Process and apparatus for the conversion of sludges

Abstract

A process for the conversion of organic sludges, the process comprising the steps of: (a) feeding dried sludge through a first reactor (16); (b) heating the dried sludge in the first reactor (16) in the absence of oxygen for the volatilisation of oil producing organic materials therein, resulting in gaseous products and sludge residue (char); (c) condensing oil from the gaseous products of the first reactor (16) in a condenser system (20); (d) reinjecting water free oil and/or non-condensable products, if any, into a second reactor (24); (e) transferring the sludge residue (char) from the first reactor (16) to the second reactor (24); (f) contacting the heated sludge residue from step (b) in the second reactor (24) with the oil and/or any non-condensable products of steps (c) and (d) in the absence of oxygen to allow the generation of clean products and a high quality oil product; and (g) removing the gaseous products from the second reactor (24).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.