Disclosed is a reactor for treating, particularly by hydrothermal carbonization, sludge containing organic matter, including, with: a vessel (100) including an inner chamber arranged to receive the sludge and to form a path of travel for the sludge adapted to allow for circulation of the sludge, a sludge inlet (1) arranged to introduce the sludge into a sludge introduction area of the inner chamber, a sludge outlet (11) arranged to discharge at least part of the sludge contained in the inner chamber, and a steam inlet (3) arranged to inject steam in a steam injection zone of the inner chamber along a steam injection direction, the steam injection direction being different from a sludge circulation direction in the steam injection zone along the circulation path, the steam injection zone being separated from the sludge introduction zone.

A method of continuous hydrothermal carbonization of sludge containing organic matter involves a step of hydrothermal reaction carried out in a reactor, and at least one cooling step in which the sludge having undergone the hydrothermal reaction step is cooled. The hydrothermal reaction step includes: a step of injection of sludge in which the sludge is injected into the reactor by a first inlet; a step of injection of steam in which steam is injected into the reactor by a second inlet, the second inlet being distinct from the first inlet; a step of circulation, in which a mixture consisting of the sludge and the steam injected into the reactor is placed in circulation within the reactor; a step of continuous extraction of at least a portion of the mixture contained in the reactor by a sludge outlet. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out such a method.

At least one aspect of the technology provides a self-contained processing facility configured to convert organic, high water-content waste, such as fecal sludge and garbage, into electricity while also generating and collecting potable water.

Materials (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems equipment, and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, using an array of vaults.

An anaerobic digester is fed a feedstock, for example sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and produces a digestate. The digestate is dewatered into a cake. The cake may be dried further, for example in a thermal drier. The cake is treated in a pyrolysis system to produce a synthesis gas and biochar. The gas is sent to the same or another digester to increase its methane production. The char may be used as a soil enhancer.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, equipment, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which hazardous gases are removed, destroyed and/or converted. The treatments are efficient and can reduce the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic material so that it is easier to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., sugars, alcohols, sugar alcohols and energy, from the lignocellulosic material.

A water treatment composition includes a water soluble film formed into a sealed pouch. The pouch contains a composite of a phosphate removing substance, a polymer flocculant, or an enzyme, or any combination. The phosphate removing substance, the polymer flocculant, and the enzyme are bound to each other within the composite. The pouch is added to a body of water. The pouch dissolves to release the compounds and treat the water.

Integrated process for the production of bio-oil from sludge coming from a wastewater purification plant comprising the following steps: (a) sending wastewater to said purification plant obtaining sludge; (b) subjecting the sludge obtained in said step (a) to liquefaction, obtaining a mixture Including an oily phase consisting of bio-oil, a solid phase and an aqueous phase; (c) sending the aqueous phase obtained in said step (b) to said purification plant. The bio-oil (or bio-crude) thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of bio-fuels which can be used as such, or in a mixture with other automotive fuels. Otherwise, said bio-oil (or bio-crude) can be used as such (bio-fuel), or in a mixture with fossil fuels (combustible oil, coal, etc.), for the generation of electric energy or heat.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. Systems, methods and equipment are described for upgrading process streams using electrodialysis or electrodialysis reversal.

The present document describes a carbon allotrope-silica composite material comprising a silica microcapsule comprising a silica shell having a thickness of from about 50 nm to about 500 m, and a plurality of pores, said shell forming a capsule having a diameter from about 0.2 m to about 1500 and having a density of about 0.001 g/cm3 to about 1.0 g/cm3, wherein said shell comprises from about 0% to about 70% Q3 configuration, and from about 30% to about 100% Q4 configuration, or wherein said shell comprises from about 0% to about 60% T2 configuration and from about 40% to about 100% T3 configuration, or wherein said shell comprises a combination of T and Q configurations thereof, and wherein an exterior surface of said capsule is covered by a functional group; a carbon allotrope attached to said silica microcapsule. Also described is a carbon allotrope-silica composite material comprising a carbon allotrope attached to a silica moiety comprising a silica nanoparticle having a diameter from about 5 nm to about 1000 nm, wherein an exterior surface of said silica nanoparticle is covered by a functional group.