This invention is a novel method to thermally process wet WWTP sludges, including biosolids, so that they can be classified. Wet biosolids or other WWTP sludges are passed through the heating zones of one or more solar thermal systems so that the sludges are heated to a target temperature to meet the requirements for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classification. Various catalysts are provided before the sludges enter the heating zone and within the heating zone to optimize the treatment of the sludges.

A method for treating carbonaceous material, the method includes a) providing a first carbonaceous material CM1 contaminated with micro-pollutants and/or microplastics, and providing a second carbonaceous material CM2 free of micro-pollutants or microplastics, b) subjecting the first carbonaceous material CM1 to hydrothermal gasification in a HTG reactor, thereby producing an inorganic solid residue, a first gaseous fraction G1 comprising CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 and a filtrate F1 free of micro-pollutants or microplastics optionally containing readily biodegradable carbons such as VFAs, c) subjecting the second carbonaceous material CM2 together with at least part of the filtrate F1 to an anaerobic treatment step in an anaerobic tank, leading to a digestate free of micro-pollutants or microplastics and optionally a second gaseous fraction G2 containing CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2. An installation for treating carbonaceous material is also provided.

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 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.

An apparatus, method and system is provided for treating sewage sludge by dewatering the sewage sludge, heating the sewage sludge being treated to destroy pathogens, and then reducing volatile solids in the sewage sludge being treated through biochemical decomposition to produce a treated biosolids product that meets government regulations for pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction.

The present invention provides a method for treatment of biomass material by fermentation, said method comprises a pre-treatment of the biomass material by thermal hydrolysis and wet explosion, resulting in an intermediate product having a dry matter concentration above 25% and temperature above 90° C. which is to be introduced to the fermentation, wherein a part of the content of the digestion tank used for the fermentation is recirculated and mixed with a part of the intermediate product from the pre-treatment.

A device (1) for drying and sanitising organic waste materials, comprising a container body (10) for housing the waste materials to be dried and provided with an inlet (16) for the materials to be dried and an outlet (17) for the dried materials, mixing elements (20) located in the container body (10) and provided with at least a blade (21) able to mix the materials to be dried and sanitised, projectingly supported by a rotating shaft (23), a ventilation circuit (30) able to generate a forced ventilation of air internally of the container body (10), and comprising generator means (33) of an air flow located externally of the container body (10) communicating with at least a dispenser nozzle (34) located internally of the container body (10), in which the at least a dispenser nozzle (34) is associated to the at least a blade (21) able to mix the waste materials located in the container body (10) wherein it comprises at least a temperature sensor (42) configured such as to measure a temperature internally of the container body (10) and in that it comprises a control system which receives a signal from the at least a temperature sensor (42) and is able to control the air flow injected into the container body (10) by the ventilation circuit (30) as a function of the signal received from the temperature sensor (42).

System (100) and method for processing biomass. The system comprises a combined heat and power plant (102), an interface (114) for feeding biogas to a traffic fuel production unit, interfaces (114) to a district heating system (106a) and an electrical grid (106b), and a hydrolysis device (108), a digestion device (110), a dryer (116) and a heat recovery unit (112), which are operatively coupled for transferring heat, intermediate products and final products of the process, wherein raw biomass is received into the Fuel hydrolysis device (108), biomass processed by the hydrolysis device (108) is fed to the digestion device (110), biogas obtained in the digestion device (110) is fed to the traffic fuel production unit (104), heat is recovered from the hydrolysis device (108), biomass processed by the digestion device (110) is dried by the heat recovered from the hydrolysis device (108), heat is recovered from the dryer (116), heat recovered from the dryer (116) is fed to the hydrolysis device (108) to be used in pre-heating of the received raw biomass, heat recovered from the dryer (116) is fed to the district heating (106a), and production of electricity is fueled by the dried biomass from the dryer (116).

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 optional 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.

A batch reactor includes a first portion, a second portion, a first drainage tank, a second drainage tank, and a first flow control mechanism. The first portion includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber in fluid communication with one another configured for a flow of at least one biomaterial therethrough. The second portion includes a first chamber and a second chamber in fluid communication with one another configured for a flow of the least one biomaterial therethrough. The first drainage chamber is in fluid communication with the first and second chambers. The second drainage chamber is in fluid communication with the third chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion. The first flow control mechanism is disposed between the third chamber of the first portion and the first chamber of the second portion.