Patent ID: 8318104
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for treating waste, comprising a gravity drop steam heating tower for heating the waste to the biological kill temperature using pressurized steam, the gravity drop steam heating tower having an interior, an upper end portion, and a lower end portion, a first feed member for feeding the waste to be sterilized to the gravity drop steam heating tower, and a first vaporization system, the first vaporization system including (a) a heating chamber for facilitating vaporization of liquids in the waste, the heating chamber including a conveying member for conveying the waste from the lower end portion of the gravity drop steam heating tower into and through the heating chamber, and (b) a vaporization chamber for receiving the waste from the heating chamber and for releasing vapor entrained in the waste into the vaporization chamber, and the apparatus further including at least another feed member, in addition to first feed member, for feeding the waste to be sterilized to the gravity drop steam heating tower, and a plurality of hoppers from which the feed members draw the waste material to be sterilized, each feed member having a counterpart hopper.