Abstract: An organic waste material treatment process comprising subjecting the organic waste material to conditions under which anaerobic digestion occurs followed by conditions under which aerobic composting occurs. Preferably, the organic waste material is pre-conditioned before anaerobic digestion by subjecting the organic waste material to aerobic composting conditions to facilitate a rise in temperature of the organic waste material. The treatment process is conducted in a single vessel, wherein air and water are evenly distributed to the contents of the vessel. A plurality of vessels may be interconnected, such that water may be extracted from one vessel, whose contents have undergone anaerobic digestion, then recirculated to an interconnected vessel to facilitate conditions for anaerobic digestion of the contents of the interconnected vessel.

Abstract: An ambient anaerobic digester system for anaerobic digestion of animal waste with biogas production and recovery is provided. The anaerobic digester system includes a substantially flexible bladder for anaerobically digesting the animal waste with biogas production and transmitting the biogas to at least one biogas storage container, biogas use device or a combination thereof. In a preferred form, the substantially flexible bladder has a waste inlet, a digester effluent outlet, one or more sludge access ports and a biogas outlet in a top surface thereof. The anaerobic digester system may inexpensively, simply, reliably, and effectively be used to treat animal waste without energy expenditure and little capital expense, thus minimizing pollution typically caused by animal waste.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for treating wastewater with alkanes such as butane. An oxygen-containing gas may also be introduced into the wastewater. Butane, because of its relatively high solubility, rapidly dissolves in the wastewater, thereby significantly increasing the heterogeneous microbial community and heterotrophic microbial population. This enhanced microbial population may rapidly absorb and mineralize materials in the wastestream. After an initial growth phase, the organic matter available in the wastewater effluent may be rapidly decreased, thereby reducing the amount of BOD, TDS, sludge and other pollutants. In addition, the use of butane reduces noxious odors associated with municipal wastewater sludges and other types of wastewater.

Abstract: A hollow gas transfer fibre is arranged in tows and potted into a module. The module may be used to treat wastewater by supplying hydrogen containing gas via the interior of the fibers to a biofilm present on an exterior surface of the fibers.

Abstract: An egg-shaped anaerobic sludge digester has upper and lower draft tubes, and an optional middle draft tube. The draft tubes are arranged so that liquid can be (1) simultaneously pumped downwards through the upper (or middle) draft tube and upwards through the lower (or middle) draft tube; (2) simultaneously pumped upwards through two or more draft tubes; or (3) simultaneously pumped downwards through two or more draft tubes. When a middle draft tube is provided, it can be used in place of the upper draft tube when the liquid surface in the digester falls below the top of the upper draft tube. Alternatively, the middle draft tube can work as a coordinated relay conduit to move liquid either in the same direction as the upper draft tube or to move liquid in the same direction as the lower draft tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for processing agricultural waste to make alcohol and/or biodiesel. The agricultural wastes are subjected to anaerobic digestion which produces a biogas stream containing methane, which is subsequently reformed to a syngas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The syngas is converted to an alcohol which may be stored, sold, used, or fed directly to a reactor for production of biodiesel. The solids effluent from the anaerobic digester can be further utilized as slow release, organic certified fertilizer. Additionally, the wastewater from the process is acceptable for immediate reuse in agricultural operations.

Abstract: Enhanced wastewater treatment utilizing directed energy to promote degradation of sludge is disclosed. The directed energy is delivered in a stream circulating to and from an anaerobic digester. The directed energy incorporates mechanical shear energy, ultrasonic energy, and/or hydraulic shear energy. Characterization of odor potential is further disclosed involving the analyzing volatilized sulfur-containing species from dewatered sludge. The odor potential can be used to control operation of the wastewater treatment by controlling the directed energy and/or polymer dose.

