Systems, methods, and apparatus for increased wastewater effluent and biosolids quality
AssigneeDryLet LLC
InventorsM. Scott CONLEY, Mark MENENDEZ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of delivering microorganisms loaded onto an inorganic porous medium. Methods of treating wastewater to increase effluent and biosolids quality. Methods of reducing ammonia and denitrifying wastewater effluent. Methods of reducing phosphorous concentration in wastewater effluent. Composition of biosolids derived from wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment assemblage for increasing wastewater effluent and biosolids quality.
Claims89
A method of producing fertilizer or compost comprising:
- a) providing a microbial solution comprising at least one microbial species loaded onto an inorganic porous medium;
- b) providing a reaction vessel comprising an influent stream, an effluent stream, an aqueous phase, and a biosolids phase, wherein the biosolids phase comprises at least one nutrient source for the at least one microbial species;
- c) adding the microbial solution comprising the at least one microbial species loaded onto the inorganic porous medium to the reaction vessel, wherein the at least one microbial species consumes a portion of the biosolids phase;
- d) separating the effluent stream into a treated aqueous phase and a treated biosolids phase;
- and
- e) dewatering the treated biosolids phase to produce the fertilizer or compost.
A method of producing fertilizer or compost from a wastewater treatment plant, the method comprising:
- a) providing a microbial solution comprising at least one microbial species loaded onto an inorganic porous medium;
- b) providing an aeration basin comprising an influent stream, an effluent stream, an aqueous phase, and a biosolids phase, wherein the biosolids phase comprises at least one nutrient source for the at least one microbial species;
- c) adding the microbial solution comprising the at least one microbial species loaded onto the inorganic porous medium to the aeration basin, wherein the at least one microbial species consumes a portion of the biosolids phase;
- d) separating the effluent stream into a treated aqueous phase and a treated biosolids phase;
- e) returning a quantity of the treated biosolids phase to the aeration basin, wherein the treated biosolids phase is further consumed by the at least one microbial species and wherein the quantity of the treated biosolids phase is reduced;
- f) digesting the treated biosolids phase in a digester to yield a digested biosolids phase;
- and
- g) dewatering the digested biosolids phase to produce a fertilizer or compost.
A composition of solid fertilizer or compost comprising:
- (i) dewatered biosolids and (ii) at least about 500 ppm of an inorganic porous medium on a dry basis;
- and wherein the composition is characterized as having at least one of the following five properties:
- an analytical composition comprising less than about 41 ppm arsenic, less than about 39 ppm cadmium, less than about 1,200 ppm chromium, less than about 1,500 ppm copper, less than about 300 ppm lead, less than about 17 ppm mercury, less than about 420 ppm nickel, less than about 36 ppm selenium, and less than about 2,800 ppm zinc;
- a concentration of Salmonella enterica spp. below about 3 most probable number (MPN) per 4 grams of total solids on a dry basis;
- a total concentration of fecal coliform bacteria less than about 1000 MPN per gram of total solids on a dry basis;
- a density of enteric viruses less than about 1 plaque-forming unit (PFU) per 4 grams of total solids on a dry basis;
- or a density of viable helminth ova less than about 1 per 4 grams of total solids on a dry basis with a vector attraction standard oxygen uptake rate of less than about 1.5 milligrams of oxygen per gram of solids per hour.
The composition of claims any one of 38-41, wherein the enteric viruses include human astroviruses, human adenoviruses, noroviruses, human sapoviruses, human parvoviruses, non-polio enteroviruses, and human rotaviruses.
The composition of claims any one of 38-41, wherein the composition comprises an analytical composition comprising less than about 41 ppm arsenic, less than about 39 ppm cadmium, less than about 1,200 ppm chromium, less than about 1,500 ppm copper, less than about 300 ppm lead, less than about 17 ppm mercury, less than about 420 ppm nickel, less than about 36 ppm selenium, and less than about 2,800 ppm zinc, a concentration of Salmonella enterica spp. below about 3 most probable number (MPN) per 4 grams of total solids on a dry basis, a total concentration of fecal coliform bacteria less than about 1000 MPN per gram of total solids on a dry basis, a density of enteric viruses less than about 1 plaque-forming unit (PFU) per 4 grams of total solids on a dry basis, and a density of viable helminth ova is less than about 1 per 4 grams of total solids on a dry basis with a vector attraction standard oxygen uptake rate of less than 1.5 milligrams of oxygen per gram of solids per hour.
A method of reducing ammonia and/or denitrifying wastewater comprising:
- a) providing a microbial solution comprising at least one microbial species loaded on an inorganic porous medium;
- b) providing an aeration basin comprising an influent stream, and effluent stream, and an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase comprises ammonia;
- and
- c) adding the microbial solution comprising the at least one microbial species loaded onto the inorganic porous medium to the aeration basin, wherein the at least one microbial species consumes the ammonia to produce nitrite, nitrate, molecular nitrogen, or any combination thereof and thereby reduces the amount ammonia and/or denitrifies the wastewater.
A method of reducing phosphorous in wastewater comprising:
- a) providing a microbial solution comprising at least one microbial species loaded onto an inorganic porous medium;
- b) providing an aeration basin comprising an influent stream, an effluent stream, and an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase comprises inorganic and organic aqueous phosphorus;
- and
- c) adding the microbial solution comprising the at least one microbial species loaded onto the inorganic porous medium to the aeration basin, wherein the at least one microbial species consumes the inorganic and organic aqueous phosphorus to reduce the amount of inorganic and organic aqueous phosphorous and prevent eutrophication.
An assemblage for treating wastewater comprising:
- an influent stream comprising an aqueous phase and a biosolids phase;
- a reaction vessel comprising at least one inlet stream, at least one outlet stream, and a microbial solution comprising at least one microbial species loaded onto an inorganic porous medium;
- and
- a separator comprising at least one inlet stream and at least one outlet stream and wherein the separator separates the aqueous phase from the biosolids phase.
An assemblage for treating wastewater comprising:
- an influent stream comprising an aqueous phase and a biosolids phase;
- a reaction vessel comprising at least one inlet stream, at least one outlet stream, and a microbial solution comprising at least one microbial species loaded onto an inorganic porous medium;
- a separator comprising at least one inlet stream and at least one outlet stream and wherein the separator separates the aqueous phase from the biosolids phase;
- a return activated sludge (RAS) line that carries a portion of the biosolids phase from the separator to the reaction vessel;
- a waste activated sludge (WAS) line that carries a second portion of the biosolids phase to a dewaterer that dewaters the biosolids phase;
- and
- an effluent stream that comprises a treated aqueous phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.