Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing permeate from a substrate. The exemplary system includes a vessel having a wall configured to contain substrate, a compartment positioned adjacent the wall of the vessel and configured to receive substrate from the vessel, and a filter positioned at least partially within the compartment and configured to separate permeate from substrate during operation of the filter. The compartment is configured to contain cleaning solution and substantially prevent cleaning solution from contacting substrate in the vessel during cleaning of the filter.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for inoculating a biological reactor having a chamber. The chamber is configured to contain influent and biomass to degrade contaminants in the influent. A vessel is configured to receive influent and biomass from the chamber and to substantially isolate the received influent and biomass from that contained in the chamber. The vessel is also configured to deliver the isolated influent and biomass to the chamber, thereby facilitating inoculation of the biological reactor.

Abstract: A reaction chamber is adapted to contain a fluidized bed having a slurry of liquid, media and biomass. A lift and motive fluid are provided to urge slurry from the reaction chamber through a passage from a slurry inlet to a slurry discharge. The height of the slurry inlet is adjustable with respect to the bottom of the reaction chamber to help control the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing permeate from a substrate. The exemplary system includes a vessel configured to contain substrate, two or more compartments configured to receive substrate from the vessel and to return a portion of received substrate to the vessel, and a filter positioned at least partially within each of the compartments and configured to separate permeate from substrate during operation of the filter. At least one of the compartments is configured to contain cleaning solution and substantially prevent cleaning solution from contacting substrate in the vessel during cleaning of the filter. The exemplary system is configured for cleaning the filter in situ in at least one of the compartments while operating the filter in at least one other of the compartments. A method for adapting a filtration system for cleaning thereof and a method for withdrawing permeate from a substrate using a filtration system are also provided.

Abstract: A method for degrading an undesirable ether-based environmental contaminant by contacting the ether with a hydrogen-oxidizing microorganism to convert the ether to innocuous compounds which are environmentally acceptable, including treating the ether-based contaminants in situ or removing them from the contaminated site for treatment in a bioreactor, examples of the ether-based contaminants being tertiary butyl ethers of the type utilized as gasoline oxygenates, for example, methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl tert-butyl ether, and methyl tert-amyl ether, and also ether solvents, for example, tetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing permeate from a substrate through a filter and for cleaning the filter in situ. The system includes a vessel configured to contain a substrate and a compartment connected to receive substrate from the vessel and connected to return a portion of received substrate to the vessel during normal operation of the system. The system also includes a filter positioned at least partially within the compartment to withdraw permeate from substrate in the compartment during normal operation of the system. A source of cleaning solution is connected to the compartment to deliver cleaning solution into the compartment and into contact with the filter during cleaning operation of the system. The compartment facilitates circulation of substrate in the vessel during normal operation of the system and substantially prevents introduction of cleaning solution from the compartment into contact with substrate contained in the vessel during cleaning operation. A method is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for monitoring the degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether in a contaminated media which contains methyl tert-butyl ether and/or which is treated under conditions which cause the degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether into 2-hydroxy isobutyric acid comprising: (A) evaluating the treated contaminated media to determine the absence or presence therein of 2-hydroxy isobutyric acid; (B) based on such evaluation, determining whether the conditions should be modified; and (C) modifying such conditions as may be necessary. Disclosed also is a method for degrading an ether comprising contacting the ether with a microorganism that is effective in oxidizing propane or isopropanol and 2-hydroxy-isobutyric acid.

Abstract: A system is provided for withdrawing permeate from a substrate through a filter and for cleaning the filter in situ. The system includes a vessel configured to contain a substrate and a compartment connected to receive substrate from the vessel and connected to return a portion of received substrate to the vessel during normal operation of the system. The system also includes a filter positioned at least partially within the compartment to withdraw permeate from substrate in the compartment during normal operation of the system. A source of cleaning solution is connected to the compartment to deliver cleaning solution into the compartment and into contact with the filter during cleaning operation of the system. The compartment facilitates circulation of substrate in the vessel during normal operation of the system and substantially prevents introduction of cleaning solution from the compartment into contact with substrate contained in the vessel during cleaning operation. A method is also provided.

