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.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for facilitating purification of sludge and tailing, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, a sedimentation unit receives sludge and tailing in a first tank, separates wastewater from the sludge and the tailing, and transfers the wastewater from the first tank to a second tank. Further, a centrifugal unit creates a vortex in the wastewater. Further, a thermal hydrolysis unit coagulates a second impurity of the wastewater using coagulants and transfers the wastewater from the second tank to a third tank. Further, a digesting unit digests a macromolecule of the wastewater into a compound and transfers the wastewater from the third tank to a fourth tank. Further, a nutrient removal unit filters the wastewater from the compound and transfers the wastewater from the fourth tank to a fifth tank. Further, a reservoir unit disinfects the wastewater and stores the wastewater in the fifth tank.

A biogas collection and purification system that includes a plurality of sources of biogas and a network of conduits configured to convey the biogas from the sources to a central processing facility for processing the biogas into methane. The central processing facility removes impurities to convert biogas to biomethane and may include an H.sub.2S removal stage; an activated carbon scrubber; a gas drier; and a carbon dioxide removal stage. The facility also has a biomethane gas compressor configured to deliver the biomethane for use in power plants, for CNG production. Ancillaries to the system include fuel cells for direct electricity generation from biogas/biomethane.

A system including biogas purification and provides biogas as feedstock to a solid oxide fuel cell. The biogas purification treatment process provides a polished biogas that is substantially free of carbonyl sulfides and hydrogen sulfide. The system uses a biogas treatment apparatus, that includes apparatus such as a packed columns, comprising copper oxide or potassium permanganate packing material, and an activated carbon component configured to treat the biogas by polishing it to remove carbonyl sulfides and deleterious trace residues, such as hydrogen sulfide, that were not removed by any prior bulk H2S removal steps. In addition, an oil removal device is used to remove any entrained fine oil droplets in the biogas. A polished biogas having in the range of 60% methane is charged to the fuel cell. Electricity generated may be fed into a grid or used directly as energy to charge electrical-powered vehicles, for example. Energy credits are tracked in real time and are appropriately assigned.

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An organic wastewater treatment method that includes a raw sludge removal step, a raw sludge concentration step, a biological treatment step, an excess sludge separation step, an excess sludge concentration step, a sludge mixing step, and a methane fermentation treatment step. The treatment method further includes a sterilization step for heating and sterilizing the concentrated excess sludge upstream of the sludge mixing step. At least one among: (1) the temperature to which the concentrated excess sludge is heated during sterilization, (2) the concentration of concentrated raw sludge and/or the concentration of the concentrated excess sludge, and (3) the mixture ratio between the concentrated raw sludge and the concentrated excess sludge is adjusted according to the fluctuation in the amount of raw sludge generated and the amount of the excess sludge generated, and the temperature of the mixed sludge is controlled to a temperature suited for methane fermentation.

In a method for disintegrating organic substrates, an alkaline solution is added as pH-altering solution to the substrate and said substrate is then treated with steam, or steam is added, for heating to a temperature below 100 C. Under pressureless conditions, the heated substrate admixed with alkaline solution is subjected to a residence time. Preferably, the organic substrates are sludges from wastewater treatment plants.

A renewable energy microgeneration apparatus is disclosed that includes a mixing tank that mixes waste with a liquid, a buffer tank that receives and pre-warms the mixed waste, a pasteurization tank that pasteurizes on the pre-warmed mixed waste, a digestion tank that performs anaerobic digestion on the pasteurized waste, a de-watering device that separates liquid digestate and removes salt from the liquid, sensors that measure salinity and biogas quality, and a controller. The controller causes the transfer of digestate from the digestion tank to the pasteurization tank to the dewatering device, causes the de-watering device to separate the liquid and remove the salt from the liquid, monitors the salinity of the liquid and the quality of biogas using the sensors, and causes the mixing of the liquid with the waste and adjusts the feed rate of the waste to reduce the salinity of the waste and increase methane production.

A method and an apparatus for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, is disclosed. An aqueous composition, such as blackwater, contains potentially harmful medical substances present in dissolved state in bodily waste. The aqueous composition is temporarily stored in a buffer tank and is then transferred in batches to a vaporization unit comprising one or more vaporization chambers for producing a water-reduced waste material containing said potentially harmful medical substances. The waste material is subjected to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process.

A renewable energy microgeneration apparatus is disclosed that includes a mixing tank that mixes waste with a liquid, a buffer tank that receives and pre-warms the mixed waste, a pasteurization tank that pasteurizes on the pre-warmed mixed waste, a digestion tank that performs anaerobic digestion on the pasteurized waste, a de-watering device that separates liquid digestate and removes salt from the liquid, sensors that measure salinity and biogas quality, and a controller. The controller causes the transfer of digestate from the digestion tank to the pasteurization tank to the dewatering device, causes the de-watering device to separate the liquid and remove the salt from the liquid, monitors the salinity of the liquid and the quality of biogas using the sensors, and causes the mixing of the liquid with the waste and adjusts the feed rate of the waste to reduce the salinity of the waste and increase methane production.

Sludge, for example primary sludge or waste activated sludge or both from a wastewater treatment plant, is pre-treated prior to anaerobic digestion. The pre-treatment includes an optuional mechanical treatment to reduce the viscosity of the sludge and a biological hydrolysis treatment. The biological hydrolysis treatment may be performed in a series of reactors some of which are maintained at a temperature in the range of 50 to 70 C. The reactors provide a combined residence time in the range of 0.5 to 6 days. Optionally, measurements of the pH of the sludge during or after biological hydrolysis, or the production of biogas from a downstream anaerobic digester, may be considered in adjusting the temperature of one or more of the biological hydrolysis reactors.