Abstract: A method for processing organic material, in which method bioconversion is performed on the organic material in at least one first reactor, the biogas formed in the bioconversion is treated with ammonia in at least one second reactor and buffer solution produced in the second reactor is recycled to the bioconversion in the first reactor. Thus, the carbon dioxide of the mixed methane/carbon dioxide gas reacts with the ammonia and forms a buffer compound, such as ammonium bicarbonate and/or ammonium carbonate.

Abstract: An anaerobic digester for use in wastewater treatment systems having a fixed cover including a central tower for controlling gas and foam. A constant operating level is maintained in the digester by utilization of an overflow weir located in the tower. The fixed cover having an under flat surface that is in direct contact with contents of the digester. The tower has a number of spray nozzles that operably direct movement of foam toward discharge locations.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved systems and processes for performing sequential batch anaerobic composting (SEBAC) on high solids content wastes. In particular, the present invention provides improved flooded SEBAC systems that function more efficiently (i.e., higher conversion kinetics) at lower temperatures than conventional SEBAC systems. Further, the improved flooded SEBAC systems and processes of the subject invention enable efficient anaerobic digestion operation at a smaller reactor volume ratio as compared to conventional SEBAC systems, without the displacement of leachate and clogging as a result of entrapped biogas or an increased pressure drop (hydraulic). Further, the improved flooded SEBAC systems of the invention overcome concerns associated with leachate displacement as well as excessive pressure drops.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nitrogen from anaerobically digested liquid waste and for the collection of the nitrogen as nitrate compounds that can be used to produce fertilizer and compost, includes stripping ammonia from anaerobically digested liquid waste, and converting the ammonia into nitrates via nitrification. The stripping gas is heated above ambient atmospheric temperature to improve nitrogen recovery. The heat can be reclaimed by burning gases generated during the anaerobic digestion process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digester for handling waste or contaminated materials. A process and an apparatus for processing are disclosed. A Dry Cycle Anaerobic Digester (DCAD) uses tanks to perform aerobic and anaerobic digestion to eliminate the waste, while producing little or no sludge.

Abstract: Disclosed is an on-site treatment method of food waste generated from multi-unit dwellings and institutional food service facilities, by transporting wastewater-containing food waste to a separation chamber by use of domestic wastewater or an additional transporter; separating the transported food waste to wastewater and food waste; and treating the separated wastewater in a sewage disposal plant, and the separated food waste using disposal equipment. Such food waste can be treated even using disposal equipment of small capacities, due to separation of wastewater and food waste, compared to disposal equipment of large capacities required for treating wastewater and food waste together. Also, the quality of the separated wastewater is better than the conventional quality of wastewater, and thus loads of the sewage disposal plant can be efficiently decreased.

Abstract: A system and method for continuous decomposition of organic material to produce biogas and compost in which successive reactor zones in a primary reactor are used in turn to receive organic material which is decomposed in situ anaerobically followed by aerobic decomposition and excavation of raw compost from the same reactor zone where it is received into the organic treatment facility. Organic rich liquor recovered during anaerobic decomposition is further decomposed in a secondary reactor from which spent liquor is returned to the primary reactor while biogas harnessed from both the primary and secondary reactors is treated, and optionally used to fuel the operation of the organic treatment facility or for sale as fuel or electricity.

Abstract: A system for processing biosolids from a sludge pond into fertilizer comprising: a portable dewatering system for removing liquid from sludge, the portable dewatering system having: a collection device for collecting sludge from the sludge pond; a centrifuge for removing liquids from the sludge collected by the collection device to create a biosolids composition; and a transfer device to transfer the biosolids composition from the centrifuge; a transport vehicle for receiving the biosolids composition from the transport device, the transport vehicle transporting the biosolids from the sludge pond to a fixed processing plant; and the fixed processing plant having: a mixer for mixing a stabilizing agent with the biosolids composition to create mixed biosolids; a heating and sterilising system to heat and sterilize the mixed biosolids and for extruding sterilized pellets; and a drying system for drying the pellets, wherein the pellets can be used as fertilizer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of treating filamentous and flocculating microorganism-bearing effluent, sludge or organic substrates used in biogas installations, for reducing or avoiding the formation of bulking sludge, floating sludge and/or foam, wherein the effluent, sludge or organic substrates is or are guided in a flow passage and in the flow passage subjected to a shear loading which is sufficient to reduce the relative ratio of the number of filamentous microorganisms in relation to flocculating microorganisms. The invention further concerns an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated system for treatment of biodegradable waste, including sewage sludge, forestry waste, food waste, agricultural waste, municipal waste, and the like. The integrated system comprises an anaerobic reactor, at least one aerobic reactor, a filtration device, and a desalinization device.

