Patent ID: 7179642

Claim:
A method for the anaerobic digestion of high-solids waste, the method comprising: providing a closed container including a first passage in which the waste material flows in a first direction, the first passage having first and second ends, the first end including an inlet for waste material, and a second passage in which the waste material flows in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second passage having first and second ends, the second end including an outlet, the first passage being separated from the second passage by a divider, the second end of the first passage being adjacent the first end of the second passage, and the first end of the first passage being adjacent the second end of the second passage; and using a heating device positioned in the first or second passage to induce the high-solids waste to move in a corkscrew-like fashion through at least one of the first passage and the second passage; further comprising using gas to facilitate the corkscrew-like flow path.