Overcoming biofilm diffusion in water treatment
AssigneeD.C. Water & Sewer Authority
InventorsSudhir N. Murthy, Haydee Declippeleir, Eugenio Giraldo, Ramesh Goel, Bernhard Wett
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for overcoming biofilm diffusion in water treatment by the addition of the substrate flux within biofilm by advection or convection in order to overcome diffusional limitations.
Claims22
A method to establish enhanced advective or convective transport through a biofilm of a biologically rate limiting substrate or substrates, inhibitory products or toxic products in the form of a gas, liquid, solute or ion, comprising the step of
- creating a substrate, inhibitor or toxicant draw or feed across this biofilm using physical, chemical or hydraulic forces with the purpose of:
- controlling the rate of reaction, or
- controlling the concentration of substrates or solutes within the biofilm;
- or
- adjusting the thickness of the biofilm.
A method for increasing reaction rates of a rate limiting substrate, comprising the step of:
- increasing diffusivity in biofilm by decreasing fluid viscosity in thixotropic flows in the bulk liquid or within biofilms or flocs by the use of a physical, a chemical, a biological, or a thermal process.
An apparatus to establish enhanced advective or convective transport of a biologically rate limiting substrate or substrates in the form of a gas, liquid, solute or ion, comprising:
- a biofilm attached to a porous support or a membrane that is contained in a vessel or a tank with a influent and effluent stream with a separate or an integrated solid liquid separator;
- and
- a substrate draw or feed across the biofilm created by physical, chemical or hydraulic forces to control the rate of reaction, concentration of substrates or solutes within the biofilm, or adjust the thickness of the biofilm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.