stirs and mixes the calcium oxide and the wet sludge to facilitate a reaction between the calcium oxide and water of the sludge within the first dehydration unit 106 the introduction of the municipal sludge and calcium oxide creates a chemical reaction producing a volatile high heat action heat sensors and electronic controls are preferably used to maintain exhaust steam temperature within the first dehydration unit 106 from about 220 to 280 degrees f this chemical reaction begins the dehydration process while neutralizing and killing the pathogens and bacteria in the material through the dehydration process the thermal heat changes the chemical structure of the calcium oxide to a hydroxide and then eventually back to carbonates all steam generated from the first dehydration unit 106 is contained within a closed system and is removed with the aid of a booster fan 115 to a dust collector 116 the material is then moved from the first dehydration unit by way of a drag conveyor 107 to a second air lock feeder 110 then to a shredder 112 the shredder 112 de lumps the material so that any sludge material which had not previously been in contact with the calcium oxide is made to do so thus furthering the reaction between the sludge and the calcium oxide the de lumping process breaks up clumps of material into granules for processing in a second dehydration unit.