Methods and systems for converting ammonium waste streams into certifiably Organic ammonium salts having a variety of uses in greenhouse gas-reducing activities are herein described. The resulting ammonium salt compositions can be used to enhance crop yield.

A sludge digester including a vessel and floating cover. The vessel includes a sidewall and an interior volume configured to receive and contain sludge. According to one embodiment, the cover comprises a frame structure that is constructed and arranged to form a skirt member formed at a periphery of the cover and extending downwardly into the vessel, and a continuous ballast ring attached to a lower portion of the skirt member and configured to form a trough member with an interior surface of the skirt member. The sludge digester may also include a guide system coupled to the sidewall and the skirt member and configured to allow vertical displacement of the cover with change in volume of at least one of a gas and a sludge contained in the vessel beneath the cover.

A sludge digester including a vessel and floating cover. The vessel includes a sidewall and an interior volume configured to receive and contain sludge. According to one embodiment, the cover comprises a frame structure that is constructed and arranged to form a skirt member formed at a periphery of the cover and extending downwardly into the vessel, and a continuous ballast ring attached to a lower portion of the skirt member and configured to form a trough member with an interior surface of the skirt member. The sludge digester may also include a guide system coupled to the sidewall and the skirt member and configured to allow vertical displacement of the cover with change in volume of at least one of a gas and a sludge contained in the vessel beneath the cover.

A system includes a first separator configured to receive waste water, retain a first portion of the waste water, and separate the first portion of the waste water into a first vapor and a first solid material; and a second separator in fluid communication with the first separator, the second separator being configured to receive a second portion of the waste water from the first separator and to separate the second portion of the waste water into a second vapor and a second solid material, the second separator including a first condenser, a heating element, and a first electrocoagulation unit. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

An apparatus has a plurality of gas transfer membranes. The apparatus floats in water with the membranes submerged in the water. To treat the water, a gas is supplied to the membranes and is transferred to a biofilm supported on the membranes or to the water. Gas is also used to supply mixing or membrane scouring bubbles to the water. The mixing or scouring bubbles can be provided by a cyclic aeration or other gas supply system, which optionally provides gas at a variable pressure to the membranes in parallel or series with an aerator. Condensates can be removed from the membranes, and exhaust gasses from the membranes can be monitored, optionally through one or more dedicated pipes.

A method and a system for in-situ remediation of recalcitrant organic and inorganic contaminants in an environmental medium are disclosed. Dissolved gases from water and an oil are removed to form degassed water and a degassed oil. The degassed water and the degassed oil are mixed to form a surfactant-free oil-in water emulsion. The surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion is injected into the environmental medium, thereby producing anaerobic conditions to cause indigenous anerobic bacteria to biodegrade residual concentrations of the contaminants in the environmental medium.

A method and a system for in-situ remediation of recalcitrant organic and inorganic contaminants in an environmental medium are disclosed. Dissolved gases from water and an oil are removed to form degassed water and a degassed oil. The degassed water and the degassed oil are mixed to form a surfactant-free oil-in water emulsion. The surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion is injected into the environmental medium, thereby producing anaerobic conditions to cause indigenous anerobic bacteria to biodegrade residual concentrations of the contaminants in the environmental medium.

A method for improved anaerobic digestion is presented. The method includes mixing a volume of waste material with water to form a feedstock mixture. The volume of waste material includes an initial amount of biomass and the feedstock mixture includes methanogenic bacteria either naturally present in the waste material or introduced artificially. The method also includes introducing one or more promoter substances to the feedstock mixture. The one or more promoter substances are capable of modifying the methanogenic bacteria. Modifying includes stimulating novel enzyme production in the methanogenic bacteria.

A method for improved anaerobic digestion is presented. The method includes mixing a volume of waste material with water to form a feedstock mixture. The volume of waste material includes an initial amount of biomass and the feedstock mixture includes methanogenic bacteria either naturally present in the waste material or introduced artificially. The method also includes introducing one or more promoter substances to the feedstock mixture. The one or more promoter substances are capable of modifying the methanogenic bacteria. Modifying includes stimulating novel enzyme production in the methanogenic bacteria.

A system and method for removing ammonia from an ammonia-containing liquid is described. The system comprises a primary heat exchanger 12 for heating the ammonia-containing liquid to operational temperature, an ammonia stripper 14 for stripping ammonia from the ammonia-containing liquid from the primary heat exchanger and discharging it as ammonia-containing gas, and an acid scrubber 16 for reacting the ammonia in the ammonia-containing gas with acid to form an ammonium salt. The acid scrubber comprises a scrubbed air outlet 32 in fluid communication with a hot air inlet 20 of the ammonia stripper, such that scrubbed air which is discharged from the acid scrubber may be recycled for use in the ammonia stripper. Also described is a system and method for removing ammonia from an ammonia-containing liquid, wherein the system comprises a cold-water scrubber for removing ammonia from the ammonia-containing gas discharged from the ammonia stripper.