Abstract:
An improved apparatus for submerged grinding of wastes includes a vessel that is filled with an alkaline liquid and which has a mechanism for grinding a feed waste containing organic solids, a feeding mechanism for charging the feed waste into the vessel, a primary screening mechanism for filtering the liquid being discharged from the grinding mechanism and a secondary screening mechanism by which the waste/liquid mixture that has been filtered by the primary classification mechanism is freed of the liquid fraction such that the waste is converted into a slurry. The apparatus further includes a line by which the filtrate from the secondary classification mechanism is returned to the liquid with which the vessel is filled, a mechanism for adding an alkaline aqueous solution and/or particulate matter into the liquid with which the vessel is filled, a mechanism for detecting the pH of the liquid with which the vessel is filled, and a mechanism for adjusting the amount of addition of the alkaline aqueous solution and/or particulate matter into the liquid with the vessel is filled on the basis of the value detected by the pH detecting mechanism in order to ensure that the liquid with which the vessel is filled is maintained in an alkaline condition. Using this apparatus, submerged grinding of wastes can be accomplished over an extended period with the progress of putrefaction being retarded and the emission of malodor being suppressed with the resulting advantage of facilitated liquid maintenance.
Abstract:
An organic waste decomposition treatment apparatus, wherein agitation vanes of flight members are rotatably attached to looped chains, so as to churn and ferment organic waste accumulated within a reservoir vat when the chain is rotationally driven, then be pushed towards an interior of the agitator by a push-down scraper which is positioned outside of the agitator at a back side of the agitator with respect to the direction of advancement, so as to eliminate contact resistance between the agitator and the organic waste at the back side of the agitator. It is thereby possible to make the agitator smaller and less expensive, and the decomposition treatment efficiency of organic waste is able to be increased.
Abstract:
A method for enhancing solvent extraction of organic wastes from contaminated waste mixtures. A contaminated waste mixture is contacted with a solvent with high driving force for solvation of water, and most preferably with a solvent which is both anhydrous and which has an appreciable affinity for solvation of water. While the solvent is in contact with the contaminated waste mixture, a portion of the organic waste is dissolved in the solvent. Then, the solvated organic waste and residual solvent is removed from the contaminated waste mixture. Solvent is recovered, preferably by distillation, and is then dehydrated, prior to repeating the cycle. The technique substantially improves the degree of removal of certain organic wastes from contaminated waste mixtures, and has been demonstrated to be particularly useful for removal of pesticides from organic waste mixtures.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and processes for immobilizing and solidifying harmful heavy metal and radioactive species within a waste material. The processes of the present invention are also particularly advantageous for immobilizing and solidifying nitrate compounds with a waste material. One embodiment of the present invention is a method that can be carried out by admixing the waste material with cement and a complexant compound to form a grout admixture. Preferably, the complexant compound is an iron compound that can form a hydrated iron oxide in the presence of an aqueous solution. This grout admixture is then allowed to cure and solidify. The grout admixture is placed within a suitable containment vessel for final storage and disposal.
Abstract:
A liquid decontamination method and apparatus uses a series of pulsed electrical arcs across electrodes placed within a liquid stream which passes through a decontamination module. Sufficient energy is delivered by a pulse generator to the electrodes whereby lethal ultraviolet radiation and mechanical shock waves are created by the arcs within the decontamination module. A plurality of modules can be operated in parallel or in series to vary the capacity of the apparatus. Gas is injected through one of the electrodes to facilitate the generation of arcs within the liquid.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a method of treating lead bearing process materials and lead toxic hazardous wastes. The invention relates to treatment methods employed to chemically convert leachable lead in lead bearing solid and liquid waste materials to a non-leachable form by mixing the material with lime, gypsum and/or phosphoric acid. The solid and liquid waste materials include contaminated sludges, slurries, soils, wastewaters, spent carbon, sand, wire chips, plastic fluff, cracked battery casings, bird and buck shots and tetraethyl lead contaminated organic peat and muck. The present invention discloses a process comprising a single step mixing of one or more treatment additives, and a process comprising a two step mixing wherein the sequence of performing the steps may be reversible. The present invention provides a new way of treating a universe of lead contaminated materials at any pH.
Abstract:
Sludges and slurries, e.g., oil, grease or paint based, are encapsulated into fly ash or similar particulate material by adding solvents to effect the encapsulation and absorption of the sludge. Subsequently, the particulate material is heated to remove the solvent, leaving a dry powder which may then be used as a filler for various applications, including production of breeze blocks.
Abstract:
A method for the re-treatment of residue generated in the course of removing fluorine from waste water.The method comprises the step of: drying the residues consisting of rare earth fluorides, which are generated in the course of treating the waste water with a rare earth compound to remove fluorine ions from the waste water; mingling the rare earth fluorides with a sodium hydroxide solid; heat treating the rare earth fluorides at temperatures ranging from approximately 320.degree. to approximately 450 .degree. C. for times ranging from approximately 0.5 to approximately 5 hours; and applying wash and dry to the heat-treated resultant, in due order.The invention pertains to the reuse of rare earth elements used in the treatment of fluorine. Products obtained by carrying out the method contain rare earth hydroxides, which are useful as materials for glass abrasive or for treating fluorine, catalysts, and other materials for the fields of using a variety of rare earth.
Abstract:
A solid-liquid separator for sludge which includes a tank with a sludge suction port, an intake/exhaust port and a sludge discharge port. A plurality of agitating blades are mounted on a rotatable shaft within the tank and are capable of being driven in either of two rotational directions. A plurality of injection nozzles are internally mounted on the bottom of the tank in such a manner as to eject a mixture of sludge coagulant and air into sludge contained within the tank. A pump which is capable of producing a vacuum or pressure is connected to the intake/exhaust port so as to produce either a vacuum or a pressure within the tank and the sludge suction port is adapted to be connected to a source of sludge to intake the sludge into the tank. The injection nozzles are connected to a source of sludge coagulant and air. The disclosure also relates to the method of treating the sludge to separate into solid and liquid phases.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a semi-continuous process for removing heavy metals, substantially reducing volatile suspended solids and substantially destroying indicator bacteria from municipal sludges, which comprises: a) adding 1 to 3 g of sulphur per liter to a volume of municipal sludge and allowing the sulphur oxidizing thiobacilli initially present in said sludge to proliferate under aerobic conditions in said sludge being agitated until the pH of said sludge is lowered to about 1.5 to 2.5 which causes heavy metals present in said sludge to be substantially solubilized, the concentration of volatile suspended solids is substantially reduced and the concentration of indicator bacteria to be lowered to a non-toxic level; b) removing about 90% of said low pH sludge and recovering the solubilized heavy metals therefrom; c) adding about 90% of municipal sludge to the remaining low pH sludge of step b), thereby resulting in a sludge mixture having a pH of about 7 to 8; and d) repeating steps a) to c); whereby the thiobacilli are adapted when the time required for lowering the pH of the sludge to 1.5 to 2.5 is about the same in two successive operations.