Abstract: The patent application describes a method of increasing bioavailability of animal feed comprising: hydrating a starting animal feed material with water to provide a hydrated animal feed material containing from 50 wt % to 99.99 wt % H2O; in a continuous-flow processing chamber, treating the hydrated animal feed material at a processing temperature selected from 40° C. to 90° C., a processing pressure (vacuum) selected from ?5 psig to ?14 psig, and a processing residence time selected from 1 minute to 60 minutes, thereby generating a processed animal feed material; and recovering the processed animal feed material as an enhanced-bioavailability animal feed. The enhanced-bioavailability animal feed has higher bioavailability compared to the starting animal feed material. Systems for increasing bioavailability of animal feed are also described and shown in drawings.

Abstract: A rotatable drum system includes a frame and a drum rotationally supported thereon. Paddles in an interior of the drum are angularly offset from the longitudinal axis. An eccentric opening offset from the longitudinal axis forms the egress. Mixed solid waste agitated by the paddles while in the drum. Trunnions may support the drum. An actuator may be pivotable with an upper frame relative to a lower frame and the actuator can cause drum rotation irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. A trunnion assembly with a rocker pivotally coupled to a base thereof via a first axle, enables the rocker to be pivotable relative to the base about the first axle. A second axle may be rotationally coupled to the rocker. A roller may be rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load.

Abstract: A rotatable drum system includes a frame and a drum rotationally supported thereon. Paddles in an interior of the drum are angularly offset from the longitudinal axis. An eccentric opening offset from the longitudinal axis forms the egress. Mixed solid waste agitated by the paddles while in the drum. Trunnions may support the drum. An actuator may be pivotable with an upper frame relative to a lower frame and the actuator can cause drum rotation irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. A trunnion assembly with a rocker pivotally coupled to a base thereof via a first axle, enables the rocker to be pivotable relative to the base about the first axle. A second axle may be rotationally coupled to the rocker. A roller may be rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load.

Abstract: A rotatable drum system includes a frame and a drum rotationally supported thereon. Paddles in an interior of the drum are angularly offset from the longitudinal axis. An eccentric opening offset from the longitudinal axis forms the egress. Mixed solid waste agitated by the paddles while in the drum. Trunnions may support the drum. An actuator may be pivotable with an upper frame relative to a lower frame and the actuator can cause drum rotation irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. A trunnion assembly with a rocker pivotally coupled to a base thereof via a first axle, enables the rocker to be pivotable relative to the base about the first axle. A second axle may be rotationally coupled to the rocker. A roller may be rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load.

Abstract: A rotatable drum system includes a frame and a drum rotationally supported thereon. Paddles in an interior of the drum are angularly offset from the longitudinal axis. An eccentric opening offset from the longitudinal axis forms the egress. Mixed solid waste agitated by the paddles while in the drum. Trunnions may support the drum. An actuator may be pivotable with an upper frame relative to a lower frame and the actuator can cause drum rotation irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. A trunnion assembly with a rocker pivotally coupled to a base thereof via a first axle, enables the rocker to be pivotable relative to the base about the first axle. A second axle may be rotationally coupled to the rocker. A roller may be rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load.

Abstract: A liquid-driven separation system for separating hydrated organic materials from drenched mixed solid waste is disclosed. The system includes a funnel-shaped housing defining an upper, open end, a tapering sidewall defining the funnel-shaped housing, and a lower end having a smaller circumference than the upper, open end; vertically offset openings arranged along the tapering sidewall; impellers extend along a vertical axis of the housing; a drive device that rotates the impellers; and an extraction device configured to extract fractions of the mixed solid waste from the housing. A mixture of waste and water is received at the upper end of the housing. The drive device rotates the impellers causing the impellers to generate a centrifugal force such that the mixture spins within the housing and the mixed solid waste separates into fractions at least based on a density of components in the mixed solid waste, for further extraction.

Abstract: Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber.

Abstract: Moisturized organic material is treated by communicating with a vacuum pump (44) to selectively reduce pressure within a vessel (12) below atmospheric pressure and to a vaporization point, such as at 30 to 17.8° C., for a period of time sufficient to create an internal pressure to rupture cell walls. While being subjected to vacuum below atmospheric pressure, the vessel (12) is rotated to homogenize the moisturized organic material. The organic material can be moisturized by non-potable water including moisture collected by a moisture collector (44b) in the conduit (44a) between the vessel (12) and the vacuum pump (44) and by chilled feed water acting as the seal fluid in the vacuum pump and heated while flowing through a heat exchanger (148) of the moisture collector (44b). Heat can be added by a heater (46) to raise the temperature of low ambient temperature moisturized organic material.

Abstract: Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber.

Abstract: Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber.

Abstract: Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber.

Abstract: Moisturized organic material is treated by communicating with a vacuum pump (44) to selectively reduce pressure within a vessel (12) below atmospheric pressure and to a vaporization point, such as at 30 to 17.8 C, for a period of time sufficient to create an internal pressure to rupture cell walls. While being subjected to vacuum below atmospheric pressure, the vessel (12) is rotated to homogenize the moisturized organic material. The organic material can be moisturized by non-potable water including moisture collected by a moisture collector (44b) in the conduit (44a) between the vessel (12) and the vacuum pump (44) and by chilled feed water acting as the seal fluid in the vacuum pump and heated while flowing through a heat exchanger (48) of the moisture collector (44b). Heat can be added by a heater (46) to raise the temperature of low ambient temperature moisturized organic material.