Abstract: A method or process for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in biomass. The process entails feeding an organic carbon containing substrate to biomass enriched in PHA accumulating bacteria. Particularly the process entails intermittently supplying the substrate to the biomass at least three separate times over a selected period. The object of the process is to produce PHA having a relatively high molecular weight, at least 400,000 g/mole. By controlling the frequency at which the substrate is supplied to the biomass and by feeding a sufficient amount of the substrate to the biomass, the method or process produces the PHA having the relatively high molecular weight.

Abstract: The method of quantifying and of validation of activation status of a water treatment polymer in an aqueous sample comprises the following steps: supplying polymer (e.g. continuously) to the aqueous sample; monitoring electrical conductivity measurements in the aqueous sample; thoroughly mixing the aqueous sample; correlating the conductivity measurements with the polymer concentration and activation status; and suspending mixing once conductivity steady state is achieved upon the aqueous solution polymer becoming fully activated.

Abstract: A system and method for treating an aqueous effluent having organic material. The system comprises a single cell reactor having an injector for injecting an oxidizing gas into the reactor. Disposed downstream from the injector is an immersed membrane filtration device for filtering the effluent contained or passing through the reactor. Disposed between the membrane filtration device and the injector for directing an oxidizing gas into the reactor, is a bed of catalyst material. Preferably the oxidizing gas injector injects an oxidizing gas in a direction co-currently the direction of the effluent being treated. The bed of catalyst material is capable of catalyzing the oxidation of the organic material in the effluent or absorbing the organic material.

Abstract: A method or process for removing perchlorate ions from water includes mixing water containing perchlorate ions with a reducing agent such that the perchlorate ions and the reducing agent undergo an oxidation-reduction reaction. During the oxidation-reduction reaction, perchlorate ions are reduced to chloride ions and the reducing agent is oxidized. The oxidized reducing agent is separated from the water containing chloride ions and the oxidized reducing agent is regenerated and reused in the reduction of the perchlorate ions.

Abstract: A method or process is provided for treating wastewater and producing a polyhydroxyalkanote (PHA)-storing biomass. The method or process entails biologically treating wastewater and in one process a filamentous biomass is selected and caused to proliferate so as to dominate an activated sludge. The filamentous biomass is utilized to treat the wastewater and to remove contaminants therefrom. As a part of this process, there is provided an enhancement for PHA production potential in the said biomass. This entails enhancing the PHA production potential of the filamentous biomass by subjecting the biomass to alternating feast and famine conditions where under feast conditions more biodegradable organic substrate is available to the filamentous biomass than under famine conditions. In another process, wastewater is treated with an activated sludge.

Abstract: Biologically treated wastewater is directed as mixed liquor from a treatment tank to a downstream filtration tank having a having a submerged membrane module extending across the cross-sectional area of the filtration tank. Mixed liquor is directed from the bottom of the filtration tank upwardly into the membrane module such that substantially all of the mixed liquor received in the bottom of the filtration tank flows through the membrane module. A permeate stream is produced. A portion of a non-permeate stream is recirculated to the treatment tank. The filtration tank is sized such that there is no substantial recycle of mixed liquor in the filtration tank. Once the mixed liquor in the filtration tank makes one pass through the membrane module the mixed liquor is recycled to the treatment tank and generally not permitted to be recycled through the membrane module without first returning to the treatment tank.

Abstract: A system for controlling the sedimentation of sand or grit particles suspended in waste water contained in a grit chamber by determining the temperature of water contained in the grit chamber and by operating a turbulence creating means on the basis of the water temperature. A method of controlling the sedimentation of sand and grit particles suspended in waste water contained in a grit chamber, by determining the temperature of water contained in the grit chamber and by operating a turbulence creating means on the basis of the water temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating water laden with pollutants for the purpose of making the water drinkable, said method including: an elimination step consisting of contacting said water laden with pollutants, within a stirred contact tank (2), with an active particulate material (19) using a predetermined concentration of the active particulate material (19) in said water; an extraction step consisting of continuously extracting from said contact tank (2) a mixture consisting of water and of active particulate material (19); a separation step consisting of continuously separating said active particulate material (19) from said mixture. According to the invention, the separation step consists in particular of feeding the mixture of water and active particulate material into a filter drum (4).

Abstract: A method or process for treating wastewater containing high organics, silica, boron, hardness, and suspended and dissolved solids. The method includes degasifying the wastewater for the removal of dissolved gases and thereafter chemically softening the wastewater. After the chemical softening step, the wastewater is directed through a media filter or membrane which removes additional solids and precipitants. Thereafter the wastewater is directed through a sodium ion exchange that further softens the wastewater. The effluent from the ion exchange is directed through a cartridge filter and the effluent from the cartridge filter is directed through one or more reverse osmosis units. At a selected phase of the process, prior to the wastewater reaching the reverse osmosis unit or units, the pH of the wastewater is raised and maintained such that the pH of the wastewater reaching a reverse osmosis unit is at a pH greater than 10.5.

Abstract: Process for treating water to be treated by clarification comprising an adsorption of a portion of clarified water and a clarification of a mixture of adsorbed clarified water and water to be treated The invention pertains to a process for treating water to be treated comprising: a step for clarifying said water to be treated producing a clarified water; a step for placing a part of said clarified water in contact with a powdered adsorbent reagent producing a mixture of clarified water and powdered adsorbent reagent; a step for mixing said mixture with said water to be treated; a step for discharging the remainder of the clarified water.

