Abstract: The present invention relates to microbial carriers for wastewater treatment, and in particular, relates to an organic composite powder carrier and its application for strengthening biological denitrification in municipal wastewater treatment. The organic composite powder carrier is compounded by a microbial carrier with a relatively large equivalent particle size and an organic alternative carbon source in the form of ultrafine powder. The composite powder carrier in the present invention includes a dedicated organic alternative carbon source, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The organic alternative carbon source can exclude the competitive relationship between microorganisms to ensure that denitrifying bacteria exclusively obtain electron donors required for denitrification.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, processes, and apparatuses for treating radioactive waste, through systems designed to bind and dry radioactive media. In some of its various embodiments, the system includes at least one helical screw designed to receive and mix liquid wastes with ion exchange media, as well as convey the resulting slurry through one or more of a binding, dewatering, and drying/off-gassing region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to axial flow chromatography columns, methods for separating one or more analytes in a liquid by the use of such columns, and systems employing such columns. The column comprises a first port and a second port the first port and said second port being at essentially the same level or elevation above the level of the bed space on the chromatography column.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of wastewater is disclosed, which comprises (a) contacting the wastewater with fast settling sludge from step (c) in an anaerobic zone, obtaining a mixture of wastewater and sludge; (b) subjecting the mixture from step (a) and slow settling sludge from step (c) to an aerobic zone, obtaining a water and sludge mixture; (c) subjecting a first part of the mixture from step (b) to a sludge selection step, wherein sludge is selected based on settling velocity and a first portion containing slow settling sludge and a second portion containing fast settling sludge are collected, wherein average settling velocity of the fast settling sludge is greater than that of the slow settling sludge, and wherein the first portion is returned to step (b) and the second portion is returned to step (a); and (d) separating sludge from a second part of the mixture from step (b).

Abstract: A method and a plant for the treatment of water or wastewater having impurities by filtration of the water through two granular media filter stages of the moving bed type operated in series. The method includes the steps of feeding the water/wastewater as a first influent to first stage granular media filters; filtration of the first influent in the first stage granular media filters to produce a first effluent; feeding the first effluent as a second influent to second stage granular media filters; and filtration of the second influent in the second stage granular media filters to produce a second effluent. The second stage granular media filters are operated with intermittent washing of the granular filter media.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for purification of a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a vessel (1) for receiving, in operation, a filter bed (2) with granular filter material; a transport system (8) configured to, during operation, transport filter material from a cavity (5) underneath the filter bed (2) to a location (17) above the filter bed; a fluid inlet (14) for introducing fluid to be purified into the apparatus; a mixing section (3) adapted to, in operation, provide a mixture of fluid from the fluid inlet and granular filter material from the filter bed in a part of the vessel beneath the mixing section; and a plurality of gas lift injectors (4), wherein each gas lift injector (4) is configured to, in operation, transport the mixture of fluid from the fluid inlet (14) and granular filter material from the filter bed (2) to the cavity (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a clearing apparatus (I), especially for clearing and/or maintaining of filter basins (7), consisting of at least one carrier (1), at least one undercarriage (2), at least one removal device (3), at least one driving device (4) and at least one pushing or guiding device (10), wherein the removal device (3) is situated in the front and/or before the undercarriage (2) and/or in front of an axle (21) of the undercarriage (2) in the travel and/or removal direction (a), the pushing or guiding device (10) is provided at the rear in the travel and/or removal direction (a), and wherein the removal device (3) comprises a platform (32) on which a drivable or driven removal means is circulating, such as a drivable or driven flexible circulating chain (31) and/or a flexible circulating belt (31), in order to remove material from a bottom (71) of the filter basin (7), transport it away and/or dispose of it.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for enhancing or promoting germination of bacterial spores, and yeasts are disclosed herein. The composition of the present invention comprises an extract obtained from banana or any member belonging to the genus Musa that may be used alone or in a growth medium to promote and enhance germination of bacterial spores, growth of bacterial, yeast, and fungal cell cultures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for carrying out an ion exchange process which involves providing two interacting sets of banks of continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR's) each containing a bed of ion exchange resin and causing the resin to move in one direction through each bank of reactors and the feed solution and/or or eluant in the opposite direction. In carrying out the process, a feed solution is introduced in a first reactor causing dissolved ions to be captured on the resin, eluant is introduced into a reactor upstream of the first reactor in the direction of resin movement causing ions captured on the resin to be removed into the eluant and eluant rich in ions removed from the resin will be taken from a reactor upstream of the reactor in which the eluant was introduced, for further processing.

