Intro:

Agricycle is a revolutionary biocatalyst system that accelerates the natural decomposition of organic material. Agricycle also reduces the emissions of toxic gases such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and mercaptans generated by anaerobic bacterial action on decomposing biomass solids, greases, and oils.

Serious material-handling and odor-control issues arise in animal confinement facilities, composting operations, wastewater treatment plants, and other industries processing large quantities of organic waste. In today’s stringent regulatory climate, Agricycle addresses these environmental concerns.

Composting with Agricycle™

Composting is defined as the decay of organic material to a nutrient-rich soil conditioner that provides a balanced nutrient source to plants. The major work in composting is accomplished by enzyme producing

Bacteria. Enzymes are simply large proteins that breakdown plant structures (leaves, vines, branches, bark, and grass) into a dark, partially decomposed, organic matter known as humus.

Native bacteria species will decompose organic matter over time, but this occurs slowly. Inoculating compost piles with the Agricycle system speeds up this process considerably and accomplishes what nature does in a much shorter time. Agricycle works by maximizing enzyme concentrations in the pile from the start, prior to the secondary exponential growth of the microbe population.

ACE: Agricycle™ Catalyst Enzyme

ACE introduces high concentrations of plant-digesting enzymes into the compost pile, which immediately begin to breakdown the organic matter. ACE enzymes account for the rapid deterioration of material that occurs in just days rather than weeks or months.

ACE enzymes are highly active. They pre-digest plant material such as lignin, pectin, and other substances, which act as a "glue" to maintain structural integrity of the plant and protect the plant from bacteria. When the lignin is sufficiently broken-down, cellulose (the main food source for the microbes) becomes available to drive the explosive population growth of the microbes.

ACE enzymes eliminate odors such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans, which are the foul-smelling substances associated with composting. ACE vigorously cleaves hydrogen-sulfur bonds, which are common to these

Noxious compounds.

ACE also prevents the release of ammonia gas into the atmosphere, by converting volatile ammonia (NH3) to the water-soluble ammonium ion (NH4+), which

AMF: Agricycle™ Microbial Formulation

AMF: All microbes are not created equal. AMF are a group of Bacillus strains specifically selected to produce large amounts organic waste-digesting enzymes such as, cellulose, lignase, and pectinase. AMF also contains other microorganisms that work in synergy with ACE to impart certain metabolic advantages over native species.

AMF microbes are benign, extremely robust, and will out compete other bacteria, including pathogens. The diverse AMF populations of mesophilic (70°-100° F) and thermophilic (113°-155°) bacteria thrive at high temperatures, with some species surviving temperatures up to 160° - 165° F.

AMF is formulated as a "shot-gun" approach to Composting. This means that the combinations of microbes are highly adaptable and thrive in almost any kind of compost. AMF can also be custom-formulated for specific waste streams. The simultaneous action of ACE and AMF creates an organic decomposition system that is unsurpassed in the industry.

ACN: Agricycle™ Compost Nutrient

ACN: In waste steams containing carbon-rich feedstock such as wood chips, paper, and sawdust, it is necessary to maintain the ideal C/N ratio for microbe populations to flourish. ACN provides extra nitrogen and micronutrients (vitamins) that sustain optimum metabolic rates in the microbes. ACN is an exotic blend of nutrient-rich ingredients from sources found in nature, and is particularly effective for composting "dead-piles" or nitrogen-deficient materials.

Benefits of Composting with Agricycle

Shorter Composting Cycle:

Under most conditions, Agricycle cuts composting time by 50% - 60%. Agricycle-treated piles decompose in roughly 10 - 14 days. In only 14-days, crushed and ground green waste treated with Agricycle resulted in a mature finished product excellent for use as a soil amendment. This represents a remarkable composting time compression.

Higher Quality Compost Product:

Agricycle maximizes valuable plant-available nitrogen in a variety of feedstock. After 14 days, analysis of Agricycle-treated ground-green waste revealed 9.3 lb. of nitrogen per ton with high organic and mineral content.

Hog manure treated with Agricycle retained 795 mg/l ammonia nitrogen (plant-available form) compared with 355 mg/l (untreated control) in 30 days. Agricycle-treated manure held in deep pits for 4 months retained 27 lb.Nitrogen/ton versus 9 lb./ton for untreated manure. These data show that Agricycle increases plant-available nitrogen up to 300 % over untreated manure. Iowa State University and two independent testing laboratories performed these studies. Reports are available upon request.

Elimination of Odors:

Agricycle-treated compost piles are completely free of putrefactive odors normally associated with composting. AMF microbes maintain aerobic metabolism even in high moisture/high nitrogen materials such as grass clippings, manure, and animal carcasses. ACE can also be directly sprayed or misted for instant odor control.

Safe to Handle:

Agricycle is an all-natural product with no harsh, noxious, or toxic chemicals present in the formulation. The product is 100% biodegradable, completely harmless, and made entirely from food grade materials. The pH of the shipped product is 3.0, equivalent to lime juice. It meets California regulations as a harmless, food-grade product. Although not recommended, the product can be consumed without harmful effects.

The safety of Agricycle has been demonstrated in a hazardous waste fish bioassay, a standardized measure of toxicity according to the EPA and California Dept. of Fish and Game testing protocols. The test was performed by North Coast Laboratories with 100% survivability of fish minnows in concentrations as high as 750 mg/L (see attached report).