Biochemically enhanced thermophlic treatment process

An aerobic thermophilic process for treating waste comprising:

• injecting an influent mixture into a reactor vessel having thermophilic microorganisms to form a volume of bulk liquid in the reactor vessel, wherein the influent mixture comprises an oxygen-containing gas, waste material and recycled effluent;
• monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid;
• and
• adjusting at least a selected one of the rate of injection of the oxygen-containing gas, the rate of injection of the recycled effluent and the volume of the bulk liquid in response to the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid to maintain the temperature of the reactor bulk liquid within a predetermined range.

An aerobic thermophilic process for treating waste comprising:

• introducing waste material into a reactor vessel having thermophilic microorganisms to form a reactor bulk liquid;
• injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the reactor vessel;
• flowing the oxygen-containing gas upward through the reactor bulk liquid in the reactor vessel;
• monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid;
• adjusting the rate of injection of the oxygen-containing gas in response to the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid to maintain the temperature of the reactor bulk liquid within a predetermined range;
• and
• removing treated effluent from the reactor vessel.

An aerobic thermophilic process for treating waste comprising:

• introducing waste material into a reactor vessel having thermophilic microorganisms to form a volume of reactor bulk liquid;
• monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid;
• and
• adjusting the volume of the bulk liquid in response to the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid to maintain the temperature of the reactor bulk liquid within a predetermined range.

An aerobic thermophilic process for treating waste comprising:

• introducing waste material into a reactor vessel having the thermophilic microorganisms to form a reactor bulk liquid;
• injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the reactor vessel to effect thermophilic treatment of the waste material;
• removing treated effluent from the reactor vessel;
• recycling at least a portion of the treated effluent to the reactor vessel by injection with the oxygen-containing gas;
• monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid;
• and
• adjusting the rate of treated effluent recycled to the reactor vessel in response to the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid to maintain the temperature of the reactor bulk liquid within a predetermined range.

An apparatus for treating waste comprising:

• means for introducing waste material into a reactor vessel having thermophilic microorganisms to form a reactor bulk liquid;
• means for injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the reactor vessel;
• means for flowing the oxygen-containing gas upward through the reactor bulk liquid in the reactor vessel;
• means for monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid;
• means for adjusting the rate of injection of the oxygen-containing gas in response to the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid to maintain the temperature of the reactor bulk liquid within a predetermined range;
• and
• means for removing treated effluent from the reactor vessel.

An apparatus for treating waste comprising:

• a reactor vessel containing microorganisms and bulk liquid;
• a waste conduit operably coupled to the reactor vessel which facilitates introduction of waste material into the reactor vessel;
• an oxygen conduit operably coupled to the reactor vessel which facilitates introduction of an oxygen-containing gas into the bulk liquid;
• an effluent conduit which facilitates removal of treated effluent from the reactor vessel;
• a recycle effluent conduit for recycling a portion of the treated effluent back to the reactor vessel;
• a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the bulk liquid;
• and
• an ORP sensor for measuring the ORP of the bulk liquid.

An aerobic thermophilic process for treating waste comprising:

• injecting waste material into a reactor vessel having thermophilic microorganisms;
• estimating a chemical oxygen demand for the waste material in the reactor vessel;
• injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the reactor vessel;
• determining the amount of dissolved oxygen available in the waste material in relation to the oxidation reduction potential of the waste material in the reactor;
• and
• adjusting the rate of injection of the oxygen-containing gas to substantially match the amount of dissolved oxygen in the reactor with the chemical oxygen demand of the waste material in the reactor.