Abstract: A method for recovering and/or utilizing potassium from waste waters for a plurality of applications. As algae and plants are able to survive and flourish in environments with high salt concentrations, waste waters containing potassium can be applied as fertilizers to the growth of microbes, algae and plants. The microbes, plants, and algae are able to absorb the necessary nutrients, such as nitrogen and potassium, from the waste waters. After depletion of the potassium content from the waste water, that waste water can then be treated to separate other contaminants. In another aspect of the present invention, the potassium content may be first separated from the waste water to be applied for growth of microbes, plants, and algae and again used for regeneration of cation resins in specific potassium forms. The remaining contaminants that are separated through treatment of the waste water can be utilized for different productions.

Abstract: Process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: —feeding said aqueous stream containing the organic by-products of the reaction to a distillation column, obtaining two output streams: —an aqueous stream (i) exiting from the column head, enriched with alcohols having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and other optional volatile compounds; an aqueous stream (ii) exiting from the column bottom, enriched with organic acids having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; —subjecting said aqueous stream (ii) to an anaerobic biological treatment obtaining a purified aqueous stream (iii); wherein said anaerobic biological treatment is carried out with a hydraulic retention time lower than 15 hours, preferably ranging from 4 hours to 10 hours, more preferably ranging from 5 hours to 8 hours.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a process for stabilising a phosphorus-containing compound aqueous composition, comprising the step of adding to said composition an efficient arsenic stabilizing amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, ammonium salt, organic amino acid, peptide and polypeptide; application of the stabilized composition for treating an aqueous system optionally containing or in contact with metal sulphide scale, which method comprises adding to said system, separately or together, an efficient anti-scale amount of a stabilized aqueous composition or for treating a water system to kill or inhibit the growth of micro organisms comprising applying thereto or forming in situ an efficient inhibiting amount of the stabilized aqueous composition.

Abstract: In accordance with particular process, method and system aspects there is provided a biological manner of treating water/wastewater. Treatment is undertaken in bioreactor configured to treat the water/wastewater through a first process of denitrification followed by a second process of biological phosphorus removal. The bioreactor may be defined by multiple stages arranged in compact vertical alignment, for example, to reduce a footprint of the bioreactor and to feed the water/wastewater between the stages using gravity. The stages may comprise, in order, a Deaeration stage, an Anoxic stage, an Anaerobic stage, and an Aerobic stage. Continuous vacuum operation in the Deaeration stage enhances the physical removal of oxygen and other dissolved gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for anaerobically purifying waster water, especially waste water from the paper industry, comprising a reactor vessel, several inlets arranged in the bottom region of the reactor vessel to feed waste water to be purified into the reactor, at least one outlet for discharging purified water, and at least one sediment drain. One or more inlets are fed by a supply pipe, and several supply pipes are fed by a collecting supply pipe. In order to ensure that waste water to be purified is fed as regularly as possible at the bottom of the reactor vessel, at least the majority of the supply pipes of a collecting supply pipe supply waste water to be purified to a maximum of 10 inlets, and at least the majority of said supply pipes each have a control valve.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for processing organic materials. The method may, for example, yield nutrient-rich materials that may have various agricultural uses. The method can include, in some embodiments, forming a slurry from components comprising liquid and organic material; combining the slurry with microorganisms to form a biomass; anaerobically digesting the organic material in the biomass; and at least partially separating liquid components from the digested biomass. In some embodiments, the anaerobic digestion produces low amounts of methane. The systems may, in some embodiments, be configured to perform the method of processing organic materials.

Abstract: A reactor for biological purification of waste water includes a reactor vessel having a substantially flat or a round bottom, at least one supply pipe arranged in a lower region of the reactor vessel for feeding the waste water to be purified into the reactor, at least one fluid discharge pipe for discharging purified waste water from the reactor, at least one solid matter discharge pipe arranged in the lower region of the reactor vessel for discharging solid matter from the reactor and at least one diverting means including at least one diagonally extending section. The at least one diverting means is designed and/or arranged so that solids sinking to the bottom of the reactor from the upper region of the reactor are deflected so that the solids settle in a region of the at least one solid matter discharge pipe and are discharged from the reactor through the at least one solid matter discharge pipe.

