Abstract: Solid waste such as sewage sludge containing fecal matter is processed to reduce pathogens by at least 90% and converted to a useful product such as an amendment to agricultural land by combining the waste with an acid such as concentrated sulfuric and a base such as fly ash which exothermically react and thermally pasteurize the waste and add mineral value to the product. Pozzolanic materials, such as fly ash agglomerate the product and after grinding, the particles can aerate soil. The calcium oxide in fly ash reacts with sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate dihydrate, a soil amendment. The amount of sulfuric acid can be controlled to provide a product with acid pH which is useful to neutralize alkaline soils such as those found in the Western United States of America.

Abstract: A floating nitrification reactor for use in a treatment pond utilizes a mass of high surface area material which provides sites for bacterial treatment. Floatation devices are attached to the mass of high surface area material in order to float the material at neutral buoyancy while an isolator surrounds the material and isolates the material from the rest of the treatment pond. An aerator, located a distance below the mass of high surface area material, forces air and water through the material at a sufficient speed to allow treatment.

Abstract: The treatment of water to remove gas vacuolate cyanobacteria is effected by subjecting the water to a predetermined pressure by being pumped down a centrally located pipe in a bore-hole, which is steel lined. This causes the gas vesicles in the cyanobacteria to collapse. The treated water is then stored in a settling tank where the cyanobacteria sink to the bottom and can be removed along with any other sediment in the water. The method can be applied to decrease the amount of cyanobacteria with gas vesicles in a lake or other water impoundment. (FIG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an anaerobic process to reduce caustic requirements and to facilitate dissolution of organic acid having limited solubility by combining effluent from an anaerobic reactor having dissolved carbon dioxide with fresh feed containing the organic acid and stripping the carbon dioxide from the mixture to raise the pH.

Abstract: A method of treating chemical liquid effluent to render it more environmentally acceptable, comprising the addition of hydrogen peroxide, or a compound capable of liberating hydrogen peroxide, to the effluent to react with and break down a sequestering agent. The reaction rate may be enhanced by the addition of a small amount of a compound including a transition metal ion, especially the nitrate or sulphate of iron or manganese.

Abstract: A process for inactivating the biological activity of DNA, especially recombinant DNA, is disclosed. The process includes the step of heating the DNA at 60.degree. to 100.degree. C. in the presence of an acid other than percarboxylic acid at a concentration of at least 0.2 mM and a pH value of maximum 4, preferably 3.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for remediating vaporous pollutants which comprises passing a vaporous stream containing one or more of pollutants through a bioreactor, the bioreactor comprising a plurality of biologically active bodies, the biologically active body comprising a macroporous substrate and one or more of microorganisms capable of remediating one or more of said pollutants, wherein the substrate is fabricated from a decomposition-resistant material. The present invention further provides an apparatus for this process.

Abstract: A process for removing proteinaceous materials, fats and oils from food processing wastewater using a coagulant such as lignin or a halogen ion containing compound together with a flocculant such as a natural polymer such as a polysaccharide or synthetic polymer is described. The combination of lignin or halogen and polymer is effective for coagulating and flocculating proteinaceous materials, fats and oils in food processing wastewater at low pH.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium compounds having the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein X is chloride, bromide, iodide or alkyl carboxylate having a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl radical, and R is n-nonyl or isononyl. The disclosed compounds were found to be non-toxic, low foaming, effective biocides in treatment methods for controlling bacteria, algae and molluscs in aqueous systems.

Abstract: A method of creating an environment which promotes dehalogenation and/or degradation of halogenated organic chemical contaminants in water, sediment, or soil by adding a combination of fibrous organic matter and certain multi-valent metal particles to the water, sediment or soil.

Abstract: A composition for and methods of removing biofilm and controlling its development in industrial water systems. The water in such systems is treated with a combination of at least two biologically produced enzymes and a surface active agent, preferably an anionic surfactant.

Abstract: A system for the reduction and separation of highly emulsified and/or immiscible components mixed in a fluid, particularly useful for treating waste water contaminated with oils and oily emulsions, as from depleted oil wells, vehicle washing stations, and meat rendering plants. The system is operative for reducing the amount of organic and inorganic contaminants, and is particularly suitable for reducing the amount of oil, with oil-consuming microorganisms, and separating oil that is not consumed within the system from the water so that the oil may be recycled and the water discharged into wetlands or sanitary sewers without further treatment. The system comprises a multi-stage, recirculating series of treatment tanks. In a first stage, the fluid is recirculated through a treatment loop where the fluid is aerated and then passed through a coalescer.

