location is a less proble for composting, but may be subject to the beatch protection 

    keep all good composting practis and regulate the pile water content and temperature

    you are welcome to be in contact, and good luck

     

    Answered on by

  2. Mary.......we have a product that when sprayed in a mix with water over a compost pile will increase microbial activity and enhance rapid breakdown of the compost.

    It is 100% fully ORGANIC  and bio-degradable.....works in salt water and fresh water.

    Hope we can help.

    Hugh.

  3. Hello Mary; all of the comments below are quite correct. In any adventure into the microbial world has risks. Yours would be 1. what goes into the pile. 2. what sneaks into the pile. 3. What you intend to use the finished product for. All of this important information exists within the microbial world of DNA microbes. Everyone is always looking how to reduce the risks, speed up the process, and increase the quality of the finished material. Now let us enter the world of the RNA microbes. The domain, Kingdom, and species name is Archaea.  They are aerobic. Their average working temperature is 185 F. Their ph range is 5.5 to 10.0. Classified as extremeophoid.  This means they are heat tolerant (max temp is 427F), cold tolerant ( 28 F), and salt tolerant.  Knowing this allows the parameters/risk factors to change. It does not matter what is put into your compost pile. if it is a compound it will be broken down into its elemental form or chelated into its non toxic metal form. The Archaea microbe has an exponential growth rate of once every 20 minutes. (accelerates the process and insures zero pathogens and zero toxins). What was a precaution is now a super benefit. All modern day composting operations add sea salts to their piles to more accurately reflect the nutritional base line of all life forms on earth. Yes a lot of hard core scientific facts in a short arena. But when you understand DNA microbes are responsible for 30% of soil microbiology and RNA is responsible for 70% it warrants looking into.  Just remember "Now it is possible for all waste to be recycled at in-situ. (on the spot).  This is not new. Been around for 40 years.  Enjoy making the world a better place.

  4. You already warned about the salt water mist that might increase the salinity of the compost mixture.  Also, we careful about the material being composted.  Composting will work even on higher salinity wastes and the salt water mist.  However, when you use the compost for agricultural uses, the elevated salinity might kill the plants.  One compost facility was using crab wastes that worked fine and made a good compost.  However, when used it killed the plants.  So, salinity of the final product should be checked.  Below 500 ppm would be preferred.  Higher salinity needs to check the plants that you plan to use with.

  5. Mary, what is the material that you will be composting? Sludge? Cuttings and clippings? food wastes?  We have worked with different composters in the past and the cycle time for their process depends on the type of waste material, temperature and humidity (moisture), and turning or the use of additives (enzymes, bacteria or dried FOG residuals). Please clarify for a more accurate answer from the group of experts.

    1 Comment

  6. From your photo probably it will be a 60 days cycle ;  Near the sea salinity is probably your risk (The sea water in the little fog droplets).  If you take care not to use salty water you may succeed at no risk for toxicity because the cycle is too short.

    Your advantage is that naturally the temperature  is quite constant in comparison to locations inland.

  7. They are all right about composting is aerobic, take care to keep the salt water out and maybe use a sealed but aerated vessel. To ensure stable composting conditions take care about the water content of the substrates you use; too much of it will inhibit oxygen transfer.

  8. You can use in vessel aerobic composting system like Rotary drum composter. This is a aerobic fast composting process, it usually take 15 -20 days for making compost but you have to maintain optimal temperature 50-60oC during the process. 

    1 Comment

    1. The HH-2 system is an in vessel system (delivered flatpack) It produces optimum fertiliser/soil conditioner in 90 days. If you keep turning it in a rotary system you do not allow the right fungi and bacteria to develop and so you will not obtain the optimum fertiliser (HH-4) Speed is not everything. Optimum fertiliser is! 

  10. Hi. As Satyam says, the composting system is by definition an aerobic system. If handled properly in terms of the quality of the waste to be treated, as well as the maintenance of aerobic conditions, there is no reason for the death of aerobic bacteria or for the degradation and completion of the composting process not to be carried out properly.

  11. Composting is  generally aerobic phenomenon and with detention period of 60 days or above with properly ventilated system there is no chance on system becoming toxic....It has to be wet for proper biological activity .

    1 Comment

    1. The HH-2 system is specifically designed small scale as one operator can manage the effluent of 24 houses continually and then sell the (pathogen free) fertiliser locally. This saves transport in both directions to and from larger plants and employs more people. A good thing in this age of growing populations.