The invention relates to a novel dry-state anaerobic digestion method comprising pretreatment of the input with an additive selected from among zeolite, clay, pozzolan and biochar.

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 method for desalinating a brine includes the use of a cooled intermediate-cold-liquid (ICL), which combines with the brine in a crystallization or freezing tank to produce a slurry of ice, brine, and ICL. The method includes steps for separating the ICL, ice and brine, and returning the separated ICL to the source of cooled ICL tank. The method concludes with the steps of passing the separated brine to the crystallization tank, and melting the separated ice to form desalinated water. The method is significant in that it produces desalinated liquid water and solid salts. The combination of superior heat transfer with high quality purified water and competitive desalination economy makes the disclosed freeze desalination technology an attractive solution for desalination of highly concentrated brines produced in a variety of industries, including but not limited to the oil and gas industry and reject brine management.

The present invention is a compact and portable system designed to optimize lightweight biodigesters. The system includes a small sewage receiving tank, at least one small anaerobic digesting tank, and at least one gray water receiving tank, all interconnected for efficient operation. Sewage introduced into the small sewage receiving tank undergoes hydrolysis digestion, where solids settle at the bottom and excess liquids with suspended solids overflow into the small anaerobic digesting tank. This second tank further processes the liquids through acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis digestion stages. The final overflow liquids are directed to the gray water receiving tank for safe disposal. The system also incorporates heating elements, pH controlling apparatus, water filters, and gas release mechanisms, ensuring effective and controlled digestion processes.

Feed water is processed in an anaerobic digester. A solid-liquid separation device, for example a sludge screw thickener, treats a stream drawn from the digester in a recirculation loop. The solids portion is returned to the digester to increase the solids retention time and the TSS concentration in the digester. A liquid portion with less than 5% of the solids in the stream is removed and optionally treated further. The flow rate to the solid-liquid separation device is preferably greater than the influent flow rate. The solid-liquid separation device may receive digestate at a TSS concentration of 4% or more and return a solids portion having a TSS concentration of over 10%. The feed water is preferably one or more industrial waste streams having a COD concentration of 20,000 to 50,000 mg/L and a TSS concentration from 1-5%. The organic loading rate may be 10-12 kg/COD/m3/day.

A fluid decontamination and apparatus and a method of fluid decontamination, introducing, via an inlet nozzle, a contaminated fluid from a fluid source into a continuous pipe section. The inlet nozzle is coupled to the continuous pipe section that enables fluid flow therethrough. Hydrodynamic cavitation is generated upon exiting the inlet nozzle within the continuous pipe section by spraying and evenly distributing the fluid that induces cavitation formation within the fluid across a three dimensionally open structured (3DOS) substrate disposed within the continuous pipe section. The 3DOS structure is positioned proximate to the inlet nozzle such that the hydrodynamic cavitation generated by the inlet nozzle enters the 3DOS substrate and the 3DOS substrate maintains the hydrodynamic cavitation of the fluid flow into the 3DOS substrate to enable destruction of toxic species and unwanted organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid.

A fluid decontamination apparatus is provided for, introducing, via an inlet nozzle, a contaminated fluid from a fluid source into a continuous pipe section. The inlet nozzle is coupled to the continuous pipe section that enables fluid flow therethrough. Hydrodynamic cavitation is generated upon exiting the inlet nozzle within the continuous pipe section by spraying the fluid that induces cavitation formation within the fluid across at least one three dimensionally open structured (3DOS) element disposed within the continuous pipe section. The 3DOS element may be sequentially arranged foam rings defining an inner flow channel, or may be one or more solitary structures. The 3DOS structure is positioned such that the hydrodynamic cavitation generated by the inlet nozzle enters the 3DOS element, which maintains the hydrodynamic cavitation to enable destruction of toxic species and unwanted organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid.

A method for treating an aqueous fluid comprising a biodegradable organic substance in an installation comprising an upflow bioreactor containing a sludge bed, said sludge bed comprising biomass, an external separator, and a conditioning tank, the method comprising: treating the fluid in the conditioning tank; feeding the treated fluid into a lower part of the bioreactor and forming biogas; withdrawing the fluid from an upper part of the bioreactor, which withdrawn fluid comprises biomass; feeding the aqueous fluid withdrawn from the upper part of the bioreactor into the external separator wherein the aqueous fluid comprising the biomass is separated into a liquid phase, and a fluid phase enriched in biomass; returning said fluid phase enriched in biomass from the external separator to the bioreactor; and returning a part of said liquid phase to the conditioning tank.