Abstract: Waste material is screened to produce unders and overs, the overs are treated to produce a partially hydrolyzed biomass, and the partially hydrolyzed biomass and the unders are anaerobically digested. Treating the overs includes fermenting and mixing the overs with an aerotolerant anaerobic bacteria in a controlled environment, such as a rotating drum, while air is passed through the controlled environment. The moisture content, pH, and biological content of the overs can be adjusted before the overs are treated. Volatile fatty acids from the air passed through the controlled environment can be collected for anaerobic digestion or can be recirculated back into the controlled environment. The cleansed air can also be recycled back into the controlled environment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting organic waste materials from a municipal waste stream to useful products. Organic waste materials having a wide range of compositions such as, for example, yard waste, food waste, paper, and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste are converted into a uniform biomass that is suitable for conversion to useful products, such as fuels. Through the use of a biomixer and a hydropulper, as well as through sorting and screening, the organic waste materials are progressively reduced in size and cleaned of contamination. The resulting uniform biomass is suitable for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and a residual solid that is suitable for producing a high quality compost.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting organic waste materials from a municipal waste stream to useful products, such as fuels. Through the use of a biomixer and a hydropulper, as well as through sorting and screening, the organic waste materials are progressively reduced in size and cleaned of contamination. The resulting uniform biomass is suitable for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and a residual solid that is suitable for producing a high quality compost. A quantity of liquid organic waste material can be added to the biomixer, to the hydropulper and/or to the anaerobic digester. The quantity of liquid organic waste material can be obtained by separating the liquids from any containers and can be stored in a holding tank prior to being added to the biomixer, the hydropulper and/or the anaerobic digester.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting organic waste materials from a municipal waste stream to useful products, such as fuels. Through the use of a biomixer and a hydropulper, as well as through sorting and screening, the organic waste materials are progressively reduced in size and cleaned of contamination. The resulting uniform biomass is suitable for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and a residual solid that is suitable for producing a high quality compost. A quantity of liquid organic waste material can be added to the biomixer, to the hydropulper and/or to the anaerobic digester. The quantity of liquid organic waste material can be obtained by separating the liquids from any containers and can be stored in a holding tank prior to being added to the biomixer, the hydropulper and/or the anaerobic digester.

Abstract: Solid organic waste is processed into a suitable feedstock that can be mixed with sewage for anaerobic digestion. The processing of the solid organic waste initially transforms the solid organic waste into a uniform biomass. The uniform biomass is then subjected to hydrolysis and volatile acid fermentation to dissolve the soluble compounds leaving a small residual solid component. The liquid in which the soluble compounds are dissolved is then mixed with sewage in an anaerobic digester to produce biogas including methane. The residual solid component can be composted.

Abstract: A multi-stage process and system for treating organic waste materials includes steps of hydrolyzing the materials in an anaerobic vessel, transferring the liquid product of hydrolysis to an anaerobic digester, and further decomposing the waste materials under aerobic conditions to yield a compost product usable as a soil amendment. Biogas produced by digestion of the hydrolysis liquid product may be burned to generate electricity or heat, and the liquid digester product may be recirculated for use as an inoculant to aid hydrolysis of subsequently processed batches of waste materials.

Abstract: A rotating drum is provided for the biological/mechanical conversion of organic waste material to a valuable biomass. An aerotolerant anaerobic bacteria within the rotating drum promotes the fermentation of the waste material, while the tumbling of the waste material due to the rotation of the drum mechanically shears the waste material. Air carrying volatile organic compounds released by the fermentation process can be collected from the drum and scrubbed to recover the volatile organic compounds. The cleansed air can then be recirculated back into the drum. The waste material can be screened prior to fermentation in the drum to remove a fraction of the smallest particles. The biomass produced by the drum can also be screened.

Abstract: Waste material is screened to produce unders and overs, the overs are treated to produce a partially hydrolyzed biomass, and the partially hydrolyzed biomass and the unders are anaerobically digested. Treating the overs includes fermenting and mixing the overs with an aerotolerant anaerobic bacteria in a controlled environment, such as a rotating drum, while air is passed through the controlled environment. The moisture content, pH, and biological content of the overs can be adjusted before the overs are treated. Volatile fatty acids from the air passed through the controlled environment can be collected for anaerobic digestion or can be recirculated back into the controlled environment. The cleansed air can also be recycled back into the controlled environment.

Abstract: A multi-stage process and system for treating organic waste materials includes steps of hydrolyzing the materials in an anaerobic vessel, transferring the liquid product of hydrolysis to an anaerobic digester, and further decomposing the waste materials under aerobic conditions to yield a compost product usable as a soil amendment. Biogas produced by digestion of the hydrolysis liquid product may be burned to generate electricity or heat, and the liquid digester product may be recirculated for use as an inoculant to aid hydrolysis of subsequently processed batches of waste materials.

Abstract: A multi-stage process and system for treating organic waste materials includes steps of hydrolyzing the materials in an anaerobic vessel, transferring the liquid product of hydrolysis to an anaerobic digester, and further decomposing the waste materials under aerobic conditions to yield a compost product usable as a soil amendment. Biogas produced by digestion of the hydrolysis liquid product may be burned to generate electricity or heat, and the liquid digester product may be recirculated for use as an inoculant to aid hydrolysis of subsequently processed batches of waste materials.