Method and apparatus for the treatment of particulate biodegradable organic waste

A method of treating particulate biodegradable organic waste comprising:

• a) subjecting the particulate biodegradable organic waste to thermal hydrolysis to produce a slurry including solubilized organic material and residual solids;
• b) separating the solubilized organic material from the residual solids;
• c) prior to step a), mixing the particulate biodegradable organic waste with the separated solubilized organic material of step b) to heat the particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• d) after step c) and prior to step a), removing the liquid, including the solubilized organic material, from the heated particulate biodegradable organic waste of step c);
• and
• e) subjecting the removed liquid of step d) to anaerobic digestion to produce a methane gas.

An apparatus for treating particulate biodegradable organic waste comprising:

• a feed blend tank receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• first separating means receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste from the feed blend tank for separating liquid from the particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• a presteam bin receiving the deliquified particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• a steam hydrolysis reactor receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste from the presteam bin;
• a steam flash tank for receiving solubilized organic material and residual solids from the steam hydrolysis reactor;
• means operatively associated with the presteam bin and the steam flash tank for recycling steam recovered in the steam flash tank to the presteam bin;
• second separating means for separating the solubilized organic material from the residual solids;
• means for circulating the solubilized organic material to the feed blend tank for heat exchange with the particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• and
• an anaerobic reactor operatively associated with the first separating means to receive the liquid separated from the particulate biodegradable organic waste.

An apparatus for treating particulate biodegradable organic waste comprising:

• a feed blend tank receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• first separating means receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste from the feed blend tank for separating liquid from the particulate biodegradable organic waste;
• a thermal hydrolysis reactor receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste from the first separating means;
• second separating means receiving solubilized organic material and residual solids from the thermal hydrolysis reactor for separating solubilized organic material from residual solids;
• means for circulating the solubilized organic material to the feed blend tank;
• and
• an anaerobic reactor operatively associated with the first separating means to receive the liquid separated from the particulate biodegradable organic waste to produce a methane gas.