The present invention relates to a mainstream deammonification process for removing ammonium from wastewater that suppresses NOB growth and produces a sludge having good settling characteristics, the process comprising: clarifying the wastewater stream in a primary clarifier (12) and producing a primary effluent; directing a first portion of the primary effluent to a biological treatment reactor (14) and removing carbon to produce treated wastewater; directing treated wastewater into an integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) deammonification reactor (16) integrating nitritation and anammox processes and that is provided with intermittent aeration; directing a second portion of the primary effluent to the IFAS deammonification reactor (16) by-passing the biological treatment reactor (14), and injecting this second portion only during periods of air off and refraining from injecting during periods of air on, directing the IFAS deammonification reactor (16) effluent to a secondary clarifier (18) and producing a secondary effluent and a clarifier underflow, and recycling at least a portion of the underflow to the IFAS deammonification reactor (16).

A system and method for generating an incubated bacteria solution by heating a nutrient germinant composition and bacteria, including at least one species in spore form, to a preferred temperature a range of 35-50 C. for 2-60 minutes using exothermic chemical reaction heat. An incubated bacteria solution is preferably generated at or near a point-of-use in an aquaculture, agriculture, wastewater, or environmental remediation application. The nutrient-germinant composition comprises L-amino acids, optionally D-glucose and/or D-fructose, a buffer, an industrial preservative, and may include bacteria spores (preferably of one or more Bacillus species) or they may be separately combined for incubation. A first chemical contained in a pouch is activated by contact with a second chemical, water, or air in a flameless heater to initiate exothermic reaction to provide incubation heat. A potable, single-use incubation bag is configured to hold the flameless heater and a container of nutrient germinant composition and spores.

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.

Disclosed herein is a process for the treatment of wastewater for biosolids reduction and biogas (i.e. methane) generation where a wastewater is provided to a first reactor which is operated under anaerobic conditions, a hydraulic/solids retention time of from 0.1 to 1 day, a temperature of from 30 to 70 C. and a pH of from 6.5 to 10, with the effluent of the first reactor passing to a second reactor which is operated under anaerobic conditions, a hydraulic/solids retention time of from 3 to 10 days and a temperature of from 30 to 70 C. The process may further comprise feeding an effluent produced from the second reactor to a third reactor operated under anaerobic conditions, a hydraulic/solids retention time of from 3 to 20 days and a temperature of from 30 to 70 C.

The present invention relates to a wastewater treatment apparatus for shortcut nitrogen removal using anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) and partial nitritation using ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) granules. High-purity AOB granules are formed by means of AOB predominance using a side stream generated during a sludge treatment process. Moreover, the formed AOB granules are supplied to a partial nitritation tank (130) of a main treatment process and thus the partial nitritation is efficiently performed and nitrogen is quickly removed, and thus oxygen and an organic material is reduced compared to an existing method.

Provided herein are methods for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution, the methods including: providing an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution being contaminated with at least trace amounts of an oxidized mercury species; culturing a photoheterotrophic or fermentative heterotrophic bacteria in the aqueous solution under anaerobic conditions in which the bacteria reduce the oxidized mercury species to elemental mercury (Hg.sup.0), wherein the bacteria comprises one or more bacteria of the order Clostridiales; and removing the elemental mercury from the aqueous solution. Also provided are bioreactors for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution, as well as uses of photoheterotrophic or fermentative heterotrophic bacteria, wherein the bacteria comprises one or more bacteria of the order Clostridiales, for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution.

A continuous flow wastewater treatment system is disclosed. The system can include a main processing circuit comprising an anoxic entry zone and an aerobic exit zone. The system can include a granule-producing sidestream incubator. The sidestream incubator can include an inlet that receives a first portion of return activated sludge (RAS) processed by the aerobic exit zone, a sidestream anoxic zone, and a sidestream anaerobic zone that cooperate to process the first portion of RAS. The sidestream incubator can include an outlet that delivers the processed first portion of RAS to the anoxic entry zone. The sidestream incubator can include a RAS bypass pathway that bypasses the granule-producing sidestream incubator to deliver a second portion of RAS processed by the aerobic exit zone to the anoxic entry zone. In some embodiments, the RAS and/or other fermentate can be step-fed into the sidestream incubator.

A process for constructing a soil-based rhizosphere flow-through system to break down contaminants in contaminated water. The process includes the steps of: providing plants planted in soil in a test bioreactor, the plants providing a rhizosphere; exposing the rhizosphere to the contaminated water; extracting microorganisms from the rhizosphere following their exposure to the contaminated water; preparing a microbial suspension from the extract; subjecting the microbial suspension to growth conditions to increase the concentration of the microorganisms, thereby preparing a soil conditioner; adding the soil conditioner to soil in a contained area having a water flow inlet and outlet; and planting a plurality of plants in the soil, the plants being of the same species as the plants of the test bioreactor.

Described herein are attached growth reactor systems which increase nitrifying bacteria biomass through a variety of means during warm weather. As a consequence, the attached growth reactor system contains sufficient nitrifying bacteria biomass to remove ammonia from wastewater in cold to moderate climates. In one example, there are two attached growth reactors into which wastewater is distributed discontinuously. Specifically, wastewater is transferred to the first attached growth reactor for a first period of time and then is transferred to the second attached growth reactor for a second period of time during warm weather which effectively doubles the nitrifying bacteria biomass in the system. During cold weather, wastewater can be applied to the reactors according to their increased nitrifying bacteria biomass, that is, according to their increased capacity to treat influent wastewater compared to standard operations.

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.