Abstract: A process for removal and recovery of nutrients and recycling of water from digested manure or other organic wastes. A first step involves separating waste from an anaerobic digester into digested liquids, digested solids, and biogas. A second step involves precipitating solids from the digested liquids. A third step involves stripping ammonia from the digested liquids. A fourth step involves injecting an exhaust stream of carbon dioxide drawn from the co-generator into the digested liquids to reduce the pH and raise the temperature of the digested liquid. A fifth step involves recycling the digested liquids back to the anaerobic digester for use in diluting in coming solid wastes. A sixth step involves passing the excess ammonia stripped from the digested liquid through the digested solids to recover nitrogen through aborption with the resultant digested solids being usable as a biofertilizer with a high nitrogen content. A seventh step involves capturing the biogas for use in a co-generation system.

Abstract: A method for treating (in situ) large bodies of water contaminated with heavy metals and having varying density stratas to immobilize the contaminant metals is disclosed. The method, or process for (in situ) immobilization of metals is focused on treating large bodies of water having metals therein that are also adjacent a border of soil or earthen materials in an attempt to immobilize the metals from penetrating through the soil. The method is also able to treat the soil water boundary within the pit lake to provide additional immobilization. The pit lakes can include open pit lakes, subterranean mine lakes, flowing streams and the like. The method is also able to treat an abandoned mine prior to the filling of the mine with water. Initially, the density mean of the body of water is determined, which is densest typical at regions at or approaching 4 degrees C.

Abstract: Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater to reduce often associated offensive odors by promoting aerobic conditions through decreasing the amount of oxygen required to maintain aerobic cultures and/or aerobic biological activity in the wastewater. Also, the wastewater is screened or otherwise separated the wastewater to remove or concentrate the solids which are anaerobically digested. By concentrating the solids, a smaller digester can be used. The anaerobic digestion produces biogas that may be collected and used, or burned by a flare or oxidized by a semipermeable membrane to deodorize the biogas. The heat produced from the biogas may have a variety of uses, including raising the temperature of the anaerobic digester and the bacterial metabolism. The wastewater is also clarified to remove nitrogenous and organic carbon wastes.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen from anaerobically decomposed organic materials by applying an electric potential to the anaerobically decomposed organic materials, including landfill materials and sewage, to form hydrogen, and for decreasing the time required to treat these anaerobically decomposed organic materials. The organic materials decompose to volatile acids such as acetic acid, which may be hydrolyzed by electric current to form hydrogen. The process may be continuously run in sewage digestion tanks with the continuous feed of sewage, at landfill sites, or at any site having a supply of anaerobically decomposed or decomposable organic materials.

Abstract: This is a method of waste treatment in tall reactors having with anaerobic biological stage in the lower section of the reactor and another treatment stage in the upper section of the reactor, these stages are separated by an essentially horizontal partition. Presurized digestion gases generated in the anaerobic section are collected under the partition. The process is further improved by providing a recuperable alkalinity and stripping of biologically generated carbon dioxide. so that the free carbon dioxide concentratioon in the anaerobic mixed liquor is very low and a methane-rich digestion gas is produced. Production of pressurized methane-rich digestion gas is the major benefit of the process. Ather improvements are in the controllable gaslift mixing with gases other than digestion gases, improved process performance with increasing operating temperatures due to bioheating, and improved solid-liquid separation due to the use of the distillation techniques making use of the bioheating and heat recycle.

