Abstract: A multi-channel vertical shaft bioreactor having a downcomer; a riser operatively in communication with the downcomer to form a loop; an off-gas head tank; a part of the loop being through the head tank; a de-gassing plate around which effluent liquor is de-gassed to produce a de-gassed liquor and an off-gas receivable by the head tank; oxygen containing gas injection means for injecting gas into the riser; liquid influent injection means to inject influent into the riser; means to extract liquid effluent from the bioreactor; the improvement comprising one or more vertical baffle plates disposed within an upper part of the head tank to define a plurality of off-gas receiving chambers; a plurality of biofilters, a plurality of off-gas conduits in communication with the chambers and the biofilters to operably allow passage of off-gas from the chambers to the biofilters to effect off-gas aeration in the biofilters; and conduit off-gas controls for the treatment of waste water.

Abstract: A method of treating municipal or industrial wastewater containing undesired concentrations of ammonium or nitrate ions comprising treating the wastewater under anoxic, denitrifying conditions with denitrifying bacteria to reduce the concentration of nitrate ion and produce nitrogen gas and a denitrified liquor; treating the denitrified liquor in an aerobic vertical shaft bioreactor with an oxygen-containing gas to effect BOD removal by the bioxidation of organic compounds in the denitried liquor and produce carbon dioxide off-gas and a shaft bioreactor effluent liquor; clarifying a first portion of the shaft bioreactor effluent liquor to provide a first clarified liquor and a second portion of the shaft bioreactor effluent liquor to provide a second clarified liquor; treating the first clarified liquor under aerobic, nitrifying conditions with nitrifying bacteria, an oxygen-containing gas and the off-gas to oxidize ammonium ion to nitrate ion and provide a first nitrified liquor; recycling by adding the firs

Abstract: An improved biomass waste treatment process wherein an aerobic biological reaction takes place in a vertical chamber having a first portion defining a first zone and a second portion defining a second zone below said first zone, said process comprising feeding a first biomass influent having a first biomass concentration to the first zone; feeding a first oxygen-containing gaseous stream to the first zone to effect mixing of the first oxygen-containing gaseous stream with the first biomass influent to effect circulation in unidirectional upward flow by gas lift and bioxidation to provide a first biomass effluent having a second biomass concentration; feeding first biomass effluent in plug flow mode to the second zone; feeding a second oxygen-containing gaseous stream to the second zone to effect mixing of the second oxygen-containing gaseous stream with the first biomass effluent without re-circulation to the first zone to effect bioxidation and provide a second biomass effluent and removing second biomass ef

Abstract: An improved apparatus for treating waste mixed liquor comprising a long vertical downcomer chamber; an adjacent long vertical riser chamber; a surface basin; said downcomer chamber and said riser chamber operatively communicating directly with each other at their lower ends and through said basin at their upper ends to form a circulatory loop; means for injecting an oxygen-containing gas in said downcomer and riser chambers at depth; a flotation-sedimentation vessel adjacent said surface basin; a first waste liquor influent conduit opening into said riser chamber at depth and operatively communicating with said vessel to provide a first waste liquor influent from said vessel to said riser chamber; a treated liquor effluent first conduit opening into said riser chamber and operatively in communication with said vessel to provide a treated waste liquor first effluent to said vessel from said riser chamber; the improvement comprising a treated waste liquor effluent second conduit having an inlet opening into sai

Abstract: A mining method and apparatus includes drilling two relatively small diameter shafts in proximity to each other, and operating a single hoisting system between the two shafts. The hoisting system includes a hoist that simultaneously moves first and second conveyances in opposite directions respectively in the first and second shafts.