IP Library Granted Patent US 7,537,699
Granted Patent B2
US 7,537,699 · App. 11/872,551 · Granted May 26, 2009

Methods for reducing biosolids odors

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,537,699
App. No.
11/872,551
Granted
May 26, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for reducing the odors of an anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids or other biosolids or sludge may include separating first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids into first and second portions, storing second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids, removing a portion of the second biosolids, and mixing the removed second biosolids portion with the first portion of the first biosolids. The method may be implemented in a system including a separation device, first, second and third transporters, a storage area, and a mixer. The separation device may separate the first biosolids into first and second portions. The first transporter may transport the first portion to the mixer. The second transporter may transport the second portion to the storage area. The storage area may store the second portion for a select time period. The third transporter may transport a portion of the stored first biosolids to the mixer for blending.

Claims (25)

1. A method for reducing odors emitted by anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids, comprising:

dewatering anaerobically digested biosolids to form first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids;

mixing the first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids with second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids, the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids comprising anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids stored at least approximately three days after dewatering.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids further comprise anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids stored between approximately three to thirty days after dewatering.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids further comprise anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids stored between approximately four to fourteen days after dewatering.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding water to the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids to form a slurry.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids are stored in a first area comprising at least one of a silo, a hopper, and a covered storage pile.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids are stored at a temperature between approximately 10 and 40 degrees Celsius.

7. A method for reducing odors emitted by anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids, comprising:

separating first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids into a first portion and a second portion with the second portion comprising no greater than approximately ten percent of the first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids;

storing second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids in a first area;

removing a portion of the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids, the removed portion comprising anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids stored for at least a select period of time in the first area after dewatering the removed portion; and

mixing the removed portion of the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids with the first portion of the first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising adding the second portion of the first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids to the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids are stored at a temperature of between approximately 10 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the select period of time is between approximately four to fourteen days.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a substantial portion of the removed portion of the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids is stored for the at least the select period of time.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the select period of time is approximately an amount of time for methanogens contained within the second anaerobically digested biosolids to achieve a desired level of biological activity after dewatering the second anaerobically digested biosolids.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising dewatering the first anaerobically dewatered digested biosolids prior to separating the first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids into first and second portions.

14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising storing the mixed first portion of the first anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids and removed portion of the second anaerobically digested dewatered biosolids in a second area.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transporting the mixed first portion of the first anaerobically digested biosolids and removed portion of the second anaerobically digested biosolids from the second area to a third area.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mixed first portion of the first anaerobically digested biosolids and removed portion of the second anaerobically digested biosolids are stored in the second area for at least no greater than approximately seven days prior to transport to the third area.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the third area comprises a land application area.

18. The method of claim 7 , wherein a ratio by weight of the removed portion of the second anaerobically digested biosolids to the first portion of the first anaerobically digested biosolids is between approximately 1:99 and 1:9.

19. The method of claim 7 , wherein a ratio by weight of the first portion of the first anaerobically digested biosolids to the second portion of the first anaerobically digested biosolids is no greater than approximately 9:1.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NA
To: CH2M HILL ENGINEERS, INC.; CH2M HILL, INC.
Reel/Frame 044460/0727 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2017
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NA
To: CH2M HILL, INC.; CH2M HILL ENGINEERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044417/0862 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2017
From: CH2M HILL, INC.; CH2M HILL ENGINEERS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SECURED NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042181/0309 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: CH2M HILL, INC.; CH2M HILL ENGINEERS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 039926/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2007
From: WILLIAMS, TODD OWEN
To: CH2M HILL, INC.
Reel/Frame 020199/0555 →