Working like the compost heap in the backyard, but without odor and much
faster, Sun-Mar toilets break down human waste and toilet paper through
the natural process of decomposition. Because most of this waste is evaporated,
only a very limited quantity of finished compost is produced.
Many commerical composting plants rely on windrows for proper composting.
Quite a lot of money is invested in these municipal plants in completely
turning a compost pile - and there is a reason. Forced air static pile
composting dries out the compost (agitators may be used in these systems,
but agitation is frequently confused with aeration), which renders the
bacteria ineffective without moisture. Windrows also require a certain
amount of forced air in order to work properly, which has to be taken
into account in a proper composting toilet design.
The combination of turning the compost evenly in a drum simulates the
windrow environment, and the fan on an electric unit or passive venting
on a non-electric unit allows more oxygen to move through the pile when
the unit isn't being turned, without sacrificing the vital component of
moisture.
The combination of all of these factors ensures a rich environment
for aerobic bacteria to break down every part of the pile. It just makes
good sense.
Oxygen, moisture, heat and organic material are needed to allow minute
natural organisms to transform the waste to fertilizing soil.
Oxygen is provided by drum rotation
and by the ventilation system. The drum is easily rotated via a handle
at the front of the unit.
Moisture is obtained directly from human waste.
Organic material in the form of peat mix
is added manually, since this organic carbon is absorbent,
holds oxygen, and is cheap and readily available.
Heat is generated by the compost itself, assisted
by the heating element (on electric models).
Microbes are contained in the rich top soil which
is added to the compost.
Odor Free
The engineered air flow within Sun-Mar units ensures that
a partial vacuum is maintained within the unit at all
times. Air is drawn in by a fan, or on non-electric units by the vent
chimney, over the evaporating chamber and up the vent stack. Not only
does this evaporate excess liquid, but, by continuously pulling air in
we ensure no smell escapes from the unit.
In addition, the tumbling action of the composting drum results in such
a moist and beautifully oxygenated compost that an aerobic breakdown takes
place which is both fast and odorless. Breakdown is odorless because aerobic
microbes produce only carbon dioxide and water vapor, quite unlike the
unpleasant anaerobic smell often found in a septic tank, outhouse, or
backyard compost.
Microbes & The Bio-Drum™
Sun-Mar's unique Bio-Drum has been developed to provide
the optimum conditions for aerobic composting. Using such design, Sun-Mar
has been able to ensure that the compost in the drum is maintained in
the moist, warm, well mixed, oxygen rich condition which aerobic bacteria
need for optimum performance.
Sun-Mar has also found that this approach avoids the anaerobic activity
which occurs wherever there is insufficient oxygen. This is important
because anaerobic activity is slow and produces offensive odors. The use
of this revolutionary Bio-Drum results in composting speeds double those
of the old single chamber units with mechanical mixers.