Abstract: An anaerobic digester is disclosed including a single orbicular vessel having two chambers configured for the separate treatment of high-solids and low-solids phases of organic matter. The vessel combines a high solids, plug flow path wherein low solids liquids are separated and directed to a high rate treatment path. The invention provides a novel and simple apparatus for the anaerobic conversion of both high solid and low solid wastes to methane, carbon dioxide, a liquid effluent that can be used as fertilizer, and a solid residue that can be used as a soil amendment. The invention combines the advantages of high solids loop digesters and low solids high rate digesters into a single orbicular vessel. Due to the orbicular geometry, in which a first chamber is a path surrounding and orbiting a second chamber, the apparatus has greater thermal and material efficiencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the thermal hydrolysis of sludge characterized in that it is carried out in at least two reactors operating in parallel, in each of which the sludge undergoes a complete thermal hydrolysis cycle. Said cycle comprises different stages consisting in supplying the reactor with the sludge, injecting live stream in order to bring said sludge to a pressure P and a temperature T at which hydrolysis can occur, maintaining the sludge at said pressure P and said temperature T for a certain amount of time, suddenly bringing said sludge to the atmospheric pressure by releasing the flash steam and emptying said reactor of the hydrolysed sludge. Furthermore, the inventive method consists in time shifting the cycle of one reactor to the other in order to use the flash steam produced from one reactor to inject it into the other reactor.

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion system and process in which a liquor containing a digestible biomass is processed a retort vessel at a thermophilic temperature and with a vacuum pressure at the surface of the liquor. A pressurized feedstock is introduced into the vessel so that the feedstock impacts upon the surface of the liquor in a manner which serves to break up any scum on the surface and produce a mixing of the liquor.

Abstract: A method of treating sewage sludge comprises incubating raw sludge at a temperature in the mesophilic range to reduce the pathogen content of the sludge.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a three-phase separation during treatment of wastewater and sludge, which includes a gas collector (1) which traps gases that rise in the settling basin during the treatment process. The gas collector has an inclined outer surface (2, 3) which ensures that sewage sludge can slide down unhindered. The angle of inclination (?) can be adjusted in order to adapt the apparatus to different sewage sludges. The gas collector has a flexible tube (4) which is guided around a plurality of reversing or bending surfaces (5, 6, 7, 8) so that sections (10, 11) of the tube form the inclined outer surfaces (2, 3). Another section (15) of the tube defines the interior volume (V) of the gas collector. The resulting gas collector is simple to produce and effectively prevents the separation apparatus from becoming clogged by particles of sewage sludge adhering to the outer surfaces of the gas collector.

Abstract: The process and system may have an organic matter influent introduced into an acid reactor. The acid reactor may be maintained under conditions to facilitate creation of volatile acids in a fluid having water and suspended solids forming a sludge effluent. The sludge effluent may be communicated to an acid separation element where the water and volatile acids may be separated from the suspended solids. A liquid stream may be communicated from the acid separation element to a methane reactor and a solids recycle stream may be communicated to the acid reactor. The methane reactor may be maintained under conditions to facilitate creation of biogas. A liquid effluent may be communicated from the methane reactor to a methane separation element where liquid water may be separated from the solids. A second solids recycle may be communicated from the methane separation element to the methane reactor.

Abstract: An induced sludge bed anaerobic reactor includes a vessel in which a septum or other partition is positioned to maintain solids in wastewater being treated toward a lower zone in the reactor. A central aperture is formed in the septum into which a sludge blanket control mechanism, such as an auger, is positioned to force solids to the lower zone of the reactor or, alternatively, pull solids up above the septum so that they can be removed from the vessel, if desired. A mixer may be utilized in connection with the bioreactor to mix the contents and prevent a crust from forming at the top of the bioreactor. Still further, a wall may be positioned to extend above the septum around its perimeter to assist in separating solids from the wastewater. The various types of bacteria used in the anaerobic process may also be separated, according to the present invention, in either a single vessel or multiple vessels so that the conditions of each respective vessel can be altered as desired.

