Systems, methods, and apparatus for increasing bioreactor capacity using silica polymers
AssigneeDryLet LLC
InventorsM. Scott CONLEY, Mark MENENDEZ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods that provide for increased carrying capacity of bioreactors using silica polymers. Disclosed is a method that includes supplying nutrients and silica polymers containing microorganisms to a bioreactor to form a first suspension and controlling temperature, pressure, and nutrient conditions in the bioreactor to produce a second suspension with increased carrying capacity as compared to a control bioreactor containing microorganisms without the silica polymers.
Claims20
A method for increasing microbial population, the method comprising:
- supplying nutrients and silica polymers containing microorganisms to a bioreactor to form a first suspension;
- and
- controlling temperature, pressure, and nutrient conditions in the bioreactor to produce a second suspension with increased carrying capacity as compared to a control bioreactor containing microorganisms without the silica polymers.
A method for increasing the carrying capacity of a wastewater treatment facility, the method comprising:
- introducing silica polymers containing microorganisms to a bioreactor containing wastewater to form a first suspension;
- maintaining the bioreactor under conditions to produce a second suspension, wherein the second suspension has at least two times more total suspended solids than a control bioreactor without application of silica polymers;
- separating, by a mechanical process, the second suspension to produce a fraction containing suspended solids and a treated water stream, wherein a portion of the fraction containing suspended solids is recycled to the bioreactor.
A system for increasing the carrying capacity of a wastewater treatment plant, the system comprising:
- an aeration basin configured to mix wastewater and silica polymers containing microorganisms to produce a first suspension;
- a bioreactor configured to receive the first suspension and produce a second suspension with at least two times more total suspended solids than the wastewater stream;
- a first solid-liquid separator configured to receive the second suspension from the bioreactor and produce a first fraction containing suspended solids and a treated water stream;
- and
- a second solid-liquid separator configured to receive the first fraction containing suspended solids and produce a second fraction containing suspended solids and a waste product stream containing suspended solids, wherein the second fraction is recycled to the bioreactor.
A system for increasing the carrying capacity of a wastewater treatment plant, the system comprising:
- a bioreactor configured to receive silica polymers containing microorganisms and wastewater and produce a suspension with at least two times more total suspended solids than the wastewater;
- a first solid-liquid separator configured to receive the suspension from the bioreactor and produce a first fraction containing suspended solids and a treated water stream;
- and
- a second solid-liquid separator configured to receive the first fraction containing suspended solids and produce a second fraction containing suspended solids and a waste product stream containing suspended solids, wherein the second fraction containing suspended solids is recycled back to the bioreactor.
A method for increasing microbial population, the method comprising:
- supplying silica polymers and nutrients to a bioreactor containing microbes to form a first suspension, wherein the silica polymers provide a substrate for microbial growth;
- and
- controlling reaction conditions in the bioreactor to produce a second suspension with increased carrying capacity as compared to a control bioreactor containing microorganisms without the silica polymers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.