Abstract: Method for treating water from the oil and gas industries, especially production water from oil and/or gas fields, with a view to its re-utilization, comprising a step for filtering said water on reverse osmosis membranes comprising a step of adsorption of the organic matter contained in said water, said step of adsorption being planned upstream to said step of filtration and being implemented on at least one adsorbent resin chosen from the group constituted by the non-ionic cross-linked resins and the microporous carbon resins, and corresponding installation.

Abstract: A method for removing sulfate from a wastewater stream includes mixing gibbsite and a calcium source to precipitate Ettringite from the wastewater stream and produce an effluent with a reduced sulfate concentration. The gibbsite in the precipitated Ettringite is regenerated by mixing an acid with the Ettringite and precipitating gibbsite particles, after which the gibbsite particles are subjected to a crystallization process to increase the size of the gibbsite particles which are recycled back to the main stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating industrial water containing organic matter, said method comprising: a step of physical separation producing wastes and an effluent; a step of adsorption of at least one part of said organic matter present in said effluent on at least one adsorbent resin chosen from the group comprising the non-ionic cross-linked resins and the microporous carbon resins; a step of reverse osmosis filtration downstream from said adsorption step.

Abstract: A method of treating water to reduce pollutants comprises mixing an adsorbent reagent with the water to form a water-adsorbant reagent mixture. Thereafter, subjecting the mixture to a liquid-solids separation process that produces treated water and sludge. The method further includes contacting the water or treated water with a living aquatic organism wherein the value of at least one property of the organism is correlated to the concentration of pollutants in the water. This value is evaluated and the method entails adjusting the quantity of adsorbent reagent mixed with the water as a function of the value of the property.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for continuous treatment of water. According to the invention, such a method comprises a step of biological treatment of water followed by a step of filtration, characterized in that it comprises a step of enzymatic treatment planned between said step of biological treatment and said step of filtration, said step of enzymatic treatment being carried out by enzymes fixed on at least one three-dimensional support, said enzymes being capable of degrading at least a part of the organic matter contained in the water coming from said step of biological treatment.

Abstract: An industrial scale batch or semi-continuous batch PHA extraction process wherein the process operating conditions and control may be quantitatively tuned to batch-to-batch variations based on a practical bench scale assessment but more preferably by means of a calibrated chemometric assessment of the biomass quality. Tuning involves the selection of biomass loading conditions that are commensurate with process solvent and PHA type. Batch operating times and temperatures are matched to modelled and monitored extraction kinetics. PHA-rich solvent gelation is exploited by controlling PHA-rich solvent gel formation. In combination a process Is disclosed that permits for robust and consistent recovered product quality control while at the same time enabling to improve overall process economics.

Abstract: A method of biologically treating wastewater and, at the same time, incorporating processes that aim to increase the PHA accumulation potential of biomass used in the treatment of the wastewater. The method includes biologically treating the wastewater and enhancing PHA accumulation potential of the biomass by subjecting the biomass to a primary feast-famine process where the biomass is subjected to repeated cycles of feast and primary famine conditions. From time-to-time, the method entails deviating from the primary feast-famine process to a secondary famine process. The secondary famine process comprises subjecting the biomass to secondary famine conditions for a period of time that is substantially greater than the average time period of the primary famine conditions.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for producing a PHA-rich-biomass from open mixed cultures. Mixed liquor containing biomass is directed into a fed-batch reactor. The reactor includes at least one biomass stimulating zone and at least one biomass maintenance zone. A feed containing RBCOD, bioavailable N, and bioavailable P is directed into the fed-batch reactor. The respiration rate of at least a portion of the biomass is intermittently and repeatedly stimulated in the stimulating zone by directing the feed into the fed-batch reactor and exposing the biomass to a relatively high concentration of RBCOD. The biomass is then transferred to the maintenance zone, where the biomass is exposed to a relatively low concentration of RBCOD. Thereafter, the biomass is circulated back and forth between the stimulating zone and the maintenance zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for measuring the pH of an effluent, said device comprising means for measuring an item of information representative of the pH of said effluent intended to be brought into contact with said effluent. According to the invention, such a device further comprises means for modifying the pH value of said effluent close to said means for measuring.