Abstract: A method of treating wastewater sludge includes pumping, continuously, raw sludge into a first digester and treating the raw sludge at a specific temperature of between about 51° C. to 60° C.; transferring the treated wastewater sludge to a batch tank; treating the wastewater sludge in the batch tank, anaerobically, at a thermophilic temperature which is not more than 2° C. warmer than the specific temperature in the first digester; and disposing of the treated wastewater sludge as a Class A biosolid. A wastewater sludge treatment system includes a first thermophilic digester for treating raw wastewater sludge at a specific temperature in a range of between about 51° C. to 60° C., and discharging a treated wastewater sludge; a batch tank for receiving the treated wastewater sludge discharged from the first digester and for thermophilically treating sludge at a temperature in a range of between about 51° C. to 60° C. and not more than 2° C.

Abstract: Method for anaerobically fermenting biodegradable organic material, whereby this material is mixed with a quantity of already fermented material as an inoculum for the active anaerobic fermentation and this mixture is introduced at the top into a fermentation chamber (1A) in which a fermenting mass is situated, which, while being fermented, moves from an inlet (6A) situated at the top towards an outlet (8) situated at the bottom. Before the mixture is added to the fermenting mass, it is expanded beforehand until its density approximately coincides with the density of the already present fermenting mass at the beginning of this downward movement.

Abstract: A method for treating particulate biodegradable organic waste includes sizing the waste and adding a base prior to introducing the waste to a thermal hydrolysis reactor and hydrolyzing the waste at a temperature of about 130° C. or greater and a pressure greater than the saturated water vapor pressure to produce a slurry including solubilized organic material and residual solids. The solubilized organic material is separated from the residual solids using a liquid/solid separator and the solubilized organics are subjected to anaerobic digestion to produce a methane gas. The base is preferably potassium hydroxide (KOH) at a concentration of about 1%. The method may further include preheating the particulate biodegradable organic waste with latent heat of the separated solubilized organic material prior to thermal hydrolysis.

Abstract: A sewage treatment system is disclosed in which a waste stream is separated into a primary sludge and water effluent, and the primary sludge is anaerobically digested and dewatered to produce a Class A biosolid. The water effluent is aerobically digested and separated to provide a waste activated sludge. The waste activated sludge is heated in a two-stage process with steam injection and indirect steam before it is passed to a hydrothermal process. The pH of the treated waste activated sludge is then increased, and the nitrogen is stripped and recovered as an ammonium salt. A low nitrogen stream with volatile fatty acids and soluble organics is then separated and fed to the aerobic digester. Biogas generated during anaerobic digestion provides energy for heating the waste activated sludge for the hydrothermal process, and reject heat from the hydrothermal process heats the primary sludge for thermophilic anaerobic digestion.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nitrogen from anaerobically digested liquid waste and for the collection of the nitrogen as nitrate compounds that can be used to produce fertilizer and compost, includes stripping ammonia from anaerobically digested liquid waste, and converting the ammonia into nitrates via nitrification.

Abstract: A method for treating nitrate-contaminated water comprising treating said water with hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria in the presence of hydrogen. The apparatus for use in this method preferably comprises: (a) a pure culture of autotrophic, hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria; (b) a hydrogen generator; (c) a flow-through bioreactor; and (d) a filtration unit.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes a tidal, sequential vertical flow marsh cell system having at least three marsh cells in serial forward fluid communication. Incoming wastewater to be treated is channeled to at least the first and a second marsh cell, and a portion of water exiting a final marsh cell, to the first marsh cell surface. Each marsh cell is alternately flooded and drained for enhancing aeration of incoming water and marsh cell contents, which include media and plant roots having biofilms growing thereon, the biofilms including a population of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, for achieving substantially simultaneous nitrification and denitrification of the wastewater.

