Abstract

A process for destroying pathogens in sludges/biosolids using rotor-stator technology to produce cavitation for pathogen destruction, combined with the feeding of lime or other alkaline material to induce heat and ammonia gas release. The combination of the rotor-stator with the lime produces higher temperatures than the addition of lime alone with a very high mixing efficiency giving maximum pH shift and ammonia release to all portions of the matrix. Overall, the process destroys the resistant stages of helminths or protozoan pathogens through a combination of cavitation with the increased heat caused by the rotor-stator/lime process, along with the locally released ammonia induced by the pH shift.