Patent ID: 7651852

Claim:
A method for aerating organic material undergoing an aerobic composting process, comprising a) placing the organic material in a rigid pressure-tight vessel which is arranged to be pressurized and sealed and has an interior; b) sealing the vessel; c) delivering compressed air to the interior of the sealed vessel; d) continuing the delivery of compressed air until an air pressure in the vessel is in a range from 1 to 1000 kPA above atmospheric pressure; e) maintaining pressure inside the vessel from step d) for a period of time to enable an oxygen content of the air to be reduced by action of microorganisms; f) measuring the oxygen content of the air contained in the sealed vessel; g) releasing spent air from the vessel when the measured oxygen content falls below a predetermined concentration so as to reduce air pressure inside the vessel back to atmospheric pressure; and h) immediately delivering compressed air to the interior of the sealed vessel; wherein pressure differentials between areas of high pressure in the vessel and areas of low pressure in the organic material are allowed to equilibrate over a period of time before step g) is performed.