Abstract: A method to improve accuracy of hole-by-hole ground hardness predictions for a bench (“bench-below”), being a bench that is below a current bench of an open cut mine. The method includes generating measure while drilling (MWD) data, whilst performing blast hole drilling of the current bench. The MWD data includes air pressure data indicating air pressure measurements from an air pressure sensor, and torque data indicating measurements of torque that opposes rotation of a drill bit performing the blast hole drilling. The method also includes determining occurrence of fallback or malfunction of a pressurized air delivery arrangement during drilling based upon the air pressure data and the torque data and discarding some or all MWD data collected during the occurrence of the fallback or malfunction of the pressurized air delivery arrangement, whilst generating the hole-by-hole ground hardness predictions.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a method of treating hard to digest food waste by treating the food waste with a thermal-alkaline hydrolysis process (THP). The THP includes treating the food waste with heat, alkali, and shear for a preselected time to produce a biodegradable feedstock for improved anaerobic digestion.

Abstract: A network product planner (29) ascertains material levels required at dispatch stockpiles (15), for example by checking upcoming orders for material to be shipped by transport ships (19) to end customers. Tolerance bands for chemical components required at the dispatch stockpiles are then ascertained. The tolerance bands are defined by upper and lower expected value control limits for each chemical component. The network product planner (29) then passes the collected information to the optimization engine (29a), which finds the values of decision variables in the form of weights, that minimize variance of the chemical components in the dispatch stockpiles, whilst being constrained to comply with the specified tolerance bands of the chemical components. The network product planner (29) then passes the weight values to the rail dispatch controller (23) in messages (14).

Abstract: A method of processing an animal manure that includes biosolids to provide an output animal manure digestate and an output biogas. The method includes heating the animal manure to a predetermined hydrolysis temperature for a preselected hydrolysis time period. In addition, a pH of the animal manure is caused to be a target hydrolysis pH. The biosolids are subjected to shearing, to produce a hydrolyzed animal manure digestate. After the hydrolysis time period, the hydrolyzed animal manure digestate is subjected to anaerobic digestion at a predetermined anaerobic digestion temperature for a preselected anaerobic digestion time period, to produce the output animal manure digestate and the output biogas.

Abstract: A method of processing enhanced biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant to produce an output mixture. The method includes providing one or more volumes of an input mixture that has an input mixture viscosity. The input mixture includes the enhanced biosolids, which have been subjected to shear forces and mixed in a mixing vessel. The enhanced biosolids are partially hydrolyzed biosolids with an input solids content between 4% and 16% by weight of the input mixture. The input mixture also includes sufficient process liquid to result in the output mixture having an output solids content between 3% and 13% by weight of the output mixture. The input mixture is stored in a storage vessel in which the input mixture is subjected to anaerobic conditions and hydrolysis over a predetermined tie period, to form the output mixture having an output mixture viscosity that is less than the input mixture viscosity.

Abstract: A method of processing enhanced biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant to produce an output mixture. The method includes providing one or more volumes of an input mixture that has an input mixture viscosity. The input mixture includes the enhanced biosolids, which have been subjected to shear forces and mixed in a mixing vessel. The enhanced biosolids are partially hydrolyzed biosolids with an input solids content between 4% and 16% by weight of the input mixture. The input mixture also includes sufficient process liquid to result in the output mixture having an output solids content between 3% and 13% by weight of the output mixture. The input mixture is stored in a storage vessel in which the input mixture is subjected to anaerobic conditions and hydrolysis over a predetermined tie period, to form the output mixture having an output mixture viscosity that is less than the input mixture viscosity.