# US 10,370,274 B2 · Hybrid reactor and process for removing selenium

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- Number: US 10,370,274 B2
- Document ID: US10370274B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/969,713
- Filed: 2015-12-15
- Published: 2016-09-15
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-11
- Assignees: Bl Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: BL Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Minggang Liu; Jeffrey Ronald Cumin; Glenn Vicevic; Carsten Owerdieck; Nelson Fonseca
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370274B2

## CPC

- C02F 3/00: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage {(C02F1/006 takes precedence)}
- C02F 3/1263: {Sequencing batch reactors [SBR]}
- C02F 3/2826: {using anaerobic filters}
- C02F 3/302: {Nitrification and denitrification treatment (C02F3/308 takes precedence)}
- C02F 3/305: {characterised by the denitrification}
- C02F 2101/106: {Selenium compounds}
- Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A system for treating wastewater containing selenium has a sequencing batch reactor upstream of a fixed film reactor. The sequencing batch reactor may be operated under anoxic conditions while influent is mixed with residual sludge. The SBR reduces total nitrogen, suspended solids, or both. Selenium is removed in the fixed film reactor by biological reduction to elemental selenium.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for treating water containing selenium comprising:
a) an upstream sequencing batch reactor; and
b) a downstream fixed film reactor reaction vessel coupled with the sequencing batch reactor and configured to remove selenium from water.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sequencing batch reactor comprise means to add one or more of; a base, an adsorbent, a polymer, or a precipitant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sequencing batch reactor comprises a mechanical, non-aerating, mixer.

### Claim 4

A process for treating water containing selenium comprising the steps of:
a) mixing a batch of influent water with sludge containing living microorganisms;
b) separating the mixture to produce an intermediary stream containing reduced concentrations of one or more of total nitrogen, sparingly soluable salts, and total suspended solids; and,
c) reducing the selenium species in the intermediary stream.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process of claim 4 wherein the pH value of the influent in contact with the sludge is maintained at a pH above 7.0 and the intermediary stream is maintained at a pH below 7.0.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The process of claim 4 further comprising adding one or more of a metal precipitant, a polymer, or adsorbent to the water influent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The process of claim 4 wherein the mixture is maintained under anoxic conditions.