23 results about "Biosolids" patented technology

A method of processing a material comprising: receiving an input material to be processed within a reaction chamber, the input material comprising a biosolids material; energizing one or more sets of electrodes, each set of electrodes including an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, each anode electrode and cathode electrode having an electrode tip exposed to the reaction chamber; and creating an electrical arc between the anode electrode tip and the cathode electrode tip within the reaction chamber to subject at least some of the input material to electrical arcing, thereby reacting at least a portion of the biosolids material and forming a processed material comprising hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO).

A method and apparatus for treating wastewater using a sequencing batch reactor wherein the biological solids are densified through hydraulic and organic selection pressures. Wastewater is introduced to the reactor near the end of the treatment cycle under anaerobic conditions following the effluent withdrawal step and prior to the start of next treatment cycle. A floating sludge withdrawal apparatus is used in conjunction with a floating surface mixer to selectively remove lighter flocculant solids and retain denser solids by temporarily reducing the mixing energy during the wasting process.

A novel pigment and a method to create the novel pigment are described. A raw material, such as municipal sewage sludge, municipal compost, food waste, agricultural waste, forestry waste, agroforestry waste, biomass, and / or livestock waste, is screened, cleaned, and / or prepared. The raw material is digested by microorganisms to create methane and a biosolid. The biosolid is dried and then carbonized to create a biochar. The biochar is ground into a powder pigment until a predetermined particle size is reached. The powder pigment having the predetermined particle size is applied to a medium to create at least one product, such as an ink, a paint, a stain, a colored material, and / or a dye.

A method and system for enhancing nutrient mobility in soil is disclosed. The method includes providing waste including one or more of waste activated sludge (WAS), biosolids, manure, food waste, or combinations thereof and preparing an alkaline electrolyte solution. The method further includes subjecting the waste to electrolysis in the alkaline electrolyte solution using a pair of electrodes positioned within a serpentine flow electrochemical cell operated at a cell potential of approximately ±2.5 volts with periodic polarity switching, thereby producing an organic mineral fertilizer formulation. The method also includes applying the organic mineral fertilizer formulation to a soil system selected from agricultural soil and potting mix at a rate of approximately 70 pounds nitrogen per acre. The organic mineral fertilizer formulation can comprises ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻), and phosphorus.

Discussed herein in a process for remediating biosolids containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds in a grate incinerator having a combustion chamber divided into a relatively high temperature zone and a relatively low temperature zone by an insulated panel. Biosolids are loaded onto a grate and moved through the relatively low temperature zone where the temperature is maintained at a temperature sufficient to decompose PFAS compounds but less than a temperature that gives rise to produced ash softening or melting.

The invention relates to a method and a system for electrocatalyzing municipal sludge and biological solids. Such methods (and systems thereof) include selecting a sludge source; preparing a slurry, wherein the slurry comprises the sludge source and an electrolyte; adjusting the pH of the slurry, wherein the adjusting the pH of the slurry is such that the slurry has an adjusted pH in a range between about (8) and (14); flowing the slurry through an electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a catalyst; applying a potential between the anode and the cathode, wherein applying the potential includes oscillating a cell voltage between the anode and the cathode at an oscillation frequency; breaking carbon bonds with nitrogen and phosphorus in the slurry due to the application of the potential; inorganic nitrogen and inorganic phosphorus are released; and obtaining an electrolyzed sludge, wherein the electrolyzed sludge comprises an electrolyzed solid comprising nitrogen and phosphorus.

A system for processing dewatered biosolids and other municipal waste includes a biosolids dryer coupled to a plasma or ionic reactor (a gasifier). The biosolids dryer mixes dewatered biosolids with heated dried biosolids to produce dried granulated biosolids which are provided to the gasifier. The gasifier implements a high or an ultra-high temperature ionic gasification or reformation process to produce renewable syngas that can be used to provide heat, power, renewable fuels, renewable hydrogen, and / or renewable chemical production. The gasifier generates electrical arcs across the interior of a gasifier reaction chamber creating a localized, controlled temperature in excess of 3,000° C. along with ionic gas or particles (plasma). This ultra-high temperature gasification zone and active ionic environment combine to break down molecules very effectively and efficiently into their constituent atoms, in a process called complete molecular dissociation. This ultra-high temperature ionic zone also rapidly decomposes impurities in the feed stock such as microplastics, PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances), and other fluorocarbon materials.

