Processes for treatment of residuals

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for treating a residual, said process comprising:
 preparing a mixture by adding: a peracid or source thereof; and an ammonium salt to the residual, the ratio of the peracid or source thereof to the ammonium salt being 0.1 g/g to 5 g/g and the peracid or source thereof and ammonium salt being added to the residual at less than 40 g peracid or source thereof and ammonium salt per liter of the residual, said mixture having a pH above 9; and   treating the mixture in a reactor with an electric field, wherein the electric field is a direct current electric field and the voltage gradient of the direct current electric field is less than 8 V/cm, by means of at least one anode and at least one cathode that define therebetween an electrokinetic zone for treating the mixture so as to cause an exothermic reaction, wherein the mixture is treated at a temperature of 70° C. to 99° C. for a time of 0.5 hours to 4 hours;   thereby allowing for inactivation of least one type of pathogen selected from a virus, a bacteria, a spore, an ova or a mixture thereof in the residual, so as to obtain a treated residual.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising simultaneous dewatering of the residual so as to obtain a treated dewatered residual and separated water. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one anode and at least one cathode comprise a conductive material and the conductive material is coated with a coating chosen from stainless steel mesh, carbon or a textile. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one anode and at least one cathode comprise a conductive material and the conductive material is coated with a coating chosen from stainless steel mesh, carbon or a textile. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one anode and at least one cathode are cylindrical and perforated. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one type of pathogen includes  Clostridium perfringens  and the  Clostridium perfringens  is in the form of spores. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one type of pathogen includes  Clostridium perfringens  and the  Clostridium perfringens  is in the form of spores. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor has a vessel associated with at least one of the at least one anode and at least one cathode for collecting electroosmotic flow. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the reactor has a vessel associated with at least one of the at least one anode and at least one cathode for collecting electroosmotic flow. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the peracid or source thereof is a peracetic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the peracid or source thereof is a peracetic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the peracid or source thereof is a peracetic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the mixture further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the mixture further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium nitrate. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the process is effective for inactivating or carrying out a destruction of at least 7 log of the at least one type of pathogen. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1 , including treating the mixture so as to allow for spore germination and/or permeabilization of spore membranes.