WEF Institute of Technology Inc. - World's Top Water & Waste Treatment Technology

Powderization by α-Gaia Excess Sludge Treatment -> Fuel Production for Thermal Power Generation

α-Gaia & AOS

　　

α-Gaia is the system to rapidly decompose, dry and powderize organic material by using air containing active oxygen produced by Air Operation System (AOS).
Active oxygen (particularly OH radical) has the highest oxidizing capacity on the earth. This means active oxygen is the best option for organic materials which will not decompose by any other methods. Our sludge treatment process effectively integrates this active oxygen. 　　　

　　

Air Operation System (AOS)

　　

Like an ion engine for satellites, AOS consists of an ion generator and electron accelerator. The mechanism is quite simple as active oxygen and negative ions are accelerated to produce a very strong decomposition capacity. However, active oxygen is not a perfect solution.

Usage Consideration:
Advantage: The highest oxidation capacity on the earth
Disadvantage: Dissolves rapidly (1 to 6 millionths of a second)

　　　

　　

α-Gaia Treatment for Organic Waste

　　

The α-Gaia system uses our world-leading technology to efficiently decompose and powderize organic material by reacting with active oxygen inside the treatment tank generated by AOS. Cell membranes in excess sludge are broken by the hydrolysis of active oxygen, causing an outflow of cytoplasm (due to cytoplasm's high water content). Active oxygen then micronizes the water in the cytoplasm. Water is evaporated and discharged from the system. 　　　

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Three Key Features of α-Gaia

1. Organic Substance Decomposition

　　

Organic material is primarily composed of carbon bonds. This bond's powerful strength poses significant difficulty to the breakdown of cell membranes. Active oxygen, however, enables carbon bond breakdown relatively easily. 　　　

Organic material treated by α-Gaia becomes micronized 　after bonding with carbon.

2. Promotion of Water Evaporation

The mechanism is not yet clear, but active air 　facilitates drying of water. We suspect that it 　causes some change in water clusters to a 　condition where the water more easily evaporates 　into the air.

3. Antiseptic Effect

　　

Through such active air treatment processes, bacteria attached to organic material are also decomposed. Therefore, all bacteria are killed in the process. 　　　

Outline of α-Gaia

α-Gaia-100（capacity: 100㎏）

α-Gaia-2000（capacity: 2t）

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Sewage sludge treatment test at the Konan Central Purification Center, Shiga Prefecture.

Factory wastewater & excess sludge treatment test

1. Active oxygen + heat treatment (100kg)

Loaded 100 kg excess sludge	After 1 hour （clumping due to water from decomposed cytoplasm）	After 4 hours （already significantly reduced）
Start of process	After 1 hour	After 4 hours

2. Only with heat treatment (50 kg)

*No changes in hot air condition from blower
65 to 70% weight reduction 20 to 30% water content

Our technique of converting excess sludge into fuel
(for large amounts of sludge from sewage treatment)

Small amount sludge -> On-site power generation

α-Gaia: On-site excess sludge treatment system with hot water and power supply

Significantly reduces running costs for sewage and sludge treatment

Ethanol from Waterweed: Powderization with α-Gaia allows great reduction of time to form ethanol

Problems in forming ethanol from biomass

　　

Use of waterweed for ethanol formation: Collaborative research with Prof. Watanabe, Ehime University

High Efficiency Methane Fermentation (Compact Methane Power Generation Device)

　　

A methane fermentation facility tends to be large because methane bacteria requires much time to break cell membranes of organic material for its nutrients. However, if the material's cell membranes can be broken prior to loading and processing, then the bacteria can obtain the nutrients much more quickly and therefore, the facility can be more compact. 　　　

CLIRAC Method: Insoluble Coagulation Treatment of Sludge

　　

Landfill treatment has served almost exclusively as the major treatment method for disposing sludge waste. However, this method has several potential downsides such as significant operating costs for incineration and removal of harmful substances from the waste, as well as the enormous amount of energy used and gas generated. And yet, no one ever considered pursuing alternative approaches such as sludge waste recycling. 　　　

Easy, quick, economical, and safe way to treat organic and
inorganic sludge waste in coagulated form!

　　

CLIRAC solves problems of the conventional sludge waste treatment method while also allowing recycling and reuse of the treated material. 　　　

Petroleum Sludge before treatment		Stir for 5 mins after adding CLIRAC coagulant agent		After 15 mins. CLIRAC has initiated sludge solidification so no liquid will come out.		After 8 days. It is completely dried and can be held between 2 fingers.

Features of the CLIRAC Treatment Method

　　

* No solidification material such as cement or caustic lime required.

Safe & Stable Method ：	Converts any type of sludge into harmless sandy soil. No re-sludging or re-elution of harmful substance.
High Capacity & Quick Treatment ：	Solidifies sludge quickly regardless of initial water content. Solid enough to hold after just 1 hour into treatment. Does not revert into sludge ever again. Able to dewater completely under the sun in 4 to 10 days.
Volume Reduction ：	Sewage sludge reduces down to one-tenth of the original volume (down to 10% water content)
Recycling Option ：	No deterioration from gelation, heat or severe weather common for cement type solidification material Able to recycle as a base material for green landscaping such as slopes, lawns and parks. Treated petroleum sludge can be recycled as fuel since water completely dries out.
Final Product in Neutral State ：	Treated and stabilized in a neutral state so no worry of secondary acid or alkali contamination. Therefore prevents harm to ecosystem or to fish and plant growth.

CLIRAC Treatment Flow

　　

CLIRAC Method: Sludge Elution Test Result

　　

◎ If targeting for maximum elution of a harmful substance,
　 increase the amount of CLIRAC coagulant agent according to the level
　 of contamination.

Mechanism for Coagulation & Dewatering

　　

Case Studies

　　

1. Excess Sludge (Dehydrated / 80% water content)

		Day 4		Day 15

2. Excess Sludge (Precipitated / 98 % water content)

				After 30 mins / no re-elution even in water
		Day 5		Day 13

3. Petroleum Sludge (Generated from digging)

				Day 7
Day 14		Day 20

Coagulated Petroleum Sludge Burning Test

　　

		Coagulated petroleum sludge ignited with burner
Consistent and continuous burning				No residue remains