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Title: Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges

Abstract

A process and apparatus are disclosed for pretreating microbial sludges in order to enhance secondary anaerobic digestion. The pretreatment process involves disrupting the cellular integrity of municipal sewage sludge through a combination of thermal, explosive decompression and shear forces. The sludge is pressurized and pumped to a pretreatment reactor where it is mixed with steam to heat and soften the sludge. The pressure of the sludge is suddenly reduced and explosive decompression forces are imparted which partially disrupt the cellular integrity of the sludge. Shear forces are then applied to the sludge to further disrupt the cellular integrity of the sludge. Disrupting cellular integrity releases both soluble and insoluble organic constituents and thereby renders municipal sewage sludge more amenable to secondary anaerobic digestion. 1 fig.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
672486
Patent Number(s):
5785852
Application Number:
PAN: 8-418,592
Assignee:
Midwest Research Inst., Kansas City, MO (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-83CH10093
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 28 Jul 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; SLUDGES; ANAEROBIC DIGESTION; OPTIMIZATION; MUNICIPAL WASTES; HEAT TREATMENTS; HYDROLYSIS; IMPACT SHOCK; WASTE PROCESSING

Citation Formats

Rivard, C J, and Nagle, N J. Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Rivard, C J, & Nagle, N J. Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges. United States.
Rivard, C J, and Nagle, N J. Tue . "Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges". United States.
@article{osti_672486,
title = {Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges},
author = {Rivard, C J and Nagle, N J},
abstractNote = {A process and apparatus are disclosed for pretreating microbial sludges in order to enhance secondary anaerobic digestion. The pretreatment process involves disrupting the cellular integrity of municipal sewage sludge through a combination of thermal, explosive decompression and shear forces. The sludge is pressurized and pumped to a pretreatment reactor where it is mixed with steam to heat and soften the sludge. The pressure of the sludge is suddenly reduced and explosive decompression forces are imparted which partially disrupt the cellular integrity of the sludge. Shear forces are then applied to the sludge to further disrupt the cellular integrity of the sludge. Disrupting cellular integrity releases both soluble and insoluble organic constituents and thereby renders municipal sewage sludge more amenable to secondary anaerobic digestion. 1 fig.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 1998},
month = {Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 1998}
}

Patent:
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