Abstract: A method of biologically treating wastewater with an integrated fixed film activated sludge process. The integrated fixed film activated sludge process includes biomass suspended in mixed liquor and biomass disposed on carriers. Under certain conditions the dissolved oxygen concentration in a reactor that includes the mixed liquor, biomass suspended in the mixed liquor, and the biomass on the carriers, biological treatment is performed primarily by the biomass in the mixed liquor. This is achieved by controlling or maintaining the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reactor at a relatively low concentration. When the biomass suspended in the mixed liquor is unable to adequately biologically treat the mixed liquor, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reactor is controlled or maintained at a relatively high concentration. This enables biomass on the carriers to contribute more to the biological treatment of the mixed liquor than when the dissolved oxygen concentration was maintained relatively low.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for anaerobic treatment of wastewater in a biological reactor (100) involving at least one stabilised bacteria species including the following steps: measuring (150) a concentration, in an area linked to the reactor, of a reaction product inhibiting said at least one bacteria species; extracting (160) a fraction of the contents of the reactor when said concentration exceeds a predefined threshold; separating (300) said fraction into first and second sub-fractions, the first sub-fraction being depleted of said reaction product; and recirculating (310) the first sub-fraction in the reactor.

Abstract: An installation and a method for removing dissolved biodegradable compounds as a biological treatment step up-stream of an equipment to be protected from biofouling being part of a ground water, surface water or tertiary wastewater treatment line, wherein said upstream biological treatment step is carried out in at least one packed bed bioreactor comprising a vessel or a tank filled with packing elements, characterized in that: iv) said packing elements of said packed bed show a void fraction of at least 70% and the flow velocity of water through said packed bed bioreactor is at least 20 m/h, so that said packed bed does not have a removal efficiency of suspended solids in water, if any, of more than 30%; v) said packing elements of said packed bed show a specific surface area of at least 750 m2/m3; vi) said process does not require the use of any biocide or biostatic compound.

Abstract: A method of reducing a sulfate concentration in wastewater comprises directing the wastewater stream to a precipitation reactor and mixing the wastewater stream with a calcium source and a calcium salt seed material to precipitate calcium sulfate. The precipitated calcium sulfate is then separated from a treated effluent and directed to a settling tank where the precipitated calcium sulfate is separated into heavier calcium sulfate precipitants and lighter calcium sulfate precipitants. The heavier calcium sulfate precipitants and the lighter calcium sulfate precipitants are separately recirculated to the precipitation reactor. A predetermined mass ratio of solids is maintained in the precipitation reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating water in order to desalinate said water, including a step of reverse osmosis or distillation of said water in order to produce water that is at least partially desalinated and a first concentrate. According to the invention, said method includes: a first demineralisation step including a step of nanofiltering said first concentrate such as to produce a nanofiltrate and a second concentrate; a second step of demineralising said second concentrate by means of at least one active material including cationic and/or anionic ion-exchange resins, said second demineralisation step including the extraction of a third concentrate and the extraction of at least partially demineralised water, said at least partially demineralised water being mixed with said at least partially desalinated water; a step of regenerating said at least one active material, said regeneration step including a step of recirculating said nanofiltrate.

Abstract: A method of removing phosphonates from water includes directing the water into a first settling zone. The water is then directed to a membrane filtration zone and is filtered therein to produce a concentrate containing phosphonates. The concentrate containing phosphonates is then contacted with sludge such that at least some of the phosphonates in the concentrate are adsorbed onto the sludge. Flocculant is added to the sludge and the concentrate to form a floc-mixture which is directed to a second settling zone to form treated concentrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring at least one physico-chemical parameter of water, said device including a means for measuring the concentration of active chlorine in the form of hypochlorous acid HOC1 in said water. According to the invention, said means for measuring the chlorine concentration in the form of hypochlorous acid HOC1 includes first (21) and second (22) amperometric sensors for detecting chlorine in the form of hypochlorous acid HOC1, each outputting a signal, said two amperometric chlorine sensors (21, 22) having a single common reference electrode (25) and being connected to a double potentiostat, characterised in that said invention includes a means for simultaneously implementing said first (21) and second (22) amperometric sensors, and in that said invention includes a means for measuring a difference between the signals output by said two sensors (21, 22).

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 process for water treatment, including a combination of methods from the group comprising coagulation, sedimentation, flocculation and ballast flocculation, which is further improved by the addition of a simplified sludge recirculation system. The recirculation system corresponding to this process allows higher sludge density as well as less significant water volume losses by making the sludge accumulating at the bottom of the sedimentation zone go through a hydro cyclone a certain number of times in repeated cycles thus augmenting the solid particles density of the extracted sludge. The system may also be controlled by a suspended solid analyser, a flow meter and/or a timer. The present invention also includes a method of producing specific fluid flow control behavior with this simplified sludge recirculation system, which furthermore improves the efficiency of the process.

Abstract: The invention concerns a water treatment device comprising a reactor (1) and means for injecting (2) at least one reagent into said reactor, characterized in that it comprises means for supporting said injection means mobile relative to said reactor (1) between an active position whereby the injecting means (2) are arranged inside said reactor and a retracted position whereby the injecting means (2) are brought outside said reactor.