Method to treat and minimize sludge from biorefineries

A method for minimizing sludge from a biorefinery, the method comprising the steps of:

• feeding a source feedstock into a degumming centrifuge, wherein the source feedstock is separated into wet oil and a primary sludge stream;
• conveying a portion of the primary sludge stream to a three-phase centrifuge, wherein the portion of the primary sludge stream is separated into centrifuged oil, centrifuged water, and centrifuged sludge;
• retrieving the centrifuged oil;
• conveying the centrifuged water to a wastewater treatment plant;
• conveying a remainder of the primary sludge stream to a gravity separator, wherein the remainder of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered oil and residual sludge;
• and
• retrieving the recovered oil.

A method for minimizing sludge from a biorefinery, the method comprising the steps of:

• feeding a source feedstock into a degumming centrifuge, wherein the source feedstock is separated into wet oil and a primary sludge stream;
• heating the primary sludge stream to a temperature ranging from about 100° F. to about 212° F.;
• conveying the primary sludge stream to a three-phase centrifuge, wherein the primary sludge stream is separated into centrifuged oil, centrifuged water, and centrifuged sludge;
• retrieving the centrifuged oil;
• conveying the centrifuged water to the wastewater treatment plant;
• conveying the centrifuged sludge to a two-phase centrifuge, wherein the centrifuged sludge is separated into centrifuged wastewater and waste centrifuged waste;
• conveying the centrifuged wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant;
• and
• disposing of the centrifuged waste.