Abstract: An installation and a method for removing dissolved biodegradable compounds as a biological treatment step upstream 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: Method for simultaneous selection and maintenance of a selected microbial consortium for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production in only one step, said microbial consortium being fed with at least one readily biodegradable carbon substrate, comprising a first step of aerobic cultivation of said microbial consortium in a mixed biological reactor. According to the invention, the specific cell growth rate ?l of said microbial consortium is fixed at a target value, in said first step of aerobic cultivation and in that said first step of aerobic cultivation is performed under nutrient limitation such as the readily biodegradable carbon substrate uptake rate qS1 unbalanced with said fixed specific cell growth rate ?1.

Abstract: An integrated fixed film activated sludge sequencing batch reactor is provided where both suspended biomass and biomass supported on biofilm carriers are utilized to biologically treat wastewater received by the sequencing batch reactor. The sequencing batch reactor includes two hydraulically connected tanks with suspended biomass being contained in at least one tank and biomass supported on biofilm carriers in the other tank.

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: The invention relates to a method for treating water laden with nitrogen in the form of ammonium by means of nitritation-denitritation, wherein said method includes at least: a first step (i) of supplying at least one sequential biological reactor (10) with said water; an aerated nitration step (ii); an anoxia denitritation step (iii); and a step (iv) of extracting treated water from said reactor. According to the invention, the method also includes the in-line measurement of the nitrite concentration of said water in said reactor, and at least one monitoring step of at least one step of the method, said monitoring step taking into account the results from said in-line measurement of the nitrite concentration.

Abstract: A method of enhancing mechanical properties of compounds formed with polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) recovered by biomass where the biomass comprises PHA and non-PHA materials. The method includes dissolving the PHA and non-PHA materials in a solution and separating the PHA and non-PHA materials from the solution. Further, the method includes compounding the separated PHA material and at least some of the separated non-PHA material into a compounded plastic having improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: The instant application describes methods of treating wastewater containing pathogenic microorganisms to reduce the concentration of those pathogenic microorganisms. The methods include measuring parameters or qualities of the wastewater, and using those parameters or qualities to determine the wastewater's ozone demand. The wastewater is dosed with ozone, with the dosage being less than the ozone demand. The ozone and wastewater are mixed with a static mixer, and the wastewater is oxidized by the ozone. Thereafter, the wastewater is disinfected via ultraviolet radiation treatment. The instant application further relates to a wastewater treatment system. The system includes an ozone reactor with a static mixer, an ozone supply device, at least one sensor, and an ultraviolet radiation disinfection unit. The ultraviolet radiation disinfection unit is located downstream from the ozone reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a biogas by anaerobic digestion of organic material, the apparatus comprising: a digester chamber defining: a gas generating zone and a gas collecting zone. A biogas outlet is defined in the gas collecting zone, and one or more nozzles is/are arranged to spray a gas cooling liquid into the gas accommodated in the gas collecting zone so as to cool the gas. A collecting member is arranged in the gas collecting zone to collect the gas cooling liquid when sprayed from the one or more nozzles towards the collecting member so as to prevent the gas cooling liquid from entering the organic material. The collecting member is arranged to cause the collected gas cooling liquid to flow into a liquid based safety valve.

Abstract: A method and system for treating water in order to desalinate the water where the system and method includes a reverse osmosis or distillation unit for producing a first concentrate and at least partially desalinated water. The first concentrate stream is directed to a first demineralization unit which utilizes nanofiltration membranes to treat the first concentrate stream so as to produce a permeate and a second concentrate stream. The second concentrate stream is directed to a second demineralization unit that includes an ion exchange device which in turn treats the second concentrate stream by producing a stream of at least partially demineralized water and third concentrate stream. The stream of at least partially demineralized water is mixed with the stream of at least partially desalinated water produced by the reverse osmosis or distillation unit.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for treating water in order to make it drinkable or desalinated, said method comprising at least one cycle for treating said water comprising: a step of coagulation and/or flocculation; a step of flotation, within a flotation reactor (29), of the water coming from said step of coagulation, followed or not followed by a step of flocculation; a step of gravity filtration, within a gravity filter (33), of the water coming from said step of flotation, said flotation reactor (29) being at least partly superimposed on said gravity filter (33), and at least one cycle for washing said gravity filter comprising a step for backwashing said gravity filter, characterized in that said step of gravity filtration is carried out at a speed of 10 m/h to 30 m/h, said gravity filter having a bed of filtering material (330) distributed on a height of 1.5 m to 3.0 m.

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.