Abstract: The inventions add a modified phase separator in the main line of a wastewater treatment process for enhanced BOD and nutrient removal with a membrane system. In addition, treatment methods and systems are described for high flux membrane filtration to meet secondary and tertiary treatment standards. Phase separation and membrane filtration techniques are employed to create concentrated return solids that are recycled in low flow volumes to reduce equipment sizing, reduce the physical space required for treatment and save energy costs without reducing treatment performance.

Abstract: A microbial desalination cell includes an anode, a cathode, a saline solution chamber and a cathode rinsing assembly. The anode is at least partially positioned within an anode chamber for containing an aqueous reaction mixture including one or more organic compounds and one or more bacteria for oxidizing the organic compounds. The cathode is directly exposed to air. The saline solution chamber is positioned between the anode and the cathode, and is separated from the anode by an anion exchange material and from the cathode by a cation exchange material. The cathode rinsing assembly is for rinsing the cathode with a catholyte.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an integrated process and system for water treatment, in particular, an integrated process and system for water treatment in the beverage manufacture cycle. The water treatment process is directed to treating an influent water solution, a low sugar concentration solution, and a high sugar concentration solution. The water treatment system is directed to a system for treating an influent water solution, a system for treating a low sugar concentration solution, and system for treating a high sugar concentration solution.

Abstract: A biocompatible article including (a) a biocompatible hydrogel; (b) an adhesive coating on at least a portion of the hydrogel; and (c) one or more organisms adhered to at least a portion of the adhesive coating is disclosed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of using effluent from a wastewater treatment plant are provided, where treated wastewater can exploit geothermal energy while delivering usable thermal energy to buildings by passing through an effluent distribution system including mains. The effluent distribution system mains can also recover the effluent used in each building and return the thermally exploited effluent to one or more ecological recharge basins, where at each basin the mains can join an infrastructure to distribute effluent to vegetation or exploit geothermal energy throughout the basin before redistributing the geothermally regulated effluent to buildings, or export the effluent to a network of EDS, or import effluent from a network of EDS.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a fluid stream with microorganisms is provided, the apparatus comprising a housing having a contacting chamber therein defined by a wall of the housing; a first inlet for the fluid stream to be treated; a first outlet for removing a liquid culture medium stream containing microorganisms; a rotor assembly comprising an impeller moveable within the contacting chamber to promote contact between the fluid stream being treated and the liquid culture medium within the contacting chamber; wherein at a least a portion of the wall of the housing defining the contacting chamber is transparent to light.

Abstract: The present application related to a high-rate anaerobic pool bioreactor (“BLAAT”) as an improved processing unit for treating biodegradable wastewater, which allows the conversion of a low-performance rate traditional system, such as the anaerobic pool, into an efficient, compact system that enables clean energy to be recovered in the from of biogas. The application also describes a process for the anaerobic treatment of wastewater that uses said bioreactor, which optimizes the processes of mixing and contact between the biomass and the substrate and presents a novel process for separating out the biomass by means of improved sedimentation in horizontal laminar flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to remediation of hazardous waste sites. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for remediation of environmental contaminants in non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs).

Abstract: Disclosed is a bioreactor in which a supporting wall (100) or a retaining mechanism (100) that represents pressure relief for a gas-tightly embodied flap is provided behind the flap (14) used for filling and emptying the bioreactor while percolate is prevented from accumulating between the gas-tight flap and the retaining mechanism. The gas-tightly closable flap, which has a sufficiently large size, makes it easy to fill biomass into the container and remove the remaining biomass following the methanation process. The biomass applies substantial or at least a certain amount of pressure to the retaining system when the container is closed, whereby the flap is relieved of the load and can be embodied in a light and accurately sealing manner.

Abstract: Strains of Gordonia sihwensis and uses thereof are described herein. G. sihwensis can sequester and/or biodegrade hydrocarbons. In particular, G. sihwensis may be used in remediation of drill cuttings coated with drilling fluid and soil or sludges contaminated with oil contaminants.

Abstract: A method and system of treating wastewater is disclosed. The treatment system has a nitrification-denitrification system comprising a sorption system, a biofilm system, and an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system and biofilm system.

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 present invention comprises methods and compositions for aggregating algae so as to separate the algal cells from an aqueous algae suspension. A bioflocculent, comprising a composition comprising a bacteria, is used to aggregate the algae.

