# US 8,465,646 B2 · Method and apparatus for treating nitrate waste liquid

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- Number: US 8,465,646 B2
- Document ID: US8465646B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/811,151
- Filed: 2009-02-06
- Published: 2010-11-11
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-08
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Naoki Ogawa; Katsushi Shibata; Kazuhiko Kuroda; Hiromitsu Nagayasu; Kuniaki Takahashi; Yoshimi Kawato; Yoshihiro Meguro
- Inventors: Naoki Ogawa; Katsushi Shibata; Kazuhiko Kuroda; Hiromitsu Nagayasu; Kuniaki Takahashi; Yoshimi Kawato; Yoshihiro Meguro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465646B2

## CPC

- C02F 3/34: characterised by the microorganisms used
- C02F 3/302: {Nitrification and denitrification treatment (C02F3/308 takes precedence)}
- G21F 9/06: Processing (separating different isotopes of the same chemical element B01D59/00)
- G21F 9/18: by biological processes
- C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58)
- C02F 3/1268: {Membrane bioreactor systems}
- C02F 2101/006: {Radioactive compounds}
- C02F 2101/163: {Nitrates}
- C02F 2305/06: Nutrients for stimulating the growth of microorganisms
- Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

To provide an apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid that includes a denitrification tank (12A) which accommodates active sludge that adsorbs or takes in the radioactive substance in a nitrate waste liquid (11) and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitric acid to nitrogen gas grows, and a reaeration tank (14) in which a denitrification-treated liquid (24) treated in the denitrification tank (12A) is aerated and mixed with active sludge. A pH adjuster (21), a first carbon source (22A) and a second carbon source (22B) different in type from each other, and nitrogen gas (N2) are supplied to the denitrification tank (12A) so as to separate a denitrified liquid into a solid content and the denitrification-treated liquid (24) by using a first solid-liquid separating film (25), and the denitrification-treated liquid (24) treated with the active sludge in the reaeration tank (14) is reaerated and separated into a solid content and a reaeration-treated liquid (27) by using a second solid-liquid separating film (28).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for treating a nitrate waste liquid performing a treatment for reducing a nitrate waste liquid by using active sludge which adsorbs or takes in a radioactive substance in the nitrate waste liquid containing nitric acid and the radioactive substance and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitric acid to nitrogen gas grows, the method comprising:
a first separation treatment step at which an active sludge treatment is performed by supplying a first carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism can easily multiply and a second carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism cannot easily multiply, while adjusting pH of the nitrate waste liquid in a denitrification tank that accommodates the nitrate waste liquid, and at a time of separating a denitrified liquid treated with the active sludge by providing a first solid-liquid separating unit that separates the denitrified liquid into a sludge-containing solid content and a denitrification-treated liquid, gas not containing oxygen is supplied thereby to accelerate a treatment for reducing anaerobic microorganism and cleanse active sludge adhered to the first solid-liquid separating unit with gas; and
a second separation treatment step of further separating the denitrification-treated liquid treated at the first separation treatment step in a reaeration tank that accommodates the denitrification-treated liquid treated at the first separation treatment step and aerates and mixes the liquid with active sludge by providing a second solid-liquid separating unit that separates the liquid into a sludge-containing solid content and a reaeration-treated liquid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein the first carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism can easily multiply is one or both of organic acid and sweetener, and the second carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism cannot easily multiply is alcohol.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 1, wherein a supplying ratio of the first carbon source is from 40 to 90% by weight.

### Claim 4

An apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid, comprising:
a denitrification tank that accommodates active sludge which adsorbs or takes in a radioactive substance in a nitrate waste liquid containing nitric acid and the radioactive substance and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitric acid to nitrogen gas grows; and
a reaeration tank that aerates and mixes a denitrification-treated liquid treated in the denitrification tank with active sludge in which the aerobic microorganism grows, wherein
the denitrification tank comprises:
a pH adjusting unit that supplies a pH adjuster used for adjusting pH of the nitrate waste liquid;
first and second carbon-source supplying units that supply two types of carbon sources to the denitrification tank;
a first solid-liquid separating unit that separates a denitrified liquid treated with the active sludge into a sludge-containing solid content and a denitrification-treated liquid; and
a gas supplying unit that is arranged on a lower side of the first solid-liquid separating unit and supplies gas not containing oxygen into the denitrification tank, and
the reaeration tank comprises:
a second solid-liquid separating unit that further separates the denitrification-treated liquid treated with the active sludge into a sludge-containing solid content and a treated liquid; and
an air supplying unit that is arranged on a lower side of the second solid-liquid separating unit and supplies air into the reaeration tank.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 4, wherein the first carbon source is a carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism can easily multiply and the second carbon source is a carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism cannot easily multiply.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 5, wherein the first carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism can easily multiply is one or both of organic acid and sweetener, and the second carbon source in which the anaerobic microorganism cannot easily multiply is alcohol.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 4, wherein a supplying ratio of the first carbon source is from 40 to 90% by weight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 4, wherein pH of a treated liquid in the denitrification tank is from 7.0 to 10.0.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The apparatus for treating a nitrate waste liquid according to claim 4, wherein nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide produced by an active sludge treatment in the denitrification tank are circulated to the denitrification tank by using a gas circulating line.