Apparatus and associated methods relate to drying a wet coated seed material stream comprising an incoming wet granular biosolids stream mixed with a controlled size dried seed material recycling stream to produce a moist air and pellet stream, separating an uncontrolled size dried pellet stream from the moist air and pellet stream, diverting a recycle portion of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to be recycled, diverting the remainder of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to an outlet, resizing oversized pellets from the recycle portion of the uncontrolled size dried pellet stream to produce the controlled size dried seed material recycling stream, and mixing the controlled size dried seed material recycling stream with the incoming wet granular biosolids stream to produce the wet coated seed material stream. Oversized pellets may be selected using a screen. The oversized pellets may be resized using a crusher inline with the recycle stream.

A sludge treatment process including: adjusting sludge to a particle diameter of more than 2 mm to 45 mm or less; a step of pyrolyzing the adjusted sludge in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free atmosphere and at a temperature of 350° C. to 500° C.; and a step of combusting a gas generated in the pyrolysis. Such process may be used to decompose harmful compounds and maximize the efficiency of the process.

A sludge treatment process including: adjusting sludge to a particle diameter of more than 2 mm to 45 mm or less; a step of pyrolyzing the adjusted sludge in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free atmosphere and at a temperature of 350° C. to 500° C.; and a step of combusting a gas generated in the pyrolysis. Such process may be used to decompose harmful compounds and maximize the efficiency of the process.

Methods and systems for treatment of organic waste by means of hydrothermal carbonization include a mixing tank for receiving organic waste. A first batch of mixed wet waste is fed from the mixing tank to a first thermal reactor to undergo thermal hydrolysis. A second batch of mixed wet waste is fed from the mixing tank to a second thermal reactor to undergo thermal hydrolysis. Bio-char sludge is fed in an alternating manner from the first and second thermal reactors to a bio-char cooler. To save energy, hot and pressurized water from the first thermal reactor is subsequently supplied to the second thermal reactor or from the second thermal reactor to the first thermal reactor in an alternating manner for the respective hydrolysis processes.

Methods and systems for treatment of organic waste by means of hydrothermal carbonization include a mixing tank for receiving organic waste. A first batch of mixed wet waste is fed from the mixing tank to a first thermal reactor to undergo thermal hydrolysis. A second batch of mixed wet waste is fed from the mixing tank to a second thermal reactor to undergo thermal hydrolysis. Bio-char sludge is fed in an alternating manner from the first and second thermal reactors to a bio-char cooler. To save energy, hot and pressurized water from the first thermal reactor is subsequently supplied to the second thermal reactor or from the second thermal reactor to the first thermal reactor in an alternating manner for the respective hydrolysis processes.

This invention proposes the use of Thermal Hydrolysis (or Thermal Carbonization) at different temperatures and pressures in alternate waste streams to achieve an optimal mix of high digestion rates and pasteurization rates while still achieving large viscosity reduction. In the disclosed embodiments means of combining Thermal Hydrolysis (or Thermal Carbonization) and Pasteurization including but not limited to placing the waste streams in parallel, placing them in series, utilizing heat input in parallel and heat exchangers in series are explored to optimize hydrolysis rates, minimize the use of high pressure tanks, optimize energy used, and manage viscosity characteristics of the solids.

This invention proposes the use of Thermal Hydrolysis (or Thermal Carbonization) at different temperatures and pressures in alternate waste streams to achieve an optimal mix of high digestion rates and pasteurization rates while still achieving large viscosity reduction. In the disclosed embodiments means of combining Thermal Hydrolysis (or Thermal Carbonization) and Pasteurization including but not limited to placing the waste streams in parallel, placing them in series, utilizing heat input in parallel and heat exchangers in series are explored to optimize hydrolysis rates, minimize the use of high pressure tanks, optimize energy used, and manage viscosity characteristics of the solids.

A method to reduce or eliminate N-heterocycles, the method providing one or more environmentally benign chelators (EBCs) to an aqueous cooling system, the aqueous cooling system having at least one N-heterocycle in the presence of a halogenating or non-halogenating oxidizer. A method to reduce or eliminate AOX, the method providing one or more environmentally benign chelators (EBCs) to an aqueous cooling system, the aqueous cooling system having at least one AOX-containing species in the presence of a halogenating biocide.

Described are methods and devices for the treatment of fecal matter. A column reactor is used to smolder fecal matter to produce and a volatile components stream and smoldered media. The volatile components stream may be subject to catalysis to reduce the emission of noxious substances and/or generate heat energy. Also described is the use of a turntable for removing smoldered media from the column reactor.

Described are methods and devices for the treatment of fecal matter. A column reactor is used to smolder fecal matter to produce and a volatile components stream and smoldered media. The volatile components stream may be subject to catalysis to reduce the emission of noxious substances and/or generate heat energy. Also described is the use of a turntable for removing smoldered media from the column reactor.