A method and system for deselecting biological solids in an influent containing water. The method and system include supplying an influent to an inlet of a reactor comprising at least one of a bioreactor, an internal deselector, a particle deselector, and one or more return lines; dispersing the influent in the bioreactor to form a solid-liquid mixture containing biological solids; retaining, retarding, or providing a differential of, by the internal deselector, biological solids from the solid-liquid mixture to form a deselected solid-liquid mixture and returnable biological solids; feeding said deselected solid-liquid mixture to the particle deselector; deselecting, by the particle deselector, remainder biological solids from the deselected solid-liquid mixture; and supplying, by the one or more return lines, the returnable biological solids to the bioreactor.

A method of processing a material comprising: receiving an input material to be processed within a reaction chamber, the input material comprising a biosolids material; energizing one or more sets of electrodes, each set of electrodes including an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, each anode electrode and cathode electrode having an electrode tip exposed to the reaction chamber; and creating an electrical arc between the anode electrode tip and the cathode electrode tip within the reaction chamber to subject at least some of the input material to electrical arcing, thereby reacting at least a portion of the biosolids material and forming a processed material comprising hydrogen (th) and carbon monoxide (CO).

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.

A system for processing dewatered biosolids and other municipal waste includes a biosolids dryer coupled to a plasma or ionic reactor (a gasifier). The biosolids dryer mixes dewatered biosolids with heated dried biosolids to produce dried granulated biosolids which are provided to the gasifier. The gasifier implements a high or an ultra-high temperature ionic gasification or reformation process to produce renewable syngas that can be used to provide heat, power, renewable fuels, renewable hydrogen, and / or renewable chemical production. The gasifier generates electrical arcs across the interior of a gasifier reaction chamber creating a localized, controlled temperature in excess of 3,000 C along with ionic gas or particles (plasma). This ultra-high temperature gasification zone and active ionic environment combine to break down molecules very effectively and efficiently into their constituent atoms, in a process called complete molecular dissociation. This ultra-high temperature ionic zone also rapidly decomposes impurities in the feed stock such as microplastics, PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances), and other fluorocarbon materials.

Methods of biosolids processing disclosed herein may be configured in a two-stage process. The methods include the step of distributing biosolids in an input state onto a first thermal floor disposed within a first greenhouse, the first thermal floor adapted to transfer heat to the biosolids from a working fluid communicated through the first thermal floor thereby transforming the biosolids from the input state into a first processed state at a first stage of the two-stage process. The method includes the step of distributing the biosolids in the first processed state onto a second thermal floor disposed within a second greenhouse and then heating the biosolids thereby transforming the biosolids from the first processed state into a second processed state at a second stage of the two-stage process by heating the biosolids. Apparatus that functions to implement the methods are also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for treating wastewater using a sequencing batch reactor wherein the biological solids are densified through hydraulic and organic selection pressures. Wastewater is introduced to the reactor near the end of the treatment cycle under anaerobic conditions following the effluent withdrawal step and prior to the start of next treatment cycle. A floating sludge withdrawal apparatus is used in conjunction with a floating surface mixer to selectively remove lighter flocculant solids and retain denser solids by temporarily reducing the mixing energy during the wasting process.

Methods and systems are described for treating a fluid that includes a particulate fraction and a soluble fraction, such as wastewater fluid including biosolids. The treatment includes biochemically transforming solids in the particulate fraction of the fluid in a biochemical process while simultaneously subjecting the fluid to a vacuum pressure, and evaporating off at least a portion of the soluble fraction of the fluid and thereby thickening a remaining portion of the fluid. A residence time of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be at least 25% greater than a residence time of the soluble fraction, for example. A solids content of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be in a range of from 2% to 99%, for example.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to drying a wet coated seed material stream comprising an incoming wet granular biosolids stream mixed with a controlled size dried seed material recycling stream to produce a moist air and pellet stream, separating an uncontrolled size dried pellet stream from the moist air and pellet stream, diverting a recycle portion of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to be recycled, diverting the remainder of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to an outlet, resizing oversized pellets from the recycle portion of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to produce the controlled size dried seed material recycling stream, and mixing the controlled size dried seed material recycling stream with the incoming wet granular biosolids stream to produce the wet coated seed material stream. Oversized pellets may be selected using a screen. The oversized pellets may be resized using a crusher inline with the recycle stream.

Methods and systems are described for treating a fluid that includes a particulate fraction and a soluble fraction, such as wastewater fluid including biosolids. The treatment includes biochemically transforming solids in the particulate fraction of the fluid in a biochemical process while simultaneously subjecting the fluid to a vacuum pressure, and evaporating off at least a portion of the soluble fraction of the fluid and thereby thickening a remaining portion of the fluid. A residence time of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be at least 25% greater than a residence time of the soluble fraction, for example. A solids content of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be in a range of from 2% to 99%, for example.

