Abstract: A process for treating sanitary sewage sludge to achieve increased solids, decreased viscosity, and a reduction of pathogens. The aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 3 to 35 wt. % is simultaneously conveyed and preheated, mascerated, heated in an heat exchanger, hydrothermally treated in a closed vessel under a blanket of nitrogen at about 500.degree. F. and a pressure of about 750 psig and above the vapor pressure of water at that temperature, dewatered and cooled in a first multi-step flash evaporation zone where the pressure is dropped in three steps from about 750 psig to about 50 psig and then in a second flash evaporation zone the pressure is dropped to about 25 psig, cooling and condensing the vapor from said first and second flash evaporation zones, and removing a dewatered pumpable slurry of sewage sludge product having a solids content in the range of about 5 to 50 wt. % and a reduced amount of pathogens.

Abstract: A process for disposing of sanitary sewage sludge by producing a pumpable slurry of sewage sludge and solid carbonaceous fuel e.g. coal, petroleum coke, rubber. The slurry is burned as a fuel in a partial oxidation gas generator, furnace, or boiler. In the process, an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge is concentrated by removing water by means of a conventional belt filter press or presses. The dewatered slurry of sewage sludge is hydrothermally treated and cooled and depressurized. The viscosity of the slurry of sewage sludge is reduced to less than about 2000 centipoise by shearing. The sheared sewage sludge is then ground together with a solid carbonaceous fuel to produce a pumpable slurry which is burned with a free-oxygen containing gas in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce a hot raw effluent gas stream. In a preferred embodiment, the effluent gas stream is cleaned and purified and non-contaminating ash and slag are separated.