Method for establishing a wastewater bioreactor environment

A method for establishing a wastewater bioreactor environment comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a membrane-aerated bioreactor comprising a bioreactor tank;
• obtaining a modified polydimethylsiloxane fiber;
• introducing the modified polydimethylsiloxane fiber to the bioreactor tank of the membrane-aerated bioreactor;
• obtaining a feed material;
• providing a media to the bioreactor tank;
• providing the feed material to the media in the bioreactor tank;
• iteratively repeating the step of measuring a first pH level of the media until the first pH level of the media is greater than 7.8;
• obtaining a first inoculum;
• introducing a first inoculum to the media in the bioreactor tank;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a first initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a first initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a second pH level of the media;
• measuring a first current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a first current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the second pH level of the media, measuring the first current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the first current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the second pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the first current NH3-N level of the media is less than the initial NH3-N level of the media, (b) the second pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the first current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the initial NO2/NO3 level of the media, or (c) the media has recirculated for 5 or more days;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• obtaining a second inoculum;
• introducing a second inoculum to the media in the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a second initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a second initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a third pH level of the media;
• measuring a second current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a second current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a third inoculum when five days have passed since a previous introduction of inoculum;
• introducing the third inoculum to the media in the bioreactor tank every fifth day after a previous introduction of inoculum;
• iteratively repeating the steps of introducing an inoculum to the media in the bioreactor tank every fifth day after a previous introduction of inoculum, recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the third pH level of the media, measuring the second current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the second current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the third pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the second current NH3-N level of the media is less than the second initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the third pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the second current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the second initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a first solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a first solution pH of 7.59;
• introducing the first solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a first solution pH of 7.59 to the media;
• measuring a third initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a third initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a fourth pH level of the media;
• measuring a third current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a third current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the fourth pH level of the media, measuring the third current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the third current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the fourth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the third current NH3-N level of the media is less than the third initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the fourth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the third current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the third initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a second solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a second solution pH of 5.05;
• introducing the second solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a second solution pH of 5.05 to the media;
• measuring a fourth initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fourth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a fifth pH level of the media;
• measuring a fourth current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fourth current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the fifth pH level of the media, measuring the fourth current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the fourth current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the fifth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fourth current NH3-N level of the media is less than the fourth initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the fifth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fourth current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the fourth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a third solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a third solution pH of 3.79;
• introducing the third solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a third solution pH of 3.79 to the media;
• measuring a fifth initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fifth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a sixth pH level of the media;
• measuring a fifth current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fifth current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the sixth pH level of the media, measuring the fifth current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the fifth current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the sixth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fifth current NH3-N level of the media is less than the fifth initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the sixth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fifth current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a wastewater stream having a wastewater pH of 3.79;
• and
• introducing the wastewater stream to the bioreactor tank.

A method for establishing a wastewater bioreactor environment comprising the step of:

• obtaining a polydimethylsiloxane fiber;
• modifying the polydimethylsiloxane fiber by mechanically abrasion, etching, coating, or at least partially covering the polydimethylsiloxane fiber with a scaffolding material to create a modified polydimethylsiloxane fiber;
• obtaining a membrane-aerated bioreactor comprising a bioreactor tank;
• introducing the modified polydimethylsiloxane fiber to the bioreactor tank of the membrane-aerated bioreactor;
• obtaining a feed material;
• introducing a media to the bioreactor tank;
• providing the feed material to the media carried in the bioreactor tank;
• iteratively repeating the step of measuring a first pH level of the media until the first pH level of the media is greater than 7.8 and chemical analysis shows active nitrification;
• obtaining a first inoculum;
• introducing the first inoculum, containing no particles larger than 250 micrometers, to the media in the bioreactor tank;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a first initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a first initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a second pH level of the media;
• measuring a first current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a first current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the second pH level of the media, measuring the first current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the first current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the second pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the first current NH3-N level of the media is less than the initial NH3-N level of the media, (b) the second pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the first current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the initial NO2/NO3 level of the media, or (c) the media has recirculated for 5 or more days;
• obtaining a second inoculum;
• introducing the second inoculum, having a volume of 25% of a bioreactor tank volume, to the media in the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a second initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a second initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a third pH level of the media;
• measuring a second current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a second current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of introducing an inoculum to the media in the bioreactor tank every fifth day after a previous introduction of inoculum, recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the third pH level of the media, measuring the second current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the second current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the third pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the second current NH3-N level of the media is less than the second initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the third pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the second current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the second initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a first solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a first solution pH of 7.59 to the media;
• introducing the first solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a first solution pH of 7.59;
• measuring a third initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a third initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a fourth pH level of the media;
• measuring a third current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a third current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the fourth pH level of the media, measuring the third current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the third current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the fourth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the third current NH3-N level of the media is less than the third initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the fourth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the third current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the third initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a second solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a second solution pH of 5.05;
• introducing the second solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a second solution pH of 5.05 to the media;
• measuring a fourth initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fourth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a fifth pH level of the media;
• measuring a fourth current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fourth current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the fifth pH level of the media, measuring the fourth current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the fourth current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the fifth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fourth current NH3-N level of the media is less than the fourth initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the fifth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fourth current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the fourth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a third solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a third solution pH of 3.79;
• introducing the third solution of 15.5% urine in distilled water, having a third solution pH of 3.79 to the media;
• measuring a fifth initial NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fifth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank;
• measuring a sixth pH level of the media;
• measuring a fifth current NH3-N level of the media;
• measuring a fifth current NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• iteratively repeating the steps of recirculating the media within the bioreactor tank, measuring the sixth pH level of the media, measuring the fifth current NH3-N level of the media, and measuring the fifth current NO2/NO3 level of the media until one of the following occurs:
• (a) the sixth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fifth current NH3-N level of the media is less than the fifth initial NH3-N level of the media or (b) the sixth pH level of the media is less than 6.5 and the fifth current NO2/NO3 level of the media is greater than the fifth initial NO2/NO3 level of the media;
• obtaining a wastewater stream, having a wastewater pH of 3.79;
• and
• introducing the wastewater stream to the bioreactor tank.