Method for recovering volatile components from a solid

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for recovering volatile components from a solid ( 10 ), characterized by the following method steps: drying ( 12 ) the solid ( 10 ) by means of superheated steam, withdrawing excess steam ( 14 ) from a closed circuit ( 23 ), and recovering ( 18 ) the volatile components from the excess steam ( 14 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for recovering volatile components from a solid material, the method comprising the steps of:
 drying the solid material by exposing the solid material to superheated steam circulating in a closed circuit;   removing from the closed circuit excess steam that contains volatile components given off by the solid material;   separating the volatile components directly from a gas phase of the excess steam without prior condensation of the gas phase.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein separating the volatile components is done by rectification. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein separating the volatile components is done by scrubbing. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of removing a liquid phase mechanically from the solid material before drying the solid material. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the solid material is of organic origin and the volatile component is ammonia. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the solid material is of organic origin and is subjected to a biological pretreatment prior to drying. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the biological pretreatment is anaerobic.