The invention relates to a method for aggregating and separating an organic material mixture which is provided in a dissolved form in an aqueous emulsion. The method is characterized by the following steps: a) providing an aqueous emulsion with organic compounds which are provided in the emulsion in a dissolved form, said organic compounds being carboxylic acids, phospholipids, glycolipids, glyceroglycolipids, phenols, sterols, chlorophyll, and/or sinapines, b) mixing the emulsion from step a) with an aqueous solution containing copper(II) ions and/or calcium ions until an aggregate formation is achieved, and c) separating the aggregates from step b) by means of a sedimentation, filtration, or centrifugation process after achieving an aggregated phase of the organic compounds from step b).

An extrusion system for separating soil entrained in wash water, e.g. from harvesting tuberous produce, includes a settling tank configured to receive a flow of soiled water, to allow soil to settle by gravity, and to allow clarified water collection at the top. A diffuser suspended within the tank converts the flow of soiled water into multiple transverse flows to avoid churning the settled soil. A sensor detects the level of settled soil reaching a predetermined setpoint, and in response the system actuates an auger and opens a pinch valve to force concentrated soil from the bottom of the settling tank.

The present invention describes a method for treating a plant material, said method comprising the following steps: —exposing the plant material to vacuum impregnation in an aqueous solution; —applying a pulsed electrical field (PEF) treatment to the plant material in the aqueous solution before, simultaneously as or after exposing the plant material to vacuum impregnation in an aqueous solution; —applying a drying step to the PEF treated plant material for removing water/moisture from surfaces of the plant material before packing the treated plant material; said method also comprising an active step for preventing microbial contamination of the aqueous solution.

The invention relates to a continuous process for treating organic waste taking place in a plant, said process for treating organic waste comprising a process of anaerobic digestion of a first part of said waste, which takes place in at least one digestion chamber, and a process of aerobic composting of a second part of said waste, which takes place in at least one composting chamber, the process for treating organic waste comprising the steps of:—collecting digestate and biogas at the end of said anaerobic digestion process,—collecting compost and humic percolate at the end of said aerobic composting process,—feeding at least part of said digestate

A cleaning system includes a planar material beneath a soiled grow table. The planar material is non-porous except for a drain. Above the planar material is a plate layer including at least two layers of runners arranged in a grid where each successive layer is offset at an angle with respect to the grid of a previous layer. The plate layer rests upon the non-porous material. An upper layer covers the plate layer and has a plurality of holes. A roller table is provided for slideably supporting the grow table. Nozzles are positioned over the grow table and is/are interfaced to a pump for receiving and spraying liquid from the pump downwardly towards the grow table. The liquid and impurities (e.g., soil, leaves) fall to the upper layer and through the plurality of holes for cleaning and filtering the liquid before the liquid is returned to the pump.

An efficient, cost-effective, and efficacious technique for removing coal ash and other pollutants from waterways, ponds, marshes, holding tanks and other water sources and supplies. An apparatus comprising an open cage including electromagnets and/or permanent magnets and/or electrodes is supplied with electrical power to extract materials such as rare earth elements and/or heavy metals. The materials levitate to the surface, forming a slurry while leaving water substantially free of such materials.

Disclosed is an automated aquaponics apparatus. The aquaponics apparatus may include at least one fish holding tank configured to contain water. Further, the aquaponics apparatus may include at least one hydroponic unit. Further, the aquaponics apparatus may include a bio-digester. Further, the aquaponics apparatus may include an atmospheric water generator and a desalination reverse osmosis system. Further, the aquaponics apparatus may include an energy production system configured to generate energy. Further, the aquaponics apparatus may include at least one sensor configured to sense at least one variable. Further, the aquaponics apparatus may include a control unit configured to control an operational state of one or more of the at least one fish holding tank, the at least one hydroponic unit, the bio-digester, the desalination reverse osmosis system and the energy production system.

A process for the treatment of wastewater (S1) formed during the production of starches, in particular of chemically modified starches, and which contains dissolved salts and organic compounds, in which process it is proposed that the wastewater (S1) or pretreated wastewater (S1) containing substantially the dissolved salts and the organic compounds of the wastewater (S1) is subjected to a membrane separation process in which a separation of the wastewater (S1) supplied to the membrane separation process into a first volume flow (S3) with a higher concentration of dissolved salts in relation to the supplied wastewater (S1) and a second volume flow (S2) with a reduced concentration of dissolved salts in relation to the supplied wastewater (S1) is performed, wherein the first volume flow (S3) is subjected to thermal treatment for the separation of the dissolved salts and of a third volume flow (S9) which contains a fraction of the organic compounds of the wastewater (S1). By means of the invention, a process for the treatment of the wastewater (S1) from the production of modified starches with recovery of utilizable contents is provided.

A method for removing solids via coagulation and flocculation from aqueous solutions that are generated in the process of producing corn flour called nixtamalization. This method for separating liquids/solids is especially effective in removing solids via coagulation flocculation in the process called nixtamalization in which maize is processed at high temperatures in a highly alkaline solution.

A source of carbonate alkalinity is first introduced into the waste stream (called nejayote) that is generated in the process of the nixtamalization of corn, which causes a drop in pH, and is then followed by an anionic flocculant and last of all followed by a cationic flocculant which creates a solid floc of superior strength, which allows the solids to be separated (dewatered) from the water with a high efficiency.

The addition of a source of carbonate alkalinity (coagulant) followed by an anionic and then a cationic flocculant creates a floc of superior strength versus prior art of using a coagulant and anionic flocculant or an anionic flocculant alone and therefore the solid liquid separation process is more effective on dewatering devices. When flocculants are GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), the recovered solids can be utilized as an animal food source which has economic benefits from a waste disposal perspective.

A method for obtaining pure drinking water from dewatered biological products is described. The process is carried out in a hermetic dewatering chamber isolated from the ambient atmosphere and in parallel with a process during which dried products are placed on drying trays. All the process parameters, such as temperature, humidity, and appropriate pressure inside the chamber, are controlled. The vapor generated during the product dewatering process, released from the products, is continuously removed from the dewatering chamber through the upper opening, exits through the outflow channel, and enters through the condenser. The process of obtaining clean drinking water is carried out outside the chamber and is conducted in several stages: vapor passes through disinfectant grids, vapor flows to a condenser cooled with ice water, and the vapor condenses on densely arranged lamellas. The condensate is then pumped to a discharge tub.