Abstract: A filtering device comprises a vessel for containing filtering media such as nutshells. Associated with the filtering device is an eductor for scrubbing and cleaning the media and removing contaminants such as oil from the media. The eductor includes an inlet port for receiving a motive liquid. Further, the eductor includes an inlet port for receiving media held in the vessel. In operation, a motive liquid is directed into the eductor and this induces media in the vessel into the eductor. By continuously directing motive liquid from an external source into the eductor, this results in the media being fluidized and circulated and recirculated through the eductor, giving rise to a slurry that contains liquid, the media and removed contaminants. A portion of the slurry is discharged from the filtering device while the media is retained in the filtering device.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater using a ballasted flocculation technique includes continuously measuring the concentration of suspended solids, organic matter or other impurities in the water to be treated prior to directing the water to be treated to a flocculation tank. Based on this measurement, the amount of ballast necessary to obtain treated water of a predetermined quality is then calculated. In the flocculation tank, ballast and a flocculating reagent are added to the water to form a water-floc mixture. The water-floc mixture is directed to a settling tank where a sludge-ballast mixture is settled. The sludge-ballast mixture is directed to a mixing tank and then to a separator to separate the ballast from the sludge. The separated ballast is directed to the flocculation tank. The separated sludge is directed to the mixing tank when the level of sludge-ballast mixture in the mixing tank is lower than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method for treating water laden with nitrogen in the form of ammonium within a sequencing batch reactor, said method including: a first step of feeding said water into said sequencing batch reactor; an aerated nitritation step); an anoxic denitritation step; and a step of extracting treated water from said reactor. The method further includes an in-line measurement of the nitrite concentration of said water in said reactor, a step of measuring the pH of said water contained in said reactor, a step of determining information that is representative of the nitrous-acid (HNO2) concentration of said water contained in said reactor on the basis of said in-line measurement of the nitrite concentration and said pH measurement, and a step of controlling the duration of said aerated nitritation process in accordance with said nitrous-acid concentration.

Abstract: A ballasted flocculation system that chemically softens water and causes hardness particles to precipitate from the water and crystallize. In the course of crystallizing, the hardness particles grow and form ballasted floc that are separated from the water in the form of sludge by a clarification unit, producing a clarified effluent. The separated sludge including the hardness crystals is directed to a separator where the sludge is separated into two streams with each stream having hardness crystals contained therein. In one process design, one stream includes relatively small hardness crystals and the other stream includes relatively large hardness crystals. The stream having the relatively small hardness crystals is directed to a first reactor and mixed with the incoming water and a softening reagent. The stream having the relatively large crystals is directed to a second downstream reactor and mixed with water and a flocculant which facilitates the growth of the hardness crystals.

Abstract: A method for treating effluent containing dissolved or suspended solids includes directing the effluent containing dissolved or suspended solids to a reactor and oxidizing at least a portion of the dissolved or suspended solids in the reactor with an oxidizing agent. Oxidation is carried out at a temperature ranging between approximately 20° C. and approximately 350° C. and at a pressure ranging between approximately 1 bar and approximately 160 bar. A gaseous phase and a liquid phase form within the reactor during oxidation. The method includes separating the gaseous phase from the liquid phase and heating the effluent in the reactor with the heat produced from the oxidation of the dissolved or suspended solids.

Abstract: A process that utilizes ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (ANAMMOX) bacteria to remove ammonium from a wastewater stream. Sludge separated from the wastewater in a mainstream is processed in a sidestream that includes an anaerobic digester, a dewatering system, and a biofilm reactor. The anaerobic digester produces digested sludge that is dewatered, producing reject water that includes a relatively high ammonium concentration and a relatively low organic carbon concentration and a relatively high temperature. The reject water is treated in a sidestream deammonification biofilm reactor that includes biofilm carriers seeded with AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria that are effective to remove ammonium from the reject water. In order to remove ammonium from the wastewater in the mainstream, the AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria on the media carriers is utilized to contact the wastewater in the mainstream and to remove ammonium therefrom.

Abstract: A disc filter disposed around a drum for filtering water. The disc filter includes a frame structure and a plurality of filter segments arranged around the drum and secured to the support. Each filter segment includes a filter frame having first and second portions and filter material integrated with the first and second portions of the filter frame through an injection moulding process.

Abstract: A flat sheet membrane module is provided and includes a pair of laterally spaced membrane compartments formed therein for receiving and holding two sets of flat sheet membranes. A utility compartment is disposed between the membrane compartments and includes an air conduit for directing air downwardly through the module to air dispersers forming a part of the module or to a separate lower disposed module. Optionally, a permeate conduit may be provided in the utility compartment for channeling permeate from a lower disposed module. A support structure is disposed in each membrane compartment for receiving and holding a set of flat sheet membranes. The support structure includes a pair of plates that sandwich a set of flat sheet membranes together such that the flat sheet membranes of the set are disposed in a side-by-side relationship between the two end plates.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a filter cloth (4) of at least one filter element (3) in a rotary disc filter (1), including at least one flush tube (6), the centre axis of which is located between two adjacent parallel filter elements, and which includes at least one outlet (9) arranged in a direction other than towards the respective filter cloth (4), and at least one spray nozzle (5) connected to said outlet (9). A connection (13) to the spray nozzle (5) extends essentially parallel to said filter element (3) and the spray nozzle (5) includes an angled redirecting channel (14) for distribution of cleaning liquid in a direction towards the filter cloth (4) of said filter element (3). A plurality of spray nozzles (5) are arranged in pairs around the flush tube (6) and with their respective outlet openings (8) located at a distance from the respective filter element (3), which is larger than half the spacing between two adjacent parallel filter elements (3).

