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The company has developed a new method of biodegrading organic waste
materials, and of decontaminating polluted land. The success of the system is
largely attributable to the unique combination of organic sources, and the novel
thermophilic organisms it activates. At first sight, the system resembles composting,
but there are significant distinctions.
Composting of Organic Material
Composting is an attempt to return organic material to the ground, simultaneously
ridding ourselves of waste and avoiding the excessive use of chemical or mineral
fertilisers, with the problems this can bring. It is a complex interaction between the
organic waste, microorganisms, moisture and oxygen.
Waste normally has an indigenous population of microorganisms. When the
moisture content and the oxygen concentration are brought to a suitable level,
microbial action increases. In addition to oxygen and moisture, the microorganisms
require for their growth and reproduction a source of carbon, micronutrients such
as nitrogen, phosphate and potassium and certain trace elements. The waste
material usually provides these additional requirements.
In using organic waste as a food source, the microorganisms reproduce themselves
and release carbon dioxide, water, other organic products and energy. Some of the
energy released by the biological oxidation of carbon is used in metabolism; the
rest is given off as heat.
The final product, compost, comprises the more resistant residues of the organic
matter, breakdown products, the biomass of dead microorganisms and some living
ones, together with products from further chemical reaction between these
materials.
Problems with Composting
Unfortunately, conventional composting is not without its own disadvantages; the
more immediate ones can be summarised as:
• The length of time it takes to compost: for some materials, periods of over a
year are common
• The size of the composting area: the stacks themselves can be only limited
height and width in order for the process to continue. This problem is affected
by the length of time taken by the process, since a slower turnover of material
requires a greater total site area to cope with large volumes.
• The low kill rate: because the stacks operate at comparatively low temperatures,
a less successful pasteurisation in achieved. Some of the more recalcitrant
organisms are also the most harmful, such as E. coli and Salmonella.
• This can affect the quality and usefulness of the end product.
• Leaching into the water tables via the ground can effectively mean that the
process creates a fresh pollution problem.
• In order to aerate the stacks, it is necessary to turn them on a regular basis, or
invest in complex and expensive equipment.
• Conventional composting causes problems of odours, and, because the action of
the heat created moves from the centre towards the outside, not only odours
but pathogens can be expelled into the air. The same difficulty can occur in the
use of the end product, since the release of dusty spore-laden air – and also the
turning of the stacks during the process – can cause allergic lung disease.
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• Composting is unable to deal with the more difficult and undesirable waste
products at all.
• Some composting operations need to be carried out under cover, requiring the
expense of buildings, which also increases the public health dangers to the work
force.
• Very high ambient temperatures can adversely affect its operation, since some of
the microorganisms are mesophilic, and will not thrive.
The Solution
Happily, we can claim that the use of our system prevents these problems arising.
This is largely attributable to the unique action of our system. Instead of the heat
moving from the centre to the outside, it works in reverse; that is, it heats up at the
outside and travels towards the centre. In doing so, it is self-aerating. The reason for
this is the unique combination of novel thermophilic organisms. The effect of this is:
• The heat moves towards the centre, killing pathogens as it goes, and driving any
remaining towards the centre, where they are trapped and finally destroyed.
• The system operates at a temperature far in excess of conventional methods,
ensuring better pasteurisation of more recalcitrant matter, but also ensuring
that the process is completed in a far shorter period usually in the region of 21
days.
• The system can be operated in the open air, on as large a scale as wished,
avoiding excessive expenditure, and the incidental public health risks.
• The system can be operated in virtually any ambient conditions, since the
organisms have great thermostability.
• The system is self-aerating, and thus requires no turning.
• Because of the direction of the heat, there are virtually no odours, and
pathogens are not expelled into the atmosphere.
• There is no leaching from the stacks into the ground.
• Because of the better pasteurisation rate, the end product is not only of better
quality, but is available for use in a far quicker time.
• The system can deal with even the most recalcitrant materials.
The Benefits of Compost
Not so many years ago, the prevailing attitude was that copious amounts of the
primary nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, were all that was needed
to maintain soil fertility. Some believed that creating more concentrated fertilisers
and more powerful pesticides would lead to a continuing increase of agricultural
production on even marginal soils. This attitude was not confined to commercial
agriculture; chemical methods have spread to the home gardener and landscaper
alike.
After half a century, we are learning better. Decreasing productivity of once fertile
land, excessive erosion, contamination of our water tables and waterways, and even
the threat to our personal health have shown us that our dependence on
agrochemicals has become excessive. The growing sustainable agricultural
movement swerves as a beacon leading us from the one-way street of inorganic
fertilisers back to the cycle of life that is nature’s own. This life cycle depends on
the continued replenishment of soils that are depleted each time a crop is
harvested. Perhaps the most important and depleted portion of our soil is
humus – partially decomposed organic matter.
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Geological humus is produced as the plant material that grows on the soil dies
and decomposes. Each season, a new crop replaces the old from the previous year,
providing a fresh supply of plant material that will eventually die and become
humus. The humus existing at any one time continues to decompose and
eventually becomes totally mineralised. The cycle is broken when we harvest the
crop and leave no fresh organic matter to replenish the humus. Once this has
happened, and the humus becomes depleted, there are two ways of rebuilding
the fertility of the soil; it can be left idle for several years to allow it to rebuild
naturally, or humus can be applied from an external source. Thus began the art
of composting.
The benefits of such a natural fertiliser are:
• It is 100% organic, containing primary nutrients as well as trace elements,
humus and humic acid, in a proportion that almost exactly matches plant
requirements, and in a slow release form that does not burn plants.
