Abstract: A biosolids treatment system comprising a storage tank for containing a quantity of biosolids sludge, a system of disinfection piping within the storage tank comprised of a segment of inner biosolids piping having a plurality of holes spirally arranged at a desired spacing around its perimeter concentrically arranged with a segment of outer steam piping, delivery pumps for delivering a quantity of biosolids to the storage tank, biosolids pumps for delivering a flow of biosolids from the storage tank to the inner biosolids piping; and steam pumps for delivering a flow of steam to the outer steam piping and thereby injecting a flow of steam from the outer steam piping into the inner biosolids piping for thermally disinfecting the flow of biosolids in the inner biosolids piping. The system includes computerized controls for continuously and simultaneously monitoring and operating the biosolids and steam pump means.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for processing municipal waste starts with a biomass that has been treated in at least one steam autoclave and dilutes the resulting biomass in a dilution tank while agitating the resulting mixture a sufficient amount and at an effective temperature to cause cellulose fibers within the biomass that became twisted during processing within the autoclave to relax and straighten out. The biomass mixture is fed into a hybrid anaerobic digester having separate zones for digesting the solid portion of the biomass and the fluid portion of the biomass. The hybrid anaerobic digester is a vessel having an inner zone for digestion of the solid portion of the biomass and a concentric outer zone having attached growth media that retains methane producing organisms which produce biogas from the fluid portion of the biomass.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a process and apparatus for reclamation of waste polystyrene-type materials for reuse within the specification ranges of the input polystyrene-type material. The disclosed process and apparatus include dissolution of the waste polystyrene-type materials in a dissolve section utilizing a reusable solvent having a low boiling point and high vaporization rate, removal of solid contaminants in one or more filter sections, devolatilization of the dissolved polystyrene and recovery of the polystyrene-type material in a solid form in a recovery section. Preferably the process and apparatus provide a closed system and include recycling and reuse in the process of the vaporized solvent. The maximum temperature in the recovery section is 190° C. The reusable solvent is preferably environmentally safe and has a low boiling point and high vaporization rate. n-Propyl bromide, or environmentally safe mixtures thereof, including mixtures with isopropyl alcohol, is the preferred reusable solvent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for separating polyester, and particularly polyethylene terephthalate, from various contaminants and impurities. In general, the process includes the steps of mixing materials containing polyester with an alkaline composition in a mixer. The mixer imparts sufficient energy to the slurry to provide substantially complete, even coating of the polyester containing materials with the alkaline composition and cause saponification of the outer surface of the polyester with the alkaline composition. After reaction in the mixer, the mixture is heated causing some of the impurities to be chemically modified into a more separable form. After heating, the mixture can be washed with water and the polyester can be easily separated from the remaining impurities. Through the process of the present invention, polyester can be separated and recovered from waste materials such as those containing polyvinyl chloride and aluminum.

Abstract: A wet material treatment apparatus includes an inlet hopper for introducing the wet material into the apparatus. The hopper feeds the wet material into an injector auger that physically directs the wet material into a high velocity air stream produced by a blower thereby directing the flow of the wet material through the apparatus. The wet material moves from the injector auger into a cyclone that separates the wet material through specific gravity and desiccation into a substantially liquid and a substantially solid portion. The substantially liquid portion is discharged through a first outlet in the cyclone to a wet scrubber, while the substantially solid portion of the wet material is discharged through a second outlet. The apparatus can be mounted to a trailer for mobile transportation, and can include two cyclones operating in series.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for incinerating certain volatile organic compounds especially odorants commonly used in the natural gas industry. The procedure uses a first (car bottom) furnace as a heating chamber, where precise temperature control during both low and high temperature process stages ensures safe and controlled feed of volatile substances into a second (primary) furnace for incineration. The combustion process is completed in an afterburner and all generated gases are scrubbed in a conventional wet scrubber.

Abstract: Mature particulate compost containing plastic film fragments resulting from the comminution of green waste and the bags containing them, is freed of the plastic fragments during screening of the compost by drawing air upwards through the compost into at least one plenum chamber at a velocity sufficient to lift the plastic film fragment into the plenum chamber substantially free of compost.

Abstract: A silver recovery device for recovering silver from silver containing fluids is provided. The silver recovery device includes an outside container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A silver recovery cartridge, positioned within the outside container, includes a silver recovery element surrounded by a liner. In one embodiment, the liner can include a sealed top for allowing the cartridge to be pressurized with fluid. Also, the silver recovery device can include a filter element for filtering the fluids prior to exiting the device.

Abstract: A process for recycling polyester contained in waste materials is provided. The polyester is converted into a corresponding acid salt of a polybasic organic acid and a polyol. The process steps generally include first combining materials containing polyester with an alkaline composition to form a mixture. The mixture is heated, causing the polyester to convert to the acid salt and polyol. The polyol is evaporated and separated from the acid salt.