Abstract: A separation vessel for separating an effluent stream that comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons and ionic liquid. The separation vessels may be vertically orientated. Ionic liquid is utilized to remove entrained ionic liquid droplets form rising hydrocarbons within the separation zone. The ionic liquid may be provided with a stream of the ionic liquid from the separation vessel. The ionic liquid may be provided as a layer or travel counter-current to the hydrocarbons rising in the separation vessel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and equipment to make lithium hydroxide from lithium salts.

Abstract: A beer filter and a method of brewing beer is disclosed, the beer filter including an outer sheath, an outer permeable sheath disposed in the outer sheath, and an inner permeable sheath disposed in the outer permeable sheath. The method includes steps of disposing an outer permeable sheath within an outer sheath, filling an outer permeable sheath with hops, disposing an inner permeable sheath within the outer permeable sheath, and causing beer to flow from a vessel through and out of the inner permeable sheath, through the hops in the outer permeable sheath, out of the outer permeable sheath and into the outer sheath, and from the outer sheath and back into the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treatment and/or purification of water, in particular wastewater or drinking water, preferably for the adsorptive removal of inorganically or organically-based, impurities, such as trace substances and/or micropollutants, wherein, in a counterflow filter device, e.g. a counterflow adsorption filter column, the water that is to be treated and/or that is to be purified firstly, and, secondly, an, in particular particulate, adsorption material are conducted in a counterflow direction. In particular, a procedure is followed in such a manner that the water to be treated and/or purified is passed through a bed of the adsorption material present in the counterflow filter device for the adsorptive removal of impurities and the bed is exchanged and regenerated by preferably continuous removal and supply of the adsorption material in counterflow to the water that is to be treated and/or that is to be purified.

Abstract: A system protects an outlet of a pneumatic conveyor. The outlet has a horizontal section. The system comprises a deflector for protecting the horizontal section, and sets of stanchions therefor respectively attached to clamp assemblies mounted on the horizontal section. The deflector comprises angled walls, a plurality of crossbeams interconnecting the angled walls for reinforcing the deflector, and an end flange. Each stanchion has a foot. Each clamp assembly comprises two equal halves, fasteners joining together the equal halves, and a flange for each equal half perpendicular thereto. The system further comprises fasteners each attaching one foot to one flange, respectively.

Abstract: A self-cleaning system for a plate press (100) or cylinder press (110) for filtering a fluid product and for eliminating waste material accumulated on filter membranes (13) in a waste accumulation area (102) of the plate press (100) or cylinder press (110), said system comprising a drain port (DP) adjacent to the waste accumulation area (102), said system comprising an area (103) creating a circulation of water and/or forced air jets within the waste accumulation area (102) to expel the waste to the drain port (DP), whereby the waste accumulation area (102) is cleaned from the waste material without having to disassemble the plate press or cylinder press.

