Abstract: An adsorbent suitable for heavy metal adsorption is described, comprising a thiol functionalized support wherein the adsorbent has a BET surface area in the range 200-500 m2/g, a pore diameter in the range 70-150 Angstroms and a pore volume ?0.25 cm3/g. The adsorbent may be used to remove heavy metals e.g. mercury and/or arsenic, from wastewater streams such as produced water or flue gas scrubber waters.

Abstract: A method of preparing zirconia-containing nanoparticles and a method of preparing a composite material that includes the zirconia-containing nanoparticles are provided. A method of treating a zirconium carboxylate salt solution to remove alkali metal ions and alkaline earth ions is provided. The treated solution can be used as a feedstock to prepare the zirconia-containing nanoparticles. Additionally, a continuous hydrothermal reactor system is provided that can be used, for example, to prepare the zirconia-containing nanoparticles.

Abstract: A portable self-contained water treatment system. A raw water tank is provided which can be filled by a pump or by manually pouring dirty water into it. The raw water tank can also act as a chemical pre-treatment tank such that one or more pre-treatment chemicals can be added to the water contained therein.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for removing a target oil from an aqueous fluid stream using a capture medium. In embodiments, the capture medium can comprise an anchor substrate and a modifier technology supported on the anchor substrate, where the modifier technology complexes with the oil to form a removable complex.

Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for reclaiming water contaminated with the expected range of contaminants typically associated with produced water, including water contaminated with slick water, methanol and boron. The system includes anaerobically digesting the contaminated water, followed by aerating the water to enhance biological digestion. After aeration, the water is separated using a flotation operation that effectively removes the spent friction reducing agents and allows the treated water to be reclaimed and reused as fracturing water, even though it retains levels of contaminants, including boron and methanol, that would prevent its discharge to the environment under existing standards. The treated water may further be treated by removing the methanol via biological digestion in a bioreactor, separating a majority of the contaminants from the water by reverse osmosis and removing the boron that passes through the reverse osmosis system with a boron-removing ion exchange resin.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a wastewater treatment system may reduce contaminants in water. A system may include one or more bioreactors which include a substrate that supports a biofilm. The bacteria used to form the biofilm may be selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. Various components of the wastewater treatment system may be optimized to improve the efficiency and energy consumption of the wastewater system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of conditioning mixed liquor in membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems comprising adding an effective amount of a treatment composition comprising a water soluble cationic quaternary ammonium starch or a water soluble quaternary ammonium starch/gum blend to the mixed liquor. Also disclosed is a method of improving flux in an MBR system comprising adding the treatment composition to the mixed liquor of the MBR.

Abstract: Raw water is made to pass through a raw water supply pipe by opening on-off valves, and by closing on-off valves. Oxygen is supplied to the raw water in the raw water supply pipe by opening an on-off valve of an oxygen supply pipe. The resulting raw water containing organic matter and oxygen passes through the raw water supply pipe and enters a catalyst-packed column, thereby contacting a platinum-group metal catalyst onto which hydrogen is adsorbed. This causes the organic matter in the raw water to contact the platinum-group metal catalyst under the presence of dissolved oxygen and hydrogen which is adsorbed onto the metal catalyst. Accordingly, the organic matter in the water to be treated can be easily removed at high efficiency and with low energy consumption.

Abstract: Sorption media for removal of contaminants from fluid streams are provided. The sorption media comprise an active compound bound or linked to a support substrate or matrix. Support substrates can include iron- and alumina-based materials. A method for making sorption media for the removal of contaminants from fluid streams is also described. The method includes selecting a support substrate, and, optionally, providing a doping mixture comprising an active compound. The selected support substrate can be contacted with the doping mixture to form a doped mixture. The doped mixture can be reacted at a predetermined temperature and atmospheric environment for a predetermined duration to form an active media, wherein the active compound is bound or linked to the support substrate.

Abstract: A continuously flowing, inner circulatory, quasi-fluidized-bed reactor for resin ion exchange and adsorption. The reactor comprises a main body casing, an inclined pipe separator, an outlet weir, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a reducing fluidization tank, a guide plate, a resin regeneration tank, a resin discharge pipe, and a return pipe for regenerated resin and a distributing ejector. The reactor is particularly suitable for advanced treatment of supply water, wastewater, biochemical effluent and reclaimed water by using (magnetic) powder resin.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a twin tank water treatment system and method. The water treatment system includes first tank with a first set of sensors and a first resin bed, a second tank with a second set of sensors and a second resin bed, and a valve assembly with a flow meter and a controller in communication with the first set of sensors, the second set of sensors, and the flow meter. The method includes determining when the resin beds are exhausted based on input from the flow meter, the sensors, and a water hardness setting.

