The present disclosure is directed toward membrane biofilm reactors primarily comprising microorganisms that produce chemical fuel products or precursors thereof. Reactors of the present disclosure can primarily comprise acetogens, a methanotrophs, and/or Methanosarcina acetivorans.

Provided are an apparatus and a method for biological treatment of an organic wastewater where it is possible to efficiently remove organic matter under high load while reducing the amount of air used for aerobic biological treatment and substantially decreasing the amount of sludge generated. The apparatus is provided with: a first biological treatment tank which has a fixed-type immobilized biocarrier and an aeration means; a second biological treatment tank to which a treated liquid from the first tank is introduced so as to perform treatment using suspended microorganisms, and which has an aeration means; and a sedimentation tank in which solid-liquid from the second tank is separated said liquid into settled sludge and treated water, wherein the apparatus has an influent line through which an organic wastewater is introduced to the first tank and the second tank, and a return line through which part of settled sludge discharged from the tank is returned to the tank.

A system and method for improved fermentation and elutriation of wastewater solids by controlling the concentration of inhibitory products in the fermenter using enhanced elutriation, micro-aeration or fractional aeration, and pH control, and improved characteristics of the elutriated product by controlling the leakage of phosphorus and reducing the formation of odorous sulfur compounds.

Provided are an apparatus and a method for biological treatment of an organic wastewater where it is possible to efficiently remove organic matter under high load while reducing the amount of air used for aerobic biological treatment and substantially decreasing the amount of sludge generated. The apparatus is characterized by being provided with: a first biological treatment tank 3 which has a fixed-type immobilized biocarrier and an aeration means; a second biological treatment tank 4 to which a treated liquid from the first tank 3 is introduced so as to perform treatment using suspended microorganisms, and which has an aeration means; and a sedimentation tank 5 in which solid-liquid from the second tank 4 is separated said liquid into settled sludge and treated water, wherein the apparatus has an influent line through which an organic wastewater is introduced to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4, and a return line 6 through which part of settled sludge discharged from the tank 5 is returned to the tank 4.

A system and method are disclosed for control of feast and famine conditions in continuous-flow biological nutrient removal processes to drive intensification of the activated sludge wastewater treatment process. For control of feast conditions, an upfront anaerobic zone is equipped with a biosensor to monitor real-time soluble biodegradable carbon uptake rate. Readings from the biosensor are received in a controller, which makes adjustments to operation of the anaerobic zone when readings deviate beyond said threshold limits. In one aspect return activated sludge to the anaerobic zone is modulated via an automated flow control device. Famine conditions in downstream process zones are also monitored and controlled.

A method of processing waste water to produce a filtrate is provided. The method includes the steps of: introducing untreated wastewater to an inlet zone of a bioreactor; introducing a concentrate of treated waste water with at least 10,000 mg/L of total suspended solids into the inlet zone of the bioreactor to form a biological active mixture; aerating the biological active mixture in an aeration zone of the bioreactor to produce treated waste water; filtering the treated waste water to produce a filtrate and the concentrate, wherein the filtrate created by the filtering has total suspended solids of less than 10 mg/L; transferring at least a portion of the concentrate to the inlet zone of the bioreactor; and transferring the filtrate external to the bioreactor as clean water.

A method for phosphorus removal and recovery using an organic carbon source of urban sewage, including: first filling a biofilm reactor with sewage; stirring under anaerobic conditions, phosphorus being released from a polyphosphate biofilm using an organic carbon source in the sewage; discharging a portion of the sewage after the aforementioned treatment into a recovery tank and storing same as a recovery liquid; performing aerobic aeration on the remaining part of the sewage after anaerobic treatment, such that phosphorus is absorbed by the polyphosphate biofilm until the concentration of phosphorus reaches a requirement for discharge; turning off the aeration device and discharging the sewage; returning the recovery liquid to the biofilm reactor, simultaneously adding sewage to fill the reactor, and repeating the aforementioned steps multiple times; and obtaining a phosphorus recovery liquid when the concentration of phosphorus in the recovery liquid reaches the requirements for a phosphorus recovery process.

The present application discloses an inorganic-biohybrid and a preparation method and application thereof, and belongs to the technical field of wastewater treatment. The inorganic-biohybrid is obtained by hybridization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and activated sludge derived from a denitrification biological filter. When being used in a hydrogen-based membrane bioreactor (H.sub.2-MBfR) to perform denitrification of wastewater, the inorganic-biohybrid can be attached to a hollow fiber membrane to form a biofilm, so as to increase diffusion rates of H.sub.2 and NO.sub.3 in the biofilm, thereby effectively alleviating a dual-substrate diffusion limitation of H.sub.2-MBfR, increasing an H.sub.2 utilization rate thereof and reducing an explosion risk.

Increased control and efficiency over the wastewater purification can be achieved by allowing to selectively prioritize catabolic over anabolic processes via prioritization of the digestive function of microorganism in the activated sludge. The gas-dispersion return sludge is created using pure oxygen or oxygen containing trace amounts of ozone, which is blended with return sludge to create a mixture of gas and liquid, which is passed through an atomizer or a pump to instantly render the reactive gas to an ultra-fine bubble state. At least a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolve within the sludge, raising oxygen to a critical level within a short time, activating the dormant microorganisms. The microorganism accumulate enough cATP upon initial encounter with the pollutants to prioritize their digestive function, and when exposed to pollutants present in wastewater, digest the pollutants using biochemical pathways different from the ones used in nature.

Increased control and efficiency over the wastewater purification can be achieved by allowing to selectively prioritize catabolic over anabolic processes via prioritization of the digestive function of microorganism in the activated sludge. The gas-dispersion return sludge is created using pure oxygen or oxygen containing trace amounts of ozone, which is blended with return sludge to create a mixture of gas and liquid, which is passed through an atomizer or a pump to instantly render the reactive gas to an ultra-fine bubble state. At least a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolve within the sludge, raising oxygen to a critical level within a short time, activating the dormant microorganisms. The microorganisms accumulate enough cATP upon initial encounter with the pollutants to prioritize their digestive function, and when exposed to pollutants present in wastewater, digest the pollutants using biochemical pathways different from the ones used in nature.