Abstract: The wastewater treatment method includes, when raw water is subjected to an activated sludge treatment, performing a first sludge returning step: a step of returning sludge, which was previously aerated and stirred in a first excess sludge tank or sludge retention tank equipped with an aerator and a stirrer, to an treatment tank, a sequencing batch reactor or an anaerobic tank; an optional step of returning sludge, which was previously aerated and stirred in a second excess sludge tank or thickened sludge retention tank equipped with an aerator and a stirrer, to a treatment tank, a sequencing batch reactor or an anaerobic tank; and maintaining genus Bacillus bacteria in the treatment tank, the sequencing batch reactor or the anaerobic tank, to which the sludge has been returned, at 2.0×105 to 22.5×105 cfu/mL.

Abstract: A liquid waste treatment system is described. The system may include a first treatment conduit, a second treatment conduit, and at least one junction pipe disposed there between. In some instances, the system may include an upper junction pipe and a lower junction pipe disposed between a first and a second treatment conduit. In one or more embodiments, the system may be arranged in a substantially linear arrangement, such as a straight trench arrangement or a serial distribution arrangement. The system may reduce the need for additional treatment conduits.

Abstract: A scrubbing system and method reduces volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors released during hydraulic fracturing. The water created by the process itself is used to help control the VOCs. During the collection process, the water and VOCs separate in a tank. A small amount of the water from below the separated VOCs is pumped to atomization equipment above the flowback liquid. In the preferred embodiment, rotary atomizers are used to create a mist of very fine droplets. Emulsifiers may be added to the water at the atomizer. The mist containing the emulsifiers is distributed throughout the space above the flowback water in the tank and on the liquid surface and walls of the tank. The mixing of the mist containing the emulsifiers and the VOC vapor allows the emulsifiers to capture the VOC vapor and return it to the liquid surface.

Abstract: A system and method for control of a gas or chemical. In one embodiment, the system comprises an oxygenator for receipt of wastewater and oxygen for dissolving, mixing, diffusing, or infusing the oxygen into the wastewater, and a recirculation mechanism configured to increase the flow rate in the oxygenator and/or level of oxygen dissolved in the wastewater.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described that control and manage wastewater collection and treatment. A method for treating waste water comprises receiving from a vessel, a portion of a body of fluid for treatment at an input port, providing the oxidizing gas under pneumatic or vacuum pressure to a mixing chamber, where the oxidizing gas comprises one or more of oxygen and ozone, and conducting the portion of the fluid to the mixing chamber. The fluid and oxidizing gas may be mixed to obtain treated fluid which may be reintroduced to the vessel.

Abstract: Installation for the treatment of municipal and/or industrial wastewaters comprising a basin that receives the water to be treated and a series of discs (4) having a packing (G) that are parallel and vertical, mounted on a horizontal shaft (5), partially submerged in the water to be treated, and rotated so that the biomass which grows on the surface of the packing of the discs is alternately brought into contact with the water to be treated and oxygen from the air. The configuration of the packing (G) of the discs (4) is chosen so that the developed surface area of the packing in one zone of the disc increases with the distance from this zone to the axis of rotation (X-X).

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method to uniformly disperse ozone gas bubbles into liquid phase water for the treatment thereof. The apparatus consists of a water inlet section connected with a section with structured packing or monolith having parallel flow channels. A portion of the influent water is withdrawn from the main water stream as a side stream, pressurized by a pump, mixed with ozone-containing gas, and then injected back into the main water flow. The side stream may be divided into multiple streams either before or after mixing with the ozone-containing gas, and then injected into the main flow section upstream of the packed section. In alternate embodiments, the ozone-containing gas can be injected directly through the gas diffusers just upstream of the packed section in order to achieve uniform concentration of gas and liquid in the fluid entering the monolith.

Abstract: A wastewater system is provided. The system includes channels and conduits for wastewater guidance and discharge. High aspect ratio channels and one or more distribution conduits are provided in the system such that wastewater, such as septic wastewater, is discharged from the system and into the system surroundings. The high aspect ratio channels are spaced apart from each other to allow for the discharge of the wastewater effluent from the system between the channels. The channels have a high height to width aspect ratio.