Abstract: A combined device for sewage deep treatment integrally consists of an open box body (1) divided into multiple water treatment units (29) by a partition wall (27). Each water treatment unit (29) is divided into multiple grids by a partition wall (27?). The lower part of the box body (1) is provided with a conical structure (30) having a discharging door (22) thereunder. The partition wall (27) of the box body (1) has a water blocking belt (33) in the middle thereof, and the box body (1) has rails (31) mounted on two sides of the top thereof, rails (31) having an electric operating platform (2) mounted thereon. The box body (1) is filled with water processing granular carbon (32). Also disclosed is a sewage treatment method employing the combined sewage deep-treatment device.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, the invention provides processes and methods for the recovery, removal or extracting of, and subsequent purification of uranium from a wet-process phosphoric acid using a continuous ion exchange processing approach, where the uranium is recovered from a phosphoric acid, or a phos-acid feedstock using either a dual or a single stage extraction methodology. In both cases an intermediate ammonium uranyl-tricarbonate solution is formed. In alternative embodiments, in the dual cycle approach, this solution is contacted in a second continuous ion exchange system with a strong anion exchange resin then subsequently recovered as an acidic uranyl solution that is further treated to produce an intermediate uranyl peroxide compound which is ultimately calcined to produce the final uranium oxide product.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for an ion exchange system is provided. The apparatus comprises a first column for housing a first fluidized bed through which particles are flowed countercurrently to an ion-containing fluid to yield ion-loaded particles, a second column through which the ion-loaded particles are flowed countercurrently to an eluent fluid to yield regenerated particles, and a transport section which transfers the regenerated particles for re-introduction into the first column to repeat the ion exchange cycle in a continuous manner. A continuous method of ion exchange is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a continuous circulation sand filter including a filtering barrel filled with a sand filtering layer, an inflow tube for introducing raw water into the filtering barrel, a treated water discharge part for discharging treated water purified by passing the raw water through the sand filtering layer from a lower end of the sand filtering layer to an upper end thereof, an air lift tube for transferring contaminated sand, located in the lower end of the sand filtering layer, from a lower part of the filtering barrel to an upper part thereof, a transfer water discharge filter contacting the air lift tube to discharge transfer water moved upward together with sand through the air lift tube and trap the sand and a foreign substance, a descent guide tube downwardly moving the sand and the foreign substance moved to the upper part of the filtering barrel through the air lift tube, and a foreign substance separation tube suctioning the downwardly moving foreign substance to remove the foreign substance from

Abstract: Methods and systems for acid regeneration of ion exchange resins are disclosed. Acid resins designed for use in a variety of cleaning application using a water source use a treated, softened, acidic water source according to the invention. Various methods of using the softened acidic water generated by acid regenerate-able ion exchange resins are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.

Abstract: A process for removing suspended particles and at least one ionic species from a feed water stream to produce a product water stream, the process includes the steps of forming agglomerates of the suspended particles in the feed water stream; passing the feed water stream containing agglomerated particles through a bed of particulate sorbent material so as to sorb the ionic species from the feed water onto the sorbent to provide a loaded sorbent and filter the agglomerated particles from the feed water using the bed of particulate sorbent material as a filtration medium to load the bed with the agglomerated particles, and thereby produce the product water stream; removing the filtered particles and the ionic species from the filtration medium; and re-using the regenerated sorbent in step b).

