• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.338-345
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• 1994

In the course of developing a small composter for dwelling house, we designed two different small bins; one is insullated (type 1) and the other uninsullated (type 2). Several interesting results were abtained from the study using these bins for garbage composting in winter, spring and summer. Changes in microbial number were very similar to those observed in the general composting process. However, microbial flora was relatively simple. The genera Streptomyces and Nocardia of actinomycetes and the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Absidia, Rhizopus of hypomycetes was observed from the composted materials. Thermophiles secreted most of the ${\alpha}-amylase$ secreted in winter but mesophilic actinomycetes did in summer. The amount of secreted protease was much lower in winter than in summer. Lipases were secreted more by mesophiles than thermophiles. Only Aspergillus of hypomycetes was observed to degrade cellulose. Generally, the appearance of enzyme producing microorganisms increased in summer than in the other seasons. In the point of seasonal increase of temperature and changes in microbial flora, the number of microorganisms was higher in summer or spring than in winter.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.150-154
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the amount of water condensation and energy consumption in a small composter. The heights of composter (10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm), horizontal angles of lid ($40^{\circ}$ , $50^{\circ}$ , $60^{\circ}$ ) and operating temperatures ($75^{\circ}C$, $85^{\circ}C$, $95^{\circ}C$) as the parameters were changed to optimize the shape and operating temperature. The compostable food wastes were added into the composter at the rate of 1 kg/day without additives. The results are as follows; Condensation of food waste increased with temperature, but no trends were observed in related with the height and the horizontal angle of the container. The amount of condensated water decreased with increasing of the horizontal angle up to the height 10 cm of the composter. In the composter with the height of 15 cm, the amount of condensated water decreased in order of $95^{\circ}C$, $75^{\circ}C$ and $85^{\circ}C$. The higher the temperature increased, the more energy consumption increased.