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US 6,660,163 B2Granted
Waste treatment with control over biological solids
OwnerDaniel Robert Miklosinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Waste-treatment processes are enhanced through generation and introduction of specific biological populations customized to perform or favor specific tasks either during the main process, or for solids minimization purposes in a post-treatment process. These bacteria may be grown from specialized mixes of activated sludge and waste influent by exposing these materials to controlled environments (e.g., in an off-line treatment area). They may then be added back to the main process to perform certain tasks such as converting particulate cBOD into soluble cBOD for utilization, to reduce high solids yield organisms by supplementing the population with low yield organisms, to improve nitrification/denitrification efficiency, or to disfavor filamentous biology such as Norcardia sp.
Claims44
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile such that the second biological population exhibits a lower solids yield and a higher waste-digestion efficiency relative to the first biological population;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population.
2 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile such that the second biological population includes a lower proportion of filamentous biology than the first biological population;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population.
2 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile such that the second biological population inhibits the formation of filamentous biology more than the first biological population;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population.
2 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile such that the returned fraction contains a higher level of biological nutrients than the waste stream;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population.
2 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile such that the returned fraction contains a higher level of cBOD than the waste stream;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population.
2 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- Amendment After Final
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions without substantial sulfide generation;
- and
- iii. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume having an increased cBOD and ammonia content and a reduced ORP;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
7 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions without substantial sulfide generation;
- iii. mixing and aerating until a positive ORP is achieved;
- iv. mixing without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions;
- and
- v. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume with a higher loading;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
8 more elements
The method of claim 20 wherein the second target suspended solids concentration is not more than about 7,500 mg/l.
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions without substantial sulfide generation;
- iii. mixing and aerating until a positive ORP is achieved;
- iv. mixing without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions;
- v. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume;
- vi. mixing and aerating until a positive ORP is achieved;
- and
- vii. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume with a lower loading;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
10 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion with aeration to achieve aerobic conditions and reduced ammonia content;
- iii. stopping the aeration;
- iv. adding and mixing additional waste stream material;
- v. mixing and aerating until the ORP is positive and dissolved oxygen content is present;
- vi. stopping the mixing and the aeration;
- and
- vii. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume having a high content of facultative aerobes and nitrifiers;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
10 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions without substantial sulfide generation;
- iii. stopping the mixing for a period of time;
- iv. mixing;
- v. mixing and aerating until the ORP is positive;
- and
- vi. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume having an increased content of facultative anaerobes and facultative aerobes;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
9 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions without substantial sulfide generation;
- iii. mixing and aerating until the ORP is positive;
- iv. stopping the aeration but continuing the mixing;
- and
- v. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume having a higher loading and a volume containing settled solids;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
8 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. isolating and controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile, wherein the controlling step comprises:
- i. adding, to the drawn-off portion, a quantity of activated sludge to achieve a target suspended solids concentration;
- ii. mixing the drawn-off portion without aeration to achieve anaerobic conditions without substantial sulfide generation;
- iii. mixing and aerating until the ORP is positive;
- iv. stopping the aeration but continuing the mixing;
- v. allowing settling;
- vi. aerating and mixing until a positive ORP is achieved;
- and
- vii. allowing settling to produce a decantable volume having a lower loading and a volume containing settled solids;
- and
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population, the fraction of the drawn-off portion conducted to the treatment vessel being taken from the decantable volume.
10 more elements
A method of treating a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. conducting at least a portion of the waste stream to a treatment vessel containing disposable solids, for treatment comprising contact with a first biological population having a first-biological population profile;
- b. drawing off a portion of the waste stream;
- c. controlling the drawn-off portion of the waste stream so as to maintain, in the drawn-off portion, a second biological population having a second-biological population profile different from the first-biological population profile;
- d. returning a fraction of the drawn-off portion to the treatment vessel following contact with the second biological population, the returned fraction including a portion of the second biological population;
- and
- e. introducing the returned fraction to the treatment vessel causing the disposable solids to increase in concentration at the expense of biology.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.