Abstract: A method of treating thin stillage from an ethanol production process that includes in a digester, treating thin stillage from the ethanol production process using anaerobic digestion to produce an ammonia-rich liquid product. During anaerobic digestion of the thin stillage, with a solids/liquids separation system of the digester, the ammonia-rich liquid product may be separated from a mixed liquor to produce a permeate. At least a portion of the permeate from the solids/liquids separation system of the digester may be recycled directly to the ethanol production process. A mesophilic anaerobic digester with a thin stillage COD loading rate of about 3 kg/m3/d to at least about 7.5 kg/m3d. An anaerobic biomass prepared by a method that includes subjecting the biomass to at least one stress event.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 5, 2009
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2012
Assignee:
Procorp Enterprises, LLC
Inventors:
Eric Fessler, Nicholas Vollendorf, Mark Pronley
Abstract: A system and method for treating wastewater includes a treatment container for receiving and treating wastewater and a mixing/aeration system disposed in the treatment container. Wastewater is pumped under pressure from the treatment container through a solids/liquid separation system, preferably comprising multiple parallel membrane bioreactors, to separate the solids and liquids in the wastewater. Liquid retentate from the solids/liquid separation system is cycled back to the treatment container via the mixing/aeration system. The closed-loop system and method for solids/liquid separation and aeration/mixing provides for reduced equipment requirements and energy usage during operation.
Abstract: A system and method for treating wastewater includes a treatment container for receiving and treating wastewater and a mixing/aeration system disposed in the treatment container. Wastewater is pumped under pressure from the treatment container through a solids/liquid separation system, preferably comprising multiple parallel membrane bioreactors, to separate the solids and liquids in the wastewater. Liquid retentate from the solids/liquid separation system is cycled back to the treatment container via the mixing/aeration system. The closed-loop system and method for solids/liquid separation and aeration/mixing provides for reduced equipment requirements and energy usage during operation.