The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 27, 1995
Fernando A Tonelli, Dundas, CA;
Henry Behmann, Puslinch, CA;
Zenon Environmental Inc., Burlington, CA;
Abstract
A wastewater feed containing an ultimate BOD/COD ratio >0.6 is well-suited for especially acclimated thermophilic and/or caldo-active living micro-organisms ('hot cells') which thrive in an autothermal aerobic (ATA) reaction zone having an ATA bioreactor ('ATAB') operating at substantially ambient atmospheric pressure in combination with a MF or UF membrane filtration device from which a solids-free permeate may be withdrawn. This combination, of ATAB and membrane device is a 'membrane bioreactor' (ATA MBR), which operates autothermally with a feed containing biodegradable organic materials having a BOD of at least 5,000 mg/L, preferably at least 10,000 mg/L (10 g/L) with a minor portion of 'municipal' wastewater or domestic sewage. Operation of the ATAB, preferably in the thermophilic range from 45.degree. C.-75.degree. C., with constant HRT from 1 to 12 days, is contingent upon maintaining a stable population of live hot cells. Such cells enhance the biokinetics of degradation and allow operation of the ATAB at higher COD loading and a lower concentration of TSS, than would be possible at a lower temperature. A surprisingly high membrane productivity allows production of much less sludge to be disposed of outside the system, than would have to be disposed of with a conventional mesophilic reactor in normal operation with a HRT of less than 24 hr. A combination of an MP MBR with an ATA MBR is highly effective when the MPB produces high BOD concentration mixed liquor for destruction by the ATAB.