Disclosed are methods and machines for removing volatile compounds from sludge. Additionally, disclosed are methods and machines for removing pathogens from sludge.

A system and methods comprising a greenhouse for predrying a biosolids to reduce volume and weight; a conveyer belt operably connected to the greenhouse for conveying the biosolids from the greenhouse to a pasteurization system; the pasteurization system comprising a burner-fan to introduce hot air to the biosolids; the pasteurization system comprising a heat up belt to accept the biosolids from the greenhouse and a burner-fan for raising the biosolids temperature from ambient to at least 70 C.; the pasteurization system further comprising a pasteurization belt to hold the biosolids at 70 C. for at least thirty minutes; a biofilter system operably connected with the greenhouse and the pasteurization system for reducing odors; and bagging area to collect a final product.

Process for treating sludge includes a first segment in which a batch of sludge and lime are mixed with the addition of supplement heat to achieve an elevated processing temperature and a second segment in which the mixer is maintained at a lower temperature to dry the interior of the mixing device after processing the batch.

Provided is a processing apparatus for processing water-containing organic matters. The processing apparatus includes: a processing tank configured to store the water-containing organic matters; a stirring unit configured to stir the water-containing organic matters; a heater configured to heat the processing tank; an exhaust unit configured to exhaust gas from the processing tank at a rate from 1 m.sup.3/min to 300 m.sup.3/min; and an ion gas supply unit configured to supply ion gas into the processing tank with the exhaustion of the gas from the interior of the processing tank, the ion gas having an ion density of at least 2,000,000 pcs/cc, wherein the heater heats an interior of the processing tank while the stirring unit stirs the water-containing organic matters, and the ion gas is supplied into the processing tank according to the exhaustion by the exhaust unit, whereby processing the water-containing organic matters.

Disclosed is a method for reducing methane emission from slurry produced in a livestock farm. The method comprising the steps of guiding unheated slurry from the livestock farm to a slurry heat exchanger, raising the temperature of the unheated slurry in the slurry heat exchanger to at least 65# Celsius, guiding the at least 65# Celsius hot slurry to an intermediate slurry tank, raising the temperature of the heated slurry to at least 75# Celsius in the intermediate slurry tank, guiding the at least 75# Celsius hot slurry through the slurry heat exchanger to exchange heat with the unheated slurry to raise the temperature of the unheated slurry to the at least 65# Celsius and to cool the at least 75# Celsius hot slurry to at least below 40# Celsius, and guiding the at least below 40# Celsius cold slurry to a slurry reservoir. Furthermore, a slurry treatment plant for reducing methane emission from slurry is disclosed.

Disclosed are methods of dewatering solid byproduct. In some embodiments, the solid byproduct contains particles and is produced from a fermentation process for making an oxygenated compound such as ethanol. The method comprises a chemical sequence for conditioning (pre-treating) the solid byproduct to be dewatered. The solid byproduct (in water) is treated with alkaline material to increase its pH to about 7-8.5. Coagulant is added to the alkaline-treated solid byproduct to reduce charge on the solid byproduct. An agglomerating polymer is then added to increase the average size of the solid byproduct particles to a desired size (e.g., at least about 1 mm). Dewatering can further use known technologies such as screw press, belt press, filter press, centrifuge, and/or a dryer to separate the conditioned or pre-treated byproduct from water. Also disclosed are methods of producing oxygenated product, as well as methods of producing animal feed and/or fertilizer, respectively.

A process of treatment of carbonaceous material, such as wastewater sludge or organic waste, includes performing a thermal treatment of the carbonaceous material, thereby providing thermally treated carbonaceous material, cooling the thermally treated carbonaceous material, thereby providing cooled carbonaceous material, the cooling being performed using a vacuum cooling procedure, and performing a post-treatment of the cooled carbonaceous material, and at least one carbonaceous material degassing.

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.

There is disclosed a process of developing a sustainable hybrid composite material, comprising the steps of developing the Extracted Powder Compound from Reject Brine (EPC-RB) and producing a Biodegradable Composite from a Biodegradable Polymer (PLA) reinforced with (EPC-RB). The Extracted Powder Compound from Reject Brine (EPC-RB), which is waste product from different industrial processes, serves as a filler or reinforcement within at least one polymer matrix in different ratios to produce a new hybrid composite material with at least one unique property. Further, reinforcing the Extracted Powder Compound from Reject Brine (EPC-RB) in Biodegradable Polymer (PLA) in different ratios enhances the mechanical, thermal, and other properties of the developed sustainable hybrid composite material.