Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for treatment of waste water for being subject to both anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic treatment within one single reactor volume. The anoxic/anaerobic reaction zone is separated from the aerobic reaction zone by a separator which also works as a hydrodynamic separator between the two reaction zones. The reactor makes it possible that the effluent water has a lower proportion of suspended solids and also that it produces less sludge than reactors of comparison. The reactor is further more energy efficient than prior art reactors. Several reactors according to the invention may be arranged in parallel so as for the inlet waste water may be treated in a modular way, and thus allowing the maintenance of the units to be facilitated.

Abstract: A membrane distillation bioreactor (100) is provided for treating contaminated inflow such as wastewater. A contaminated inflow may be treated by biodegrading a contaminant in the inflow with a biological agent in the bioreactor to produce a lower contaminant inflow, which may be distilled, by membrane distillation, through a distillation membrane (108) in fluid communication with the bioreactor, to produce an outflow. The inflow may be wastewater. The outflow may be purified water. In one embodiment, the membrane may be located in the reaction chamber of the bioreactor vessel (102) and may be submerged in the mixed liquor. In a different embodiment suitable for wastewater treatment, the membrane may be located external to the bioreactor. The bioreactor may be aerobic or anaerobic.

Abstract: The failure of an upstream filtration membrane, or the presence of a foulant in a fluid is detected using a membrane-based detector. The fluid or an effluent from the filtration membrane is directed to permeate through a first permeable membrane, and from the first membrane to permeate through a second permeable membrane. A ratio between (P1-P2) and (P2-P3) is determined, where P1 is a first pressure at a feed side of the first membrane, P2 is a second pressure between the first and second membranes, and P3 is a third pressure at a permeate side of the second membrane. The ratio is correlated with the failure of the filtration membrane, or with the presence of the foulant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for treatment of waste water for being subject to both anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic treatment within one single reactor volume. The anoxic/anaerobic reaction zone is separated from the aerobic reaction zone by a separator which also works as a hydrodynamic separator between the two reaction zones. The reactor makes it possible that the effluent water has a lower proportion of suspended solids and also that it produces less sludge than reactors of comparison. The reactor is further more energy efficient than prior art reactors. Several reactors according to the invention may be arranged in parallel so as for the inlet waste water may be treated in a modular way, and thus allowing the maintenance of the units to be facilitated.

Abstract: A membrane distillation bioreactor (100) is provided for treating contaminated inflow such as wastewater. A contaminated inflow may be treated by biodegrading a contaminant in the inflow with a biological agent in the bioreactor to produce a lower contaminant inflow, which may be distilled, by membrane distillation, through a distillation membrane (108) in fluid communication with the bioreactor, to produce an outflow. The inflow may be wastewater. The outflow may be purified water. In one embodiment, the membrane may be located in the reaction chamber of the bioreactor vessel (102) and may be submerged in the mixed liquor. In a different embodiment suitable for wastewater treatment, the membrane may be located external to the bioreactor. The bioreactor may be aerobic or anaerobic.

Abstract: The failure of an upstream filtration membrane, or the presence of a foulant in a fluid is detected using a membrane-based detector. The fluid or an effluent from the filtration membrane is directed to permeate through a first permeable membrane, and from the first membrane to permeate through a second permeable membrane. A ratio between (P1-P2) and (P2-P3) is determined, where P1 is a first pressure at a feed side of the first membrane, P2 is a second pressure between the first and second membranes, and P3 is a third pressure at a permeate side of the second membrane. The ratio is correlated with the failure of the filtration membrane, or with the presence of the foulant.