Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges

Patent · Tue Jul 21 00:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:871738

Rivard, Christopher J ^[1]; Nagle, Nicholas J ^[2]

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1. Lakewood, CO
2. Broomfield, CO

A process and apparatus 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.

• Research Organization: Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-83CH10093
• Assignee: Midwest Research Institute (Kansas City, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 5785852
• OSTI ID: 871738
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

pretreatment
solid
microbial
sludges
process
apparatus
pretreating
enhance
secondary
anaerobic
digestion
involves
disrupting
cellular
integrity
municipal
sewage
sludge
combination
thermal
explosive
decompression
shear
forces
pressurized
pumped
reactor
mixed
steam
heat
soften
pressure
suddenly
reduced
imparted
partially
disrupt
applied
releases
soluble
insoluble
organic
constituents
renders
amenable
shear forces
process involves
treatment process
sewage sludge
pretreatment process
organic constituent
microbial sludges
insoluble organic
anaerobic digestion
shear force
compression forces
compression force
soluble organic
pretreating microbial
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