# US 9,751,813 B2 · Systems, methods, and apparatus for converting biosolids to class A fertilizer

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- Number: US 9,751,813 B2
- Document ID: US9751813B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/729,850
- Filed: 2015-06-03
- Published: 2015-12-10
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-06
- Assignees: Merrell Brothers, Inc.
- Applicants: Merrell Brothers, Inc.
- Inventors: Ted Merrell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751813B2

## CPC

- C05F 7/00: Fertilisers from waste water, sewage sludge, sea slime, ooze or similar masses
- A61L 2/04: Heat (radiation A61L2/08)
- A61L 9/014: containing sorbent material, e.g. activated carbon
- C02F 11/185: {by pasteurisation}
- C02F 11/123: using belt or band filters
- C02F 11/13: by heating
- C02F 2303/02: Odour removal or prevention of malodour
- Y02A 40/20: Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- Y02W 30/40: Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse
- C05F: ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A system and methods comprising a greenhouse for predrying a biosolids to reduce volume and weight; a conveyer belt operably connected to the greenhouse for conveying the biosolids from the greenhouse to a pasteurization system; the pasteurization system comprising a burner-fan to introduce hot air to the biosolids; the pasteurization system comprising a heat up belt to accept the biosolids from the greenhouse and a burner-fan for raising the biosolids temperature from ambient to at least 70° C.; the pasteurization system further comprising a pasteurization belt to hold the biosolids at 70° C. for at least thirty minutes; a biofilter system operably connected with the greenhouse and the pasteurization system for reducing odors; and bagging area to collect a final product.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a. a greenhouse for predrying a biosolids to reduce volume and weight;
b. a conveyer belt operably connected to the greenhouse for conveying the biosolids from the greenhouse to a pasteurization system;
c. the pasteurization system comprising a burner-fan to introduce hot air to the biosolids;
d. the pasteurization system comprising an air permeable heat up belt to accept the biosolids from the greenhouse and a burner-fan for raising the biosolids temperature from ambient to at least 70° C.;
e. the pasteurization system further comprising an air permeable pasteurization belt that is set on a cycle time of at least thirty minutes and configured to automatically hold the biosolids at a temperature of at least 70° C. for at least thirty minutes;
f. a biofilter system operably connected with the greenhouse and the pasteurization system for reducing odors; and
g. a bagging area to collect a final product.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the greenhouse further comprises air handlers for removing moist air and introducing fresh air.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the greenhouse further comprises exhaust fans for removing moist air and introducing fresh air.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein the biofilter system is operably connected with the air handlers to remove odors from the air.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the biofilter system is operably connected with the exhaust fans to remove odors from the air.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the burner-fan is fueled with natural gas, liquid petroleum, digester gas, landfill gas, methane or electricity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the greenhouse comprises at least two pods wherein each of the pods comprises a plurality of chambers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the heat up belt and pasteurization belt have a variable speed control.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the biofilter system comprises a wood-chip/organic mulch blend.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein the biofilter system comprises a moisture content control.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the biofilter system comprises at least one packed-tower wet scrubber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the biofilter system comprises at least one fine-mist wet scrubber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the biofilter system comprises at least one activated carbon absorber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the biofilter system comprises at least one thermal oxidizer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the biofilter system comprises an air discharge stack, wherein the air discharge stack extends at least 30 feet above the biofilter system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the biofilter system comprises an organic mulch based media.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the heat up belt is configured to deliver the biosolids to the pasteurization belt after the burner-fan raises the biosolids temperature from ambient to at least 70° C.