Abstract: An external device for cleaning a filtration material is applied to a filtration device for filtering a supplied unfiltered liquid by layers of a filtration material to remove muddiness in the liquid and discharging the cleaned liquid to the outside. The cleaning device has an upstanding outer tube, a screw conveyor rotatably placed in the outer tube and transferring the filtration material upward from the lower rod to the upper end of the outer tube while rub-washing the filtration material, a drive section for rotationally driving the screw conveyor, a control section for controlling rotation of the drive section, and a discharge tube for discharging the filtration material having been rub-washed, into a filtration container from the inside of the outer tube and an introduction tube that introduces the filtration material into the outer tube.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor is provided. The fluidized bed reactor includes a screw conveyor configured to penetrate through an upper portion of the fluidized bed reactor and to discharge solid particles to an outside from the fluidized bed reactor. The screw conveyor is configured to have an upper end protrude from the upper portion of the fluidized bed reactor and a lower end located at a height equal to or higher than a height of a distributor of the fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: The cleansing apparatus is equipped with: an upright outer cylinder and a screw conveyor is rotatably provided within the outer cylinder. The screw conveyor conveys filtration media introduced through an inlet at the lower end of the outer cylinder upward to an outlet at the upper end of the outer cylinder. A drive section rotationally drives the screw conveyor. A control section controls the rotation of the drive section. A regulating blade regulates the upward movement of the filtration media is above the outlet and is coaxially with the screw conveyor. A cleansing liquid is introduced through an aperture above the regulating blade within the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A method of treating wastewater includes removing BOD and ammonium from the wastewater. The wastewater is directed into a tank where it is mixed with mixed liquor or activated sludge from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system. The mixture of wastewater and mixed liquor or activated sludge forms a mixed liquor stream. The mixed liquor stream is directed to a ballasted flocculation system where suspended solids is removed from the wastewater. This produces a clarified effluent that is directed to a zeolite tank. Clarified wastewater from the ballasted flocculation system is directed into the zeolite tank and mixed with zeolite. Zeolite is effective to remove ammonium from the wastewater. Thus, the process as a whole is effective in removing suspended solids, soluble BOD as a result of mixing the mixed liquor or activated sludge with the wastewater, and ammonium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of liquid effluents laden with hydrocarbons, which comprises: feeding the effluents into a treatment tank; supplying the treatment tank with a reversible sorbent having a defined particle size; mixing the effluents with the reversible sorbent in the treatment tank in order to load said reversible sorbent with the hydrocarbons in the effluents; removing the hydrocarbon-laden reversible sorbent from the top of the treatment tank; extracting the treated effluents from the bottom of the treatment tank; and separating the hydrocarbons from the laden reversible sorbent from the treatment tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is an internal circulation resin ion exchange adsorption reactor with a mechanical stirrer. The upper part ?˜? of the reactor main body is an open cylinder and the lower part ?˜? is a cone-shaped body with a slope of 30°±10°. A bell-jar shaped reaction slot with a turbine water stirrer inside is located in the center of the reactor main body. The reactor main body is equipped with a cylindrical guide plate. A water collection weir, an inclined tube separator and an annular resin collection hopper are located between the shell of the reactor main body and the guide plate. The reactor is equipped with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe. A resin removal pipe is connected with the annular resin collection hopper and a resin desorption slot respectively, and a regenerated resin reflux pipe is connected to the bell-jar shaped reaction slot.

Abstract: A sono-molecular-conversion device and method for effecting nitrification of ammonia in water, the method including feeding the water containing ammonia through a sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; and applying ultrasonic energy to the water containing ammonia by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in the water containing ammonia to effect nitrification of ammonia therein by sono-molecular-conversion.

Abstract: A particle processing device includes a substrate and at least one fluidic path. The substrate is rotatable with respect to the middle region thereof. The fluidic path is provided in the substrate to extend from the middle region to a peripheral region. The fluidic path transfers a fluid having a particle from an input portion to an output portion of the fluidic pather by using a centrifugal force of the rotation of the substrate. A capturing region is formed between the input portion and the output portion of the fluidic path to have a changeable sectional shape for capturing the particle.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for treating a liquid containing impurities may include a filtering chamber configured to permit granular media to interact with liquid containing impurities, thereby removing impurities from the liquid to produce filtrate; a filtrate section for receiving the filtrate; a gas supplying system for delivering gas to the granular media in the filtering chamber for transport of a portion of the granular media to a granular media washer; a reject section in fluid communication with the granular media washer for receiving a reject mixture comprising liquid and impurities from the granular media washer; and a control unit that is configured to determine whether the portion of the granular media is being transported properly based on an amount of reject mixture in the reject section.

Abstract: A nut shell filter allows the shell filter media to be scrubbed without being removed from the filter vessel. In order to protect the vessel from pressure surges which can occur during the scrubbing cycle, pressure applied during the beginning of the scrubbing cycle is contained within a scrubber tube such that the filter vessel is not subjected to pressure surges which occur at the beginning of the scrubbing cycle. The scrubber tube and scrubber filter tube may either be disposed within the filter vessel or outside of the filter vessel.