Abstract: There is provided a method for treating spent metal working fluid (MWF), comprising the steps of: (a) providing a biofilm of microorganisms on a solid support matrix in a first bioreactor; (b) transferring at least a portion of the solid support matrix comprising the biofilm of microorganisms from the first bioreactor into a second bioreactor; and (c) incubating the microorganisms in the second bioreactor to reduce the chemical oxygen demand of the spent MWF contained therein.

Abstract: A water filtration unit, comprising: a housing; a passive separator in the housing to receive a pressurized source of particulate-heavy water, to separate most of the particulate mass from the water and to output particulate-lean water; particulate egress means disposed at least partly within the housing to receive, and allow disposal of, the particulate separated from the water; at least one filtration module in the housing to each receive the particulate-lean water simultaneously, to filter remaining particulate and contaminants from the particulate-lean water by allowing passage of the water through porous filtration media of each module under gravity; and at least one outlet conduit coupled to an outlet in a wall of the housing to receive filtered water from the filtration modules and provide the filtered water to a fluid sink outside the housing.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for removing contaminants from a body of surface water. The method and apparatus may include tubular members such as hollow-fiber components. The tubular members have a reactive gas diffused through wall of the member. Contaminants in the water can be removed when the reactive gas reacts with bacteria on the tubular member.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment method using annularly arranged microorganism carriers in a reaction tank, which defines therein an upper reaction area, a lower reaction area and a passage area surrounded by the microorganism carriers and kept in communication between the upper reaction area and the lower reaction area. Microorganisms including nitrifying bacteria and autotrophic denitrifying bacteria are attached to the surface of each microorganisms carriers and suspending in the water of the reaction tank for causing Anammox reaction to convert NH4+ and NO2? in wastewater into nitrogen gas, achieving removal of total nitrogen compounds from water. The microorganism carriers are used to retain microorganisms in the reaction tank, enhancing the treatment efficiency.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a wastewater treatment method for treating wastewater containing ammonium nitrogen, including the steps of: oxidizing the ammonium nitrogen in the wastewater to nitrite with nitrifying bacteria in a treatment tank in which the nitrifying bacteria and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria having a half-saturation constant of 6.1 mgN/L or more with respect to nitrite coexist; and denitrifying the nitrite formed through the oxidation of the ammonium nitrogen, with the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in the treatment tank, while using the ammonium nitrogen contained in the wastewater as a hydrogen donor.

Abstract: A device for mixing and aerating a body of water, the device includes a microbial fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode; an electricity management subsystem electrically connecting the anode and the cathode; and a mixing subsystem electrically connected to the electricity management subsystem. The device can be used to mix or aerate a body of water containing organic material while simultaneously reducing the requirements for aeration. The body of water may provide organic material to the microbial fuel cell to produce electricity to power the mixing subsystem.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for biologically treating waste water, using a set of micro-organisms having different metabolic spectra, in order to eliminate carbon and nitrogen, even phosphorus. Some of the micro-organisms are fixed to mobile solid carriers (2) and form a fluidised fixed biomass. Some of the micro-organisms are free to be used in an activated mud treatment. To this end, a first non-aerated treatment zone (21a) is followed by a second aerated treatment zone (21b); the treated effluent is subjected to a solid/liquid separation by flotation (6) at a speed higher than 10 m/H; and part of the mud recovered by flotation is recirculated (8) towards the activated mud treatment, said recirculation being controlled (9, 10, 11) so that the MES concentration of the effluent subjected to the liquid/solid separation remains compatible with the retained flotation.

Abstract: A biological wastewater treatment system includes a tank or reactor for holding and treating wastewater. Disposed in the tank or reservoir is an array of biofilm carriers for supporting biomass that remove pollutants and contaminates from the wastewater. A screen structure is mounted to the tank for screening treated wastewater flowing from the tank and preventing the biofilm carriers from being discharged from the tank. The screen structure includes a vertical screen made up of a plurality of screen modules disposed in side-by-side relationship and disposed upstream of an outlet formed in the tank. Further this screen structure may include a plurality of auxiliary screens that project form the vertical screen inwardly towards the interior area of the tank thereby providing increased screening area through which wastewater is discharged during a wastewater treatment process.

