Abstract: Disclosed are a process and an apparatus for compositing organic waste in two consecutive retting steps, the first of which is anaerobic and the second aerobic. In each step, the material to be decomposed is aerated with fresh air under pressure and the resulting spent waste gases are aspirated as spent air. The spent air (AL.sub.2) obtained from the second step of the process-the post-decomposition or retting step is mixed with fresh air (FL) used in the decomposition or first step, as shown in the drawing. The invention is particularly intended for use in with the so-called "retting processes" wherein fibers are soaked or exposed to moisture to promote loosening of the fiber from woody tissues by bacterial action. Generically, the term implies a rotting or injuring by exposure to moisture. The retting process can also involve a chemical treatment and its main object is to make possible gathering and baling of black inner fibers; as defined in Webster's "Third New International Dictionary.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for microbiological degradation of wastes and for the separation and degradation of organic impurities from waste gases. For the degradation of organic wastes, the individual charges are divided into part charges and alternately are aerated discontinuously in separate rotting vessels until the desired degree of degradation has been reached. For the degradation of impurities in waste gases, the waste gas is alternately passed discontinuously into separate filter units which contain biologically active microorganisms. The waste gases are fed to the particular absorbent until the latter is saturated. Feeding of the waste gases to that unit is then interrupted until the microorganisms colonizing the absorbent of the first filter unit has degraded the pollutants. During the pauses, the waste gas is passed through at least one further absorbent, of the same structure but independent of the first, into a second filter unit, and vice versa.

Abstract: An arrangement for the essentially uniform level placement of bulk material in an upright circular cylindrical vessel. The arrangement includes a throwing device for throwing the bulk material into the vessel. A feeding device feeds the bulk material onto the throwing device. The throwing device is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, the rate of rotation of throwing means being controllable. The throwing device includes an essentially horizontally extending endless conveyor belt. The length of the conveyor belt is relatively short in relation to the diameter of the vessel. The conveying speed of the conveyor belt is controllable within a range from a minimum speed for throwing the bulk material into the center region of the vessel and a maximum speed for throwing the bulk material into the peripheral area of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for the draining of sludges utilizing a filter aid composed of a mixture of porous organic materials capable of absorbing large amounts of liquid to absorb the sludge particles and a ballast liquid containing particles larger than the sludge particles is disclosed. The filtering aid prevents the redissolving of the sludge particles normally observed in chemical flocculation and chemical contamination of the agent.

Abstract: A method for the continuous removal of gaseous or liquid impurities from waste gases from chemical industrial processing plants. The waste gases are passed upwardly through a closed vessel containing absorbent mass in the form of a biologically active material containing a quantity of Actinomycetes globisporus and acting as a substrate for microorganisms having an aerobic metabolism. A heap of absorbent mass is maintained in the vessel by removing absorbent mass from the bottom of the vessel and reintroducing the removed absorbent mass at the top of the vessel. Penicillium concentrate is added to the absorbent mass in order to reduce the content of halogenated impurities in the waste gases.

Abstract: In the preparation of organic wastes for introduction into a biological digestion reactor, initially the wastes are mixed with at least a carbon-containing material and the mixed materials are controllably supplied into a mixing press. In the mixing press, the materials are gradually mixed and compressed as they pass from the press inlet to its outlet. At the outlet, the materials, from which most of the water has been removed, are formed into elongated pieces of 10 to 20 mm in diameter with a maximum length of approximately 150 mm. Next, the pieces are charged into the digestion reactor. The surfaces of the pieces extending in the elongated direction are smooth while their transverse end surfaces are broken, permitting air to pass through the pieces in their elongated direction as they move downwardly through the reactor.

Abstract: In a stationary upright cylindrically shaped container, organic waste materials are passed downwardly from an upper inlet opening to a lower outlet opening. At the same time air is passed in counterflow upwardly through the downwardly flowing body of waste materials being converted into compost. The air supply means at the lower end of the container are divided into sector-shaped parts, and the compost is conveyed to the outlet opening from each of the sectors of the body so that the moisture content of the material leaving each sector can be checked. Air is introduced, in turn, into the lower end of each sector within the container. The amount of air introduced into each sector is regulated in accordance with the moisture content of the material discharged from that sector.

Abstract: A method for removing gaseous organic impurities from waste gases comprising contacting the waste gas with an absorbent composed of a biologically active compost having a medium degree of maturity obtained by the aerobic digestion of settled sludge or organic waste which has been treated with Actinomyces globisborus or Coprinus fungi. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.