Abstract: A water distribution system comprises a water distribution conduit. Disposed in the conduit is a device for measuring a value of at least one parameter representative of the quality of the water flowing in the conduit. The device comprises means for measuring the parameter and means for directing substantially all of the water through the device in close proximity to the means for measuring the one parameter.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of increasing the chemical and/or thermal stability of PHA in biomass where the biomass is contained within mixed liquor, and wherein the mixed liquor is treated by a combination of removing water from the mixed liquor and pH adjustment of the mixed liquor or maintenance of the pH of the mixed liquor within a selected pH range, and wherein the method includes reducing the pH of the mixed liquor below 6, or maintaining the pH of the mixed liquor below 6 for a selected period of time, and wherein the pH adjustment of the mixed liquor to below 6 or the maintenance of the pH of the mixed liquor below 6 gives rise to an increase in chemical and/or thermal stability of the PHA in the biomass.

Abstract: A method of biologically treating wastewater and removing contaminants from the wastewater is disclosed. In the course of treating the wastewater, biomass is produced. In addition to removing contaminants from the wastewater, the process or method of the present invention entails enhancing the PHA accumulation potential of the biomass. Disclosed are a number of processes that are employed in a biological wastewater treatment system for enhancing PHA accumulation potential. For example, enhanced PHA accumulation potential is realized by exposing the biomass to feast and famine conditions and, after exposing the biomass to famine conditions, stimulating the biomass into a period of feast by exposing the biomass to feast conditions for a selected period of time by applying an average peak stimulating RBCOD feeding rate of greater than 5 mg-COD\L\MIN in combination with an average peak specific RBCOD feeding rate greater than 0.5 mg-COD\g-VSS\MIN.

Abstract: Method for treating water by ballasted flocculation comprising a step for injecting into said water at least a flocculent, a step for injecting into said water at least one particulate material that is denser than water, and a step for retrieving treated water, characterised in that said ballasted flocculation is performed under agitating at a mean speed gradient between 100 and 1400 s?1 and in that said flocculent consists of at least one natural carbohydrate polymer having an anionic charge density between ?900 and ?4000 ?eq/g.

Abstract: A rotary disc filter device includes a rotary drum and one or more disc-shaped filter members secured about the drum. Each disc-shaped filter member includes a filter and a filter support comprising a series of modules. The modules each include a base that is secured to the rotary drum and a support arm projecting outwardly from the base. The modules are interconnected and disposed around the rotary drum.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater comprises biologically treating the wastewater in a fixed-biomass biological reactor and then treating the wastewater in a ballasted flocculation system. The ballasted flocculation system produces a clarified effluent and sludge containing inert granular material having biomass accumulated thereon and suspended solids. The inert granular material having biomass accumulated thereon is separated from the suspended solids and then cleaned with a cleaning solution. After separating the biomass from the cleaned inert granular material, the cleaned inert granular material is recycled for use in the ballasted flocculation system.

Abstract: A rotary disc filter device comprises a rotary drum and a plurality of disc-shaped filter members secured about the drum. Each disc-shaped filter member has a filtering material disposed on the outside thereof. A guide bar extends longitudinally across the disc-shaped filter members and has a movable carriage mounted thereon. One or more nozzles are operatively connected to the carriage for delivering cleaning fluid onto the filtering materials. The guide bar is rotates between a cleaning position and an adjustment position. When the guide bar is in the cleaning position, the nozzle is disposed adjacent to one of the disc-shaped filter members such that the nozzle is positioned to deliver cleaning fluid onto the filtering material. When the guide bar is in the adjustment position, the carriage is movable along the guide bar without interference from the disc-shaped filter members.

Abstract: A method for treating water includes directing the water to a ballasted flocculation system and mixing a coagulant, flocculant and a ballast with the water. Solids are separated from a clarified effluent at a speed greater than 15 m/h. The method further includes filtering the clarified effluent with one or more microfiltration membranes or ultrafiltration membranes to produce filtered water. Thereafter directing the filtered water to an RO unit or a nanofiltration membrane or membranes and subjecting the filtered water to filtration by the RO unit or the nanofiltration membrane or membranes.

Abstract: A rotary disc filter device includes a rotary drum and one or more disc-shaped filter members secured about the drum. Each disc-shaped filter member includes a filter and a filter support comprising a series of modules. The modules each include a base that is secured to the rotary drum and a support arm projecting outwardly from the base. The modules are interconnected and disposed around the rotary drum.

Abstract: A waste stream having anaerobically biodegradable components is fed to an anaerobic reactor where the components react with microorganisms to biodegrade the components and produce biomass and biogas. Mixing occurs in select portions of the anaerobic reactor, particularly the bottom and top portions of the reactor. Relatively heavy solids settle to the bottom and are mixed with the mixed liquor while relatively light or fine solids float to the top portion of the anaerobic reactor where they are mixed with the mixed liquor. Mixed liquor is pumped from an intermediate portion of the anaerobic reactor to a membrane separation unit where the mixed liquor is separated into a permeate stream and a retentate stream that is concentrated with solids.

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.