Process and apparatus for removal of organic pollutants from waste water

An apparatus for purification of a fluid stream comprising one or more materials by biodegradation with one or more microorganisms capable of metabolizing one or more of said materials, said apparatus comprising:

• a reactor having contained therein a fixed biologically active biomass comprising a plurality of particulate open structures forming of open or substantially open regions interdispersed with a plurality of particulate biologically active bodies, wherein said particulate bodies comprised from about 10 to about 70 volume percent of said biomass and said particulate open structures comprise from about 90 to about 30 volume percent of said biomass based on the total volume of said biomass, said bodies comprising a substrate and an effective amount of one or more aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms capable of metabolizing at least one of said materials in said feed stream under process conditions on, in or on and in said substrate and having a surface to volume ratio which is at least about 5 times greater than the ratio of the surface of said open structure to the volume of said open region formed by said open structure, said bodies and said open regions distributed in said biomass to allow contact between said feed stream passing through said open or substantially open regions and a substantial portion of the internal and external surfaces of said bodies adjacent to said open regions.

A biomass for use in an apparatus for purification of a fluid stream comprising one or more materials by biodegradation with one or more microorganisms capable of metabolizing one or more of said materials, said biomass comprising a plurality of particulate elements forming open or substantially open open regions interdispersed with a plurality of particulate biologically active bodies, wherein said particulate bodies comprised from about 10 to about 70 volume percent of said biomass and said particulate open structures comprise from about 90 to about 30 volume percent of said biomass, said bodies comprising a substrate and an effective amount of one or more aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms capable of metabolizing at least one of said materials in said feed stream under process conditions on, in or on and in said substrate and having a surface to volume ratio which is at least about 5 times greater than the ratio of the surface of said open structure to the volume of said open region formed by said open structure, said bodies and said open regions distributed in said biomass to allow contact between said feed stream passing through said open or substantially open regions and a substantial portion of the internal and external surfaces of said bodies adjacent to said open regions to provide an effluent stream in which the concentration of at least one of said materials is less than the concentration of said material in said feed stream.

An apparatus for purification of a fluid stream comprising one or more materials by biodegradation with one or more microorganisms capable of metabolizing one or more of said materials, said apparatus comprising:

• a reactor having contained therein a fixed biologically active biomass comprising a plurality of particulate open structures forming open or substantially open open regions interdispersed with a plurality of particulate biologically active bodies, wherein said particulate bodies comprised from about 10 to about 70 volume percent of said biomass and said particulate open structures comprise from about 90 to about 30 volume percent of said biomass based on the total volume of said biomass, said bodies comprising a substrate capable of supporting the growth of an effective amount of one or more aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms capable of metabolizing at least one of said materials in said feed stream under process conditions on, in or on and in said substrate and having a surface to volume ratio which is at least 5 times greater than the ratio of the surface of said open structure to the volume of said open region formed by said open structure, said bodies and said open regions distributed in said biomass to allow contact between said feed stream passing through said open or substantially open spaces and a substantial portion of the internal and external surfaces of said bodies adjacent to said open regions to provide an effluent stream in which the concentration of at least one of said materials is less than the concentration of said material in said feed stream.

A biomass for use in an apparatus for purification of a fluid stream comprising one or more materials by biodegradation with one or more microorganisms capable of metabolizing one or more of said materials, said biomass comprising a plurality of particulate open structures forming open or substantially open regions and a plurality of particulate biologically active bodies, wherein said particulate bodies comprised from about 10 to about 70 volume percent of said biomass and said particulate open structures comprise from about 90 to about 30 volume percent of said biomass based on the total volume of said biomass, said bodies comprising a substrate capable or supporting the growth of an effective amount of one or more aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms capable of metabolizing at least one of said materials in said feed stream under process conditions on, in or on and in said substrate and having a surface to volume ratio which is at least 5 times greater than the ratio of the surface of said open structure to the volume of said open region formed by said open structure, said bodies and said open regions distributed in said biomass to allow contact between said feed stream passing through said open or substantially open regions and a substantial portion of the internal and external surfaces of said bodies adjacent to said open regions to provide an effluent stream in which the concentration of at least one of said materials is less than the concentration of said material in said feed stream.