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: A hand-held microfluidic testing device is provided. The testing device includes a housing having at least one cartridge receiving port and at least one cartridge for inputting to the cartridge receiving port, and an optical detection system in the housing, where the optical detection system is disposed to analyze at least one sample in the in at least one detection channel of the cartridge. The cartridge includes at least one sample inlet and sample outlet, at least one buffer inlet and buffer outlet, at least one detection material inlet and outlet, at least one calibration standard inlet and calibration standard outlet and a detection window disposed above a detection region of a channel, where the analysis cartridge is surrounded by a protective shell, that holds the analysis chip base, a chip lid, a sealing gasket, and protective film cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a liquid containing impurities may comprise: a filtering chamber for receiving liquid containing impurities, the filtering chamber containing granular media and configured to permit the granular media to interact with the liquid containing impurities, thereby removing impurities from the liquid to produce filtrate; a filtrate section in communication with the filtering chamber for receiving the filtrate, the filtrate section being in communication with a first outlet for outflow of the filtrate; a gas supplying system for delivering gas to the granular media in the filtering chamber for transport of a portion of the granular media to a granular media washer; and a reject section in communication with the granular media washer for receiving a reject mixture comprising liquid and impurities from the granular media washer. The reject section may be in communication with a second outlet for outflow of a portion of the reject mixture.

Abstract: An external device for cleaning a filtration material and adapted for application to a filtration device, in which the filtration material can be automatically cleaned easily and at low cost without requiring replacement of an existing filtration device with a newly purchased device. An external device for cleaning a filtration material is applied to a filtration device for filtering a supplied unfiltered liquid by layers of a filtration material to remove muddiness in the liquid and discharging the cleaned liquid to the outside.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for an ion exchange system is provided. The apparatus comprises a first column for housing a first fluidized bed through which particles are flowed countercurrently to an ion-containing fluid to yield ion-loaded particles, a second column through which the ion-loaded particles are flowed countercurrently to an eluent fluid to yield regenerated particles, and a transport section which transfers the regenerated particles for re-introduction into the first column to repeat the ion exchange cycle in a continuous manner. A continuous method of ion exchange is also provided.

Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process including at least one biological reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is coupled to the biological reactor for mixing biological flocs and weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroducing the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.

Abstract: A collection device and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes a separating member to separate the whole blood into its components, and at least reagent positioned to selectively interact with a component of the separated sample. The reagent is able to selectively interact with the plasma/serum, and is prevented from contacting or interacting with the whole blood.

Abstract: A ballasted anaerobic system for treating wastewater including at least one anaerobic treatment reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix weighting agent with the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs to create a weighted anaerobic sludge blanket in the at least one anaerobic treatment reactor. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from excess sludge and reintroduce the weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to apparatus, systems, and methods for reduction and/or removal of one or more contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, chromium, phosphorous, phosphorous compounds, nitrogen, nitrogen compounds) from a feed composition (e.g., a fluid). Apparatus, systems, and methods, in some embodiments, may be operable to decontaminate a fluid with comparatively little or no contaminant containing waste fluid.

Abstract: A low concentration wastewater treatment system is provided that includes a high flux adsorbent material treatment system integrated with a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor. The high flux adsorbent material treatment system includes one or more unit operations for mixing low concentration wastewater with adsorbent material that is fresh, recycled, or a combination of both, and for decanting a liquid effluent having a reduced level of contaminants. The adsorbent material with adsorbed contaminants is regenerated in a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor in which a biological reaction occurs, such as biological oxidation, wherein organic contaminants in the wastewater are metabolized generally into carbon dioxide and water. Excess biomass is removed from the adsorbent material, and the thus-regenerated adsorbent material is recycled to the high flux adsorbent material treatment system.

