Abstract: A method of preparing and separating biopolymers and biopolymer fractions is useful for wastewater treatment applications from sewage sludge. The method comprising the steps of disrupting the bacterial cell walls of bacteria present in the sewage sludge by at least 75% to release the intracellular contents of the bacterial cells and separating the biopolymers from any contaminants present.

Abstract: A system for processing a pavement reinstatement, the system comprising: a weighing apparatus 502 for measuring a mass of reinstatement material; and a reinstatement apparatus 10 adapted to receive reinstatement dimension information and reinstatement material information and adapted to determine a required reinstatement material mass, whereby to provide a target air voids content of the reinstatement; optionally wherein the reinstatement apparatus is adapted to receive an indication of the mass measured by the weighing apparatus and optionally wherein the indication is a verification of the weighing apparatus having measured the required mass.

Abstract: A system for processing a pavement reinstatement includes a weighing apparatus (502) for measuring a mass of reinstatement material. A reinstatement apparatus (10) is adapted to receive reinstatement dimension information and reinstatement material information and adapted to determine a required reinstatement material mass, and to provide a target air voids content of the reinstatement. The reinstatement apparatus is optionally adapted to receive an indication of the mass measured by the weighing apparatus and the indication is a verification of the weighing apparatus having measured the required mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recovering organic compounds from wastewater for use in electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell, comprising the steps of: converting organic compounds from wastewater into a biomass; recovering the biomass from the wastewater; followed by substantially dissolving or breaking down the biomass to form a cell lysate; fermenting the cell lysate to form volatile fatty acids (VFA) in a broth; and separating the VFA in the VFA broth to produce a clarified VFA stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating white water for use in Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) processes, the method comprising the steps of forming a reduced pressure air/water mixture; subjecting the air/water mixture to an elevated hydrostatic pressure in a water column to achieve substantial dissolution of air in water; removing the air in water solution from the elevated hydrostatic pressure region to form a super-saturated air in water solution; and introducing the super-saturated air in water solution into a process stream wherein the air is released from solution as white water micro-bubbles while in intimate contact with contaminants to perform Dissolved Air Flotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing and separating biopolymers and biopolymer fractions useful for wastewater treatment applications from sewage sludge comprising the steps of disrupting the bacterial cell walls of bacteria present in the sewage sludge by at least 75% to release the intracellular contents of the bacterial cells and separating the biopolymers from any contaminants present.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for the removal of excess water from sludge, the method comprising the steps of: (1) fermenting the sludge at a temperature in the mesophilic temperature range, (2) maintaining the fermenting sludge for a predetermined period under a hydraulically quiescent condition to achieve phase separation, (3) separately removing the solid phase and liquid phase and (4) feeding the solid phase to the digester for conversion to biogas.

Abstract: A method of treating bio waste including the steps of (1) fermenting substantially raw biowaste in a pathogen reduction stage under anaerobic conditions for a predetermined period at a temperature in the mesophillic temperature range and (2) subsequently separating the solid and liquid phases to produce a fermented cake and fermented liquor. The fermented cake has at least 15% solids on dry basis and contains over 500 mg/L ammonia, over 1,000 mg/L total Volatile Fatty Acids (tVFA) and Escherichia coli less than 100,000 cfu per g dry solids. The fermented liquor contains over 10,000 mg/L COD, over 500 mg/L ammonia, over 1,000 mg/L tVFA and less than 5,000 mg/L of suspended solids.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for the removal of excess water from sludge, the method comprising the steps of: (1) fermenting the sludge at a temperature in the mesophilic temperature range, (2) maintaining the fermenting sludge for a predetermined period under a hydraulically quiescent condition to achieve phase separation, (3) separately removing the solid phase and liquid phase and (4) feeding the solid phase to the digester for conversion to biogas.

Abstract: A method of treating putrescible cakes to reduce the E. Coli and odor present in the cake and prevent further odor generation comprising the step of maintaining the cake under substantially anoxic condition in the presence of ammonium and/or nitrate moieties at pH 7.5 to pH 10.5 for a period of more than 1 day, the cake having a solids content of between 20% to 75% by weight.

Abstract: A method of treating sewage sludge comprises a pathogen reduction stage in which raw sludge is incubated for a predetermined incubation period at a temperature in the mesophilic temperature range. The sludge is incubated in a plurality of sequential vessels (1a,1b,1c) comprising an upstream vessel (1a) which receives the raw sludge to be incubated and a downstream vessel (1c) which discharges the incubated sludge. The sludge is fed from the upstream vessel (1a) to the downstream vessel (1c), via any intermediate vessels (1b), and subsequently discharged after spending a predetermined residence time in each vessel, the total residence time being said predetermined incubation period.

Abstract: A method of treating putrescible cakes to reduce the E. Coli and odour present in the cake and prevent further odour generation comprising the step of maintaining the cake under substantially anoxic condition in the presence of ammonium and/or nitrate moieties at pH7.5 to pH10.5 for a period of more than 1 day, the cake having a solids content of between 20% to 75% by weight.

Abstract: A liquid filtering apparatus for mounting in a housing and positioned to filter liquid flowing from an inlet (23) to a drain. A rotatable wheel is disposed within and coupled to a rotating screen so that rotation of the wheel causes rotation of the screen. The wheel includes vanes (5–12) extending towards the screen dividing the space within the screen into sections substantially isolated from each other except via the drain. A stationary baffle (13) arranged adjacent a portion of the screen prevents liquid from flowing into the wheel through that screen portion. The baffle is positioned such that water flows more readily into sections of the wheel on one side of a vertical plane through the rotation axis than the other sections. Thus, the wheel is unbalanced by water retained in sections of the wheel and rotation of the wheel results.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a model of pipe network with respect to a predetermined criteria, such as costs. In particular, the method provides an efficient way of minimizing the cost of rehabilitating a water pipe network. The invention provides a method of optimizing proposals for pipes within a network without violating operating criteria of the network. The invention further provides the methods of determining the hydraulic significance of pipes within a pipe network, and determining the peak flow requirements of each pipe.

Abstract: A method of separating a pipe (1) from an elongate flexible element (2) used to pull the pipe (1) from the ground comprises drawing the flexible element (2) past or through separating means which splits the pipe (1) along its length as it passes to thereby strip the pipe (1) from the flexible clement (2).

Abstract: A rotating machine such as a submersible pump which comprises a casing (1) and a rotor (2) which is rotatable relative to the casing (1). The casing defines an aperature adjacent to which the rotor is positioned such that an annular gap is formed around the aperture between a first surface defined by the rotor (2) and a second surface (9) defined by the casing (1). One or both of the first and second surfaces is provided with a surface structure which is operative to prevent the accumulation of material within the gap. The irregular surface may be defined by for example a screw thread.

Abstract: An instrument for monitoring the characteristics of a liquid comprises a source of radiation (6) which is transmissible through the liquid and a detector (2) for detecting radiation emerging from the liquid. The detector (2) is responsive to components of the emerging radiation which are affected by variations in the characteristics of the liquid. The source (6) and detector (2) are arranged such that the radiation is transmitted through at least one free surface of the liquid (5) which is supported at least in part by surface tension of the liquid.