Abstract: Disclosed are seamless membrane bags, for example, a membrane bag comprising a spacer fabric and a volume for permeate collection, the spacer fabric comprising a first part and a second part that are spaced apart and tied together at a predefined distance by monofilament thread and the first and second parts are at least partially embedded with membrane substance and the volume for permeate collection is interposed between the first and second parts. The membrane substance embeds portions of the monofilament thread and fills the spacer fabric along the border of the membrane bag. The membrane substance completely enclosing the volume is seamless. Also disclosed are processes for producing such bags, a filtration unit comprising such a membrane bag, and their uses in the separation of fluids, vapors and particles.

Abstract: A methodology, and related systems and structures for accomplishing the methodology, of biological remediation of hazardous or undesirable organic matter, wherein a plurality of carrier members are disposed in a localized retaining member, the carrier members releasing or exposing microorganisms to the undesirable organic matter on a staggered basis over an extended period of time, the microorganisms being capable of biologically remediating the undesirable organic matter by utilizing the organic matter as a food source, thereby converting it into environmentally safe bi-products.

Abstract: A particle is disclosed. The particle comprising: (i) at least one inner core which comprises a solid matrix of nutrients for microorganism growth; (ii) an inner membrane being fabricated from a water-soluble polymer, the inner membrane surrounding the inner core and a population of dried microorganisms; and (iii) an outer porous membrane surrounding the inner membrane, the outer porous membrane being insoluble in water. Methods of generating same, propagating microorganisms within and uses of same are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a system of heavy metal sequestration by bacteria. The bacteria expresses the ppk, mt, and/or ?-galactosidase (lacZ) genes and can tolerate at least 25 ?M mercury, 1,000 ?M zinc, 250 ?M cadmium, and 3,000 ?M Pb. The system allows for facile determination of the presence of heavy metal contaminants in a liquid and the facile collection of the bacteria that has sequestered large amounts of heavy metal. Further provided is a system of gene expression in bacteria that comprises phage and plastid gene expression elements and delivers a particularly high level of protein expression and heavy metal resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for treating water to be treated, said method involving a filtration through at least one membrane coupled to an activated sludge reaction chamber, characterised in that added particles are present in at least one volume of activated sludge in contact with the membrane and in that variations in a flow generated in said volume of activated sludge parallel to the membrane are applied, enabling the creation of a level of average turbulent intensity greater than that corresponding to a constant flow in the immediate proximity of the membrane.

Abstract: A method for microbiologically processing water includes treating the water in a bioreactor with microorganisms, wherein at least 70% of the microorganisms can break down 2-propanol and/or acetone.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated bacterial strain Candidatus Brocadia caroliniensis strain, having Accession Deposit Number NRRL B-50286. The strain is capable of oxidizing ammonium and releasing di-nitrogen gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for integrated biological wastewater treatment and clarification including a tank having a wastewater inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and having a treated, clarified wastewater outlet for providing treated, clarified wastewater for use, the tank having an upper turbulence region, a lower solids settling region below the upper turbulence region and a sludge collection region below the lower solids settling region, a multiplicity of biomass carriers disposed in the upper turbulence region, a gas diffuser assembly arranged generally between the upper turbulence region and the lower solids settling region for providing gas bubbles which move upwardly through the wastewater and the biomass carriers in the upper turbulence region, providing turbulence and oxygen and a sludge removal conduit communicating with the sludge collection region for removal of sludge therefrom.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell for generating electricity. The microbial fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode electrically coupled to the anode. The anode is in contact with a first fluid including microorganisms capable of catalyzing the oxidation of ammonium. The anode is in contact with a second fluid including microorganisms capable of catalyzing the reduction of nitrite. The anode and the cathode may be housed in a single compartment, and the cathode may rotate with respect to the anode. The microbial fuel cell can be used to remove ammonium from wastewater, to generate electricity, or both.

Abstract: The invention provides a bioretention system comprising one or more chambers and a high flow bypass system with top and bottom weirs for water filtration and storm water flow management. The invention also provides methods that are useful for managing storm water flow and inhibiting the flow of pollutants, debris, and other contaminants into drainage systems.

Abstract: Broiler chickens are grown in barns with poultry litter, typically 4-6 inches of pine bark shavings. Growing chickens live on this litter, adding their manure to the litter bed. A liquid top dressing of alkaline-soluble, oxidized humic acid and non indigenous bacteria between flocks can release ammonia harmlessly to the atmosphere and tie up any unreleased nitrogen and phosphorous as water insoluble nitrogen and water insoluble phosphorous. Farmers typically remove and replace the litter bed after 6-8 flocks. Surprisingly, the combination of neutralized, low conductivity humic acid, non indigenous bacteria and substantially complete mechanical litter bed turnover between flocks allows the virtually indefinite use of said litter.

