N-viro International Corporation

The Ohio State University

Terry J Logan

Ervin Louis Faulmann

James A Ryan

Samuel J Traina

Qi Y Ma

Timothy Joseph Nicholson

Michael G Nicholson

James D O'Neil

Neil Webster

A method and system for treating at least bioorganic, organic, wastewater, and sewage sludge using recycle. The method of producing a treated sludge product comprises the following steps: (a) forming a sludge mixture by mixing untreated sludge with at least one alkaline material in an amount sufficient to raise pH of the sludge mixture to a level of at least about 12 and to increase percent solids in the sludge mixture to at least about 40% by weight; (b) forming a dried sludge mixture by drying the sludge mixture from step (a) in a direct or indirect dryer thereby increasing the percent solids thereof to at least about 50% by weight; (c) recycling a portion of the dried sludge mixture from step (b) to step (a); and (d) pasteurizing the dried sludge mixture from step (b) at a temperature at or above about 52&#xb0; C. to form a treated sludge product. Exemplary applications for the treated sludge product include an agricultural liming agent, a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, a topsoil blend ingredient, and a fuel.

Method for treating sludge using recycle

Processes and systems are provided that include introducing ammonia liberated from organic waste to a coal burner in a coal burning power plant, preferably for NOremoval at the power plant. The ammonia is preferably either ammonia liberated upon drying a mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products or ammonia liberated when organic waste is mixed with coal combustion by-products and one or more alkaline additives. Also provided are processes and systems of fueling a coal burner of a power plant with coal and either a dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products, or a mixture of organic waste, coal combustion by-products and one or more alkaline additives. The present invention is further directed to mixtures of either organic waste and coal combustion by-products, or mixtures of organic waste, coal combustion by-products and alkaline additives made by the processes of the present invention.

Processes and systems for using biomineral by-products as a fuel and for NOx removal at coal burning power plants

A method of disinfecting and stabilizing organic wastes where organic waste is intimately mixed with one or more mineral by-products to produce a mixture having a pH of less than about 9. The mixture is heated and dried to produce a stable, granular bio-mineral product that may be used for example, as a fertilizer, soil amendment or as a soil substitute. Also provided are stable, granular bio-mineral products formed by the methods of the present invention and fertilizers, soil amendments, and soil substitutes that include these stable, granular bio-mineral products. Further provided are systems for disinfecting and stabilizing organic waste, and systems for making a stable, granular bio-mineral product.

Method for disinfecting and stabilizing organic wastes with mineral by-products

Disclosed is a method of disinfecting and stabilizing organic wastes wherein organic waste is intimately mixed with one or more mineral by-products to produce a mixture having a pH of less than about 9. The mixture is heated and dried to produce a stable, granular bio-mineral product that may be used for example, as a fertilizer, soil amendment or as a soil substitute. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heat for heating and/or drying the mixture is provided by residual heat in at least one of the one or more mineral by-products. Also provided are stable, granular bio-mineral products formed by the methods of the present invention and fertilizers, soil amendments, and soil substitutes that include these stable, granular bio-mineral products. Further provided are systems for disinfecting and stabilizing organic waste, and systems for making a stable, granular bio-mineral product.

Methods and systems for treating organic waste, which include determining the ignition threshold temperature for the organic waste and at least one mineral by-product, selecting a ratio of organic waste:mineral by-product(s) based on the determined ignition threshold temperature, combining the mineral by-product(s) with the organic waste, so as to arrive at a mixture having the selected ratio of organic waste:mineral by-product(s); and drying the mixture of organic waste and mineral by-product(s) to produce organic waste solids. The treatment methods of the present invention are methods of stabilizing the treated organic waste so as to control the tendency of the organic waste to ignite. Also provided are organic waste solids formed by the methods of the present invention.

Methods for controlling ignitability of organic waste with mineral by-products

A process is provided for NO , removal at coal burning power plants, which includes introducing ammonia that is liberated upon drying a mixture of organic waste, coal combustion by-products, and optionally lime, having a pH of at least 9.5, to a coal burner in the power plant. A process is also provided for fueling a coal burner of a power plant with coal and a dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products. The present invention is further directed to the dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products made by the processes of the present invention, which may optionally be used as a soil additive or as a supplemental fuel.

A method is described for treating animal manures and other organic wastes to destroy pathogens, reduce noxious odors, and immobilize water-soluble pollutants, thereby producing a pasteurized, granular product useful as a soil amendment. In a described implementation, the solids content of the organic waste is raised to a predetermined level to create air-filled pore space, and the pH is raised sufficiently to liberate endogenous gaseous ammonia in the air-filled pores for a predetermined time. The level of gaseous ammonia is sufficient to significantly destroy pathogens in the manure. In addition, alkaline material and/or iron salts are added to the organic waste to render certain water-soluble pollutants insoluble.

Method for treating ammonia-containing organic waste

A method is described for disinfecting and deodorizing animal manures and other organic wastes to produce a pasteurized, granular product for use as a soil amendment. The solids content of the animal manure is raised to a predetermined level to create air-filled pore space, and the pH is raised sufficient to liberate endogenous gaseous ammonia in the air-filled pores for a predetermined time. The level of gaseous ammonia is sufficient to significantly destroy pathogens in the manure.

Solid calcium phosphate materials are used for in-situ immobilization of lead contaminated soils, wastes, and sediments by mixing the solid calcium phosphate material with the lead contaminated material and leaving the mixture in place. The solid calcium phosphate material includes, for example, naturally occurring apatite, synthetic hydroxyapatite, dibasic calcium phosphate, or phosphate rock.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, OH, United States of America

Terry J Logan