The Biopowerplant is a system that integrates the generation of carbon-neutral energy through the cultivation and conversion of microalgal biomass, with sewage sanitation and environmental carbon recovery, with the additional and secondary production of biofertilizer, biofuel, water for reuse. This system integrates a suboptimal anaerobic digestion subsystem focused on the generation of biogas, the processing of the resulting digestate through a microalgal consortium culture subsystem with biofilm induction and smooth decreasing gradient of light radiation, and the transformation of the generated microalgal biomass into syngas through a subsystem of evaporation, torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion in separate chambers. The syngas and methane from the biogas are subsequently used as fuel in an electric power generator capable of operating with mixed gases. The biogas generation process is enriched through the recirculation of the microalgal biomass supernatant, the residual heat from the syngas generation subsystem, and the heat transferred from the combustion gases of the electric generator. The residual sludge from the biogas generation subsystem is recirculated towards a longitudinal biopile subsystem, where it acts as an anaerobic medium compared to the aerobic medium that constitutes the concentrated microalgal biomass, and both streams are mixed to be transformed into the syngas generation subsystem. Input inflows for system operation are mainly sewage, and optionally seawater and/or leachate. The inflows must be bioaugmented with a microalgal consortium dosed automatically by a Compact in situ bioaugmentation system, preferably more than 3 kilometers before the inflow enters the system.

A biosolids treatment system that treats human biosolids to produce thermal energy for self-consumption for the production of beneficial use products including low carbon ash, high carbon activated biochar, and Class A biosolids. The system includes a variable feed conveyor that conveys a biosolid feed into a dryer; a dryer that dries the biosolid feed to a predetermined moisture content to create one of a beneficial use products, where the predetermined moisture content is controlled by varying the speed of variable feed conveyors and a variable feed mixer; and a gasifier that converts the biosolid feed into two of the beneficial use products.

A biosolids treatment system that treats human biosolids to produce thermal energy for self-consumption for the production of beneficial use products including low carbon ash, high carbon activated biochar, and Class A biosolids. The system includes a variable feed conveyor that conveys a biosolid feed into a dryer; a dryer that dries the biosolid feed to a predetermined moisture content to create one of a beneficial use products, where the predetermined moisture content is controlled by varying the speed of variable feed conveyors and a variable feed mixer; and a gasifier that converts the biosolid feed into two of the beneficial use products.

A process of treating sewage sludge and the formation of a granular product thereof, wherein said process comprises utilizing a urea-formaldehyde resin to treat a sludge product from thermal hydrolysis processes (THPs) to create an end product for agricultural and other uses. The process utilizes a high intensity mixing and chopping reactor, which combines the sludge with a resin and utilizes sulfuric or other mineral acid to polymerize the resin. The resultant product is subsequently dried and sized through a screening process. The process results in an end product that is a granular fertilizer that is substantially dehydrated and a substantial portion of the nutrients having low solubility and slow release rates. This reduces or eliminates the loss of plant nutrients to water runoff effects. The novel process results in a product that is a low-odor, enhanced fertilizer useful for the processing and utilization of sewage sludge for agricultural and other purposes.

A method for treating carbonaceous material, the method includes a) providing a first carbonaceous material CM1 contaminated with micro-pollutants and/or microplastics, and providing a second carbonaceous material CM2 free of micro-pollutants or microplastics, b) subjecting the first carbonaceous material CM1 to hydrothermal gasification in a HTG reactor, thereby producing an inorganic solid residue, a first gaseous fraction G1 comprising CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 and a filtrate F1 free of micro-pollutants or microplastics optionally containing readily biodegradable carbons such as VFAs, c) subjecting the second carbonaceous material CM2 together with at least part of the filtrate F1 to an anaerobic treatment step in an anaerobic tank, leading to a digestate free of micro-pollutants or microplastics and optionally a second gaseous fraction G2 containing CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2. An installation for treating carbonaceous material is also provided.

A method for treating carbonaceous material, the method includes a) providing a first carbonaceous material CM1 contaminated with micro-pollutants and/or microplastics, and providing a second carbonaceous material CM2 free of micro-pollutants or microplastics, b) subjecting the first carbonaceous material CM1 to hydrothermal gasification in a HTG reactor, thereby producing an inorganic solid residue, a first gaseous fraction G1 comprising CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 and a filtrate F1 free of micro-pollutants or microplastics optionally containing readily biodegradable carbons such as VFAs, c) subjecting the second carbonaceous material CM2 together with at least part of the filtrate F1 to an anaerobic treatment step in an anaerobic tank, leading to a digestate free of micro-pollutants or microplastics and optionally a second gaseous fraction G2 containing CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2. An installation for treating carbonaceous material is also provided.

Systems and methods for wastewater treatment are described. In some embodiments, a wastewater treatment system may include a container configured to receive and store at least a portion of incoming wastewater during a digestion process that generates biogas and a biogas burner. The biogas burner may be arranged to receive and burn at least a portion of the biogas generated by the digestion process. The system may be configured to heat solids separated from the wastewater such that: (i) the solids separated from the wastewater are maintained at a temperature of at least 70° C. for at least 30 minutes; and/or (ii) a water content of the solids separated from the wastewater is less than 15% by mass.

Systems and methods for wastewater treatment are described. In some embodiments, a wastewater treatment system may include a container configured to receive and store at least a portion of incoming wastewater during a digestion process that generates biogas and a biogas burner. The biogas burner may be arranged to receive and burn at least a portion of the biogas generated by the digestion process. The system may be configured to heat solids separated from the wastewater such that: (i) the solids separated from the wastewater are maintained at a temperature of at least 70° C. for at least 30 minutes; and/or (ii) a water content of the solids separated from the wastewater is less than 15% by mass.

Systems and methods associated with biomass decomposition are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to adjusting a flow rate of a fluid comprising oxygen into a reactor in which biomass is decomposed. The adjustment may be made, at least in part, based upon a measurement of a characteristic of the reactor and/or a characteristic of the biomass. Certain embodiments are related to cooling at least partially decomposed biomass. The biomass may be cooled by flowing a gas over an outlet conduit in which the biomass is cooled, and then directing the gas to a reactor after it has flowed over the outlet conduit. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor and an outlet conduit configured such that greater than or equal to 75% of its axially projected cross-sectional area is occupied by a conveyor. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor comprising an elongated compartment having a longitudinal axis arranged substantially vertically and an outlet conduit comprising a conveyor.

Disclosed are methods of dewatering solid byproduct. In some embodiments, the solid byproduct contains particles and is produced from a fermentation process for making an oxygenated compound such as ethanol. The method comprises a chemical sequence for conditioning (pre-treating) the solid byproduct to be dewatered. The solid byproduct (in water) is treated with alkaline material to increase its pH to about 7-8.5. Coagulant is added to the alkaline-treated solid byproduct to reduce charge on the solid byproduct. An agglomerating polymer is then added to increase the average size of the solid byproduct particles to a desired size (e.g., at least about 1 mm). Dewatering can further use known technologies such as screw press, belt press, filter press, centrifuge, and/or a dryer to separate the conditioned or pre-treated byproduct from water. Also disclosed are methods of producing oxygenated product, as well as methods of producing animal feed and/or fertilizer, respectively.