# US 12,110,243 B2 · Biofilm carrier media in moving bed biofilm reactor processes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,243 B2 - Document ID: US12110243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/964,985 - Filed: 2019-01-29 - Published: 2021-02-18 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-29 - Assignees: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support - Applicants: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support - Inventors: Per Magnusson; Christian Rosen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110243B2 ## CPC - C02F 3/104: {Granular carriers} - C02F 1/24: by flotation (C02F1/465 takes precedence) - C02F 3/08: using moving contact bodies - C02F 3/121: {Multistep treatment} - C02F 11/12: by de-watering, drying or thickening - C02F 11/13: by heating - C02F 3/106: {Carbonaceous materials} - C02F 11/122: using filter presses (C02F11/123 takes precedence) - C02F 11/127: by centrifugation - C02F 11/14: with addition of chemical agents - C02F 11/143: using inorganic substances (C02F11/148 takes precedence) - C02F 11/147: using organic substances (C02F11/148 takes precedence) - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - 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 The invention pertains to a bio-carrier to carry a biofilm in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), the carrier being a particle comprising dehydrated sludge. The use of a bio-carrier in a MBBR process to purify a liquid from contaminants is disclosed and a method of manufacture of a bio-carrier is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bio-carrier for carrying a biofilm in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) comprising: the bio-carrier comprising a dehydrated sludge particle; wherein the bio-carrier is a virgin carrier and a mobile structure configured to support and carry a biofilm in a MBBR; wherein the dehydrated sludge particle has a nominal diameter of 0.7 to 7 mm, the dehydrated sludge particle has a volumetric mass density of 1.02 to 1.8 g/cm3, as determined by weighing the dehydrated sludge particle in air and then in ethanol (99.9 vol-%) at 20 0C and 1 atm, and the dehydrated sludge particle has a water content between 0 and 50 weight-%, as measured as water content fraction of the dehydrated sludge particle on total mass basis; wherein the particle has a settling velocity in the range of 0.02 m/s to 0.4 m/s in denatured ethanol (99.9 vol.- % ethanol) at 20 0C and 1 atm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A bio-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the dehydrated sludge particle is comprised of sludge from a water purification process and/or or an organic solids treatment process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A bio-carrier according to claim 2, wherein the sludge is primary, secondary or tertiary sludge from a municipal or industrial wastewater treatment process or any combination thereof or digested sludge from an organic solids treatment process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A bio-carrier according to claim 3, wherein the sludge have been digested in an anaerobic digester. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bio-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the particle has a weight of 0.1 to 100 mg. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bio-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the particle has a nominal diameter of 0.9 to 4 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bio-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the particle has an inorganic content between 0 and 90 weight-%, as measured as ash content fraction of the particle on dry mass basis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method of biologically treating water or wastewater containing contaminants: directing the water or wastewater into a MBBR; placing a plurality of the bio-carriers of claim 1 into the MBBR; continuously or intermittently aerating or mixing the water or wastewater in the MBBR so as to maintain dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers in suspension; wherein the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers provide surfaces for biofilm growth; growing biofilms on the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers in the MBBR; and biologically treating the water or wastewater in the MBBR as the biofilms on the dehydrated sludge particles biodegrade the contaminants in the water or wastewater. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein the MBBR comprises one or more connected volumes or zones in which biological activity is promoted, one or several inlets for providing water or wastewater to be treated, one or several outlets for withdrawing treated water or wastewater, and one or more aerators or mixers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the aerating is intermittent aeration; or the mixing is intermittent mixing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 further including: intermittently withdrawing treated water or wastewater from the MBBR; and retaining the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers and the biofilm thereon in the MBBR as the treated water or wastewater is withdrawn by deactivating the aerating or mixing in the MBBR, thereby allowing the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers and the biofilm thereon to settle in the MBBR. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein the treated water or wastewater is continuously withdrawn from the MBBR and the MBBR further comprises a screen, sieve, filter, membrane or phase separator to retain the dehydrated sludge particles and the biofilm thereon in the MBBR. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the MBBR system further comprises a screen, sieve, filter, membrane, or phase separator to retain the bio-carrier in the MBBR. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein additional dehydrated sludge particles are placed in the MBBR periodically, daily, weekly, monthly, or annually, to replenish lost or spent the dehydrated sludge particles and the additional dehydrated sludge particles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method of manufacturing the bio-carrier of claim 1 comprising: (i) obtaining sludge from a sludge source; (ii) dehydrating the sludge to a total dry solids content of more than 65 wt.