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: 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: Motive power device for a delivery device located at the base of an upright silo in the shape of a worm screw rotatable about its longitudinal axis, which is swivelable around a central bearing across a circular annularly shaped bottom surface of the silo with the help of a step motor, which consists of two identically designed shoe brakes self-locking counter to the drive direction and engaging at an abutment assigned to the silo wall, of which the one is linked rigidly and the other one displaceably through a controllable power cylinder in the area of a support bearing of the worm and cooperates with the abutment located at the silo wall.

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: A solid fuel furnace includes a combustion chamber and an elongated grate trough extending below the combustion chamber for charging the solid fuel into the chamber. A tube extends within the grate trough so that the axis of the tube is parallel to that of the trough, the tube being supported at the ends of the chamber for rotation about the tube axis. Blade members are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tube to convey the solid fuels introduced into the furnace in the axial direction of the tube as the tube is rotated. The blade members have radially extending openings which communicate with the interior of the tube, and combustion air is supplied to the tube interior at one end of the tube so that the combustion air is introduced into the combustion chamber through the blade members as the tube rotates. Accordingly, both solid fuel and combustion air are charged into the combustion chamber at a desired rate by the rotating tube and blade members.

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: Organic waste and/or sewage sludge is digested by passing it downwardly through a closed vessel while air is passed upwardly through it. The air is finely divided or distributed into the vessel so that it flows through the entire cross sectional area of the material being digested. The flow of air through the vessel is regulated by measuring the content of CO.sub.2 or O.sub.2 in the exhaust air from the vessel and comparing the measured value with a desired value. Similarly, the moisture content of the material being digested is measured in at least two spaced locations and the moisture content is compared with a desired value for determining the amount of water to be supplied into the air flowing into the vessel. In addition, the air supplied to the vessel is heated based on the temperature conditions to be maintained within the vessel. After exhaust air leaves the vessel, its heat and water contents are withdrawn and it is filtered to remove objectionable odors and other noxious matters.