Abstract:
This invention relates to apparatus, methods and applications for treating wastewater, and more particularly to a technique of biological processes that integrates lowering the levels of effluent pollutants and reducing accumulated sludge volume from wastewater. This invention further relates to apparatus and methods for using a blend of non-pathogenic microbes, spores, unicellular organisms, and enzymes on-site at a wastewater treatment facility to rapidly, ecologically, and cost-effectively solve numerous contaminant issues common in wastewater.
Abstract:
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the biological cleaning of wastewater in an activated-sludge plant including at least one activated-sludge tank, the method including: contacting, in the plant, the wastewater with activated sludge in the activated-sludge tank so as to clean the wastewater; and after the cleaning of the wastewater, separating, in the plant, the suspended activated sludge from the cleaned wastewater by sedimentation in a secondary clarification tank downstream of the activated-sludge tank or in the activated-sludge tank. The activated sludge suspended in the wastewater is admixed with growth bodies in the activated-sludge tank in order to contact the growth bodies with the microorganisms present in the activated sludge and to bring about formation of a biofilm of microorganisms on the growth bodies.
Abstract:
A method and a system for selecting and retaining solids with superior settling characteristics, the method comprising feeding wastewater to an input of a processor that carries out a treatment process on the wastewater, outputting processed wastewater at an output of the processor, feeding the processed wastewater to an input of a gravimetric selector that selects solids with superior settling characteristics, and outputting a recycle stream at a first output of the gravimetric selector back to the processor.
Abstract:
A method of conditioning mixed liquor in a membrane bioreactor includes dispersing a treatment additive in the mixed liquor. The treatment additive includes a water soluble block copolymer. Methods for improving flux in a membrane bioreactor and clarifying wastewater are also provided.
Abstract:
The invention discloses a method to provide a consortium containing heterotrophic nitrifying and aerobic denitrifying microorganisms from an activated sludge originating from effluent treatment plants. The microbial consortium is capable of removing ammoniacal nitrogen from substrates with high salinity with superior efficiency. Thus, the microbial consortium from the described method can be applied to purify hypersaline effluents contaminated with nitrogen. Therefore, the use of the microorganism consortium provided to remove ammoniacal nitrogen from hypersaline effluents and a method therefor are also part of the scope of the invention.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a system for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from seawater including an electrodialysis flow cell comprising a bipolar membrane having an acidified seawater product stream with a pH less than or equal to 8.5 and a basified seawater product stream with a pH greater than or equal to 9.0; a photobioreactor; and a microbially induced carbonate precipitation component; wherein the electrodialysis flow cell is in fluid communication with the photobioreactor via the acidified seawater product stream and in fluid communication with the microbially induced carbonate precipitation component via the basified seawater product stream.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for reducing the start-up time of an aerobic granular sludge reactor, said process comprising starting said reactor with an active biomass comprising fragmented aerobic sludge granules.
Abstract:
A process for producing PHA comprises obtaining biomass produced in the course of biologically treating a first wastewater source containing RBCOD. The biomass is to be exploited with a second wastewater source having a different RBCOD content from the first wastewater source in order to accumulate and thereby produce PHA. Before subjecting the biomass to a PHA accumulation process, the biomass PHA accumulation potential is enhanced via an acclimation process with the second wastewater source. During acclimation, the biomass is subjected to repeated feast-famine periods. During each feast period, the biomass is exposed to a fraction of the second wastewater source. The RBCOD uptake and/or biomass respiration rate is directly or indirectly measured during each feast period. The famine period is maintained for a period of time that is at least two times greater than the length of time of the proceeding feast period. After at least two feast-famine acclimation periods or after one or more measured parameters reveal an increased RBCOD relative uptake or respiration rate of the biomass during a subsequent feast period, the biomass is subjected to a PHA accumulation process using the second wastewater source.