An apparatus, method and system is provided for treating sewage sludge by dewatering the sewage sludge, heating the sewage sludge being treated to destroy pathogens, and then reducing volatile solids in the sewage sludge being treated through biochemical decomposition to produce a treated biosolids product that meets government regulations for pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction.

An apparatus, method and system is provided for treating sewage sludge by dewatering the sewage sludge, heating the sewage sludge being treated to destroy pathogens, and then reducing volatile solids in the sewage sludge being treated through biochemical decomposition to produce a treated biosolids product that meets government regulations for pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction.

A wastewater treatment system, including a wastewater phase-separation device, may be used to combine at least one primary treatment chemical and wastewater to produce cleaned water and a sludge byproduct. The wastewater treatment system may also include a wastewater dewatering device that may be used to combine the sludge byproduct and at least one secondary treatment chemical to produce a Medium to High Solids Content Sludge without excess water. A method for producing sludge for cement manufacturing may include combining wastewater and at least one primary treatment chemical to form a liquid phase and a solid phase, where the liquid phase includes clean water and the solid phase includes a sludge byproduct, separating the liquid phase from the solid phase, combining the solid phase with at least one secondary treatment chemical to form an intermediate that contains excess water, and removing the excess water from the intermediate to form a Medium to High Solids Content Sludge.

A wastewater treatment system, including a wastewater phase-separation device, may be used to combine at least one primary treatment chemical and wastewater to produce cleaned water and a sludge byproduct. The wastewater treatment system may also include a wastewater dewatering device that may be used to combine the sludge byproduct and at least one secondary treatment chemical to produce a Medium to High Solids Content Sludge without excess water. A method for producing sludge for cement manufacturing may include combining wastewater and at least one primary treatment chemical to form a liquid phase and a solid phase, where the liquid phase includes clean water and the solid phase includes a sludge byproduct, separating the liquid phase from the solid phase, combining the solid phase with at least one secondary treatment chemical to form an intermediate that contains excess water, and removing the excess water from the intermediate to form a Medium to High Solids Content Sludge.

Methods and systems for calcining dewatered tailings and/or mine waste are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) processing dewatered tailings comprising clay minerals, (ii) calcining the processed tailings to produced calcined tailings, and (iii) altering a composition and/or one or more characteristics of the calcined tailings to produce a cementitious product. Altering the composition can include blending the calcined tailings with one or more additives, such as lime, dolomitic lime, lime kiln dust, argillaceous limestone, limestone, pulverized quicklime, ground calcium carbonate, quicklime, gypsum, natural pozzolans, artificial pozzolans, water, flow aids, or the like.

Methods and systems for calcining dewatered tailings and/or mine waste are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) processing dewatered tailings comprising clay minerals, (ii) calcining the processed tailings to produced calcined tailings, and (iii) altering a composition and/or one or more characteristics of the calcined tailings to produce a cementitious product. Altering the composition can include blending the calcined tailings with one or more additives, such as lime, dolomitic lime, lime kiln dust, argillaceous limestone, limestone, pulverized quicklime, ground calcium carbonate, quicklime, gypsum, natural pozzolans, artificial pozzolans, water, flow aids, or the like.

Process for treating sludge includes a first segment in which a batch of sludge and lime are mixed with the addition of supplement heat to achieve an elevated processing temperature and a second segment in which the mixer is maintained at a lower temperature to dry the interior of the mixing device after processing the batch.

Process for treating sludge includes a first segment in which a batch of sludge and lime are mixed with the addition of supplement heat to achieve an elevated processing temperature and a second segment in which the mixer is maintained at a lower temperature to dry the interior of the mixing device after processing the batch.

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.

Methods and systems for treating tailings at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises (i) providing a tailings stream comprising bicarbonates and a pH less than 9.0, (ii) adding a coagulant comprising calcium hydroxide to the tailings stream to form a mixture having a pH of at least 11.5 and a soluble calcium level no more than 800 mg/L, and (iii) dewatering the mixture to produce a product having a solids content of at least 40% by weight. In some embodiments, the pH and soluble calcium level of the mixture cause chemical modification of clay materials of the mixture via pozzolanic reactions. In some embodiments, the undrained shear strength of the product increases over a period of time of at least two days.