Abstract: The installation comprises three reaction vessels (100, 200, 300) in series, each containing an aqueous phase and a specific bacterial population. The vessels serve in succession to dissolve the liquid feedstock for treatment by enzymatic hydrolysis, then to biodegrade the resulting effluent by biological digestion, and finally to reduce the residual bacterial components by biological action. The vessels are mutually isolated by tangential filters (108, 208, 308) and by centrifugal separators (212, 312) for filtering the biomass from the reaction products. The result is a final liquid effluent (EFF/N) that is essentially non-organic, with the filtered biomass downstream constituting an ultimate organic waste (DU) of reduced volume.

Abstract: The invention, belongs to the field of wastewater treatment technology, is a two-phase anaerobic reactor enhanced by addition of zero valent iron (ZVI). In the reactor, 2˜4 ZVI-filling layers are settled in the middle of the anaerobic hydrolysis-acidification tank, the effluent of which is fed into the rear anaerobic methanogenic tank. The degradation of organics is effectively enhanced in the anaerobic hydrolysis-acidification tank with dosing of ZVI, which may produce more acetic acid that is a desired substrate for the subsequent methanogenesis. Meanwhile, the acidic environment of the hydrolysis-acidification tank is helpful for the dissolution of ZVI to maintain its activity. The reactor is reasonably designed with high performance and strong shock resistance in anaerobic treatment of various wastewaters. Tests in lab-scale showed that hydrolysis-acidification and methanogenesis in this combined system were significantly improved compared with a reference reactor without addition of ZVI.

Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm apparatus has a plurality of hollow fiber gas permeable membranes in a tank containing water to be treated. A biofilm supported on the membranes occupies between about 40% and 80% of the volume of water to be treated in a reactor. Wastewater treatment processes are described. A process to denitrify water or treat oxidized contaminants comprises introducing hydrogen into an inner volume of the membranes to grow autotrophic organisms in the biofilm near the membrane and heterotrophic organism near the water. Another process is operated as a biomass concentration of at least 10 g/L and up to about 40 g/L to maintain a biofilm having a surface area of over 1000 square meters per cubic meter of tank volume. A hybrid process has suspended biomass and a membrane supported biofilm.

Abstract: An anoxic packed-bed biological and chemical system for removing nitrates/perchlorate from water includes a vessel having a distribution plate that partitions the vessel into a lower influent-receiving chamber and an upper biological and chemical denitrification chamber. A granular media is supported by the distribution plate to provide a packed bed that has sites for biological growth. A recycle system recycles partially treated water into the closed lower end of the vessel for upflow through the distribution plate.

Abstract: An adsorbent suitable for heavy metal absorption is described, comprising a thiol-functionalised support containing a stabilising amount of an alkaline metal reacted with said thiol functionality. The adsorbent may be used to remove heavy metals e.g. mercury and/or arsenic, from wastewater streams such as produced water or flue gas scrubber waters.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovery of phosphorus from wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus complexes.

Abstract: The described implementations relate to water denitrification. One method obtains nitrate levels in influent and effluent of a moving bed media filter and determines carbon levels in the effluent. The method also doses carbon feedstock into the influent based on both the nitrate levels and the carbon levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium recovery device comprising a separator reservoir and manganese oxide, a lithium recovery method using the same, and a lithium adsorption/desorption system. The separator reservoir includes a vacant space therein and an outer wall made of a polymer or a membrane of other useful materials. The manganese oxide is contained, as an adsorbent, in the vacant space inside the separator reservoir. The lithium adsorption/desorption system enables lithium recovery through adsorption and desorption of lithium dissolved in seawater using a lithium adsorbent prepared with the manganese oxide in one system, wherein the manganese oxide can be used as a lithium adsorbent with high lithium selectivity. The invention uses a separator reservoir including an outer wall made of a porous polymer or a membrane of other useful materials.

Abstract: An upflow reactor is provided that includes a reactor tank, conduits, a waste water distributor, at least one first flotation separator and an optional second flotation separator for separating reactor water, biomass, and biogas, a collection device, and a gas separator for separating biomass and biogas. The first flotation separator includes one or more gas domes that are connected to the collection device and have outlets, the cross-sectional area or geometry of which can be controlled using movable covers.