Abstract: Both organic waste or wastewater and methane-generating bacteria are contained in organic waste or wastewater. When organic waste or wastewater containing these bacteria is cultured as a base material, the hydrogen produced by the hydrogen-generating bacteria is consumed by the methane-generating bacteria. The purpose of the invention is achieved by controlling the biophase with heat treatment so that the activity of hydrogen-generating bacteria having sporulation ability contained in the organic waste is maintained, while the hydrogen-consuming, methane-producing bacteria are decreased. Specifically, this invention provides a method of effectively generating hydrogen gas using hydrogen-generating bacteria by adjusting the treatment temperature to 68-95° C., and adjusting the treatment time and pH.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing organic materials by anaerobic digestion is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first covered fluid container, such as a retention pond covered with an oxygen impervious membrane. An aqueous slurry comprising anaerobically digestible fiber is disposed within the first container. A second covered container is disposed within or adjacent to the first container. The second covered container comprises a second upper section and a second lower section. An fluid inlet in the second upper section receives fluid flow from the first container, where a screen is disposed between the first container and the second container, across the fluid inlet. The fluid flow across the screen causes the formation of a filter cake on the screen as fluid flows across the screen, allowing for filtration of the aqueous slurry, and separation of liquids and gas as those components enter the second container. Each apparatus unit may be considered a module.

Abstract: An anaerobic digester and a method for treating organic waste and recovering a usable quality methane gas. A first cover of gas permeable material conducive to bacterial colonization covers the surface of a slurry of organic waste material in a containment vessel. The permeable cover acts as a media to support and encourage the growth of methanogenic bacteria. Gas collection apparatus is installed on the first cover. A second cover of gas impermeable material is installed over the gas collection apparatus. A gas collection space is formed between the two covers. Edges of the first and second covers are closed to inhibit the escape of gas from the gas collection space. Biogas produced as a result of anaerobic digestion activity permeates the gas permeable cover and enters the collection space.

Abstract: A metal waste recovery process for recovering useful material from a quantity of waste material. The waste material is a composition including oil, metals and organic materials. The first step of the process is to deposit the waste material into a slurry tank and to add water to the waste material to produce a mixable slurry. The slurry is then high energy mixed to evenly distribute the waste material throughout the slurry. The useful metal is then recovered from the slurry using a magnetic separator. The remaining waste material is transferred into an anaerobic reactor where the remaining waste material reacts with anaerobic organisms provided by bacteria in a sludge seed. The anaerobic reaction between the anaerobic organism and the organic materials of the waste material produces recoverable inorganic gases that are removed from the waste material slurry. The recovered inorganic gases are transferred to a storage vessel and compressed.

Abstract: A method of disposing waste includes the step of forming a primary waste pond called an Advanced Facultative Pond (AFP). A stable microbiological methane fermentation zone is established within the AFP. The system constitutes a complete primary treatment of organic waste and wastewater that does not require daily sludge handling typically associated with organic waste treatment and disposal The method of the invention converts organic compounds, including settleable solids, into methane. The invention controls sulfide odors from methane fermentation. The invention also provides a method of filtering raw wastewater through a bed of fermenting organic solids suspended by gas evolved in a fermentation zone. Hydrogen sulfide is oxidized in accordance with the invention. The technique of the invention biologically increases pH near the pond surface, thus retaining hydrogen sulfide in solution in the pond water.