Abstract: An object is to provide a fresh water generating method that is capable of efficiently producing purified water, such as fresh water, from unpurified water, such as sea water. Provided is a fresh water generating method for generating fresh water by way of reverse osmosis membrane filtration, which includes mixing sea water with low salt concentration water having a salt concentration lower than sea water to produce mixed water, and subjecting the mixed water prepared by the mixing to reverse osmosis membrane filtration, thereby generating fresh water.

Abstract: A new and improved method for treating mine influenced water (MIW) or other environmental contamination is disclosed. A number of electron donors are disclosed, including chitin complex-containing materials. The chitin complex-containing materials may modify the pH and reductive-oxidation potential of the contaminated media within the subsurface or within a treatment cell to facilitate metal removal through biological, chemical, and physical means, or a combination thereof. Bioremediation enhancing agents such as yeast products may also be used to facilitate microbial treatment of the contaminated sources. The yeast products may work with microbes to improve the rate of contaminant removal and promote microbial growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and processes of wastewater treatment and, in particular, to systems and methods of treating wastewater utilizing biological treatments utilizing two mixed liquor recycle streams for nutrient removal.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and process (400) for the treatment of wastewater and biological nutrient removal in activated sludge systems. The process uses substantially vertically downwardly presented inlet jets for delivering the incoming wastewater and recycled activated sludge into the body of liquid in a reactor, in a vertically downward direction and at a location just below the surface of the body of liquid. An effective circulating flow pattern of liquid is thereby established, along with optional concomitant entraining, dispersion or dissolving a fluid throughout the volume of the liquid body, facilitating a universal apparatus for mixing of anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic and oxic reactors or accommodating alternating said process conditions in one reactor. When an oxygen containing gas is entrained for aerobic fermentation, optimum gas bubble size is generated for efficient reaction with the digestion bacteria throughout the volume of the liquid body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the physiological state of a microbial community, which rapidly and precisely determines the physiological state of a microbial community present in a treatment tank of a wastewater biological treatment facility; and a wastewater treatment method utilizing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for digesting organic matter comprising: a vessel having an interior with side walls for containing a material capable of processing the organic matter, and a plate positioned within the interior of the vessel for concentrating the material on a lower section of the vessel, wherein the plate extends from a central axis of the vessel to about the side walls. The present invention also relates to a method of processing organic matter by anaerobic digestion that utilizes the device of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for the high removal of ammonia, COS and HCN from syngas (along with some polishing of particulates) in a cost effective and environmentally benign and sustainable fashion, with the need for little to no chemical addition by using a combination of water based gas scrubbing, HCN scrubbing and biological processing steps.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods of delivering substances in a dry mode. In one embodiment, the substance can be bacteria, enzymes, other microorganisms, or combinations thereof. The compositions that are in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention have varied uses, which can include delivering microorganisms to remove contaminates, such as oil, chemical, waste, or sewage, from soil, water, or air. In other embodiments, the substances can include liquid food, liquid food additives, liquid biotech agricultural ingredients, conventional liquid agricultural ingredients, liquid human wellness and dietary supplements, and liquid fragrances and beauty products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating freshwater, sea water, brackish water or water exiting a drinking water treatment plant containing organic matter, with a view to the potabilization thereof, recycling thereof, desalination thereof, or with a view to the purification thereof for an industrial application, said process comprising at least a first step (11) of filtration, by a nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, of a flow coming in from a primary treatment step (10) and a second step (13) of filtration, by nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, of a concentrate coming from said first filtration step (11). According to the invention, such a process comprises a step (12, 12?) of intermediate treatment that includes a biological and/or oxidation treatment and/or a coagulation at low pH of said concentrate coming from said first filtration step (11) and/or of said concentrate coming from said second filtration step (13).