• Compost increases the moisture-holding capacity of soils. One estimate
indicates that a 5% increase in organic matter (compost) quadruples the soil’s
ability to hold and store water. Compost will retain ten times its weight in
water, yet excess water drains off easily.
• Compost helps clay soils become more friable, and allows air to reach plant
roots better, improving growth.
• It contains Nematode-destroying fungus.
• It helps unlock minerals.
• It increases the air space, drainage and aeration, and resists compaction.
• It is a buffer against chemicals and absorption of heavy metals.
• Maintains the soil base exchange capacity, and releases nutrients over a long
period of time.
• It encourages plants to develop large healthy root zones that help them to
tolerate drought conditions.
• It is a better product than pine bark and peat moss, because it is alive, contains
mineral nutrients (including trace minerals) and is loaded with beneficial
microorganisms.
• It increases the available nitrogen, far in excess of its own contents. It contains
about 1-4% nitrogen, but stimulates the growth of microorganisms (using it as
a food source) and they absorb nitrogen from the air to grow. When they die,
the nitrogen is released to the soil. Thus, it can give plants an effective
nitrogen content of 12-18% in the best form for them to use.
Soil Amendments
The art of composting has been refined, by the process we use. Products from this
system are fully sterilized by microbial thermogenesis, destroying parasites,
pathogens, weeds and seeds. The products are made from many different organic
ingredients, and formulated to substantially improve soil fertility and the
development of vigorous and healthy crops and plants. Our products are high in
NPK and trace elements, a very small percentage being water-soluble, in a slow
release form. This system allows plants to take up only the nutrients and trace
elements they require, thus reducing fertiliser costs.
Our products are tailored to provide the pH requirements of the plants you intend
to grow. Our composts will reduce the need for frequent watering, and improve
drought resistance in sandy soils, and create spaces that improve aeration and
drainage in heavy soils.
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The nutrients in our compost are available to plants, yet stable. The variety of
feedstocks used in our natural process ensures that our composts are evenly
balanced and nutritionally complete. It contains the trace elements, colloids and
minerals your plants need for vigorous growth, bountiful fruit and vivid colour.
THERE IS NO OTHER SINGLE SOURCE AMENDMENT PROVIDING SUCH
COMPLETELY BALANCED NUTRITION.
WHAT WASTES CAN BE USED?
All kinds of plant and animal tissue – even offal, recalcitrant crab and prawn shells,
goose and chicken feathers. Chitin and keratin are notoriously difficult to break
down in a natural ecosystem, and their bioconversion within 21 days is quite
outstanding.
Similarly, soil contaminated with oil, benzene, creosote and so on can be degraded,
water can be treated by passing it through columns, heavy metals “locked up” and
specific toxins in paper pulp and other industrial by-products treated.
There are two features of the system: the elimination of waste and production
therefrom of fertilisers and soil supplements. The nutritional values of the latter
vary according to the waste streams from which they are produced. By combining
different types of wastes, products with different features are made, in the
following ways:
Production of Fertilisers
Chicken, turkey, cattle and other manures and slurries, cereal straws, plant residues,
vegetable or mineral oily wastes and green (forestry) wastes. Sewage can also be
incorporated.
Peat Substitutes
These can be produced from paper pulp or printed paper wastes.
Soil Ameliorates
A combination of green or seasoned wood chips, plant matter and food processing
residues.
Other End Products
These can be used as a range of peat-free composts, materials for the reclamation
of barren land, and tree and shrub composts.
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OFFALS
Every year, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of animal derived waste is produced in
the United Kingdom alone, along with 0.5 million tonnes of fish waste. A large
percentage of these wastes are used in the rendering industry and allied trades, but
until recently that still left about 30% going into landfill, a figure of some 2,500
tonnes each day. A potential time bomb.
FISH FOOD
An important development is the degradation of vegetable matter to a form
digestible by fish, answering the shortage and expense of farmed fish production.
MUSHROOM FARMS
We are able to use our catalyst to treat used mushroom compost, allowing its re-
use, thus eliminating the considerable problems associated with its disposal.
OIL
We have successfully treated crude oil pollution, eliminating the polynucleo
aromatics, and even the more recalcitrant multi-ringed volatile compounds.
Applications for this include contaminated land, refinery sludges, tanker holds and
bilges, pipes and so on.
The undoubted benefits of oil exploitation carry an inevitable price in terms of
pollution. Biotechnology can be used at all stages: refining, production, well-
pressure maintenance, and decontamination. It could be used in removing sulphur
in the refining process, now carried out by metallic catalysts in the presence of
hydrogen, at high temperatures and pressures. It could also be used to “clean”
spent catalyst, presently a hazardous waste, so that it can be safely disposed of or
perhaps recycled almost indefinitely.
In this way, the oil industry need not be synonymous with a poisoned industrial
landscape.
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Contact:
Registered Office:
Micro-Ecology Developments Ltd
6 Lower Hatch Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
UK Office:
Micro-Ecology Developments Ltd
Central Chambers
London Road
Alderley Edge
Cheshire
United Kingdom
SK9 7DZ
Telephone:0044 870 749 3333
Facscimile: 0044 870 749 4444
Website: www.micro-ecology.com
Or Direct:
Ron Byrom
T: 0044 870 749 7777
ron@micro-ecology.com
Andi Robinson
T: 0044 870 749 1111
andi@micro-ecology.com
In Kuwait:
Arthur Barber
965 643 1096 mobile
arthur@micro-ecology.com
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