Process for reacting pumpable high solids sewage sludge slurry

A process for burning sanitary sewage sludge comprising:

• (1) dewatering without heating in air an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge having a solids content in the range of about 10 to 50 wt. % , thereafter shearing the dewatered slurry of sewage sludge in a steam jacketed tank for a period of about 1 to 180 minutes to produce a pumpable homogenous slurry of sewage sludge having a aviscosity in the range of about 400 to 2000 centipoise at a temperature of about 212.degree. F.;
• (2) drying the homogenous slurry of sewage sludge from (1) to a solids content in the range of about 50 to 99 wt. % in a drying zone in the absence of a free-oxygen containing gas but while in direct contact with a gaseous material selected from the group consisting of N.sub.2, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2, CO, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein said drying zone is at a temperature in the range of about 210.degree. F. to 350.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 0.5 to 5 atmosphere;
• (3) mixing about 0.5 to 7 parts by wt. of said dried sewage sludge from (2) with about 5 to 7 parts by wt. of at least one supplementary fuel from the group consisting of solid carbonaceous fuel, liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel, mixtures thereof, and with or without water to produce a pumpable slurry fuel feedstream having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 65 wt. % and a higher heating value of at least about 6000 BTU/lb;
• and
• (4) burning said pumpable slurry from (3) in a partial oxidation gasifier, furnace, boiler, or incinerator to produce an effluent gas stream.