Patents Assigned to N-Viro International Corporation
  • Patent number: 7083728
    Abstract: A method and system for treating at least bioorganic, organic, wastewater, and sewage sludge using recycle. The method of producing a treated sludge product comprises the following steps: (a) forming a sludge mixture by mixing untreated sludge with at least one alkaline material in an amount sufficient to raise pH of the sludge mixture to a level of at least about 12 and to increase percent solids in the sludge mixture to at least about 40% by weight; (b) forming a dried sludge mixture by drying the sludge mixture from step (a) in a direct or indirect dryer thereby increasing the percent solids thereof to at least about 50% by weight; (c) recycling a portion of the dried sludge mixture from step (b) to step (a); and (d) pasteurizing the dried sludge mixture from step (b) at a temperature at or above about 52° C. to form a treated sludge product. Exemplary applications for the treated sludge product include an agricultural liming agent, a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, a topsoil blend ingredient, and a fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Michael G. Nicholson, Neil Webster
  • Patent number: 6883444
    Abstract: Processes and systems are provided that include introducing ammonia liberated from organic waste to a coal burner in a coal burning power plant, preferably for NOx removal at the power plant. The ammonia is preferably either ammonia liberated upon drying a mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products or ammonia liberated when organic waste is mixed with coal combustion by-products and one or more alkaline additives. Also provided are processes and systems of fueling a coal burner of a power plant with coal and either a dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products, or a mixture of organic waste, coal combustion by-products and one or more alkaline additives. The present invention is further directed to mixtures of either organic waste and coal combustion by-products, or mixtures of organic waste, coal combustion by-products and alkaline additives made by the processes of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Ervin L. Faulmann
  • Patent number: 6752848
    Abstract: A method of disinfecting and stabilizing organic wastes where organic waste is intimately mixed with one or more mineral by-products to produce a mixture having a pH of less than about 9. The mixture is heated and dried to produce a stable, granular bio-mineral product that may be used for example, as a fertilizer, soil amendment or as a soil substitute. Also provided are stable, granular bio-mineral products formed by the methods of the present invention and fertilizers, soil amendments, and soil substitutes that include these stable, granular bio-mineral products. Further provided are systems for disinfecting and stabilizing organic waste, and systems for making a stable, granular bio-mineral product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Ervin L. Faulmann
  • Patent number: 6752849
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of disinfecting and stabilizing organic wastes wherein organic waste is intimately mixed with one or more mineral by-products to produce a mixture having a pH of less than about 9. The mixture is heated and dried to produce a stable, granular bio-mineral product that may be used for example, as a fertilizer, soil amendment or as a soil substitute. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heat for heating and/or drying the mixture is provided by residual heat in at least one of the one or more mineral by-products. Also provided are stable, granular bio-mineral products formed by the methods of the present invention and fertilizers, soil amendments, and soil substitutes that include these stable, granular bio-mineral products. Further provided are systems for disinfecting and stabilizing organic waste, and systems for making a stable, granular bio-mineral product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Ervin L. Faulmann
  • Patent number: 6666154
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treating organic waste, which include determining the ignition threshold temperature for the organic waste and at least one mineral by-product, selecting a ratio of organic waste:mineral by-product(s) based on the determined ignition threshold temperature, combining the mineral by-product(s) with the organic waste, so as to arrive at a mixture having the selected ratio of organic waste:mineral by-product(s); and drying the mixture of organic waste and mineral by-product(s) to produce organic waste solids. The treatment methods of the present invention are methods of stabilizing the treated organic waste so as to control the tendency of the organic waste to ignite. Also provided are organic waste solids formed by the methods of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Ervin L. Faulmann
  • Patent number: 6405664
    Abstract: A process is provided for NOx, removal at coal burning power plants, which includes introducing ammonia that is liberated upon drying a mixture of organic waste, coal combustion by-products, and optionally lime, having a pH of at least 9.5, to a coal burner in the power plant. A process is also provided for fueling a coal burner of a power plant with coal and a dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products. The present invention is further directed to the dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products made by the processes of the present invention, which may optionally be used as a soil additive or as a supplemental fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, James D. O'Neil, Ervin Louis Faulmann, Timothy Joseph Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6248148
    Abstract: A method is described for disinfecting and deodorizing animal manures and other organic wastes to produce a pasteurized, granular product for use as a soil amendment. The solids content of the animal manure is raised to a predetermined level to create air-filled pore space, and the pH is raised sufficient to liberate endogenous gaseous ammonia in the air-filled pores for a predetermined time. The level of gaseous ammonia is sufficient to significantly destroy pathogens in the manure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Ervin Louis Faulmann, Terry J. Logan
  • Patent number: 5417861
    Abstract: A method for treating bioorganic or raw or treated wastewater sludge so that a stability based upon achieving a significant microbial population, conductivity level and percent solids, is developed rapidly, is provided for indefinitely and is independent of climatic conditions. A dewatered sludge that has not been treated (i.e., raw) or a sludge that has been treated to a PSRP level or a sludge that has been treated to a PFRP level, i.e., pasteurized or sterilized sludge when still in a wet condition, i.e., between 12%-30% solids, or when in a dry condition, i.e., between 30-60% solids, is mixed with alkaline adsorptive materials to reduce odor, to increase the percent solids and to facilitate granulation, is adjusted to a mildly alkaline pH, and is adjusted to an ionic conductivity which will allow the sludge to mature rapidly when seeded with a beneficiating microbial flora. This process will reduce the pH or a high alkaline treated sludge, e.g., often above pH 12, to a physiological pH of between 7 and 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Burnham