A process for the treatment of wastewater is disclosed, which comprises (a) contacting the wastewater with fast settling sludge from step (c) in an anaerobic zone, obtaining a mixture of wastewater and sludge; (b) subjecting the mixture from step (a) and slow settling sludge from step (c) to an aerobic zone, obtaining a water and sludge mixture; (c) subjecting a first part of the mixture from step (b) to a sludge selection step, wherein sludge is selected based on settling velocity and a first portion containing slow settling sludge and a second portion containing fast settling sludge are collected, wherein average settling velocity of the fast settling sludge is greater than that of the slow settling sludge, and wherein the first portion is returned to step (b) and the second portion is returned to step (a); and (d) separating sludge from a second part of the mixture from step (b).

The invention relates to a bioreactor for treating water fluid(s), and/or for producing a desired end product by biomass and/or for producing biomass. The invention relates also to methods for manufacturing and using such a bioreactor. The bioreactor (BR) includes at least a first processing unit (Z.sub.F), a second processing unit (Z.sub.2), a last processing unit (Z.sub.L), and, optionally, additional processing unit(s) (Z.sub.3, Z.sub.4) between the second processing unit (Z.sub.2) and the last processing unit (Z.sub.L) in a plug flow configuration; at least one forward circulation system (FCS, FCS1, FCS2) for circulating biomass (BM) from the first processing unit (Z.sub.F), to the last processing unit (Z.sub.L) and/or to additional processing unit(s) (Z.sub.3, Z.sub.4); and at least one reverse circulation system (RCS, RCS1, RCS2) for circulating biomass (BM) from the last processing unit (Z.sub.L) and/or from the additional processing unit(s) (Z.sub.3, Z.sub.4) to the first processing unit (Z.sub.F).

The invention relates to a process for producing a microbial storage compound, in particular polyhydroxyalkanoate, using micro-organisms capable of accumulating such microbial storage compound, wherein such micro-organisms are selected and the microbial storage compound is accumulated by carrying out the so-called feast phase of the selection step and the accumulation of the microbial storage compound in selected micro-organisms in the same reactor and carrying out the so-called famine phase of the selection step in a separate, smaller, reactor.

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for accelerating sludge granulation. The apparatus for accelerating sludge granulation, which serves to accelerate a process of granulating activated sludge to produce granules, includes a cultivation tank configured to receive activated sludge and a carbon source to culture them in a preset environment for a preset time, an acceleration reactor configured to receive the activated sludge cultured in the cultivation tank and sewage from the outside to grow and granulate the activated sludge, and a control unit configured to control operations of the cultivation tank and the acceleration reactor.

The present invention relates to the field of biotechnology, and discloses a composition capable of promoting the growth of denitrifying microorganisms and uses thereof. The composition contains a glycolipid, an alditol, and a salt of organic acid, wherein the glycolipid is at least one of trehalose glycolipid, sophorolipid and rhamnolipid. The composition provided in the present invention can promote the growth of denitrifying microorganisms, and thereby improve the denitrification activity of the denitrifying microorganisms, promote a smooth denitrification process, and shorten the processing time.

The invention discloses a fast biofilm formation method for an organic filler during treatment of sewage with a low C/N ratio, and belongs to the field of biofilm process for sewage treatment. The invention improves the effect of biofilm culturing by changing the micro-interface acting force of the filler and accelerating the attachment and colonization of microorganisms on the filler through increase of bacterial quorum-sensing molecules. As compared with a conventional biofilm culturing method, in the invention the biofilm culturing is rapid and operated conveniently, has strong practicality, and is a fast biofilm formation method for an organic filler, which is adapted for treatment of sewage with a low C/N ratio under an aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic condition.

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 remove BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solids) down to approximately 20-30 mg/L. Then the wastewater is transferred to and processed in a nitrification reactor that is designed to maintain a minimum water temperature needed to further treat the wastewater to stricter EPA standards. Wastewater may also be further processed in a denitrifying reactor if necessary to meet local requirement. Finally, effluent water is sent to a settling lagoon for final clarification prior to discharge.

A reactor based on a generation of aerobic granules in a continuous flow configuration, for biological treatment of biomass including urban or industrial wastewater, the reactor including, in succession, from upstream to downstream: an inlet for wastewater; a first head tank operated in feast mode and under anaerobic conditions; a second tank for performing a function of a biological selector for microorganisms which are favorable to formation of dense structures, operated in feast mode, and subdivided into two compartments, a first compartment being operated successively and alternately under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and vice versa, so that the biomass is exposed in a dynamic way to alternating oxidizing and reducing conditions respectively, and so as to prolong or extend anaerobiosis of the first head tank into the first compartment of the second tank.

A method for controlling methanogenesis during environmental applications by inhibiting methane production of methanogens located in an environmental medium. The inhibiting of the critical biochemical pathways specific to the methanogens is achieved by providing one or more antimethanogenic reagent (AMR) compounds to the environmental medium. The AMR may include, for example, naturally-occurring statins (which may be found in red yeast rice), essential oils, certain synthetic compounds or combinations thereof. Limiting the methanogens in the environmental medium allows the slower-growing, halo-respiring bacteria that are utilized to dechlorinate containments to utilize the hydrogen donors (either naturally occurring or provided via fermentable substrates provided as part of a reduction process). The AMRs are harmless to the halo-respiring bacteria. The AMRs can be provided alone or along with various organic hydrogen donors, zero-valent iron (ZVI) or other reduced metals in order to enhance the biodegradation (reductive dechlorination) of targeted contaminants.

A liquid processing method and a liquid processing device capable of processing a liquid with optimal microorganisms, and responding swiftly even when changes occur in the liquid. The method includes processing in a biological treatment tank that houses microorganisms, and a microorganism optimization step of optimizing the microorganisms used in the biological treatment tank. The microorganism optimization includes a liquid extraction step of extracting a liquid that includes a stock solution discharged from a liquid handling system; a screening step of screening optimal microorganisms suited for processing performed in the biological treatment tank using the liquid that includes the stock solution as a culture substrate; a culturing step of culturing the screened optimal microorganisms; and a supply step of supplying the cultured optimal microorganisms into the biological treatment tank.