212 results about "Biosolids" patented technology

In the processes for treating municipal sewage and storm water containing biosolids to discharge standards, biosolids, even after dewatering, contain typically about 80% water bound in the dead cells of the biosolids, which gives biosolids a negative heating value. It can be incinerated only at the expense of purchased fuel. Biosolids are heated to a temperature at which their cell structure is destroyed and, preferably, at which carbon dioxide is split off to lower the oxygen content of the biosolids. The resulting char is not hydrophilic, and it can be efficiently dewatered and/or dried and is a viable renewable fuel. This renewable fuel can be supplemented by also charging conventional biomass (yard and crop waste, etc.) in the same or in parallel facilities. Similarly, non-renewable hydrophilic fuels can be so processed in conjunction with the processing of biosolids to further augment the energy supply.

A unique apparatus unique apparatus and process that uses mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) for: (1) Destruction of: a) nearly all organic solid, liquid, and gases materials, except fluorinated hydrocarbons; b) all biological solid, liquid, and gases materials; c) and/or dissolution and decontamination (such as cleaning equipment and containers, etc.) of nearly all inorganic solid, liquid, or gas where higher oxidation states exist which includes, but is not limited to, halogenated inorganic compounds (except fluorinated), inorganic pesticides and herbicides, inorganic fertilizers, carbon residues, inorganic carbon compounds, mineral formations, mining tailings, inorganic salts, metals and metal compounds, etc.); and d) combined materials (e.g. a mixture of any of the foregoing with each other); henceforth collectively referred to as materials. (2) Sterilization/disinfection of equipment, glassware, etc., by destroying all existing infectious materials. (3) Dissolution of transuranic/actinide materials and/or destruction of the oxidizable components in the hazardous waste portion of mixed waste. (4) Generation of hydrogen and oxygen from MEO of materials. (5) Alteration of organic, biological, and inorganic materials by MEO to produce other compounds from these materials. The materials are introduced into an apparatus for contacting the materials with an electrolyte containing the oxidized form of one or more reversible redox couples, at least one of which is produced electrochemically by anodic oxidation at the anode of an electrochemical cell. The oxidized forms of any other redox couples present are produced either by similar anodic oxidation or reaction with the oxidized form of other redox couples present and capable of affecting the required redox reaction. The oxidized species of the redox couples oxidize the materials molecules and are themselves converted to their reduced form, whereupon they are reoxidized by either of the aforementioned mechanisms and the redox cycle continues until all oxidizable material species, including intermediate reaction products, have undergone the desired degree of oxidation. The entire process takes place at temperatures between ambient and approximately 100° C. The oxidation process may be enhanced by the addition of reaction enhancements, such as: ultrasonic energy and/or ultraviolet radiation.

The invention describes a new method for treating sludge, which can result in the production of high nitrogen organically-augmented inorganic fertilizer that incorporates municipal sludges or biosolids or organic sludges that can compete with traditional fertilizers such as ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate and urea on the commodity fertilizer marketplace. The method takes advantage of the thixotropic property of dewatered biosolids or organic sludge to create a pumpable paste-like material from the biosolids or organic sludge that is then treated with an oxidizer to reduce odorant effects and an acid. This mix is then interacted with concentrated sulfuric and or phosphoric acids and an ammonia source or alternatively a hot or molten melt or salt of ammonium sulfate/phosphate to form a fertilizer mix. The present invention controls the heat, atmospheric pressure and retention time of the fertilizer mix in the reaction vessel. When a fertilizer melt is formed ammoniation is subsequently completed by the specific use of vaporized ammonia. The invention can also be an add-on to commercial production of ammonium salts. The fertilizer produced by the present invention contains more than 8 wt. % nitrogen and preferably 15 wt. % nitrogen. The invention is oriented to be tailored to the biosolids production for individual municipal waste treatment plants in order to keep the fertilizer manufacturing plants of the present invention small with a minimization of logistics and liability.

The subject invention provides methods for producing homogenous organic base fertilizer for plant nutrition and soil fertility. Also provided by the subject invention are value added fertilizer products for plant nutrition and soil fertility and concentrated liquid formulations/nutrient supplements that provide the value added nutrients to fertilizer products. Methods according to the invention involve the application of concentrated liquid(s) and/or dry formulation(s) comprising a mixture of one or more plant nutrient(s), one or more additional organic compound(s), one or more penetrate(s), and one or more optional supplement(s) into one or more organic base material(s). These organic base materials include, and are not limited to, biosolids, activated sludge, municipal compost, animal manures (e.g., horse, cow, chicken, pig, and sheep), and composted organic byproducts.

A particle is provided that includes 5 wt % to 90 wt % of agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof. A binder intermixed with the agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof retains the mixture in the form of a particle. The resultant particle creates a use for existing waste streams while also improving soil quality. A process of stabilizing agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof particles is also provided that includes combining agricultural biomass, combustion residues, biosolids, or a combination thereof with mineral and/or synthetic chemical fragments having a bulk density of greater than about 40 pounds per cubic foot and a sizing of about 100% passing through a 30 mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a 200 mesh screen. By adding binder, a particle is formed that is deodorized and/or stabilized. Through the choice of binder, the particle can be rendered dispersible to rapidly disintegrate into soil.

