Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support

I. Kruger Inc.

Michael Leon Gutshall

Abdelkader Gaid

Richard W DiMassimo

Ross Alan Garbett

Barry Wayne Hendley

Sandra Bernard

Branden Edmond Hudson

A method of treating wastewater includes removing BOD and ammonium from the wastewater. The wastewater is directed into a tank where it is mixed with mixed liquor or activated sludge from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system. The mixture of wastewater and mixed liquor or activated sludge forms a mixed liquor stream. The mixed liquor stream is directed to a ballasted flocculation system where suspended solids is removed from the wastewater. This produces a clarified effluent that is directed to a zeolite tank. Clarified wastewater from the ballasted flocculation system is directed into the zeolite tank and mixed with zeolite. Zeolite is effective to remove ammonium from the wastewater. Thus, the process as a whole is effective in removing suspended solids, soluble BOD as a result of mixing the mixed liquor or activated sludge with the wastewater, and ammonium.

System and process for removing ammonium, soluble BOD and suspended solids from a wastewater stream

A wastewater treatment process is provided that entails both a biological or activated sludge process and a ballasted flocculation process. A first stream of wastewater is directed to a biological system for biologically treating the wastewater. The biological treatment process produces a first effluent and a first sludge. In cases where the biological system is an activated sludge process, the first sludge is recycled. A second stream of wastewater is directed to a ballasted flocculation system. The second stream of wastewater can be a stream independent of the first stream of wastewater or can be derived from the wastewater passing through the biological system. Sludge in the form of activated sludge or mixed liquor from the biological system is mixed with a second stream of wastewater in the ballasted flocculation system for the purpose of biologically treating the second stream of wastewater. Forming a part of the ballasted flocculation system is a settling tank that produces a second effluent and a second sludge. The second sludge is routed to a separator where granular material that forms a ballast in the process is separated and recycled. To effectively remove suspended solids from the wastewater passing through the ballasted flocculation system, the second sludge recycle rate is controlled or maintained at a flow rate of about 15% and higher of the influent flow rate to the ballasted flocculation system. Furthermore, as the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration increases from, for example, 1000 mg/l to about 4000 mg/l, the recycle rate of the second sludge may be varied from about 15% to about 40% of the influent flow rate to the ballasted flocculation system.

Combined biological and ballasted flocculation process for treating wastewater

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Holly Springs, NC, United States of America

Michael Leon Gutshall