- %; and (iii) forming the dehydrated sludge into dehydrated sludge particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein dehydrating the sludge in step (ii) utilizes one or more sludge dehydration technologies selected from the group consisting of: thin layer drying, belt drying, rotary drum drying, disc drying, vertical drying, solar drying, vacuum drying, fluidized bed drier, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the dehydrated sludge particles are formed in step (iii) by milling, grinding, cutting, crushing, pelletization, granulation, extrusion or pressing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein steps (ii) and (iii) take place simultaneously, using a technique for both drying and mechanically forming the dehydrated sludge into the dehydrated sludge particles. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further including characterizing the dehydrated sludge particles from step (iii) and, based on the characterization, selecting dehydrated sludge particles for use in carrying a biofilm in the MBBR. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the sludge is dewatered in a dewatering step (a), before the dehydration step (ii), to reach a total solids content between 5-50 wt.- %. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, The method according to wherein the dewatering in step (a) utilizes one or more different technologies selected from the group consisting of settling techniques, centrifugation techniques, hydrocyclone techniques, dissolved air flotation techniques, and filter pressing techniques. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein one or more additives are added and mixed with the sludge before the dehydration step (ii), the one or more additives being an organic or inorganic components, affecting the volumetric mass density of the dehydrated sludge, a fibrous component increasing the mechanical strength of the dehydrated sludge particle, or a nutrient or mineral promoting biomass growth. ### Claim 23 (depends on 3) The bio-carrier according to claim 3, wherein the sludge has been digested in an aerobic digester. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19 wherein the dehydrated sludge particles are sorted by a technology selected from the group consisting of sieving, screening, air classification, and specific gravity separation, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The bio-carrier according to claim 1 wherein the dehydrated sludge particle includes an outer surface that includes compartments formed in the outer surface and configured to facilitate biofilm attachment to the dehydrated sludge particle. ### Claim 26 A bio-carrier for receiving and supporting a biofilm in a moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), comprising: the bio-carrier comprising a dehydrated sludge particle; wherein the bio-carrier is a virgin carrier and a mobile structure; the dehydrated sludge particle having an outer surface configured to attach to and grow a biofilm in a MBBR; the dehydrated sludge particle having a nominal diameter of 0.7 to 7 mm; the dehydrated sludge particle having a volumetric mass density of 1.02 to 1.8 g/cm3, as determined by weighing the particle in air and then in ethanol (99.9 vol-%) at 200C and 1 atm; the dehydrated sludge particle having a dry solids content greater than 64 wt.- %; and the dehydrated sludge particle having a settling velocity in the range of 0.02 m/s to 0.4 m/s in denatured ethanol (99.9 vol.- % ethanol) at 200C and 1 atm. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method of biologically treating water or wastewater containing contaminants: directing the water or wastewater into a MBBR; placing a plurality of the bio-carriers of claim 26 into the MBBR; continuously or intermittently aerating or mixing the water or wastewater in the MBBR so as to maintain the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers in suspension; wherein the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers provide surfaces for biofilm growth; growing biofilms on the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers in the MBBR; and biologically treating the water or wastewater in the MBBR as the biofilms on the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers biodegrade the contaminants in the water or wastewater. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27 further including: intermittently withdrawing treated water or wastewater from the MBBR; and retaining the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers and the biofilm thereon in the MBBR as the treated water or wastewater is withdrawn by deactivating the aerating or mixing in the MBBR, thereby allowing the dehydrated sludge particles of the bio-carriers and the biofilm thereon to settle in the MBBR. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) A method of manufacturing the bio-carrier of claim 26 comprising: (i) obtaining sludge from a sludge source; (ii) dehydrating the sludge to a total dry solids content of more than 65 wt.- %; and (iii) forming the dehydrated sludge into dehydrated sludge particles. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein dehydrating the sludge in step (ii) utilizes one or more sludge dehydration technologies selected from the group consisting of: thin layer drying, belt drying, rotary drum drying, disc drying, vertical drying, solar drying, vacuum drying, fluidized bed drier, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein steps (ii) and (iii) take place simultaneously, using a technique for both drying and mechanically forming the dehydrated sludge into the dehydrated sludge particles. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein one or more are added and mixed with the sludge before the dehydration step (ii), the one or more additives being an organic or inorganic components, affecting the volumetric mass density of the dehydrated sludge, a fibrous component increasing the mechanical strength of the dehydrated sludge particle, or a nutrient or mineral promoting biomass growth.