There is provided a method of hydrothermal carbonization of a sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, comprising the steps of: preheating the sludge with at least one first steam fraction to obtain a preheated sludge; further heating the preheated sludge with a second steam fraction to obtain a heated sludge; subjecting the heated sludge to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in a reactor to obtain a HTC-treated slurry; mixing the HTC-treated slurry with an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen gas, to obtain a wet-oxidized slurry; subjecting the wet-oxidized slurry to flashing to obtain the second steam fraction and a pre-cooled slurry; subjecting the pre-cooled slurry to flashing in at least one step to obtain the at least one first steam fraction and a cooled slurry; separating the cooled slurry into a liquid fraction and a solids fraction; and routing the liquid fraction to the wastewater treatment plant for further treatment, wherein the second steam fraction is used for heating preheated sludge to the temperature of the HTC reaction. A corresponding system is also provided.

Process for treating sludge includes a first segment in which a batch of sludge and lime are mixed with the addition of supplement heat to achieve an elevated processing temperature and a second segment in which the mixer is maintained at a lower temperature to dry the interior of the mixing device after processing the batch.

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.

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 and plant for hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30%, to be used in an anaerobic fermentation, digestion or another process aimed at producing or extracting methane or other valuable substances, which method and plant relies on the use of vacuum and several pulpers and one or several flashtanks in series for step-wise pre-heating and pressure reduction, respectively.

A method and plant for hydrolysis of a liquid substrate, having a dry solids content of between 2 and 30%, to be used in an anaerobic fermentation, digestion or another process aimed at producing or extracting methane or other valuable substances, which method and plant relies on the use of vacuum and several pulpers and one or several flashtanks in series for step-wise pre-heating and pressure reduction, respectively.

A method and plant for recovering phosphate from a biomass material, the biomass material suitably being a waste activated sludge from an upstream wastewater treatment process including a biological P removal process. The method includes an anaerobic digestion stage and steps for recovering independent streams rich in PO.sub.4 and Mg, or rich in PO.sub.4 and NH.sub.4, thereby increasing the amount of P recovered and avoiding struvite formation in the anaerobic digester and accessory equipment thereof, such as pipes.

The present invention relates to intelligent oil sludge treatment apparatuses and treatment processes. The treatment apparatus includes an integrative device, an oil removal device, a separation device, a sludge collection tank, a dewatering device, a pyrolysis device, an agent tank, a deodorization tower, a crude oil tank, a light oil tank, a separator, a condenser, a desulfurization tower, a clean water tank, a sewage station, and a steam boiler, where an outlet of the integrative device is connected to an inlet of the oil removal device; the oil removal device is configured to remove crude oil from oil slurry; the oil removal machine collects the crude oil to the crude oil tank, discharges stench into the deodorization tower, and discharges the slurry into the separation device; and the separation device is configured to perform a solid-liquid separation operation.