Abstract: In an intermittent aeration activated sludge process in which aeration and agitation is repeated alternately, a first aeration tank and a second aeration tank are connected to each other and an ORP meter is applied to each tank. In the first aeration tank, the sum of an aeration period and a denitrification period of an agitation step is controlled to a predetermined period T.sub.gs based on a time when a bending point appeared on an ORP curve in a previous cycle. In the second aeration tank, the sum of an aeration period and an agitation period is controlled to a predetermined period T.sub.ds longer than T.sub.gs based on a time when an ORP measured value reached a predetermined value in a previous cycle. Operations of the first and second aeration tanks are simultaneously transferred from the agitation to the aeration based on detection of the predetermined ORP value. As a result, a necessary anaerobic condition period is secured in the first aeration tank.

Abstract: A method for treatment and disposal of propellant wastewaters, soil washwaters or groundwaters having dissolved perchlorate salts is described, which comprises adding to the contaminated water in an anaerobic reactor a mixed bacterial culture containing a specific bacterium, HAP1, which uses perchlorate as its terminal electron acceptor and thus reduces the perchlorate ion to chloride in the water; maintaining the proper nutrient and environmental conditions for HAP1 to optimally reduce perchlorate in the water and discharging effluent wastewater from the anaerobic reactor to an aerobic reactor and maintaining proper nutrient and environmental conditions for the optimal conversion of soluble organics to carbon dioxide and sludge and reduction of BOD, COD, ammonia and odor in the effluent water.

Abstract: An in situ method of cleaning soil and/or water contaminated with a contaminant comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of metal compounds, sulfur compounds and cyanide compounds comprises breaking up contaminated soil, admixing soil with water and a biodegradable detergent in a proportion effective to obtain an aqueous slurry where the soil, any contaminant and the detergent interact to form contaminant-detergent formations, allowing the slurry to stand under conditions effective to permit any contaminant-detergent formations to rise in the aqueous slurry, separating the contaminant-detergent formations from the aqueous slurry now comprising partially decontaminated soil and water, separating the soil from the water, repeating the cleaning and separation steps until the soil has less contaminant than a predetermined value, typically a 80-90% decrease, admixing the soil having a lower contamination level with water and an activating agent for microorganisms capable of removing the

Abstract: A method of handling waste is disclosed. The invention includes providing a transport vehicle or the like having a material-receiving cavity and a waste-receiving bladder carried within a portion of the cavity. A flowable waste material is loaded into the bladder at a waste collection site and delivered to a treatment facility located remotely of the collection site. A portion of the material-receiving cavity of the transport vehicle is filled with a non-waste material and is transported to a drop-off site located remotely of the treatment facility. In one embodiment, the drop-off site is located relatively closely to the waste collection site. The bladder may also be collapsed into a generally flat shape for use as a tarpaulin for covering the non-waste material.

Abstract: Simply stated, the present invention employs a surfactant system for treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated soils and water that increases the interface between the hydrocarbon contaminant, microbial nutrients and microflora, and also stimulates the propagation of the microflora, thereby enhancing microbial degradation of the hydrocarbon contaminant.

Abstract: A process for the treatment, using anaerobic fermentation, of effluents, with a view to the removal of the organic matter and of the sulfates which they contain, carried out by means of a single reactor into which is introduced, within the biomass which it contains, a neutral gas intended to displace the H.sub.2 S formed, in which the reactor employed is a free-culture, infinitely mixed reactor.

Abstract: A process for treatment of caustic sulfide liquor by wet oxidation in a ferrous-based alloy system at temperatures less than about 175.degree. C. is described. The liquor is first analyzed for alkalinity consuming species and for nonsulfidic alkalinity. If excess alkalinity consuming species is present compared to nonsulfidic alkalinity, then additional nonsulfidic alkalinity is added to the raw liquor such that excess alkalinity is present during wet oxidation treatment, thus preventing excessive corrosion to the ferrous-base alloy system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing manure, fermented liquid manure being subjected to nitrification in a first step and to denitrification in a subsequent step, an aerated reactor which contains active sludge rich in nitrifying bacteria being used in the nitrification step and acid-neutralizing chemicals being added to said reactor if necessary and a continuously fed upflow sludge bed (USB) reactor which contains a very compact biomass which is capable of converting nitrate to nitrogen gas and to which an organic substrate is added being used in the denitrification step, the loading of the reactor being controlled to obtain an optimum nitrification and denitrification and this is obtained on the basis of one or more of the following data:the incoming nitrogen load;the information from the WAZU respiration meter;the pH in the nitrification reactor, the criterion for which is that the pH is in the range limited by 6 and 8.

Abstract: The use of plant suspension cultures to remove ionic metallic species and TNT-based explosives and their oxidation products from aqueous solution is described. Several plant strains were investigated including D. innoxia, Citrus citrus, and Black Mexican Sweet Corn. All showed significant ability to remove metal ions. Ions removed to sub-ppm levels include barium, iron, and plutonium. D. innoxia cells growing in media containing weapons effluent contaminated with Ba.sup.2+ also remove TNT, other explosives and oxidation products thereof from solution. The use of dead, dehydrated cells was also found to be of use in treating waste directly.

