Method and apparatus for dewatering biological solid material employing both microwave irradiation and solvent extraction

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dewatering a biological solid material employing both microwave irradiation and solvent extraction. The method comprises microwave irradiation pretreatment, solvent extraction dewatering, solid-liquid separation, and solvent recovery. Through microwave irradiation of an aqueous biological solid material, gaps in the solid material are increased, and the biological material is fractured, thus releasing more bound water in the solid material. Subsequently, the microwave-irradiated biological solid material is brought into full contact with an organic solvent, allowing the solvent to absorb and extract moisture from the solid, thus removing moisture from the solid. The aqueous solvent is then subjected to evaporation under reduced pressure or gasification under reduced pressure in a separation apparatus so as to separate the moisture and the solvent. The solvent is then compressed, condensed and recovered for recycling. Also provided is a device for implementing the dewatering method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.