According to one embodiment, a method for removing antimicrobial material from a composition includes providing a container that contains a plurality of carbon elements such as granules, rocks and sheets. The carbon elements are submerged with a liquid and a composition that includes an antimicrobial material is deposited in the container. The carbon elements are configured to remove the antimicrobial material from the composition. The level of the liquid in the container is monitored and controlled to maintain a submerged condition of the carbon elements.

A system for producing steam includes a source of superheated water with superheated water output; a membrane filtration system in fluid communication with the superheated water output and including a membrane filter with a permeate side and an opposing retentate side. The membrane filter includes a separation membrane constructed to reject organic molecules. The system may be used for removing organic compounds, such as anti-corrosion agents or contaminants, from superheated water to produce steam. A method for producing steam includes directing a cross-flow of heated pressurized water including a first concentration of an organic compound across a membrane filter. The membrane filter includes a separation membrane constructed to reject the organic compound; and one or more support layers adjacent the separation membrane. A steam permeate including a second concentration of the organic compound is collected, where the second concentration is lower than the first.

The disclosure relates to a treatment method for sludge utilization in a sewage treatment plant, in particular to a method for reducing heavy metal content of sludge-based biocoke. The disclosure includes following steps (1) to (5): step (1): concentrating a residual sludge produced by a municipal sewage treatment plant to be with a moisture content of 95-98%; step (2): conditioning the concentrated sludge in a sludge bioleaching tank for 48 hours, with a pH value of the sludge being reduced to below 4.5; step (3): pumping the conditioned sludge into a high-pressure diaphragm plate and frame for a press filter dewatering to obtain a dewatered cake with a moisture content less than or equal to 50%; step (4): delivering the dewatered cake into a sludge dryer for crushing, heating and drying to obtain the dried sludge with a moisture content of 15-22%; and step (5): carbonizing the dried sludge into sludge-based biocoke at a high temperature in a pyrolytic carbonization device with a carbonization temperature of 500-650° C.

A method for treating wastewater, comprising: (i) injecting a hydrate-forming gas (e.g., propane) into the wastewater under conditions of elevated pressure and reduced temperature to form a solid hydrate composed of the hydrate-forming gas and water from the wastewater; and (ii) separating the solid hydrate from the wastewater to result in removal of water from the wastewater, thereby resulting in partially dewatered wastewater, and optionally, (iii) lowering the pressure and/or raising the temperature of the solid hydrate to decompose the solid hydrate into reformed hydrate-forming gas and reformed water, and further optionally, recycling the reformed hydrate-forming gas for use in step (i) and/or capturing the reformed water from step (iii) and further decontaminating until suitable for release into waterway or for use in a process. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for practicing the method described above.

A method for preparing agricultural products from a biological sludge containing microbial cells includes the steps of: subjecting the biological sludge to a pretreatment process which includes introducing ozone and supplying a hydraulic pressure to generate cavitation to destroy cell wall of the microbial cells; and subjecting the pretreated biological sludge to a solid-liquid separation treatment to obtain a solid fraction including cell debris and a liquid fraction including a cell lysate solution.

A method of treating at least one surface includes a step of contacting the at least one surface with an aqueous solution obtained by mixing in water an aqueous formulation having at least one biosurfactant and at least one organic acid. The weight ratio between the at least one biosurfactant and the at least one organic acid is between 1:1000 and 10:1, in an amount such that the aqueous solution includes the at least one biosurfactant in an amount between 0.0001 and 10% by weight and the at least one organic acid in an amount between 0.001 and 10% by weight. The at least one biosurfactant is selected from glycolipids, lipopeptides, lipoproteins, phospholipids and polymeric biosurfactants. The at least one organic acid is selected from citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, formic acid, caprylic acid, methanesulfonic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, and polyaspartic acid.

A diffuser baffle for use in an in-line wastewater grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle lies within a grease collecting chamber between the inflow and outflow of a grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle has an open bottom which is sized and shaped respectively to fit into the grease collecting chamber. The diffuser baffle has an end operatively connected to the inflow opening to permit wastewater to flow into the body through the open bottom. The baffle has a downstream end which includes a deflector portion to deflect a wastewater stream in a direction generally into the grease collecting chamber. The body also includes a number of apertures to permit the deflected wastewater stream to pass through the baffle and into the grease collecting chamber, where FOG will separate before waste water exits the chamber through the outlet baffle.

A waste reduction system that utilizes organic solids suspended in a waste stream to produce carboxylic acids, which can then be employed as an input to a microbial fuel cell or other biological processes to further enhance biogas production, is provided. The organic waste stream influent undergoes a multistage fermentation process in which fermentative microorganism metabolize the organic waste materials and produce one or more carboxylic acids, especially short chain fatty acids. The carboxylic acids serve as a food source for bacteria within an anode compartment of an MFC that generates useable electricity therefrom.

The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing the amount of water required in an industrial process, especially a bottling process such as beer or beverage manufacturing. The method comprising the steps of: collecting water used to rinse cleaned and/or dirty recycled bottles, spraying the collected water at a food contacting piece of equipment as part of a CIP rinse, and passing the CIP second rinse water into a cooling tower as make-up water. The method allows for the re-use of water already in the system but by being careful where each water stream goes the water does not accumulate contaminants that would damage the cooling tower or foul the bottled product or vessel that is cleaned by CIP method.

A treatment process for municipal, commercial, industrial, and institutional fluids containing one or more substances at a first concentration includes a contactor, an aerator, and a separator. The fluid is mixed with a powdered natural lignocellulosic material (“PNLM”), a microbial growth inoculum, and at least a portion of the fluid in the contactor to provide a mixture that includes an established, acclimated microbial growth in the fluid. The mixture is introduced to an aerator where physical binding and chemical bonding of at least some of the one or more substances to the PNLM additionally physiological uptake by microbial growth in a biosludge reduces the concentration of at least some of the one or more substances in the fluid discharged from the aerator to a second concentration. The biosludge is separated to recover at least a portion of the PNLM that is recycled to the contactor.