The present invention provides for nutrient extraction and recovery devices that use the Donnan Membrane Principle (DMP) to cause spontaneous separation of dissolved ions along electrochemical potential gradients, wherein anions and cations such as H.sub.2PO.sub.4.sup.−, HPO.sub.4.sup.2−, PO.sub.4.sup.3−, Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, and K.sup.+ are moved from manure containing waste streams through cation and anion exchange membranes into a recovery stream thereby precipitating target compounds including but not limited to struvite, potassium struvite and hydroxyapatite.

The present invention provides for nutrient extraction and recovery devices that use the Donnan Membrane Principle (DMP) to cause spontaneous separation of dissolved ions along electrochemical potential gradients, wherein anions and cations such as H.sub.2PO.sub.4.sup.−, HPO.sub.4.sup.2−, PO.sub.4.sup.3−, Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, and K.sup.+ are moved from manure containing waste streams through cation and anion exchange membranes into a recovery stream thereby precipitating target compounds including but not limited to struvite, potassium struvite and hydroxyapatite.

The invention relates to a method for the purification of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose obtained from purines, which can be burned in compliance with environmental standards as a substitute for wood. The method of the invention produces a novel bio-fuel.

The invention relates to a method for the purification of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose obtained from purines, which can be burned in compliance with environmental standards as a substitute for wood. The method of the invention produces a novel bio-fuel.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

A method for generating and capturing biothermal energy comprising: forming a heap comprising an amended organic material; subjecting the amended organic material to a continuous fermentation process to produce a convection current, and to stimulate capture of non-visible radiation, and using a heat exchanger in contact with the heap, capture and/or store biothermal energy generated by the continuous fermentation process within the heap.

A feeding device is provided for a belt drying installation for dump or sewage sludge material dewatered down to a pasty consistency. In the conveying path of the sludge material, a first roller having transverse grooves that are set back relative to the outer diameter of the roller and a guide device are arranged relative to the outer diameter of the first roller such that when the roller is rotated the sludge material is drawn into the transverse grooves and is shaped to elongated extrudates. The first roller is associated with a comb which has teeth that rigidly engage the transverse grooves and which sweeps the extrudates from the transverse grooves, wherein the tips of the teeth which rigidly engage the transverse grooves define a line of engagement. The tooth tips which rigidly engage the transverse grooves are beveled towards the tooth neck.

A feeding device is provided for a belt drying installation for dump or sewage sludge material dewatered down to a pasty consistency. In the conveying path of the sludge material, a first roller having transverse grooves that are set back relative to the outer diameter of the roller and a guide device are arranged relative to the outer diameter of the first roller such that when the roller is rotated the sludge material is drawn into the transverse grooves and is shaped to elongated extrudates. The first roller is associated with a comb which has teeth that rigidly engage the transverse grooves and which sweeps the extrudates from the transverse grooves, wherein the tips of the teeth which rigidly engage the transverse grooves define a line of engagement. The tooth tips which rigidly engage the transverse grooves are beveled towards the tooth neck.

A method and an apparatus for receiving manure from a vacuum truck, as that manure is collected from alleys of a dairy barn, includes receiving the manure in a mixing basin. The received manure is diluted in the mixing basin with a jet of water discharging a sufficient volume of water to form a sand-laden manure flow having a velocity of over 3 feet per second and dilute the received manure into a sand-laden manure suspension of less than seven percent manure solids. The resulting sand laden manure suspension is conducted into a vestibule of a sand settling lane to slow the flow of the sand laden manure suspension to enter a sand settling lane at a velocity of less than 1.25 feet per second. Sand is collected in the sand settling lane.