Liquid waste treatment bioreactor process and apparatus

A process for treating a slurry of solid and liquid waste, which process comprises:

• a) separating the slurry into a substantially solid waste and a substantially liquid waste;
• b) introducing the liquid waste into the container of an apparatus comprising
• i) a container having a top end and a closed bottom end;
• ii) a first inlet on the container proximal to the closed bottom end for introducing liquid waste;
• iii) a second inlet on the container proximal to the closed bottom end for introducing oxygen-containing gas;
• iv) a first outlet on the container proximal to the top end for removing treated liquid waste;
• v) a second outlet on the container proximal to the closed bottom end for purging solid or semi-solid residue;
• vi) a rigid or semi-rigid perforated media occupying at least part of the container between the top end and the bottom end;
• and
• vii) means for forcing the liquid waste through the media from the first inlet to the first outlet,
• through the first inlet;
• c) introducing oxygen-containing gas into the container through the second inlet;
• d) forcing the liquid waste through the media whereby the media provides a platform for aerobic microbial degradation of the liquid waste;
• e) recovering treated liquid waste from the first outlet;
• and
• f) intermittently purging solid or semi-solid residue through the second outlet to prevent clogging of the preforated media.