Abstract: A method for forming an article from recyclable plastic materials includes progressively heating thermoplastic solid particles simultaneously with mixing, melting and conveying the particles, prior to delivery of molten material to an extruder. The process is particularly suitable for the continuous extrusion of elongated members having a plurality of internal wall surfaces defining elongated cavities within the member. The apparatus embodying the present invention includes a heated mixer-conveyor that simultaneously heats, melts, mixes and conveys thermoplastic material from an inlet port at which the material is received in solid particulate form, to a discharge port at which the material is in a substantially liquid state. A die particularly adapted for the continuous extrusion of an elongated member having internal walls shaped by surfaces within the die cavity is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to reclaim solid polystyrene-type polymer material in solid form comprising a dissolving section to dissolve the solid polystyrene-type polymer material in a solvent including a dissolving tank to receive solvent from a solvent reservoir and the polystyrene-type polymer material from an external source to form a solution thereof and a recovery section including a recovery tank to receive the solution from the dissolving section, a separator unit to separate the dissolved polystyrene-type polymer material in solid form from the solvent, a solid material processing unit to remove the reclaimed polystyrene-type polymer material from the separator unit and a fluid separator/recovery unit to remove moisture from the separator unit and separate and recover the solvent from the water.

Abstract: A system and method for reclaiming unused portions of mixed concrete by adding a chemical agent to retard the hydration state of the concrete for up to several days. When the stored concrete is again desired for use, a chemical accelerating agent is added to the mixed concrete which returns the hydration state to normal, once again allowing the concrete to set. The concrete can then be poured at a construction site or alternatively, the stored concrete can be added to a new batch of newly mixed concrete before pouring.

Abstract: A method and furnace assembly for treating solid refuse. The refuse comprises both recoverable materials useful either in cement or in construction and contaminants. The contaminants have a vaporization temperature lower than the vaporization or sublimation temperatures of the recoverable materials. The furnace assembly comprises a resource recovery furnace connected to a cement manufacturing furnace. According to the method, the refuse is transferred through a resource recovery furnace. Inside the resource recovery furnace the refuse is separated into vaporized contaminants and recoverable materials. Gas carrying the vaporized contaminants is transferred to the cement manufacturing furnace and used as an energy source. The recoverable materials are used in the cement manufacturing furnace as a constituent for making cement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decontaminating soil which has been contaminated with hazardous hydrocarbons. The apparatus includes a blending or scrubbing unit for mixing the contaminated soil with water and a suitable surfactant to form a slurry; screening apparatus operably interconnected with the blending unit for removing from the slurry particles larger than a predetermined size to form a small particle slurry; a reactor unit operably interconnected with the screening apparatus for reacting the slurry with ozone to form an ozone enriched slurry; an ultraviolet radiation generator for irradiating the ozone enriched slurry with ultraviolet radiation; a static mixer operably interconnected with the reactor unit for mixing a floculating material with the slurry to form a floculated slurry; and a belt-forming press for receiving the floculated material from the static mixer and for forming the floculated slurry into contamination free blocks.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sorting scrap metal pieces dependent on the type of metal therein. The apparatus includes a conveyor and a feeding arrangement to feed the scrap metal pieces on to the conveyor, together with an X-ray fluorescence detector to examine each metal piece and determine the type of metal as a result of the characteristic X-rays emitted. A respective control signal is utilized to move pegs on the conveyor so as to permit the respective metal piece to exit from the conveyor along a respective path and to enter a bin for that particular type of metal. In this way scrap metal pieces of different metal are collected in different bins for subsequent processing.

Abstract: Solid, leach-resistant bodies are formed from aqueous heavy metal sludge and fly ash formed in the combustion of subbituminous coal from the Power River Basin by slurrying the sludge with an amount of fly ash equivalent to between about 20 wt. % and about 70 wt. % based on the weight of the slurry, wherein the initial liquid content of the slurry is such that the slurry will harden into a body having a 7-day compressive strength of at least about 250 psi, and allowing the slurry to harden.

Abstract: A wet process is disclosed for the beneficiation of electrostatic fly ash to provide therefrom a series of products which have higher commercial value than the raw fly ash, including a carbon concentrate, cenospheres, an iron concentrate, an enhanced pozzolan, and an inert mineral filler.

Abstract: A lightweight aggregate for use in concrete mixes with Portland cement consists essentially of bottom ash produced as a by-product of burning pulverized coal in a dry-bottom furnace. The ash is sized to remove particles substantially exceeding 3/8 inch in diameter. It is substantially free of iron pyrites and sulfur trioxide to provide a lightweight aggregate which is inert, non-reactive, and meets the requirements for such aggregate as defined in ASTM specifications C-330, C-331 and C-332. Methods of producing this aggregate material are disclosed, including a method for recovering the same from the waste product ash in a power plant sluicing pond. Concrete mixes and products are disclosed in which such ash consists of the lightweight aggregate.

Abstract: A lightweight aggregate for use in concrete mixes with Portland cement consists essentially of bottom ash produced as a by-product of burning pulverized coal in a dry-bottom furnace. The ash is sized to remove particles substantially exceeding 3/8 inch in diameter. It is substantially free of iron pyrites and sulfur trioxide to provide a lightweight aggregate which is inert, non-reactive, and meets the requirements for such aggregate as defined in ASTM specifications C-330, C-331 and C-332. Methods of producing this aggregate material are disclosed, including a method for recovering the same from the waste product ash in a power plant sluicing pond. Concrete mixes and products are disclosed in which such ash consists of the lightweight aggregate.