Abstract: A process for making a fuel product from paper mill sludge including dewatering the paper mill sludge so as to have a solids content of greater than 7 percent by weight, mixing an oxide-containing chemical and molasses with the dewatered paper mill sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 6 p.s.i. for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, and drying the pressurized mixed sludge to no less than 60 percent solids by weight. The oxide-containing chemical can be either calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The oxide-containing chemical is mixed in an amount of between 1 percent to 10 percent by weight of the dewatered paper mill sludge. The molasses is mixed in an amount of between 0.1 percent and 1 percent by weight of the dewatered paper mill sludge. The method also includes grinding the dried sludge to a desired size of no less than 325 mesh and no larger than one-quarter inch in diameter. The dried sludge has a heating content of no less than 5,000 BTUs/pound.

Abstract: A process for making a fuel product from paper mill sludge including dewatering the paper mill sludge so as to have a solids content of greater than 7 percent by weight, mixing an oxide-containing chemical and molasses with the dewatered paper mill sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 6 p.s.i. for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, and drying the pressurized mixed sludge to no less than 60 percent solids by weight. The oxide-containing chemical can be either calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The oxide-containing chemical is mixed in an amount of between 1 percent to 10 percent by weight of the dewatered paper mill sludge. The molasses is mixed in an amount of between 0.1 percent and 1 percent by weight of the dewatered paper mill sludge. The method also includes grinding the dried sludge to a desired size of no less than 325 mesh and no larger than one-quarter inch in diameter. The dried sludge has a heating content of no less than 5,000 BTUs/pound.

Abstract: A process for treating sewage containing biological solids including the steps of mixing the sewage with oxygen-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers, retaining the sewage with the hydro fluoro ether polymers for a desired period of time so as to produce oxygenated sewage and carbon dioxide-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers, and separating the carbon dioxide-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers from the oxygenated sewage. Water is separated from the oxygenated sewage so as to produce a sludge. Oxygen is mixed with the carbon dioxide-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers so as to oxygenate the hydro fluoro ether polymers and to remove carbon dioxide therefrom. The sewage is retained with the hydro fluoro etherpolymers at a temperature of between 32° and 140° F. The sewage is dewatered prior to mixing so that the dewatered sewage has a water content of less than 93 percent by weight. The steps of mixing and retaining can be carried in a closed vessel.

Abstract: A process for making a fuel product including blending a sewage sludge with an acid, mixing an oxide-containing chemical with the blended sludge so as to cause a reaction which elevates a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a. for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, mixing the pressurized mixed sludge with coal fines, and solidifying the mixture of pressurized mixed sludge and coal fines. The oxide-containing chemical is either calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. The acid is sulfamic acid. The step of solidifying includes pelletizing the mixture. The solidified mixture has a BTU content of greater than 5000 BTU per pound.

Abstract: A process for treating a waste sludge of biological solids including the steps of blending the sludge with an acid, mixing an oxide-chemical with the blended sludge so as to cause a reaction which elevates a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a. and retaining the mixed sludge at such pressure for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The step of pressurizing is accomplished by passing the mixed sludge as a flow into the pipe. The pipe has a length and diameter such that the flow of the mixed sludge takes longer than 15 seconds to pass through the pipe. The mixed sludge is heated as the flow passes through the pipe. An immersion heater or a magnetic field is installed so as to apply heat directly to the mixed sludge as the mixed sludge passes through the pipe.

Abstract: A process for treating a pathogen-containing sludge of biological solids including the steps of mixing the sludge with calcium oxide, ammonia and carbon dioxide so as to elevate a temperature of the mixed sludge to between 50.degree. C. and 140.degree. C. and to elevate a pH of the mixed sludge to greater than 9.8, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a., and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The sludge has a water content of between 65% and 94% by weight. Ammonia is added to the sludge in the form of either ammonia gas, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium bicarbonate or as a byproduct of the reaction of the calcium oxide with the water in the sludge. Carbon dioxide is added to the sludge in the form of carbon dioxide gas or a reactant of ammonium bicarbonate. The pressurized mixed sludge is discharged by flashing the sludge across a restricting orifice and by evaporating a liquid component of the flashed sludge.

Abstract: A process for treating a waste sludge of biological solids including the steps of mixing the sludge with an oxide-containing chemical and sulfamic acid so as to elevate a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a., and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The oxide-containing chemical can be either calcium oxide, potassium oxide, or potassium hydroxide. The sludge has a water content of between 5 and 85 percent. The oxide-containing chemical and the acid are reacted with the sludge so as to elevate the temperature of the sludge to between 50.degree. C. and 450.degree. C. The pressurized mixed sludge is flashed across a restricting orifice or passed into a chamber having a lower pressure. The evaporated liquid component can be condensed and used as part of the process. The oxide-containing chemical is mixed with the sludge in an amount between 5 and 50 weight percent of the sludge.