Abstract: A floating streambed comprising a circulation pump having an inlet hose or pipe, an inlet hose or pipe depth adjuster, and one or more treatment channels comprised of permeable matrix. The floating streambed floats on a water body. Water enters the inlet hose or pipe from the water body and is pumped by the circulation pump into the treatment channels. The treatment channels are comprised of permeable matrix, and water entering the treatment channels flows both horizontally through the treatment channel and into the water body and also vertically downward through the permeable matrix of the treatment channels.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: Numerous different types of waste compositions generally in an aqueous environment are bio-remediated under aerobic conditions utilizing highly diverse and multiple microorganisms within a reactor. The process is carried out with the microorganisms attached or bound by a variety of different surface characteristics to packing substrates, located within the reactor, having high surface areas and high porosity in the form of small micropores. Multiple different types of substrates are utilized that include minerals, carbon compounds, polymers and plastics, ceramics, metals, and the like and shapes thereof are utilized that efficiently dissolve air into the water. The reactors desirably have multiple bio-remediation stages therein. The reactor also contains at least one perforated chimney through which air can flow and optimize dissolving oxygen into the aqueous environment of the various bio-remediation stages.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds, an anoxic zone having denitrifying bacteria, and an aerobic zone having nitrifying bacteria. The anoxic zone is coupled to the aerobic zone, and wastewater flows from the anoxic to the aerobic zone or vice versa. A fluidized bed heat exchanger configured to accept heat from a heat engine and to transfer the heat from the heat engine to the wastewater is positioned in the aerobic zone or the anoxic zone. The fluidized bed heat exchanger includes particulate media, and fluidization of the particulate media scrubs bacterial growth from portions of the fluidized bed heat exchanger. Treating wastewater can include flowing wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds into a biological reactor having an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone, and heating the wastewater with heat from a heat engine to facilitate denitrification reactions in the anoxic zone and nitrification reactions in the aerobic zone.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a short cut or shortened method for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater by pairing an aerobic fixed-film biological reactor with an anoxic fixed-film biological reactor under unique operating conditions.

Abstract: An aerobic bacteria waste digester uses a rocking paddle to mix a waste fluid. A pair of spaced-apart inflatables engaged with the paddle and alternately inflated provide buoyancy forces to drive the rocking action. The paddle has two decks and a peripheral skirt. The paddle is of a trestle-type construction with light weight planks forming the decks. The position and motion of paddle surfaces and air bubbled through the fluid from below, is able to enhance bacteria colony growth and thus the rate of bio-mass digestion.

Abstract: An air distribution and mixing device is arranged in the vicinity of the bottom of a flotation cell for distributing air to the slurry for forming froth and mixing the slurry in the flotation cell. A rotor part of the air distribution and mixing device has air distribution apertures and is attached to the lower end of a drive shaft extending vertically in the flotation cell. The drive shaft has a hollow interior, which constitutes a flow channel for conducting flotation air to the air distribution holes of the rotor part. An electric motor for rotating the drive shaft is supported by a separate supporting framework, which is on top of the flotation cell. The electric motor is a permanent magnet motor that comprises having a vertical rotor shaft, the lower end of which is in permanent contact directly with the upper end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A stormwater treatment system and method for removing sediment, chemical pollutants, and debris from stormwater runoff by utilizing bioretention practices including physical, chemical and biological processes by passing stormwater runoff water through a multi-phase filtering and treatment train. Stormwater is initially directed to and enters a pretreatment collection chamber located within or exterior of a primarily open-bottomed, multi-dimensional container whereby entrained sediment and other transportable materials are captured and collected prior to continued transport, filtration and treatment through a media filter layer. A live plant (preferably a tree) situated within the container with roots resident in the media filter layer with the ability for expansion beyond the perimeter of the container through openings in one or more sidewalls.