Abstract: This invention is a filtration structure characterized by radial fluid flow through the wall of a cylindrical configuration that is established by a stack of serrated annular wafers which are constrained for slight axial movement with respect to each other, for the establishment of two conditions. In one condition, the wafers are axially compressed into snug contact under spring bias to establish a labyrinth of radial passages for fluid flow at a selected pressure. In the other condition, the axial compression of the disks is relieved and the disks are slightly separated by back flushing under an elevated pressure in such a way that cleansing is freely effected by reverse fluid flow.

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 continuous process by which waste water containing low to high concentrations of organic constituents and total nitrogen is biologically purified to such an extent that the organic constituents are minimized, the content of total nitrogen is completely nitrified, if it exceeds the assimilation demand, and the nitrate formed is reduced by aerating the waste water or exposing it to oxygen while not exceeding a preselected redox potential. In the subject process, the expenditure on the oxygen introduction and the expenditure on the denitrification are minimized. Further, the amount of excess sludge produced is extremely small.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for treating wastewater containing undesirable pollutants which comprises a housing having a bottom and defining an internal chamber. The internal chamber is provided with a first and second baffle member which cooperate to define a mixing zone and a separation zone. Wastewater (containing a sufficient amount of air so that the air present in the wastewater exceeds the solubility of air in the wastewater) is introduced into the mixing zone of the internal chamber, and an aerated water is sprayed into the wastewater to produce a quantity of air bubbles sufficient to promote the flotation of pollutants having a density approximately equal to that of the wastewater to form a froth. Pollutants having a density substantially greater than the density of water settled to the bottom portion of the housing. An effluent reservoir assembly (which forms a reservoir zone) is spatially disposed from the second baffle member so that a quiescent zone is formed therebetween.

Abstract: A method of removing nitrogen from an aqueous solution by simultaneous microbial nitrification and dentrification comprising treating the aqueous solution in one or more fixed bed reactors containing a porous carrier material having nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms fixed thereto, and using an ammonium selective ion exchanger as carrier material.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention comprise an elongated auger housing having a rotatable auger therein. Augers are provided for delivering sludge and an additive such as cement kiln dust to the intake end of the mixer housing. An auger within the mixer housing conveys the material to the discharge end of the housing, and at the same time mixes the materials together.

Abstract: A method and device for complete treatment of septic tank effluent or other contaminated water by contriving for it to flow in an ultra-thin film over a surface treatment medium such as fabric or sand. It provides diffusive aeration, biological reaction and physical filtration on a molecular scale.The device transfers contaminated water, or other liquid, from a container to a final collector completely purifying the liquid in the process. The purified effluent can then be reused for household, industrial, irrigation or other uses, or disposed of as normal surface run-off in streams or lakes.To increase efficiency, said container encloses a progressively more finely pored media precisely situated with effluent seeping gradually through progressively finer pores to provide uniquely effective pretreatment.

Abstract: This invention provides a process meeting the EPA's PFRP standard for WWTS treatment thereby producing a readily usable end-product in either soil-like form or semi-impermeable low load bearing, mass form. The process includes mixing WWTS with lime and fly ash, to cause a temperature increase to above 70.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes and to cause the pH to exceed 12 for at least 2 hours. The end-product may be compacted to produce an semi-impermeable, durable mass or the soil-like product may be used as landfill cover material.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention comprise an elongated auger housing having a rotatable auger therein. Augers are provided for delivering sludge and an additive such as cement kiln dust to the intake end of the mixer housing. An auger within the mixer housing conveys the material to the discharge end of the housing, and at the same time mixes the materials together.

Abstract: A plant containing filter bed contains a bottom gravel bed below a soil matrix. The bottom gravel bed extends along part of a length of the filter bed from an inlet and is hydraulically connected thereto. Preferably the bottom gravel bed extends at a downwardly directed inclination relative to a bottom of the filter bed at a downward inclination in the throughflow direction in the range of 1% to 5%. Due to the length of the bottom gravel bed, the hydraulic gradient and thereby the throughflow through the soil matrix is internally set, i.e. within the soil matrix in adaptation to an infiltration cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A curable composition, useful for impregnating porosity of porous articles, comprising acrylate monomer, heat- and/or anaerobic-cure initiator, and non-peroxy, actinic radiation photoinitiator. A method of treating waste water produced by aqueous washing of a porous article to remove excess impregnant therefrom, wherein the impregnant comprises acrylate monomer and actinic radiation photoinitiator, includes the steps of exposing the waste water to actinic radiation polymerizingly effective for the monomer, and recovering the resulting polymer from the waster water to yield a polymer-depleted effluent which may be discharged to receiving waters.