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Pretreatment of high solid microbial sludges

Patent ·
OSTI ID:871738
 [1];  [2]
  1. Lakewood, CO
  2. Broomfield, CO
+ Show Author Affiliations
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
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

References (1)

Efficacy of hydrolytic enzyme augmentation and thermochemical pretreatments for increased secondary anaerobic digestion of treated municipal sewage sludges journal March 1992

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