Abstract: A water treatment unit includes a mixing chamber surrounding the upper end of a riser containing an impeller. Water can be moved from a body of water up through the riser, and out through laterally directed openings into the chamber adjacent to an air inlet. The water moving out the laterally directed openings of the stand pipe, mixes with air drawn in through the air inlet to oxygenate the water, and the oxygenated water exits the chamber into the body of water through one or more water outlets in the lower portion of the chamber due to the head developed by the inflow of water into the chamber. The outward flow of water from the chamber can cause a toroidal or other desired flow of water within the body of water surrounding the water treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A renewable energy microgeneration system is disclosed. The system comprises one or more portable containers that include a plurality of small holding tanks that are configured to perform at least one of pasteurization and thermophilic anaerobic digestion on waste, a large holding tank that is configured to perform mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the waste after at least one of pasteurization and thermophilic anaerobic digestion is performed, and a de-watering unit that is configured to dry what remains of the waste after mesophilic anaerobic digestion is performed. The system further comprises a controller for automatically moving the waste between the plurality of small holding tanks, the large holding tank, and the de-watering unit as required to facilitate mesophilic anaerobic digestion in the large holding tank. Further, the portable containers are configured to be transported to a site and placed in fluid communication with each other at the site.

Abstract: In a method of treating a liquid, a liquid to be treated is introduced into a space, a mechanical cavitation element acts upon the liquid while gas is supplied into the region of the surface of the cavitation element and introduces the gas into the liquid by moving the cavitation element, and sound waves are introduced directly into the liquid by at least one acoustic power transducer.

Abstract: A liquid contaminant-extraction apparatus arranged for submersion in liquid such as water and comprising a draft tube arrangement extending from an upper region of the apparatus to a lower region thereof, floatation means provided at the upper region, gas introduction means located at the lower region and arranged for the introduction of gas into the draft tube arrangement to create an air lift for water therethrough and for the said extraction of contaminants therefrom.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.

Abstract: Biologically treated wastewater is directed as mixed liquor from a treatment tank to a downstream filtration tank having a having a submerged membrane module extending across the cross-sectional area of the filtration tank. Mixed liquor is directed from the bottom of the filtration tank upwardly into the membrane module such that substantially all of the mixed liquor received in the bottom of the filtration tank flows through the membrane module. A permeate stream is produced. A portion of a non-permeate stream is recirculated to the treatment tank. The filtration tank is sized such that there is no substantial recycle of mixed liquor in the filtration tank. Once the mixed liquor in the filtration tank makes one pass through the membrane module the mixed liquor is recycled to the treatment tank and generally not permitted to be recycled through the membrane module without first returning to the treatment tank.

Abstract: (?)3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylperhydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan (ambrox) is a strong aromatic compound used widely in a variety of perfumery applications and is highly prized for its musky odor. We report novel polar metabolites of (?)3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylperhydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan prepared by a novel process of microbial fermentation using a fungi, Fusarium lini, of unique structures that would be difficult to predict opening up the possibilities of their chemical synthesis. The polar metabolites discovered have stronger aromatic characteristics and offer a new highly prized odiferous characteristic quite different from that of the parent compound and thus can be used in the preparation of perfumes, odor-masking and other odor-management applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating oxygenated water by dissolving oxygen in water is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reservoir (10) storing drinking water, an oxygen generating unit (20) generating oxygen through electrolysis and supplying the oxygen into a pipe line (11) through which the drinking water flows, and a dissolving unit (30) dissolving the oxygen in the drinking water. The dissolving unit (30) includes a pump (31), a Venturi (32), and a dissolving container (50) and a Venturi (33) which are connected in series to each other. The dissolving container (50) is provided with an oxygen pipe (56) installed at an inlet portion thereof to supply the oxygen generated from the oxygen generating unit (20) into a center portion of the drinking water quickly supplied.

Abstract: A portable, personal advanced-oxidation water treatment system based on ozone and a catalyst such as titanium dioxide that can cycle and purify water to make it portable by removing organic contaminants. The unit can be used for long periods of time without having to replenish the active portions. The unit can be carried in a backpack or in a vehicle. Fresh water is typically loaded into the unit, and the unit is cycled until the water is pure enough to drink. A battery is used to produce ozone and to cycle the water through a reaction vessel and can optionally be charged with a small solar panel The unit can also be powered directly from a vehicle.

