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# Materials Balance in Aerated Static Pile Composting

L. J. Sikora, G. B. Willson, D. Colacicco and J. F. Parr
Journal (Water Pollution Control Federation)
Vol. 53, No. 12 (Dec., 1981), pp. 1702-1707
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25041197
Page Count: 6
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## Abstract

A materials balance experiment was conducted on the Beltsville Aerated Pile method for static pile wastewater sludge composting to determine weights, volumes, and losses of input and output materials under a steady-state condition. Approximately 10.4 metric tons (11.5 wet tons) or 21 ${\rm m}^{3}$ (27 cu yd) of screened compost was obtained from an aerated pile containing 27.2 metric tons (30 wet tons) of wastewater sludge filter cake. The ratio of wastewater sludge input to compost output was approximately 1:1 on a dry weight basis. About 33% of the woodchips had to be replaced with each succeeding cycle. The wet weight loss was about 31% of the initial wet weight, and the dry weight loss was about 11% of the initial dry weight. These data provide the best estimate thus far for materials flow in the aerated, static pile system, and the observed woodchip attrition rate could be employed as a conservative estimate for developing cost estimates and site design criteria for extended pile composting by the Beltsville method.

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