Disclosed herein is an apparatus for facilitating purification of sludge and tailing, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, a sedimentation unit receives sludge and tailing in a first tank, separates wastewater from the sludge and the tailing, and transfers the wastewater from the first tank to a second tank. Further, a centrifugal unit creates a vortex in the wastewater. Further, a thermal hydrolysis unit coagulates a second impurity of the wastewater using coagulants and transfers the wastewater from the second tank to a third tank. Further, a digesting unit digests a macromolecule of the wastewater into a compound and transfers the wastewater from the third tank to a fourth tank. Further, a nutrient removal unit filters the wastewater from the compound and transfers the wastewater from the fourth tank to a fifth tank. Further, a reservoir unit disinfects the wastewater and stores the wastewater in the fifth tank.

The present invention relates to a method of treating sludge containing phosphorus, ammonia and magnesium and enhancing the dewaterability of the sludge. The sludge is directed into a biological fermenter operated under anaerobic conditions. By controlling the temperature of the sludge in the fermenter or the hydraulic retention time of the sludge in the fermenter, phosphorus, ammonia and magnesium is released from the solids in the sludge into a liquid forming a part of the sludge. Sludge from the fermenter is subjected to a solids-liquid separation process that produces a concentrated sludge and a liquid. The concentrated sludge or separated solids is directed to a thermal hydrolysis reactor that thermally hydrolyzes the concentrated sludge. After thermally hydrolyzing the concentrated sludge, the concentrated sludge is directed to an anaerobic digester that anaerobically digests the concentrated sludge.

Commercially beneficial carbon-containing fractions can be recovered from hydrothermal liquefaction reactions in various types of processors. Feedstock slurry from waste solids is placed into a pressurized processor where it is maintained at temperature and pressure for a predetermined period. On discharge from the processor the processed discharge is separated into liquid and solid fractions. Gaseous fractions including carbon dioxide can also be removed or off-taken from the processor. New molecular structures are created in this reaction, resulting in fractions including biogas, biofuels, biosolids and biocrude. Silica, phosphates, potash and low concentration nitrogen based fertilizer, along with carbonaceous material can also be recovered.

Procedure for the thermal hydrolysis of organic matter in steady state, with a double steam explosion and total energy recovery, which consists, as a minimum, of the 1) feeding stage, stepped pressurization and sequential injection of low, medium and high pressure level steam; 2) first stage of hydrolysis by consecutive steam explosion operations with the production of medium pressure level steam and thermal reaction; 3) second stage of hydrolysis consisting of steam explosion and production of low pressure steam. An installation for the implementation of the process, which consists of comprising pumps for stepped pressurization, fluid-steam mixers, valves, mixers, decompression elements, tanks, piping and instrumentation and control systems.

Procedure for the thermal hydrolysis of organic matter in steady state, with a double steam explosion and total energy recovery, which consists, as a minimum, of the 1) feeding stage, stepped pressurization and sequential injection of low, medium and high pressure level steam; 2) first stage of hydrolysis by consecutive steam explosion operations with the production of medium pressure level steam and thermal reaction; 3) second stage of hydrolysis consisting of steam explosion and production of low pressure steam. An installation for the implementation of the process, which consists of comprising pumps for stepped pressurization, fluid-steam mixers, valves, mixers, decompression elements, tanks, piping and instrumentation and control systems.

In an embodiment, a circuit includes: a transformer defining an inductive footprint within a first layer; a grounded shield bounded by the inductive footprint within a second layer separate from the first layer; and a circuit component bounded by the inductive footprint within a third layer separate from the second layer, wherein: the circuit component is coupled with the transformer through the second layer, and the third layer is separated from the first layer by the second layer.

In an embodiment, a circuit includes: a transformer defining an inductive footprint within a first layer; a grounded shield bounded by the inductive footprint within a second layer separate from the first layer; and a circuit component bounded by the inductive footprint within a third layer separate from the second layer, wherein: the circuit component is coupled with the transformer through the second layer, and the third layer is separated from the first layer by the second layer.

The invention concerns a method for extracting valuable materials from organic compounds contained in waste or chemical elements contained therein.

The method comprises the following steps carried out in succession: a) mixing the waste (1) with a base so that a liquid medium is formed, b) heating the medium in a reactor (3) to a temperature of 100 C. to 140 C. in order to hydrolyse the organic compounds contained in the medium, and withdrawing (c) the vapour which is formed, b1) transferring (c) the vapour from the reactor (3) to a washing tower (4), b2) adding sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid (c) to the vapour in order to form ammonium sulphate(s) or ammonium phosphate(s), wherein a solution is obtained in the bottom of the washing tower (4) and the vapour is withdrawn from the head of the washing tower (4), b3) transferring (e) the solution obtained in step b2) to an electrochemical cell (6) with a cathode chamber and an anode chamber and electrolysing the solution, whereupon in the anode chamber, sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid is obtained for step b2), b4) recycling (c) the sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid obtained from the anode chamber to the washing tower and withdrawing (f) valuable materials formed in the cathode chamber, in particular an ammoniacal solution, c) transferring (d) the liquid medium remaining in the reactor (3) in step b) to a separating device (5) in order to separate any solid inorganic phase which is contained in the liquid medium.

The invention concerns a method for extracting valuable materials from organic compounds contained in waste or chemical elements contained therein.

The method comprises the following steps carried out in succession: a) mixing the waste (1) with a base so that a liquid medium is formed, b) heating the medium in a reactor (3) to a temperature of 100 C. to 140 C. in order to hydrolyse the organic compounds contained in the medium, and withdrawing (c) the vapour which is formed, b1) transferring (c) the vapour from the reactor (3) to a washing tower (4), b2) adding sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid (c) to the vapour in order to form ammonium sulphate(s) or ammonium phosphate(s), wherein a solution is obtained in the bottom of the washing tower (4) and the vapour is withdrawn from the head of the washing tower (4), b3) transferring (e) the solution obtained in step b2) to an electrochemical cell (6) with a cathode chamber and an anode chamber and electrolysing the solution, whereupon in the anode chamber, sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid is obtained for step b2), b4) recycling (c) the sulphuric acid or phosphoric acid obtained from the anode chamber to the washing tower and withdrawing (f) valuable materials formed in the cathode chamber, in particular an ammoniacal solution, c) transferring (d) the liquid medium remaining in the reactor (3) in step b) to a separating device (5) in order to separate any solid inorganic phase which is contained in the liquid medium.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

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