Support aerated biofilm reactor
AssigneeOregon State University
InventorsKenneth J. Williamson, Sandra Woods, Stuart E. Strand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas permeable membrane divides a reactor vessel into a liquid compartment and a gas compartment. A biofilm is grown on the gas permeable membrane on the liquid side of the membrane. Teh gas permeable membrane is supported by the structure of the membrane itself. The biofilm is chosen from bacteria to degrade cetain pollutants by means of anaerobic fermentation, aerobic heterotrophic oxidation, dehalogenation, and hydrocarbon oxidation. This is accomplished by means of oxygen and alternate gases (i.e., methane) through the gas permeable membrane to certain bacteria growing on the liquid side of the gas permeable membrane.
Claims17
A method of treating liquid waste, comprising the steps of:
- providing a reactor having a gas permeable membrane that divides the reactor into a liquid compartment for the liquid waste and a gas compartment for a gas;
- providing a biofilm layer on the liquid compartment side of the membrane, the layer comprising a first layer of aerobic organisms adjacent the membrane, and a second layer of anaerobic organisms between the aerobic layer and liquid;
- introducing an oxygen containing gas into the gas compartment, and allowing it to diffuse through the membrane;
- and
- introducing a liquid waste into the liquid compartment and allowing it to react with the biofilm layer.
A reactor for treating liquid waste, comprising
- a reactor having a gas permeable membrane that divides the reactor into a liquid compartment for the liquid waste and a gas compartment for a gas;
- a biofilm layer on the liquid compartment side of the membrane, the layer comprising a first layer of aerobic organisms adjacent the membrane, and a second layer of anaerobic organisms between the aerobic layer and liquid;
- a means for introducing an oxygen containing gas into the gas compartment, and means for allowing the gas to diffuse through the membrane without mixing the first and second layers;
- and
- means for introducing a liquid waste into the liquid compartment and allowing it to react with the biofilm layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.