Abstract: A bubble generator for generating gas bubbles for a flotation vessel, the bubble generator including at least one inlet through which a water stream can enter the bubble generator; at least one pair of electrodes capable of electrically decomposing water to create gas bubbles; and at least one outlet through which water entrained with gas bubbles can exit the bubble generator. In use, at least one of the outlets is in fluid communication with a flotation vessel containing waste water including contaminants, the gas bubbles being used to separate at least a portion of the contaminants from the waste water in the flotation vessel.

Abstract: A portable, integrated organic waste management system comprises a receiver for receiving waste organic material, a particle size reducer for grinding waste organic material, a first pump for pumping ground waste organic material, a storage vessel for receiving pumped ground waste organic material in the form of a slurry, and a second pump for recirculating ground waste organic material in the form of a slurry. The system is contained in a portable module that can be transported to a desired site.

Abstract: A multistage biological reactor mountable within a settling pond is disclosed. The aforesaid system comprises a wastewater inlet, a plurality of individual cells successively conducting a wastewater flow and a treated wastewater outlet. Each cell comprises a hollow framework and a plurality of mesh substrates mechanically fixed to the framework. The substrates are configured for growth of microorganisms thereupon. The substrates in successively disposed cells are characterized by mesh fineness increasing along the wastewater flow from inlet to outlet. The reactor comprises means to dislodge solids built up upon the substrates thereby preventing excess solids buildup upon the mesh, allowing the system to operate in steady state without periodic solids removal.

Abstract: A nitrification carrier having made nitrifying bacteria dominant therein and a denitrification carrier having made anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria dominant therein are mixed in a treatment tank. Both of a nitrification reaction with the nitrification carrier and a denitrification reaction with denitrification carrier are allowed to proceed in the treatment tank to decompose ammonium nitrogen in wastewater to nitrogen gas. The ratio of the bacterial loads of the nitrifying bacteria and the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria can be easily controlled by immobilizing the nitrifying bacteria and the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria on different carriers from each other (nitrification carrier and denitrification carrier) and by controlling the volume ratio (ratio of the feeding amounts) of the nitrification carrier and the denitrification carrier.

Abstract: A system for treating wastewater including at least one water-treatment pathway having at least one wastewater inlet, at least one oxygen-permeable, water-impermeable wall, separating an interior of the pathway from outside air, and at least one treated wastewater outlet and arranged for at least aerobic treatment of the wastewater as it flows from the at least one wastewater inlet to the at least one treated wastewater outlet, at least one wastewater supply conduit, supplying the wastewater to the at least one wastewater inlet of the water-treatment pathway and at least one treated wastewater conduit, supplying treated wastewater from the at least one treated wastewater outlet of the at least one water-treatment pathway.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system comprising: a first treatment zone (11) fluidly connected to one or more further treatment zones (12-14), a membrane module (16) comprising a filter membrane is positioned in or fluidly connected to the further treatment zone; and a gravity settling device (15) fluidly connected to the first treatment zone (11) to receive overflow therefrom. A method of treating wastewater comprising flowing wastewater through one or more treatment zones (11-14) to produce a fluid product which is passed through a filter membrane (16) to produce a concentrated mixed liquor and a filtrate; returning at least a portion of the concentrated mixed liquor to at least one of the treatment zones (11); when the flow of wastewater water exceeds a predetermined level, flowing a portion of the returned mixed liquor to a gravity settling device (15) and clarifying the mixed liquor within the gravity settling device (15).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an artificial aquifer for decreasing the contents of metals, metalloids, nitrate, nitrite, pesticides and organic micro contaminants in natural ground water or artificial infiltrated groundwater from surface water. The system comprising a basin of filling material creating a reaction zone, a feeding line, one or more satellite wells, at least one main well and a pumping well, whereby the feeding line is applied in the upper outer periphery of the basin and wherein the main well is connected to a pumping well via a bottom outflow provided with a regulating valve to maintain a given level of water in the aquifer. The invention further relates to a method for purifying water.

