Systems and processes for the treatment of waste streams allowing direct activated carbon and membrane contact

A treatment process comprising:

• directing an amount of waste stream comprising an amount of organic contaminants therein to a vessel comprising powdered activated carbon therein to remove the organic contaminants from the waste stream;
• and
• directing a high suspended solids liquor (16) from the vessel to a membrane unit in fluid communication with the vessel to remove solids from the high suspended solids liquor;
• wherein a suspended solids (SS) concentration comprising the powdered activated carbon in the high suspended solids liquor is at least 10 g/L, wherein the high suspended solids liquor further comprises an amount of biological material, and wherein a weight ratio of the powdered activated carbon to the biological material is from 1:1 to 5:1.

A treatment system comprising:

• a waste stream source;
• a bioreactor comprising powdered activated carbon and a biomass in fluid communication with the waste stream source, wherein the bioreactor is configured to generate a high suspended solids liquor having a suspended solids concentration of at least 10 g/L, and wherein a weight ratio of the powdered activated carbon to the biomass in the bioreactor is from 1:1 to 5:1;
• and
• a membrane unit comprising one or more membranes in fluid communication with the bioreactor and configured to receive the high suspended solids liquor from the bioreactor.