Treatment of sewage

In a method of treating sewage flowing through a sewer, wherein an oxygenating gas is injected under pressure into the sewage and is dissolved therein the improvement comprising, contacting the thus oxygenated sewage without obstructing flow of solids along the bottom of the sewer with a stationary matrix means generally supported from the top of the sewer and above the bottom of the sewer extending generally longitudinally in the sewer a significant distance and constructed to permit flow of sewage therethrough for providing an extended area for growth of micro-organisms effective to reduce the Biochemical Oxygen Demand of the sewage, the matrix extending across a region inside the sewer, thereby said matrix is colonized along distinct longitudinally disposed portions with colonies of micro-organisms capable of assimilating at least carbonaceous compounds, wherein the matrix comprises spaced-apart pieces of sheet material which have passages for the flow of liquid therethrough and which are suspended vertically in the sewer.

In a method of treating sewage flowing through a sewer, wherein an oxygenating gas is injected under pressure into the sewage and is dissolved therein the improvement comprising, contacting the thus oxygenated sewage without obstructing flow of solids along the bottom of the sewer with a stationary matrix means generally supported from the top of the sewer and above the bottom of the sewer extending generally longitudinally in the a sewer significant distance and constructed to permit flow of sewage therethrough for providing an extended area for growth of micro-organisms effective to reduce the Biochemical Oxygen Demand of the sewage, the matrix extending across a region inside the sewer, whereby said matrix is colonized along distinct longitudinally disposed portions with colonies of micro-organisms capable of assimilating at least carbonaceous compounds, wherein the matrix comprises a plurality of channels extending longitudinally within the sewer provided by a plurality of radially disposed fins on the inner wall of the sewer.

A sewer with matrix means generally supported from the top of the sewer and extending downwardly therefrom and extending generally longitudinally in the sewer a significant distance and constructed to permit flow of sewage therethrough for providing an increased surface area for growth of micro-organisms, which matrix means extend across a region inside the sewer, said matrix means not projecting generally below a central longitudinal axis of the sewer, said matrix means being selected from the group consisting of, (1) a bed of solid material within a container having passages in its walls for the flow of liquid therethrough, (2) a plurality of spaced-apart pieces of sheet material which have passages for the flow of liquid therethrough, and (3) a plurality of longitudinally extending members comprising radially disposed fins on the inner wall of the sewer.