The invention relates to a device and method for filtering and/or purifying liquid. The device comprises: an outer housing provided with at least one outer opening; an inner housing which encloses an inner chamber, wherein the inner housing is provided with an inner opening; a purification chamber which extends between the outer housing and the inner housing, wherein the at least one outer opening debouches in the purification chamber and wherein the purification chamber is provided with a carrier material on which a biological purification film can form for filtering and/or purifying water; and wherein a side wall of the inner housing which is adjacent to the purification chamber is provided with one or more fluid throughfeed openings, and wherein, during use of the device, a substantially vortex-like fluid flow path is formed in the purification chamber, between the at least one outer opening and the fluid throughfeed openings.

A method of binding a target metal in solution. The method of binding a target metal comprises contacting a solution containing i) a target metal with ii) an encapsulated exudate of a culture of algal flagellate, or a fraction thereof; or an encapsulated dried Euglena biomass or a fraction thereof, to form a complex between the target metal, and the encapsulated exudate or fraction thereof, or the encapsulated dried Euglena biomass or the fraction thereof; and optionally separating the complex from the solution. The disclosure also relates to a biosorbent element, as well as methods of using same in binding a metal in solution.

A method for treating water including: passing water to be treated containing organic matters and ammonia nitrogen through a reaction tank containing a carrier for treatment under aerobic conditions, wherein a water content of the carrier is 50% or more and 96% or less; the carrier has continuous pores with a pore size of 30 μm or less; an organic matter concentration in the water to be treated is 100 mg/L or less as a BOD.sub.5, and an ammonia nitrogen concentration is 50 mg/L or less; a retention time of the water to be treated in the reaction tank is 2 hours or less; and the organic matters and the ammonia nitrogen in the water to be treated are treated in the same tank.

A horizontal flow water treatment method and wetland biofilter apparatus provides a chamber with impermeable outer walls spaced away from permeable interior walls of a media filtration bed such that a catch basin is formed between the outer walls and the interior walls. The catch basin creates an open area around the perimeter of the interior walls for influent water to fill within the open area before penetrating the filtration media, providing a large surface area for influent water to interact with the media filtration bed. The influent water enters the catch basin in a horizontal flow path to provide for pre-settling of particulates before making contact with the filtration media. The biofilter design increases the available surface area of the media filtration bed by up to four times for a given volume of water, and thereby minimizes the loading or infiltration rate on the media filtration bed.

A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.

An aerator assembly for wastewater treatment includes a draft tube and an air supply assembly. The draft tube includes a sidewall and presents open top and bottom tube ends. The air supply assembly includes an air supply conduit and a diffuser body. The diffuser body has an inlet aperture and a bubble generator connected to the inlet. The inlet aperture is connected to the air supply conduit such that the bubble generator receives air from a source of air, to which the air supply conduit is connected. The bubble generator has a plurality of air openings for generating fine air bubbles. The diffuser body is sealingly engaged to the sidewall adjacent the bottom tube end so as restrict upward flow of wastewater through the draft tube past the diffuser body.

A combination biological contactor and self-backwashing filter system for water treatment is disclosed. The system may include a treatment vessel defining an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A biological contactor may be disposed within the upper chamber, and a filter may be disposed in the lower chamber. A contactor outlet conduit and inlet manifold may be used to transfer water from the biological contactor to filter cells within the filter.

Oxygen permeable membrane modules are provided in a reactor in multiple stages. An oxygen-containing gas from a blower B is sequentially circulated through the oxygen permeable membrane modules via pipes and is discharged from a pipe. Raw water flows out into a bottom part of the reactor through a plurality of nozzles, and a fluidized bed F of a biological carrier such as activated carbon is formed inside the reactor. Treated water flows out of a trough via an outflow port.

A system and method to treat wastewater or non-potable water using a reactor that is perforated at its bottom arranged in a vessel at a depth. Air pressure from an air grid at a reactor bottom induces an uplift of liquid and media to move highly aerated liquid through the media, which provides surfaces for microbial attachment and growth. An alkali porous material is suspended in the upswelling liquid that dissolves to reduce acidity and balance the pH of the liquor. The upswell in the reactor is at a higher elevation than the vessel giving directional discharge outlets head or velocity creating stirring and mixing to an area surrounding the reactor. Interchange of mixed and unmixed liquor is provided via the bottom perforations. Provision is also made for unit to cycle off and on so that the media can decant and for solids to settle out of the treatment unit.

Methods, apparatus, and systems involving high aspect ratio conduits are provided. These may involve a plurality of high aspect ratio leaching channels that may be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other. The predetermined distance can facilitate backfilling of the volumes of adjacent high aspect ratio leaching channels. The backfill may be sand as well as other materials.