Abstract: An elevated swale comprising a porous and water-permeable interior zone, a permeable and compressible exterior shell, and vertically oriented cylindrical inserts. The exterior shell surrounds the interior zone, and the cylindrical inserts are placed within cylindrical cavities that are cut vertically into the interior zone. In an alternate embodiment, the present invention is an elevated swale comprising stacked layers of polymer matting and vertically oriented cylindrical inserts. The cylindrical inserts are placed within cylindrical cavities that are cut vertically into the stacked layers of polymer matting.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating water comprises a conduit assembly for receiving waste water from a downstream inlet and for providing treated water out of an upstream outlet. The conduit assembly comprises a plurality of substantially vertical conduits in fluid communication providing forwaterto flow in an alternating downward and upward pathway therein. A medium for providing bacterial growth being is mounted within the conduit assembly. The medium comprises a plurality of substrate surfaces stacked along the vertical length of at least one conduit. Each substrate surface extends along the width of the conduit and provides for bacterial growth thereon. The apparatus includes a housing defining at least one chamber for receiving the conduit assembly therein.

Abstract: Extraction apparatus and method for obtaining essential oils, essence, and pigments from odorous raw materials (e.g., plant materials and Chinese medicinal herbs) by microwave radiation heating have advantages of easy operation, higher extracting temperature and efficiency. The microwave chamber has a power level of 100 W to 1,500 W and its microwave radiation has a frequency at 915 MHz or 2,450 MHz. The extraction process can be performed without any preheating necessary. A condenser is operated at temperatures between ?20° C. and 15° C. for cooling the gas flowing out of the extraction cartridges. Because both volatile fragrant compounds and pigments of the odorous raw materials can be extracted successfully by the top-down extraction fashion, the extracted essence is colorful. Since the extraction process by microwave heating is free from adding any organic solvent and/or any artificial chemical compound, the extraction apparatus and method are environmentally friendly.

Abstract: A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste and an injector section that injects oxygen into the compressed liquid waste. The system further includes a driver subsystem for driving the compressor section and a control subsystem for activating and deactivating the driver subsystem.

Abstract: Water decontamination systems including aerator modules are described herein. Such systems are capable of removing contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, from the water. Certain volatile organic contaminants can be removed at high efficiencies. The systems may be automated to remove the contaminants and produce cleaned water on a continuous basis.

Abstract: In a sewage treatment system, microconstituents, including personal care products and pharmaceutical materials, often difficult to degrade biologically, are removed by supersaturating the untreated wastewater feed with ozone. This breaks down refractory microconstituents into more readily biodegradable materials, subsequently treated preferably in an activated sludge membrane bioreactor process. The oxygen byproduct of ozonation is utilized by feeding the oxygen into an aerobic part of the plant to meet a portion of the biological demand, thereby increasing efficiency of ozone use in the process.

Abstract: A floating water treatment device for biological treatment of water in a body of water, the device comprising: a submerged biomass-carrying system having at least one biomass-carrying element; a water aeration device adapted to aerate the water in the body of water in the vicinity of the biomass-carrying system; and at least one flotation system, having at least one floating element, the at least one flotation system adapted to float on the surface of the body of water and to support the submerged biomass-carrying system and water aeration device from totally submerging into the body of water.

Abstract: A compact biological treatment assembly, apparatus and methods are disclosed, the apparatus including a movable belt biological contactor having selected microbial cultures established thereon. The apparatus further includes a tank having a volume for receipt of wastewater to be treated, first and second drums positioned at the tank each connected to an end of the belt contactor, and a motor or motors together with a controller for rotating the drums cooperatively to move the belt contactor between the drums thereby coiling and uncoiling the belt contactor on the drums.

Abstract: A diffusion controlling bioreactor that selectively controls the molecular diffusion between fluids through at least one microchannel in fluid communication with a reaction reservoir. Length and cross-sectional area of the microchannel may be selected to obtain a predetermined rate of molecular diffusion between fluids. When the fluids are liquids, flow through the microchannel is laminar and the capillary action of the microchannel and fluid is such that the fluid flow is regulated, and may have a structure configured to minimize the chances of fluid leakage from the bioreactor, even if the bioreactor is turned in various directions. In certain embodiments, one or more diffusion control chambers regulate fluid flow and diffusion between a reaction reservoir and an outside atmosphere.