Abstract: A waste treatment system permitting treatment of organic wastes at low cost is provided. In the waste treatment system, organic wastes such as sewage, garbage and sludge are introduced into a methane fermentation bath for anaerobic fermentation. The methane gas produced in the bath is refined in a gas holder and then supplied to an electric generator, where the methane gas is used as a raw material for power generation. Digested liquid within the methane fermentation bath is supplied to an electrolytic bath via a flow adjustment bath and a fine screen. In the electrolytic bath, the digested liquid is subjected to electrolysis, by applying potentials to an electrode pair in the electrolytic bath based on the electric power obtained by the electric generator. By the electrolysis, nitrogen components including organic nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen, and BOD, SS and phosphorus components are removed from the digested liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for utilizing waste waters which comprises the separate collection of gray water and/or black water and membrane filtration of the seperately collected gray water and/or solids/liquid seperation of the separately collected black water. The present invention preferably relates to a process for producing potable water from gray water or one or more of its partial streams. Moreover, an apparatus for producing potable water from gray water and an apparatus for utilizing black water and its use is described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an anaerobic digestion of biomasses with generation of biogas and sludge, wherein a hydrolyzation phase and a following fermentation of the biomass are included, wherein a hydrolyzation phase (5) and at least two following fermentation phases (7,8,9) are included and wherein the hydrolyzation (5) as well as the following fermentations (7,8,9) are performed in separate containers with specific measurement and control of the temperature, of the mixing degree, of the pH value and of the pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of treating filamentous and flocculating microorganism-bearing effluent, sludge or organic substrates used in biogas installations, for reducing or avoiding the formation of bulking sludge, floating sludge and/or foam, wherein the effluent, sludge or organic substrates is or are guided in a flow passage and in the flow passage subjected to a shear loading which is sufficient to reduce the relative ratio of the number of filamentous microorganisms in relation to flocculating microorganisms. The invention further concerns an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for processing agricultural waste to make alcohol and/or biodiesel. The agricultural wastes are subjected to anaerobic digestion which produces a biogas stream containing methane, which is subsequently reformed to a syngas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The syngas is converted to an alcohol which may be stored, sold, used, or fed directly to a reactor for production of biodiesel. The solids effluent from the anaerobic digester can be further utilized as slow release, organic certified fertilizer. Additionally, the wastewater from the process is acceptable for immediate reuse in agricultural operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for the fixed-film anaerobic digestion of flushed livestock manure includes an enclosed digester tank (fixed or flexible roof), internal media for biofilm development, a biogas collection and flare system, various pumps, and hydraulic control systems. The preferred media has substantially vertically-oriented, uninterrupted channels to promote enhanced bacterial attachment and biofilm development. The immobilization of microbial biomass within the reactor as a biofilm allows effective treatment of the wastewater at ambient and higher temperatures, as well as reasonable hydraulic retention times. The composition and concentration of bacterial groups in the biofilm developed on the media in the fixed-film digester result in a significantly enhanced anaerobic degradation process. This novel fixed-film digester design expands the potential application of anaerobic digestion to dilute livestock waste with significant levels of suspended solids.

Abstract: Disclosed is an on-site treatment method of food waste generated from multi-unit dwellings and institutional food service facilities, by transporting wastewater-containing food waste to a separation chamber by use of domestic wastewater or an additional transporter; separating the transported food waste to wastewater and food waste; and treating the separated wastewater in a sewage disposal plant, and the separated food waste using disposal equipment. Such food waste can be treated even using disposal equipment of small capacities, due to separation of wastewater and food waste, compared to disposal equipment of large capacities required for treating wastewater and food waste together. Also, the quality of the separated wastewater is better than the conventional quality of wastewater, and thus loads of the sewage disposal plant can be efficiently decreased.

Abstract: A three-stage method used for producing biogas having a high methane content from organic substances includes aerobic fermentation, a charring and thermophilic methane fermentation.

Abstract: The process and system may have an organic matter influent introduced into an acid reactor. The acid reactor may be maintained under conditions to facilitate creation of volatile acids in a fluid having water and suspended solids forming a sludge effluent. The sludge effluent may be communicated to an acid separation element where the water and volatile acids may be separated from the suspended solids. A liquid stream may be communicated from the acid separation element to a methane reactor and a solids recycle stream may be communicated to the acid reactor. The methane reactor may be maintained under conditions to facilitate creation of biogas. A liquid effluent may be communicated from the methane reactor to a methane separation element where liquid water may be separated from the solids. A second solids recycle may be communicated from the methane separation element to the methane reactor.