Celanese Gmbh

James P Cave

Enrique R Witt

William J Humphrey

Treatment of waste streams, particularly acidic petrochemical wastes, in anaerobic filter at high loadings with high rates of recycle. The effluent from the top of the filter is passed into a gas-disengaging-solids-settling zone containing a quiescent body of the liquid of said effluent. Particles of solid biomass settle in that liquid body and are withdrawn, with the liquid, and recycled to the base of said filter together with fresh acidic waste and added inorganic alkaline material. The outfall from the filter is fed to an aerobic digester and the resulting activated sludge is recycled to the filter. The alkaline material is preferably magnesium oxide or carbonate. Sodium formate may also be used as the alkaline material.

Anaerobic treatment

Treatment of waste streams, particularly acidic petrochemical wastes, in anaerobic filter at high loadings with high rates of recycle. The effluent from the top of the filter is passed into a gas-disengaging-solids-settling zone containing a quiescent body of the liquid of said effluent. Particles of solid biomass settle in that liquid body and are withdrawn, with the liquid, and recycled to the base of said filter together with fresh acidic waste and added inorganic alkaline material. The outfall from the settling zone is fed to an aerobic digester and the resulting activated sludge is recycled to the filter. The alkaline material is preferably magnesium oxide or carbonate. Sodium formate may also be used as the alkaline material.

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Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America

James P Cave