Abstract: A method for collecting bacterial cells includes feeding water containing ammonium and nitrite to an anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel to denitrify ammonium and nitrite by anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria provided in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel to form denitrified water containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria and a sludge containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria; and feeding the denitrified water containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria and the sludge containing an amount of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria to a precipitation vessel, in which an acclimatization container is stored, to cause the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria in the denitrified water to be attached to an immobilizing material in the acclimatization container, so that the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria in the denitrified water are collected, and, at the same time, to collect the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria of the sludg

Abstract: An object is to provide a sea water desalinating method that is capable of efficiently producing purified water, such as fresh water, from unpurified water, such as sea water. Provided is a fresh water generating method for generating fresh water by way of reverse osmosis membrane filtration, which includes mixing sea water with low salt concentration water having a salt concentration lower than sea water to produce mixed water, and subjecting the mixed water prepared by the mixing to reverse osmosis membrane filtration, thereby generating fresh water.

Abstract: A gas bubble agitated mixing system for viscous fluids comprising: a container (1) in which a viscous fluid (2) may be held; one or more gas pipes (6), each gas pipe having an outlet (8) arranged to introduce gas bubbles (9) into the base region of the container (1), said gas bubbles (9) being of a size suitable to agitate the viscous fluid (2). The system also comprises a moveable carrier arm (4) upon which said one or more gas pipe outlets (8) are mounted; and wherein the movement of the carrier arm (4) causes the position at which each outlet (8) introduces gas bubbles (9) into the container (1) to vary over time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material made of non-metallic inorganic grains and plastics particles. The composite material is particularly suitable as a carrier material for bacteria for use in sewage treatment plants. It is characterized by a large surface suitable for the colonization of bacteria and also by a density which allows the composite material to be suspended in the medium present in the sewage treatment plant. A further advantage of the composite material according to the invention is the property that due to the surface structure of the composite material adhering sludge and saturated bacteria can fall off its surface, and this thus allows regeneration of the material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method comprising the use of microorganisms for nanotoxicity study and bioremediation. In some embodiment, the microorganisms are bacterial organisms such as Gram negative bacteria, which are used as model organisms to study the nanotoxicity of the fullerene compounds: E. coli W3110, a human related enterobacterium and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, an environmentally important bacterium with versatile metabolism.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for biologically treating a spent caustic to provide a treated spent caustic, said method comprising the steps of: (a) passing a spent caustic stream (25) comprising water, alkali metal hydroxide and sulphide to a first bioreactor (30); (b) biologically oxidising sulphide in the first bioreactor (30) with sulphide-oxidising bacteria to form sulphur) (S0) and sulphate to provide a partially oxidised spent caustic comprising sulphur) (S0) and sulphate; (c) passing the partially oxidised spent caustic to a second bioreactor (40) where at least a portion of the partially oxidised spent caustic is further oxidised with sulphide-oxidising bacteria to generate sulphate from sulphur) (S0) to provide a treated spent caustic comprising sulphate.

Abstract: A method for purifying a waste environment includes treating a portion of the waste environment to inactivate or diminish native microorganisms, adding augmenting microorganisms to the treated waste environment, simultaneously growing and acclimating a microbiological culture and discharging the microbiological culture to the waste environment. The method provides improved biological purification of waste and in-situ bioaugmentation.

Abstract: A method for recovering zinc ions by selective zinc sulfide precipitation from an aqueous solution comprising zinc ions and metal ions of a metal that precipitates as a metal sulfide at a pH lower than a pH at which zinc ions precipitate as a zinc sulfide.

Abstract: Treatment of waste water from a biomass-to-liquid process, said process comprising producing synthesis gas from biomass and conversion of said synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons by a Fisher-Tropsch process. The waste waters obtained are purified in common with waste waters from another industrial process to which said biomass-to- liquid process is integrated, such as in forestry, power and/or heat generation, waste incineration or a process in a metal-, petrochemical and/or oil refining industry. The biomass-to-liquid. process and said another industrial process may have a common feed water process unit, a common cooling water process unit and a common waste water treatment unit. The waste water treatment process may comprise a biological purification process and said Fischer-Tropsch process may utilize a cobalt catalyst.

Abstract: A method of anaerobically digesting organic material, comprising: providing a reaction chamber (12) comprising first and second cells (20,22) linked by a passageway (24) for flow of organic waste slurry from a bottom region of one cell to a bottom region of another cell; placing an organic waste slurry (S) in the reaction chamber (12) to fill at least the bottom region of each cell; displacing organic waste slurry (S) through the passageway (24) from the first cell (20) to the second cell (22) to build a head ?h of organic waste slurry (S) in the second cell (22); and discharging the head ?h of organic waste slurry (S) from the second cell (22) to agitate organic waste slurry in the reaction chamber (12).