Due to construction of the new water quality laboratory, the Organics Degradation Research and Analytical Laboratory will not be accepting samples effective 7/6/2004.  We will accept samples again after the first of next year.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Organic Degradation Research Laboratory

The laboratory, combined with the composting pad, equipment and 8 acres of land for field trial use, is a research and analytical facility that offers a variety of research and activities. Some features include:

A hammer mill for grinding by-products.

A blower fed silo for collection and distribution of ground byproducts.

A dust collection system and hood vented to the outside that prevents excessive dust and odor accumulation.

A trommel screen for separation of byproducts and composts.

A fork lift with swivel head, barrel moving and dumping attachment and a 200-gallon mixing and collection container with a pour spout allowing easy transport and handling of byproducts.

A unique automated invessel composting system capable of individually controlling composting in 30 45-gallon plastic reactors exhausted to a biofilter.

An in-house analytical laboratory dedicated to organic byproduct and compost analysis.

Three options of composting control are available with the invessel composting system and include:

Aeration to displace high internal heat (self-programmed maximum temperature).

Aeration to maximize composting efficiency (self- programmed cycle of air flow maximizing internal temperature).

Aeration to mimic windrow composting (aeration based on a decrease in internal temperature).

The invessel composting system can be used for biodegradability studies, optimizing feedstock mixes, bioremediation studies and biofilter testing. A respirometry device connected to reactors of the composting system allows measurement of CO2 and O2 during composting. Use of the invessel system is limited and must be negotiated in advance.

The analytical laboratory is available for analyses of organic byproducts using the U.S. Composting Council (USCC) Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC). Analyses include:

Bulk Density
Free air space
Human-made inerts
Moisture
Particle size
Maturity
SOUR
CO2 evolution
pH
Electrical conductivity
Ash
Available and total nutrient contents
Organic C
Other specialty analyses including coliforms and total petroleum hydrocarbons

Large-scale composting (windrow, static pile and passive, active and inverse aeration) experimentation and byproduct processing can be performed on-site. Land for field crop trials and greenhouse space are available.