Abstract: A method for treating a wastewater comprising phosphates and other nutrients and organic solids comprises feeding the wastewater into an acid gas digester where digestible carbohydrates in the wastewater undergo acidogenesis and acetogenesis forming volatile fatty acids and a suspended solids content to produce an organic acid digest. The acid gas digester effluent is fed into a plurality of harvesting anaerobic digesters connected in series downstream from the acid gas digester. A portion of the solubilized phosphates are precipitated from the wastewater in a first harvesting digester to produce a harvesting digester effluent from the first harvesting digester in the series having a reduced solubilized phosphate content. The harvesting digester effluent is fed into an anaerobic methane digester downstream of the last harvesting digester in the series. Organic solids in the harvesting digester effluent are converted into methane and a digested anaerobic sludge.

Abstract: Enhanced wastewater treatment utilizing directed energy to promote degradation of sludge is disclosed. The directed energy is delivered in a stream circulating to and from an anaerobic digester. The directed energy incorporates mechanical shear energy, ultrasonic energy, and/or hydraulic shear energy. Characterization of odor potential is further disclosed involving the analyzing volatilized sulfur-containing species from dewatered sludge. The odor potential can be used to control operation of the wastewater treatment by controlling the directed energy and/or polymer dose.