An iron containing bioreactor for treating explosive compounds and other organics in contaminated surface water is disclosed. The bioreactor can be located either on-ground or in-ground at a location across which contaminated surface water flows. In one configuration the reactor is made up of (i) indigenous microbes, (ii) acetate, (iii) a low density iron-containing bed, and contains anaerobic zones in at least one portion of the flowpath. The reactor reduces the concentration of explosive compounds to below 10 ppb and also maintains this explosive compound reduction level for a period of at least one year without replenishing the microbes or iron.

Water treatment structures may have at least a first geotextile fabric layer; a second geotextile fabric layer; a third geotextile fabric layer; a first filler layer with plastic particles, arranged between the first and second geotextile fabric layers; and a second filler layer with plastic particles, arranged between the second and third geotextile fabric layers, wherein the geotextile fabric layers and the filler layers are within a housing, and wherein the structure is configured such that contaminated water proceeds sequentially through the first geotextile fabric layer, the first filler layer, the second geotextile fabric layer, the second filler layer, and the third geotextile fabric layer. Methods of treating wastewater may involve passing wastewater, after optional oxygenating and pre-filtering, through such alternating layers of geotextile, preferably nonwoven, and polymer particles.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the remediation of contaminated solids and liquids. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to the bioremediation of solids and liquids by a composition comprising a biocatalyst or mixture of biocatalysts. The present invention also relates to methods for producing the bioremediation compositions and methods for applying the bioremediation compositions to contaminated sites, including treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, as well as various contaminated water sources, such as aquifers and reservoirs.

A composition useful for removing energetic compounds from contaminated environments. The composition includes a supported reactant including an adsorbent with high affinity for energetic compounds. Further, the composition includes a first bioremediation material comprising at least one organism capable of degrading an energetic compound and a polymeric substance fueling the first bioremediation material during the degrading of the energetic compound. Additionally, the composition includes a second bioremediation material breaking the polymeric substance into smaller molecules over a degradation time period to provide the fueling of the first bioremediation material in a time-release manner.

This invention is to the removal of organics and nutrients from wastewater. More specifically, the invention addresses the removal of nutrients such as nitrogen and/or phosphorus from wastewater and has specific adaptations that can be of added benefit in small systems including septic tanks, cluster wastewater systems, and other small treatment plants. The invention can also be used for larger treatment works and for sidestream treatment systems. The invention also has adaptations that can be used to treat wastewater in low gravity and other difficult environments. The invention also has adaptations to permit rapid startup, to induce dormancy, and to preserve organisms for extended periods of time.

A water restoration system is presented. The system includes a filtration chamber disposed proximate to or within a water basin, such as a watershed basin, to continuously filter contaminants from the water basin without relying on a rain event. The filtration chamber includes a reaction chamber and an aeration and mixing chamber, such that the water removed from the basin interacts with filtration media within the reaction chamber, and such that the filtration media mixes with the water (while the water is aerated) within the aeration and mixing chamber. As a result, water from the basin is continuously filtered through the water restoration system to reduce the concentration of contaminants, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, from the water basin.

The disclosed lagoon biological treatment system helps existing wastewater treatment facilities meet stricter discharge permits mandated by the EPA utilizing a facility's existing wastewater treatment infrastructure. Influent is pumped into and processed in an aerated or non-aerated lagoon system, thus initially treating the wastewater to reduce BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solids) to approximately 20-30 mg/L. Then the wastewater is transferred to and processed in a nitrification reactor, where sufficient nitrifying bacteria is present to reduce nitrogen levels to regulation-acceptable levels without needing to regulate temperature of the water in the nitrification reactor. Wastewater may also be further processed in a denitrifying reactor if necessary to meet local requirement. Post-nitrification polishing of the wastewater is foregone.

One or more reactor and one or more control methods are used for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment to achieve measured control of maintaining high ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) oxidation rates while achieving nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) out-selection, using various control strategies, including: 1) ammonia and the use of ammonia setpoints; 2) operational DO and the use of DO setpoints; 3) bioaugmentation of anammox and lighter flocculant AOB fraction; and 4) implementation of transient anoxia in several reactor configurations and conditions for removal of oxidized nitrogen using anammox or heterotrophic organisms. Controls described maximize nitrogen removal with minimal aeration, through control of transient anoxia and aerobic SRT, out-selection of NOB, and control of DO concentrations or aeration interval by keeping the reactor ammonia (NH.sub.4) and oxidized nitrogen (NOx) concentrations approximately equal, and maximize total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal through nitrification, limited nitritation, nitritation, denitrification, denitritation or deammonification making use of the aforementioned strategies.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the biological cleaning of wastewater in an activated-sludge plant including at least one activated-sludge tank, the method including: contacting, in the plant, the wastewater with activated sludge in the activated-sludge tank so as to clean the wastewater; and after the cleaning of the wastewater, separating, in the plant, the suspended activated sludge from the cleaned wastewater by sedimentation in a secondary clarification tank downstream of the activated-sludge tank or in the activated-sludge tank. The activated sludge suspended in the wastewater is admixed with growth bodies in the activated-sludge tank in order to contact the growth bodies with the microorganisms present in the activated sludge and to bring about formation of a biofilm of microorganisms on the growth bodies.

A process and an associated facility for treating ammonium-containing wastewater are specified. Ammonium present in the wastewater is first oxidized to nitrite by use of aerobically oxidizing bacteria in an activation unit. Then ammonium and nitrite are reduced to elemental nitrogen anaerobically by use of ANAMMOX bacteria. Excess sludge arising in this operation is removed from the activation unit. ANAMMOX bacteria removed with the excess sludge are separated and returned to the activation unit. To facilitate the returning of the ANAMMOX bacteria, magnetic or magnetizable expanded glass particles are added, as colonization bodies for the ANAMMOX bacteria, to the wastewater in the activation unit. Expanded glass particles removed from the activation unit with the excess sludge are separated from the excess sludge magnetically and returned to the activation unit.