Apparatuses, systems, and methods related to water treatment are generally described. In particular, clarifiers that may improve solids thickening and related systems and methods are disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a bacterium-alga coupled sewage treatment device based on energy recycling and a use method thereof. The device comprises a pretreatment device, a photobioreactor, an alga separation apparatus, a continuous flow bioreactor and a secondary sedimentation tank which are sequentially connected in order, the pretreatment device being connected to a municipal sewage inlet pipe, the photobioreactor being connected to a carbon dioxide gas charging device through a gas filling pipeline, one part of a sludge thickening tank being connected to the secondary sedimentation tank, the other part thereof being connected to remaining sludge of the pretreatment device, carbon dioxide generated from the sludge which flows through the thickening tank and is thermally-hydrolyzed and anaerobically-acidified being connected to the photobioreactor through a gas inlet pipeline, and the alga separation apparatus being further connected to a filter press. The present disclosure has the advantages of a rational structural design, reliable and stable operation, a low operation and maintenance cost and high automaticity and intelligence, and being suitable for the use and transformation requirements of a wide range of sewage treatment plants, etc.

Disclosed is a method for recovering phosphorus from sludge rich in chemical phosphorus precipitates using a high-protein biomass waste, comprising introducing the sludge rich in chemical phosphorus precipitates into an anaerobic fermenter, adding a certain amount of a high-protein biomass by-product, sealing the fermenter and fermenting for 4-7 days. The method can effectively increase the phosphorus release efficiency from the sludge, and also generate volatile short-chain fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen in high concentrations. After dewatering, phosphorus and part of ammonia nitrogen can be recovered in a form of high-purity struvite crystals only by addition of a magnesium salt and adjustment of pH to 7.5-9.0. The volatile short-chain fatty acids can be used as an economical carbon source. The method allows simultaneous utilization of two solid wastes to recover carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus resources, and can reduce the usage of chemical reagents, saving the treatment cost.

Disclosed is a method for recovering phosphorus from sludge rich in chemical phosphorus precipitates using a high-protein biomass waste, comprising introducing the sludge rich in chemical phosphorus precipitates into an anaerobic fermenter, adding a certain amount of a high-protein biomass by-product, sealing the fermenter and fermenting for 4-7 days. The method can effectively increase the phosphorus release efficiency from the sludge, and also generate volatile short-chain fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen in high concentrations. After dewatering, phosphorus and part of ammonia nitrogen can be recovered in a form of high-purity struvite crystals only by addition of a magnesium salt and adjustment of pH to 7.5-9.0. The volatile short-chain fatty acids can be used as an economical carbon source. The method allows simultaneous utilization of two solid wastes to recover carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus resources, and can reduce the usage of chemical reagents, saving the treatment cost.

A system for dewatering a material comprising a slitter, wherein the slitter receives the material, separates the material into a plurality of clumps, and deposits the plurality of clumps of material substantially evenly on a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is partially porous to allow water to pass through but preventing material from passing through. The conveyor belt is operable to convey the material from the slitter to a compression zone; the compression zone comprises at least one high pressure press. The compression plates engages the material positioned on the conveyor belt. At least one knife positioned proximate the at least one compression plate operable to remove material from the bottom surface of the at least one compression plate after a compression cycle; and at least one drain positioned under the conveyor belt to carry water removed from the material away from the conveyor belt.

A method for quickly converting organic waste into energy, including the following steps of S1, performing anaerobic fermentation on organic waste to convert macromolecular organic matter in the organic waste into soluble small molecular organic matter to obtain fermentation liquid; S2, performing solid-liquid separation on the fermentation liquid to obtain a solid-phase part and a liquid-phase part, respectively; and S3, disposing or reusing the solid-phase part as residues, and enabling the liquid-phase part to enter a flow-catalyzed fuel cell to convert organic matter in the liquid-phase part into electrical energy. The present application can quickly and efficiently convert the organic waste into electrical energy.

A waste treatment system for separating contaminants including per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from bulk solid waste (12). A preparation module (9) having a bulk material separator separates oversize material (14) from bulk solid waste (12). A physical separation module (13), located down-stream of the preparation module (9), separates the bulk solid waste (12) based on particle size using physical and/or hydrodynamic and/or density separation techniques. An extraction/chemical separation module (19), located downstream of the physical separation module (13), adds leachate and/or extractant to separate the contaminants from a slurry output from the physical separation module (13), into a fines output and a contaminated water solution. A water circulation system (21) supplies water to the physical separation module (13) and the extraction/chemical separation module (19), the water circulation system including at least one water treatment process, the treated water being recycled and recirculated within the waste treatment system.

Solid waste, for example source separated organics (SSO) or commercial and industrial (C&I) waste or both, are treated by first pressurizing the waste against a screen to produce a solids fraction and a liquid fraction. The liquid fraction can be treated in an anaerobic digester. The solids fraction is pulverized or milled, for example with a hammer mill, preferably after being diluted. The pulverized or milled waste is separated again to provide a second solids faction and a second liquid fraction. The liquid fraction can be treated in an anaerobic digester. The solids fraction is primarily inert and can be landfilled, preferably after being washed.

Solid waste, for example source separated organics (SSO) or commercial and industrial (C&I) waste or both, are treated by first pressurizing the waste against a screen to produce a solids fraction and a liquid fraction. The liquid fraction can be treated in an anaerobic digester. The solids fraction is pulverized or milled, for example with a hammer mill, preferably after being diluted. The pulverized or milled waste is separated again to provide a second solids faction and a second liquid fraction. The liquid fraction can be treated in an anaerobic digester. The solids fraction is primarily inert and can be landfilled, preferably after being washed.

Methods and systems for treating oil sands tailings streams at an elevated pH using lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a tailings stream including 10-55% solids by total weight, increasing the pH of the tailings stream by combining the tailings stream with lime to produce a lime-tailings mixture having a pH of at least 11.0, and dewatering the lime-tailings mixture to produce a first stream having 10% or less solids by total weight and a second stream having 50% or more solids by total weight. The first stream can correspond to a release water stream, and the second stream can correspond to a cake. The lime slurry can include about 10% lime by total weight, and can comprise lime hydrate, quicklime, or a combination thereof. Dewatering the lime-tailings mixture can include routing the lime-tailings mixture to a centrifuge unit and/or a pressure or vacuum filtration unit.