The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for the biological processing of hydrocarbon-containing substances. In particular embodiments, the systems and methods herein relate to pre-digestion of hydrocarbon containing substances and further processing of the same to produce hydrocarbon fuels, fertilizer, and other products.

The invention provides a process for the drying and re-hydration of high solids Biosolids cake to be converted into a pumpable organic liquid fertilizer. This process may be carried out at ambient pressure without aggressive shearing of the mixture of added process water and the high solids Biosolids cake. The drying step removes the bound water, while the re-hydration step includes mixing which breaks down the particulate matter to produce a fairly homogeneous suspension.

A method for realizing heterotrophic and autotrophic coupling advanced nitrogen removal and simultaneous sludge reduction in an anaerobic-aerobic-anoxic sequencing batch reactor (AOA-SBR) is disclosed. Municipal sewage and sludge fermentation mixture is allowed to simultaneously enter into the AOA-SBR; in the anaerobic stage, the organic matter in the sewage and sludge fermentation mixture is converted into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and stored in the body; in the aerobic stage, the dissolved oxygen (DO) at 0.5˜1 mg/L is maintained by a real-time control, the aeration time is set for 1˜3 h, and when the mass concentration ratio of NO.sub.2.sup.−—N to NH.sub.4.sup.+—N is in a range from 1.5 to 2.0, the aeration is stopped, that is, ammonia-nitrogen is partially converted into nitrite-nitrogen through short-cut nitrification; in the anoxic stage, the remaining ammonia-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen undergo anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox), and meanwhile the remaining nitrite-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen generated by anammox is reduced by denitrifying bacteria to nitrogen to achieve advanced nitrogen removal. A related apparatus is also provided, which simultaneously realizes advanced nitrogen removal of sewage and reduction of sludge.

A device for sludge treatment comprises a supporting frame of an external casing defining a treatment chamber provided with one inlet opening of the sludge to be treated; one discharge opening of the treated sludge; at least one auger element housed within the treatment chamber, and adapted to move the sludge to be treated along a direction of advancement; and filtration means located internally to the treatment chamber and surrounding the auger element; at least one anodic element associated with the auger element, and application means for applying a potential difference between the anodic element and the filtration means, generating an electric field adapted to interact with the sludge to be treated to produce an electro-osmotic process.

Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus for electrostatic fluid filtration. The apparatus utilizing alternating positive and negative electrodes in conjunction with filter media there between to filter contaminants from a fluid flow.

Methods for generating methane from animal waste by anaerobic digestion using bacteria. A screen separator removes suspended solids greater in size than a predetermined size ranging from about 50 μ to about 150 μ. An electrocoagulation unit electrochemically hydrolyses the waste, causing particles to settle out. A dissolved carbon air flotation has a CO.sub.2 bubbler for separating large particles from small particles by flotation. An anaerobic digester produces biogas. The digester has a biocurtain for growing the bacteria and a heat exchanger for heating the bacteria. The biocurtain surface is convoluted to retain the bacteria. A membrane module removes CO.sub.2. A knock out pot for removes droplets of water. A scrubber removes water vapor, particulates, and contaminant gas. A compressor boosts pressure. A gas chromatograph monitors the biogas composition. A flare skid lowers excess pressure for safety. Biogas is injected into a local pipeline system. A process control is used for controlling the anaerobic waste digestion system.

Disclosed are remote oily water treatment systems, including systems and related methods of remote oily water treatment with point-of-treatment discharge of treated water. In a preferred embodiment, (a) oily water is treated at a location proximate to where the oily water by passing the oily water through a tank containing a medium defined by at least one polymer mixed with activated carbon and (b) treated water is discharged at the point-of-treatment of the oily water.

A method of processing enhanced biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant to produce an output mixture. The method includes providing one or more volumes of an input mixture that has an input mixture viscosity. The input mixture includes the enhanced biosolids, which have been subjected to shear forces and mixed in a mixing vessel. The enhanced biosolids are partially hydrolyzed biosolids with an input solids content between 4% and 16% by weight of the input mixture. The input mixture also includes sufficient process liquid to result in the output mixture having an output solids content between 3% and 13% by weight of the output mixture. The input mixture is stored in a storage vessel in which the input mixture is subjected to anaerobic conditions and hydrolysis over a predetermined tie period, to form the output mixture having an output mixture viscosity that is less than the input mixture viscosity.

The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for the biological processing of hydrocarbon-containing substances. In particular embodiments, the systems and methods herein relate to pre-digestion of hydrocarbon containing substances and further processing of the same to produce hydrocarbon fuels, fertilizer, and other products.

Disclosed are remote oily water treatment systems, including systems and related methods of remote oily water treatment with point-of-treatment discharge of treated water. In a preferred embodiment, (a) oily water is treated at a location proximate to where the oily water by passing the oily water through a tank containing a medium defined by at least one polymer mixed with activated carbon and (b) treated water is discharged at the point-of-treatment of the oily water.