Methods and apparatus for shredding cooling tower debris are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of preparing debris for disposal includes: receiving debris from a cooling tower; processing the received debris through a low RPM shredder to reduce the size of the debris; depositing the reduced size debris onto a conveyor; and moving the debris along the conveyor and depositing the debris into a receptacle.

There is provided a method for enhanced extraction of cannabis oil from a cannabis plant material, and a free-flowing powder consisting of particles of cannabis plant material for use in such method for enhanced extraction. The cannabis plant material is characterized by a cannabis strain and a cannabis plant part. The method comprising a step of comminuting said cannabis plant material to a powder of a preselected particle size distribution (PSD) characterized by 10≤Dv(90)≤100 μm as determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis prior to extraction process. The PSD is preselected in accordance with said cannabis strain and said plant part.

There is provided a method for enhanced extraction of cannabis oil from a cannabis plant material, and a free-flowing powder consisting of particles of cannabis plant material for use in such method for enhanced extraction. The cannabis plant material is characterized by a cannabis strain and a cannabis plant part. The method comprising a step of comminuting said cannabis plant material to a powder of a preselected particle size distribution (PSD) characterized by 10≤Dv(90)≤100 μm as determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis prior to extraction process. The PSD is preselected in accordance with said cannabis strain and said plant part.

There is provided a method for enhanced extraction of cannabis oil from a cannabis plant material, and a free-flowing powder consisting of particles of cannabis plant material for use in such method. The cannabis plant material is characterized by a cannabis strain and a cannabis plant part. The method including a step of comminuting the cannabis plant material to a powder of a preselected particle size distribution (PSD) characterized by 10≤Dv(90)≤100 μm as determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis prior to the extraction process, whereby the PSD is preselected in accordance with cannabis strain and the plant part.

There is provided a method for enhanced extraction of cannabis oil from a cannabis plant material, and a free-flowing powder consisting of particles of cannabis plant material for use in such method. The cannabis plant material is characterized by a cannabis strain and a cannabis plant part. The method including a step of comminuting the cannabis plant material to a powder of a preselected particle size distribution (PSD) characterized by 10≤Dv(90)≤100 μm as determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis prior to the extraction process, whereby the PSD is preselected in accordance with cannabis strain and the plant part.

An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

An apparatus is configured to apply a treatment agent to an agricultural byproduct. The apparatus includes a fragmenting chamber where the agricultural byproduct is fragmented into particles. An initial amount of a treatment agent is applied to the byproduct in the fragmenting chamber. Particles of a desired size flow through a screen from the fragmenting chamber to a recovery zone. A second amount of the treatment agent is applied to the particles in the recovery zone. A regulator regulates the amount of the treatment agent applied to the particles in the fragmenting chamber and the amount of treatment agent applied in the in the recovery zone. The regulation may be based on one or more feedback mechanisms.

A waste management system, primarily intended to be for waste floating in water, though it can also be used on land. A shredding device will reduce the size of the particles of waste. Ocean water is removed by a drying device. The dried waste material is cryogenically frozen using liquid nitrogen or other suitable means. The frozen waste material is then pulverized and ground into a powder. The powder may then be sprayed into a gas-filled chamber and heated. Temperature, pressure and humidity are maintained within the chamber for more than one minute. Microwave or other radiation and catalysts may be used to enhance the process of extraction. The processed material is then removed from the chamber. Carbon and water may be recycled. The carbon may be used as fuel by the ship. Water may also be used by the ship or returned to the ocean in a non-toxic condition.

A waste management system, primarily intended to be for waste floating in water, though it can also be used on land. A shredding device will reduce the size of the particles of waste. Ocean water is removed by a drying device. The dried waste material is cryogenically frozen using liquid nitrogen or other suitable means. The frozen waste material is then pulverized and ground into a powder. The powder may then be sprayed into a gas-filled chamber and heated. Temperature, pressure and humidity are maintained within the chamber for more than one minute. Microwave or other radiation and catalysts may be used to enhance the process of extraction. The processed material is then removed from the chamber. Carbon and water may be recycled. The carbon may be used as fuel by the ship. Water may also be used by the ship or returned to the ocean in a non-toxic condition.

A method of recycling aluminum alloy wheels, the method comprising (a) providing a feed of aluminum alloy wheels; (b) fragmenting the aluminum alloy wheels into a plurality of fragments; (c) cleaning the plurality of fragments to at least partly remove at least one contaminant element therefrom; (d) determining a contaminant concentration estimate for each contaminant element in the plurality of fragments; and (e) operating a data processor to either approve or reject the plurality of fragments, based on an aggregate contaminant concentration calculation. When the plurality of fragments is approved, they may be provided to a downstream recycling process. When the plurality of fragments is rejected, they may not be provided to the downstream recycling process without further cleaning.