Abstract: A liquid treatment apparatus for removing potentially combustible substances from water includes a biological fluid bed reactor that is supplied by a first conduit with contaminated water and that treats this water, under aerobic conditions, before discharging it as treated effluent containing a significantly reduced concentration of contaminants. The liquid treatment apparatus also includes a gas dissolution apparatus for providing dissolved oxygen to the contaminated water flowing through the first conduit to sustain biological action in the reactor. The gas dissolution apparatus includes an oxygenator including a pressurized bubble contactor disposed in a recycle conduit connected between the outlet of the reactor and the first conduit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for anaerobically digesting sludge by filling an anaerobic sludge digestion vessel having a top and bottom and a substantially vertical draft tube with an upper end spaced downward of the vessel top and a lower end spaced upward of the vessel bottom, with liquid sludge to a level substantially above the draft tube upper end; feeding a pressurized stream of liquid sludge to the inlet side of an upwardly directed jet nozzle operatively positioned and in communication with a substantially vertical venturi tube having a lower inlet and forming part of the draft tube lower end to a lower pressure thereby creating suction at the venturi tube inlet and producing a pumping action which causes a stream of liquid sludge in the vessel bottom space to flow into and upwardly in and out of the draft tube upper end and to thoroughly admix and disperse with the pressurized sludge stream supplied to the jet nozzle and also causing downward circulating flow of liquid sludge in the vessel.

Abstract: A floating aquatic plant water treatment system (31) utilizes a serpentine channel (36) defined by dividing walls (34). Floating plants (72) are distributed across the water surface by a floating grid structure (32). The grid structure (32) is preassembled into Z-fold bundles (88) which are towed onto the water and unfolded. The treatment system uses sprayers (62) to control growth conditions. Porous baffles (46) are placed along portions of the channel (36) to provide intimate contact with a larger portion of the water while allowing free flow.

Abstract: Waste water containing biodegradable matter is fed to a rotating biological contactor (RBC) (15) from an inlet tank (10) and is discharged from the RBC-containing chamber into a humus tank (21). The RBC is divided into separated upstream (15A) and downstream (15B) sections, the chamber (17) containing the downstream section being fed with water to be processed at a controlled rate from the chamber (16) containing the upstream section. A balancing chamber, for isolating the downstream section of the RBC from variations in flow of waste water to the inlet tank (10), includes the upstream section (15A, 16) of the RBC which can act sacrificially in respect of toxic incursions in the waste water.

Abstract: A process for removing color from a pulp and paper wastewater which comprises the following steps: (A) treating the wastewater with an enzyme which is capable of oxidizing at least a portion of the color forming components of the wastewater; and (B) treating the wastewater subsequent to the enzyme treatment of step (A) with a tannin-degrading microorganism capable of degrading at least a portion of the oxidized color forming components.

Abstract: Waste water is disposed in a flocculation mixing tank 1, an anaerobic tank 2 and an aerobic tank 3 connected in series. First, a dephosphorization flocculating agent and, if necessary, a polymeric flocculating agent are added to waste water in order to produce and grow phosphorus-containing flocs therein. Then, to the water is added a recycling solution from an aerobic tank 3, said solution containing nitrates and nitrites. The mixture water is charged in an anaerobic tank 2 until microbially decomposable components (herein referred to BOD components), nitrates and nitrites are anaerobically and microbially decomposed and gas is produced. In the aerobic tank 3 is charged a supernatant solution from the anaerobic tank 2, said solution containing ammonium compound and BOD components, to nitrates, nitrites and CO.sub.2. At least a part of supernatant solution containing the nitrates and nitrites is recycled to the anaerobic tank 2. Solids discharged from the anaerobic tank 2 and the aerobic tank 3 are wasted.

Abstract: In a process for removing organic impurities and heavy metals from industrial, commercial or communal waste water, loaded drinking water, refuse dump drainage water or aqueous special wastes, the wet pyrolysis residues produced during the extraction of usable gas in the pyrolytic processing of refuse are introduced into one or more aerated filter basins (17) or filtration reactors (26) connected in parallel or in series. The waste water, loaded drinking water, refuse dump drainage water or liquid special wastes to be filtered or purified are pumped through the pyrolysis residue until its capacity for physical adsorption is exhausted.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for treating water in heat exchange systems. The present invention automatically and inexpensively provides an effective chemical to process water systems at times and in proportion to the need for water treatment in such systems. When used in evaporative cooling systems, the present invention adds the treatment chemical to the system via the make-up water. The make-up water acquires a substantially constant concentration of treatment chemical as it is passed through a device containing a treatment chemical. The constant concentration of chemical is achieved by dividing the make-up flow into two streams within the device, saturating the smaller of the two streams with chemical, and re-mixing the two streams. The biocide agent used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is prilled elemental iodine.