Method and Apparatus for Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Liquid Waste Streams

A method for treating liquid waste comprising:

• converting carbon molecules within the liquid waste to acids in an acid forming chamber containing acid forming bacteria;
• converting the acids in the liquid waste from the acid forming chamber into methane in a methanic chamber containing methanogenic bacteria;
• separating the liquid waste from the methanic chamber into alkaline sludge and effluent;
• and
• recycling at least a portion of the alkaline sludge to one of the acid forming chamber, methanic chamber, or combination thereof.

A closed anaerobic digester for digesting liquid waste, the anaerobic digester comprising:

• a first section positioned to receive liquid waste comprising organic molecules and to convert at least a portion of the carbon molecules within the liquid waste to acids;
• a second section positioned to receive a portion of the liquid waste from the first section, the second section having one or more walls and converting at least a portion of the acids in the liquid waste to methane, the second section having a first passage and at least one second passage, wherein the waste material changes direction upon flowing from the first passage to the at least one second passage;
• a third section positioned to receive a portion of the liquid waste from the second section and to separate the liquid waste into an effluent and an alkaline sludge;
• and
• a flow path positioned to deliver at least a portion of the alkaline sludge to at least one of the first section, the second section and combination thereof.

A method for treating liquid waste comprising:

• converting carbon molecules within the liquid waste to acids in an acid forming chamber containing acid forming bacteria, wherein the acid forming chamber has a downstream end and an upstream end;
• recycling at least a portion of the liquid from the downstream end of the acid forming chamber to the upstream end;
• and
• converting the acids in the liquid waste from the acid forming chamber into methane in a methanic chamber containing methanogenic bacteria.

A closed anaerobic digester for digesting liquid waste, the anaerobic digester comprising:

• a first section having an upstream end and a downstream end positioned to receive liquid waste comprising organic molecules and to convert at least a portion of the organic molecules within the liquid waste to acids;
• a second section positioned to receive a portion of the liquid waste from the first section, the second section having one or more walls and converting at least a portion of the acids in the liquid waste to methane, the second section having a first passage and at least one second passage, wherein the waste material changes direction upon flowing from the first passage to the at least one second passage;
• a third section positioned to receive a portion of the liquid waste from the second section and to separate the liquid waste into an effluent and an alkaline sludge;
• and
• a first flow path for recycling liquid waste from the downstream end to the upstream end of the first section.