A gravity flow sludge load-out system for rapid and accurate loading-out of large volumes of treated biosolids from a wastewater dewatering plant, said system includes a plurality of hoppers 12, 14 supported by a main structure 16 having a plurality of vertical support members 20, each resting on a load cell 28, a sludge inlet at the tip of each hopper, and hydraulically controlled metering gates 40 at the bottom. A PLC 70 controls delivery of sludge from a dewatering facility, including e.g. a dewatering centrifuge 56, into the hoppers and then controls load-out of the sludge to a container truck by providing real-time monitoring of net sludge load-out and tight control of metering gates.

A process is provided which can be used to clarify substantially aqueous streams and optionally separate biosolids, especially proteins, from food processing operations which comprises contacting an aqueous stream comprising biosolids with an anionic inorganic colloid and an organic polymer to flocculate the biosolids.

The invention discloses an integrated up-flow reactor and an advanced treatment method of fermentation industrial effluent, belonging to effluent treatment field. The upper part of the reactor is an aerobic fluidized bed system, the lower part is an anaerobic filter system, the intermediate transition zone is designed to be a connecting part which has a tri-phase separation function and organically combines the upper part and the lower part together. In the reactor, the concentration of biological solid is high and the retention time of biological solid is long, therefore the reactor is suitable for treating secondary biochemical treatment effluent of fermentation industrial effluent which has high salinity and is difficult to be biodegraded; sludge output of each system is low, and the residual sludge generated in the aerobic zone enters to the transition zone and the anaerobic zone to be further treated, the overall sludge output of the reactor is low, and simultaneously, the reactor contains rich biological species which act on organics difficult to be degraded jointly and promote the degradation thereof. The integrated reactor has low energy consumption, less land occupation, convenient operation, load impact resistance and high treatment efficiency, thereby being applicable to the advanced treatment of fermentation industrial effluent.

The invention is directed to processes for treating biosolids that result in high-value, nitrogen-containing, slow-release, organically-augmented inorganic fertilizer that are competitive with less valuable or more costly conventional commercially manufactured fertilizers. The process involves conditioning traditional waste-water biosolids and processing the conditioned biosolids continuously in a high throughput manufacturing facility. The exothermic design and closed loop control of the primary reaction vessel decreases significantly the amount of power necessary to run a manufacturing facility. The process utilizes green technologies to facilitate decreased waste and enhanced air quality standards over traditional processing plants. The fertilizer produced from recovered biosolid waste is safe and meets or exceeds the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) Class A and Exceptional Quality standards and is not subject to restrictions or regulations.

The present invention provides an electroionic processing system having a high frequency alternating current (AC) power source for treating potable water, process water, wastewater, biosolids, sludge, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and other biochemical processing functions, including producing hydrogen peroxide and other useful chemicals. An electromagnetic field is generated and coupled to an electrolytic treatment apparatus by a direct coupling apparatus and method, a capacitive coupling apparatus and method, and an inductive coupling apparatus and method. The present invention further comprises a process controller and a plurality of analyzers for monitoring various treatment process variables to adjust and optimize the process as necessary.

The invention is directed to manufacture of fertilizer having commercial levels of nitrogen supplemented with organic substances. The process treats organic matter with acid causing hydrolysis of organic polymers after which the mix is injected with nitrogen. The resultant sterilized and liquefied organic matter is disbursed over recycled material for the production of granules. Because the process allows for the controlled addition of acids and ammonia, desired levels of components can be achieved. The process is scalable, odor controlled and safe thereby allowing for the location of biosolid processing facilities in most any location. Further, the fertilizer of the invention provides a dual nitrogen-release profile when applied to crops. After application to soil, fertilizer of the invention releases an immediate bolus of nitrogen, similar to traditional ammonium sulfate, followed by continued slow release of nitrogen typically over a season.

A process for liquefying microorganisms present in biosolids, such as waste activated sludge, generated by municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants is disclosed. The process includes the step of passing a slurry of the sludge at a high pressure through a nozzle having a restricted flow area to cause liquefication of the microorganisms as they are discharged from the nozzle. The pressure drop across the nozzle preferably exceeds 5,000 psi. At least part of the liquefied microorganisms may be recirculated to the treatment facility to feed nutrients to the wastewater treatment process. Optionally, the liquefied microorganisms may be anaerobically converted to methane and carbon dioxide. For optimum results, the sludge is subjected to pH adjustment and/or maceration prior to being pumped through the high pressure nozzle.

The system for fermentation using algae of the present invention includes a first reactor and a second reactor being in fluid communication with each other. A first valve placed between the first reactor and the second reactor controls the fluid connection between the reactors. A gas inlet, in fluid connection to the first reactor, is located at an end opposite the second reactor. A devolatization unit or cell lysis chamber is connected to the second reactor by a second valve. A biomass stream having gas, liquid and biosolids contents passes through the first reactor with gas. The biomass stream mixes and dissolves the gas in the reactors. The cellular structure of the biomass stream ruptures in the devolatization unit, allowing the processed materials, such as oil, gas, and biosolids, to be harvested for use.

A sewage treatment system is disclosed in which a waste stream is separated into a primary sludge and water effluent, and the primary sludge is anaerobically digested and dewatered to produce a Class A biosolid. The water effluent is aerobically digested and separated to provide a waste activated sludge. The waste activated sludge is heated in a two-stage process with steam injection and indirect steam before it is passed to a hydrothermal process. The pH of the treated waste activated sludge is then increased, and the nitrogen is stripped and recovered as an ammonium salt. A low nitrogen stream with volatile fatty acids and soluble organics is then separated and fed to the aerobic digester. Biogas generated during anaerobic digestion provides energy for heating the waste activated sludge for the hydrothermal process, and reject heat from the hydrothermal process heats the primary sludge for thermophilic anaerobic digestion.