Recovery of fuel and clay from a biomass

摘要

A process is described for treating waste organic material such as the by-products from a pulp and paper mill, manure and straw to reduce its moisture content to a level at which the treated material is suitable for use as a fuel. The process involves the steps of feeding the starting material into a chamber ( 10 ) having rotating chains ( 42 ) or blades which drive the material into the interior wall ( 18 ) of the chamber ( 10 ) with sufficient force to cause some of its moisture content to separate from it. The moisture is expelled from the chamber ( 10 ) while the remaining material is carried upwardly in a stream of air to a cyclone separator ( 22 ). The conditions within the separator ( 22 ) are adjusted to further reduce its moisture level to about 15 percent by weight at which level the material is suitable for use as a fuel.