The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of organic matter, in particular sewage sludge, comprising the following steps: The organic matter is first thickened to increase the solids concentration. The thickened organic matter is supplied directly into a digester. The organic matter is then removed from the digester by way of a recirculation line, thermally treated and returned to the digester. The invention further relates to a device for the treatment of organic matter, in particular sewage sludge, comprising a digester, a thickener and a recirculation line, where the thickener is arranged upstream of the digester, and the recirculation line is designed to supply organic matter from the digester directly to the thermal treatment device, and to return the treated organic matter to the digester.

Methods for stimulating plant growth and/or promoting plant health using free enzymes or recombinant microorganisms that overexpress enzymes are provided. Plant seeds coated with free enzymes or recombinant microorganisms that overexpress enzymes are also provided. Compositions comprising a fertilizer and an enzyme or a recombinant microorganism that overexpresses an enzyme are provided. Modified enzymes having ACC deaminase activity, recombinant microorganisms expressing the modified enzymes, plant seeds treated with the modified enzymes or recombinant microorganisms, and methods for stimulating plant growth and/or promoting plant health using the modified enzymes or recombinant microorganisms are also provided.

Methods for stimulating plant growth and/or promoting plant health using free enzymes or recombinant microorganisms that overexpress enzymes are provided. Plant seeds coated with free enzymes or recombinant microorganisms that overexpress enzymes are also provided. Compositions comprising a fertilizer and an enzyme or a recombinant microorganism that overexpresses an enzyme are provided. Modified enzymes having ACC deaminase activity, recombinant microorganisms expressing the modified enzymes, plant seeds treated with the modified enzymes or recombinant microorganisms, and methods for stimulating plant growth and/or promoting plant health using the modified enzymes or recombinant microorganisms are also provided.

A process is disclosed for creating biologically active soil or horticulture media for growing plants, wherein a fibrous carbon source such as coconut coir in a predetermined particulate form is mixed with fertilizers and other biological nutrients, inoculated with a biologically active substance such as worm castings and then aged or cured in an oxygen rich aerobic process. After which additional nutrients can be added to tailor the aged media for a specific sue. Various apparatus with which to conduct the aging process are also described. In a variation of the process used soil or horticulture media is recharged by first composting at a high temperature to remove harmful and unwanted items, its contents are evaluated, nutrients are added, and it is then aged in an aerobic process.

A process for producing a commercial soil additive comprises mixing a compost composition with elementary (raw) sulphur to form a mixed material and turning the mixed material until it is substantially homogenous and until there is microbial oxidation of elementary sulphur therein to at least one sulphate.

A brine waste management method comprising the utilization of brine waste as a growth medium for cultures of genetically modified halophiles acting as bio-refineries creating chemicals of value. Brine waste enters the method (101) to undergo compositional analysis (102), Pretreatment (104), and Inoculation (106). The compositional analysis (102) and the selection (103) of the chemicals of value influences the selection (103) of the halophile species to undergo modification (105), as well as the pretreatment (104) needed to encourage growth-production (107). Growth-production (107) is monitored and assisted until the extraction (108) of the chemicals of value and additional post-extraction (109) handling of excess brine waste exiting the method.

A brine waste management method comprising the utilization of brine waste as a growth medium for cultures of genetically modified halophiles acting as bio-refineries creating chemicals of value. Brine waste enters the method (101) to undergo compositional analysis (102), Pretreatment (104), and Inoculation (106). The compositional analysis (102) and the selection (103) of the chemicals of value influences the selection (103) of the halophile species to undergo modification (105), as well as the pretreatment (104) needed to encourage growth-production (107). Growth-production (107) is monitored and assisted until the extraction (108) of the chemicals of value and additional post-extraction (109) handling of excess brine waste exiting the method.

A method for the treatment of organic waste, the method comprising alternating steps of anaerobic digestion and aerobic composting conducted in a single reactor vessel, wherein at or about the completion of the anaerobic digestion step at least a portion of any free draining fluid from the reactor vessel is directed for reuse in subsequent anaerobic digestion steps, and solids remaining in the reactor vessel from the anaerobic digestion step are subjected to a dewatering step from which a liquid is obtained that is ultimately also directed, at least in part, for reuse in subsequent anaerobic digestion steps. A method for the management of biology in a batch process, wherein the batch process is an anaerobic digestion process, is also described.

An exemplary solid waste treatment system can be provided which can include a storage device, an intelligent aerobic fermentation treatment device, a retaining wall-type fermentation area, and an aeration platform. The intelligent aerobic fermentation treatment device can include a traveling trolley, a lifting mechanism, a material pick-and-place mechanism, and a traveling bridge linearly moving in a direction away from the storage device towards the retaining wall-type fermentation area. The aeration platform can be arranged at the bottom of the retaining wall-type fermentation area. The traveling trolley linearly can move on the traveling bridge in a direction perpendicular to the direction away from the storage device towards the retaining wall-type fermentation area. The lifting mechanism can be mounted on the traveling trolley. The material pick-and-place mechanism can be suspended on the lifting mechanism to be raised and lowered in step with the raising and lowering of the lifting mechanism.

An exemplary solid waste treatment system can be provided which can include a storage device, an intelligent aerobic fermentation treatment device, a retaining wall-type fermentation area, and an aeration platform. The intelligent aerobic fermentation treatment device can include a traveling trolley, a lifting mechanism, a material pick-and-place mechanism, and a traveling bridge linearly moving in a direction away from the storage device towards the retaining wall-type fermentation area. The aeration platform can be arranged at the bottom of the retaining wall-type fermentation area. The traveling trolley linearly can move on the traveling bridge in a direction perpendicular to the direction away from the storage device towards the retaining wall-type fermentation area. The lifting mechanism can be mounted on the traveling trolley. The material pick-and-place mechanism can be suspended on the lifting mechanism to be raised and lowered in step with the raising and lowering of the lifting mechanism.