밀폐형 bench-scale reactor(242 l)에 thermocouples, oxygen sensor 및 datalogger 등을 연결하여 우분과 볏짚 혼합물의 퇴비화 촉진 및 양질의 퇴비생산을 위한 기초자료를 얻고자 공기주입량(0.09, 0.18, 0.90, 1.79 l $min^{-1}kg$ dry $solids^{-1}$)에 따른 생물학적 활성 변수들의 일시적이고 공간적인 변화를 모니터링한 결과는 다음과 같았다. 공기주입량이 높을수록 퇴비화 초기 및 뒤집기 이후 단계 모두 부숙온도의 증가 및 감속속도가 빨랐고 퇴적물과 배출공기의 온도차이는 적었으며, 모든 처리에서 퇴적물의 경우 $50{sim}53^{circ}C$에서 약 5시간 동안, 배출공기는 $45^{circ}C$에서 약 $5{sim}15$시간 동안 온도정지기를 보인 후 다시 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 최대온도는 퇴비화 초기단계에서는 공기주입량이 많을수록 감소하였지만 뒤집기 이후 단계에서는 1.79 l $min^{-1}kg^{-1}$처리를 제외하고는 그 반대 경향이었으며, 퇴적물의 최고온도 도달시간은 초기 및 뒤집기 이후 단계 모두 공기주입량이 적을수록 늦었다. $45^{circ}C$이상의 고온 유지시간은 공기주입량이 증가할수록 급격히 감소하였고, 퇴비화 초기단계에 있어서 0.09 및 0.18 l $min^{-1}kg^{-1}$ 처리는 $65^{circ}C$ 이상, 0.90 l $kg^{-1}$는 $55{sim}64.9^{circ}C$, 1.79 l $min^{-1}kg^{-1}$는 $45{sim}54.9^{circ}C$의 유지시간이 가장 길었다. 배출공기의 최저 산소농도 및 최대 산소비율은 공기주입량이 많을수록 높아지는 경향이었으나 그 수준에 도달하는 시간은 일정한 경향이 없었다.
This experiment used the enclosed bench-scale reactors of 242 liters was conducted to obtain basic data on temporal and spatial variations in temperature, oxygen and moisture content, which were important factors of biological activities, during composting of mixture of dairy manure and rice straw. The reactors with thermocouples, oxygen sensor and datalogger were aerated at four different rates of 0.09, 0.18, 0.90 and 1.79 l $min^{-1}kg$ dry $solids^{-1}$. The higher aeration rates were, the faster the rates of increase and decrease in composting temperature were in both of initial and turnover stage, and the smaller the temperature difference between exhaust air and composting materials. Composting temperature of initial stage increased suddenly in all aeration rates, then stationary phase of temperature in materials and exhaust air showed at $50{sim}53^{circ}C$ for 5 hours and at $45^{circ}C$ between 5 and 15 hours, respectively. In initial stage the maximum temperature was decreased with increasing aeration rates but in the stage after turnover it was the opposite except for 1.79 l $min^{-1}kg^{-1}$. Time arrived at the maximum temperature of composting materials was later in low-aeration rates than high-aeration rates at both stages. Time maintained high-temperature more than $45^{circ}C$ was rapidly decreased with increasing aeration rates. In initial stage of composting maintaining time of $65^{circ}C$ or more was the longest in the treatments of 0.09 and 0.18 l $min^{-1}kg{-1}$, while those of $55{sim}65^{circ}C$ and $45{sim}55^{circ}C$ was in 0.90 and 1.79 l $min^{-1}kg{-1}$, respectively. The minimum oxygen content and the maximum oxygen consumption rate in exhaust air through composting materials showed the increased trends with increasing aeration rates. In initial stage the minimum oxygen content was ranged from 0.9% to 7.4% for 32 to 59.5 hours and the maximum oxygen consumption rate was $1.89{sim}6.48$ $gh^{-1}kgVS^{-1}$. In the stage after turnover their levels were $2.1{sim}19.9%$ and $1.76{sim}3.49 %$g/h-㎏ VS, respectively, for 16 to 49.5 hours.