A novel pigment and a method to create the novel pigment are described. A raw material, such as municipal sewage sludge, municipal compost, food waste, agricultural waste, forestry waste, agroforestry waste, biomass, and / or livestock waste, are screened, cleaned, and / or prepared. The raw material is digested by microorganisms to create methane and a biosolid. The biosolid is dried and then carbonized to create a biochar. The biochar is ground into a powder pigment until a predetermined particle size is reached. The powder pigment having the predetermined particle size is applied to a media to create at least one product, such as an ink, a paint, a stain, a colored material, and / or a dye.

Methods and systems for pre-treatment of sludge and biosolids in preparation for electrochemical valorization is disclosed herein. Such methods can include selecting a sludge source; preparing a slurry, where the slurry comprises the sludge source and an electrolyte; adjusting a pH of the slurry, where the adjusting the pH of the slurry results in the slurry having an adjusted pH in a range between approximately 8 and 13; flowing the slurry through a first electrochemical cell, where the first electrochemical cell enables partial oxidation of the sludge via hydroxyl radicals; and flowing the partially oxidized slurry from the first electrochemical cell to a second electrochemical cell for selective conversion, where the second electrochemical cell includes an anode, a cathode, and a catalyst.

A method for reducing particles from biosolids, comprising a storage tank for holding biosolids and an inlet pipe. The inlet pipe delivers biosolids from the storage tank to a screener and then to a percent solids meter. The percent solids meter measures the solid content in the biosolids and sends a signal to an electronic solenoid valve to control water content of the biosolids introduced to the system. A first venturi hydrodynamic cavitation to create vacuum bubbles in the biosolids. A mechanical hydrodynamic cavitation device operably connected to first venturi hydrodynamic cavitation, wherein the mechanical hydrodynamic cavitation device creates vacuum bubbles in the biosolids.

Methods and systems are described for treating a fluid that includes a particulate fraction and a soluble fraction, such as wastewater fluid including biosolids. The treatment includes biochemically transforming solids in the particulate fraction of the fluid in a biochemical process while simultaneously subjecting the fluid to a vacuum pressure, and evaporating off at least a portion of the soluble fraction of the fluid and thereby thickening a remaining portion of the fluid. A residence time of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be at least 25% greater than a residence time of the soluble fraction, for example. A solids content of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be in a range of from 2% to 99%, for example.

Apparatus and methods to eliminate PFAS from wastewater biosolids through fluidized bed gasification. The gasifier decomposes the PFAS in the biosolids at temperatures of 900-1800° F. Syngas exits the gasifier which is coupled to a thermal oxidizer and combusts at temperatures of 1600-2600° F. This decomposes PFAS in the syngas and creates flue gas. Heat is recovered from the flue gas by cooling the flue gas to temperatures of 400-1200° F. in a heat exchanger coupled with the thermal oxidizer. Various methods inject moisture into the gas stream, controlling temperature through evaporative cooling and / or injecting chemicals that react with gas stream components. Cooled flue gas mixes with hydrated lime capturing decomposed PFAS molecules with spent lime filtered from the cooled flue gas using a filter system that may incorporate catalyst impregnated filter elements, eliminating PFAS from wastewater biosolids and controlling emissions in the resulting flue gas.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to drying a wet coated seed material stream comprising an incoming wet granular biosolids stream mixed with a controlled size dried seed material recycling stream to produce a moist air and pellet stream, separating an uncontrolled size dried pellet stream from the moist air and pellet stream, diverting a recycle portion of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to be recycled, diverting the remainder of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to an outlet, resizing oversized pellets from the recycle portion of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to produce the controlled size dried seed material recycling stream, and mixing the controlled size dried seed material recycling stream with the incoming wet granular biosolids stream to produce the wet coated seed material stream. Oversized pellets may be selected using a screen. The oversized pellets may be resized using a crusher inline with the recycle stream.

The invention belongs to the field of low-temperature wastewater biological treatment, and particularly relates to a microbial solidification carrier microsphere as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The microbial immobilized carrier microsphere is prepared by adsorbing a carrier material prepared by compounding biochar, sodium alginate and chitosan through low-temperature zymophyte. Wherein the biochar has a porous structure, so that the adsorption capacity of the carrier can be remarkably enhanced; sodium alginate is used as a main scaffold material and is combined with chitosan to improve the mechanical stability and biocompatibility of the carrier. The carrier material has the characteristics of no toxicity, porosity, high specific surface area, moderate size, excellent biocompatibility and the like, the activity of low-temperature-resistant zymophyte in low-temperature wastewater can be effectively improved, and meanwhile, good mass transfer performance is kept. Therefore, the carrier microsphere can be used as an efficient biological carrier and is widely applied to biological treatment of low-temperature wastewater.