Abstract: An airtight chamber insulated with an anti-corrosive coating allows the control of the heat and moisture content of organic wastes for rapid aerobic decomposition by naturally occurring thermal bacteria. Air is drawn into the chamber, over and through the organic waste and carbonaceous filler materials and is exhausted through an air scrubber. Agitation of the waste mixture is by means of two or more anti-corrosive coated stirrers on a rotating shaft; the rotation rate being two revolutions or less per minute to accelerate the biological decomposition process and 35 or more revolutions per minute to fluff and dry the material after the completion of the biological process. During the drying process the air direction is reversed by means of a blower and a controlled heating element to speed drying. Utilization of the blower and heating element also helps to initiate the biological decomposition activity in cold temperatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to indicate air quality and locate sources of air pollution utilizing selected living indicator organisms. Air is drawn through a divided chamber or a series of chambers containing indicator organisms. A comparison is made of the growth and physiological health of the organisms in purified air, i. e., where the particulate matter and chemicals have been removed by a series of filters, and of those organisms in air from which only the particulate matter is removed.