Processes for inactivating pathogens in bio-wastes

Abstract

There are provided processes for treating a residual. For example, such processes can comprise treating a mixture comprising the residual, a peracid or source thereof and an ammonium salt in a reactor, with an electric field, by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode that define therebetween an electrokinetic zone for treating the mixture. Such processes allow for inactivation of at least one type of pathogen in the residual so as to obtain a treated residual.

1 . A process for treating a residual, said process comprising:
 treating a mixture comprising the residual, a peracid or a source thereof and an ammonium salt, in a reactor, with an electric field, by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode that define therebetween an electrokinetic zone for treating the mixture,   thereby allowing for inactivation of at least one type of pathogen in the residual, so as to obtain a treated residual.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is a direct current electric field and wherein the voltage gradient of the direct current electric field is less than about 8 V/cm. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  any one of  claims 1  to  4 , further comprising simultaneous dewatering of the residual so as to obtain a treated dewatered residual and separated water. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprising the residual, the peracid or source thereof and the ammonium salt is prepared by adding the peracid or source thereof and ammonium salt to the residual. 
     
     
         7 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the peracid or source thereof to the ammonium salt is about 0.5 g/g to about 5 g/g. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the peracid or source thereof and the ammonium salt to the residual is less than about 40 g/L. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the peracid or source thereof and the ammonium salt to the residual is from about 7 g/L to about 26 g/L. 
     
     
         15 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one type of pathogen is  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         43 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the peracid or source thereof is a source of peracid and wherein the source of peracid is a composition comprising a peroxygen source and an acylating agent. 
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 48 , wherein the peroxygen source is chosen from a percarbonate, a perborate and a persulfate. 
     
     
         50 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 48 , wherein the acylating agent is an acetylating agent. 
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 52 , wherein the acetylating agent is tetraacetyl ethylene diamine. 
     
     
         54 . The process of  claim 52 , wherein the composition further comprises an acid. 
     
     
         55 . The process of  claim 54 , wherein the acid is chosen from an organic acid, sulfamic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
         56 . The process of  claim 55 , wherein the organic acid is chosen from acetic acid, citric acid and formic acid. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The process of  claim 48 , wherein the composition further comprises a sequestering agent. 
     
     
         59 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the peracid or source thereof is a peracid and wherein the peracid is peracetic acid. 
     
     
         66 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the ammonium salt is chosen from ammonium acetate, ammonium bromide, ammonium carbamate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium fluoride, ammonium formate, ammonium hydrogenoxalate, ammonium hydrogensulfate, ammonium iodide, ammonium nitrate, ammonium oxalate, ammonium sulfate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         67 . The process of  claim 66 , wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         68 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process is effective for inactivating at least 6 log of the at least one type of pathogen. 
     
     
         74 - 83 . (canceled)