Abstract: Saturated aliphatic halocarbons, including environmental contaminants, are degraded to innocuous, environmentally acceptable compounds by contact, either in situ or in a bioreactor, with microorganisms that produce aromatic oxygenases, preferably with use of a co-substrate, for example, phenol, toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene and xylene, including the provision of novel bacteria that produce aromatic oxygenases, and new recombinant microorganisms that contain cloned aromatic oxygenase genes, examples of saturated aliphatic halocarbon that may be degraded to innocuous compounds being chloroform; bromoform; 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,2-dibromoethane; monochloroethane and monobromoethane.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing contaminants from a gas, wherein the gas flows through a gas treatment chamber having a biological treatment zone and a chemical treatment zone. The amount of a chemical treatment agent that is introduced into the chemical treatment zone is adjusted in response to a sensed condition or conditions.

Abstract: A filter and method are provided for removing contaminants from gas. The filter includes a frame member, gas-permeable supports positioned in openings defined by the frame member, and a biofiltration material in the supports including a filter substrate and a microbial population. Contaminants are removed from gas that flows through the filter as a result of contact between the contaminants and moisture contained in the biofiltration material and are degraded by the microbial population resident therein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for degrading an undesirable ether-based environmental contaminant by contacting the ether with a propane-oxidizing microorganism or with an isopropanol-oxidizing microorganism to convert the ether to innocuous compounds which are environmentally acceptable, including treating the ether-based contaminants in situ or removing them from the contaminated site for treatment in a bioreactor. Examples of ether-based compounds which can be degraded are tertiary butyl ethers of the type utilized as gasoline oxygenates, for example, methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl tert-butyl ether, and methyl tert-amyl ether and also ether solvents, for example, tetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: A separator for use with a fluidized-bed bioreactor. A lift draws a slurry of liquid, media and biomass from the fluidized bed. A biomass discharge is connected to the lift and located above the height of the fluidized bed for discharging excess biomass. A media discharge, also connected to the lift, discharges media from the slurry and returns the media to the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A separator is provided for use with a fluidized-bed bioreactor. A lift draws a slurry of liquid, media and biomass from the fluidized bed. A biomass discharge is connected to the lift for discharging excess biomass. A media discharge, also connected to the lift, discharges media from the slurry and returns the media to the fluidized bed by means of a media return assembly.

Abstract: A method of degrading hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) comprising heating the HOCs in the presence of a microorganism capable of metabolizing the HOCs to cause degradation thereof, an embodiment of such method including contacting at ambient temperature said HOCs with a microorganism capable of metabolizing the HOCs for a period of time sufficient to degrade some but not all of the HOCs, heating the HOCs not degraded, and thereafter contacting the HOCs not degraded with a microorganism capable of metabolizing said HOCs.

Abstract: The invention includes remediating a medium contaminated with an organohalide using a microorganism that produces a bioemulsifier. The organohalide is dispersed within the medium by contacting the medium with the bioemulsifier directly produced from Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 55487 or obtained from a growth medium supernatant of Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 55487. Then, the medium and the organohalide is treated with Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 55487 which causes the organohalide to degrade in the presence of the Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 55487.

Abstract: A process for degrading volatile organic contaminants such as trichloroethylene. and remediating volatile organic contaminant contaminated media using trichloroethylene induced toluene monooxygenase activity in Pseudomonas mendocina KR-1 is described.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention feature the use of and electric current to induce movement of bacteria in situ to degrade contaminants in aquifers.

Abstract: A bioreactor for separating contaminants from fluid and degrading the separated contaminants is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and apparatus for processing waste material held in an aqueous medium. A sorbent is added to the aqueous medium. The sorbent reduces the effective concentration of waste material allowing biodegration of the waste material in solution. A preferred sorbent is rubber derived from ground or shredded tires.