Apparatus and method for processing municipal solid waste

A method of processing solid waste products containing pulp and paper products in a cylindrical vessel, said vessel having a proximate end and a distal end and a flighting for conveying said products longitudinally within said vessel, said method comprising:

• preheating the vessel to a predetermined preheating temperature by introducing steam into its interior;
• loading the vessel at its proximate end with solid waste products while rotating the vessel in a first direction such that said waste products are conveyed by said flighting to the distal end of said vessel;
• sealing the vessel and continuing to introduce steam thereinto until a predetermined processing pressure is reached;
• rotating the vessel in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• thereafter controllably discharging steam from the vessel;
• monitoring the temperature of the discharged steam and regulating the flow of steam introduced into the vessel such that the temperature of the discharged steam and the internal pressure of the vessel each stay within a predetermined processing range;
• after a predetermined period of time, depressurizing the vessel and unloading the processed waste therefrom.

An apparatus for processing solid waste products containing pulp and paper products, said apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical vessel having a proximate end, and a distal end, each said end terminating in a hatch that may be opened to allow access to the interior of said vessel and sealably closed to allow pressurization of said vessel;
• means for conveying said waste products longitudinally within said vessel;
• means for controllably introducing steam into said vessel and for monitoring the temperature of said introduced steam;
• a header, said header comprising heat conductive piping and coupled to said steam-introducing means;
• means for monitoring the interior pressure of said vessel;
• means for controllably discharging steam from said vessel and monitoring the temperature of said discharged steam;
• means for controllably rotating said vessel.