Abstract: A denitrification system is disclosed, where a plurality of biological regenerated adsorptive cells or units. Each cell includes a counterflowing absorptive media and waste water to achieve a two or three zone biomass nitrate/nitrite degradation environment. The system includes a backwash water recirculation loop and a media recirculation loop, where the media recirculation loop subjects the media a sufficient shear to dislodge dead microbes and/or weakly bound microbial films from the media surface, but insufficient to substantially reduce the particle size of the friable media. Nutrient supply and distribution and gas controls are used regulate cell characteristics.

Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process including at least one biological reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is coupled to the biological reactor for mixing biological flocs and weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroducing the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.

Abstract: A device for the tangential filtration of a fluid to be processed and intended to be divided into a filtrate and a retentate includes, in an outer case, a series of filtration elements of tubular form lying parallel to each other, at least one output for the filtrate, communicating with the filtrate collection receptacle, a first communication chamber in which are fitted the separation resources, communicating with respectively a first series and a second series of filtration elements forming the go and return circuits of a circulation loop for the fluid to be processed, where the separation resources include a turbine of a circulation pump. The input for the fluid to be processed opens into the first communication chamber of the outer case between the turbine of the circulation pump and the filtration elements of the series forming the return circuit of the circulation loop.

Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process including at least one biological reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is coupled to the biological reactor for mixing biological flocs and weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroducing the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for treating wastewater in which the majority of solids and biological oxygen demand compounds are separated from the wastewater feed using a primary separation process, to produce a solids phase and a water phase. The solids phase is irradiated to reduce the level of pathogens such that it is safe to use as a soil substitute and/or additive so that the solids can thus be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner. In additional embodiments, the solids that have been disinfected by radiation are mixed with a suitable inert filler material to produce a soil substitute, fertilizer, compost, or other soil additive. The liquid phase is treated in a substantially smaller system than would be required for treating the full-strength wastewater that can include a suspended media biological regeneration reactor system.

Abstract: A package of water treatment pellets includes a first container and a second container. The first container is fabricated from a water-dissolvable sheet material and the first container is filled with and encases the water treatment pellets. The second container is fabricated from a non-water-dissolvable, porous material and is sized and adapted to receive the first container filled with and encasing the water treatment pellets. A water treatment feeder device includes a hollow, box-shaped magazine body defining an internal magazine chamber and a plurality of porous holders disposed in the internal magazine chamber. Each one of the plurality of porous holders retains a respective one of the packages of water treatment pellets. A water treatment feeder system for a structure operative to circulate water thereabout incorporates the water treatment feeder device and the package of water treatment pellets.

Abstract: A system and process for treating an industrial wastewater stream is provided using a membrane biological reactor in which granular activated carbon material is introduced into an aeration portion and maintained upstream of a membrane operating system. The size of the granules of activated carbon is selected so that they can be screened or otherwise readily separated from the mixed liquor stream before the mixed liquor enters the membrane operating system tank(s) containing the submerged membranes, thereby preventing abrasion of the membrane by the carbon granules. The aeration portion includes a waste discharge port whereby a portion of spent granular activated carbon can be removed when the effluent concentration of chemical oxygen demand compounds approaches limits typically set by governmental agencies, and replaced by addition of fresh or regenerated granular activated carbon having greater adsorbent capacity.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a first treatment tank forming thereon a first, fixed bed includes a powdery phosphorus adsorbent includes an inorganic layered compound, wherein the first bed separates phosphorus and solid matter from the water, and recovers the phosphorus in a state adsorbed on the phosphorus adsorbent in the first bed, a second treatment tank forming a second, fluidized or fixed bed includes the phosphorus adsorbent, wherein the second bed separates phosphorus from the water received from the first treatment tank, and recovers the phosphorus in a state adsorbed on the phosphorus adsorbent in the second bed, and a transferring line configured to transfer the phosphorus adsorbent, having phosphorus adsorbed thereon in the second treatment tank, from the second treatment tank to the first treatment tank.

Abstract: A system and method for removing water from sludge including mixing a blending material into the sludge and compressing the mixture. Additional pre and post compression steps are disclosed. Examples of specific blending materials and methods for their use are disclosed.