A multi-stage anaerobic digester is designed to treat a high solids, stackable feedstock. The system may also receive a pumpable feedstock such as a slurry or sludge. In a first stage, the digestate circulates in one direction around a raceway such that the digestate may pass a feed inlet multiple times before leaving the first tank. An optional side stream loop withdraws fibrous material from near the top of the raceway and return digestate with chopped fibers, preferably lower and further along the raceway. An outlet from the raceway located near, but upstream of, the feed inlet discharges partially digested substrate to a second stage, which is operated as a stirred tank reactor. The two stages may be provided in a single tank with an internal wall separating a ring shaped outer portion from a cylindrical inner portion. The digester may be operated in a thermophilic temperature range.

Process for treating an aqueous fluid whereby a biogas is produced in an installation comprising a bioreactor and a separate container, the process comprising (i) a bioreactor feeding stage; (ii) a batch reaction stage, wherein biogas is formed and formed biogas is temporarily stored in the separate container, and at least one further stage (iii) comprising a settling stage and/or an aqueous fluid effluent discharge stage, wherein the biogas stored in the separate container is used to reduce fluctuations in a biogas exit flow from the installation. An installation for carrying out the process and the use thereof.

Storage tanks, for example, underground septic tanks, and their methods of fabrication are provided. The tanks include a substantially liquid impermeable plastic vessel having a top, a bottom, and sides; a concrete container encasing and retaining the plastic vessel, the concrete container contacting the bottom and at least partially contacting the sides of the plastic vessel; and at least one opening for receiving effluent, for example, waste effluent, into the plastic vessel. The methods of fabricating the tanks include positioning a plastic vessel into an enclosure; introducing concrete into the enclosure about the plastic vessel; allowing the fluid concrete to cure to provide a substantially solid concrete container about the plastic vessel; and removing the plastic vessel having a concrete container from the enclosure. Vessel shape retaining devices are also disclosed. Aspects of the invention are uniquely adapted to underground storage.

A sewage/wastewater biological treatment systemsewage (wastewater) synergistic treatment acceleration device, which includes four components of a reaction assembly, a signal transmission assembly, a control assembly, and a housing carrying assembly. The reaction assembly can realize the colonization/proliferation of functional microorganisms, participate in the interface electron transfer between the electrode-microbe-sewage as an electron donor/receptor and electrode interface of the (bio)electrochemical reaction, and optimize the flow characteristics in the sewage/wastewater treatment system. The signal transmission assembly enables the conduction of applied voltage and real-time signal acquisition and transmission of key parameters. The monitoring assembly implements intelligent controllability of the present invention. The housing carrying assembly enables integrated assembly of single device and multi-device serial/parallel operation assembly.

The present invention discloses a high-concentration organic wastewater treatment reactor. A lower water distribution system, an upper water distribution system, a lower three-phase separator and an upper inclined plate separator are provided from bottom to top in a reactor body of the high-concentration organic wastewater treatment reactor. A gas-liquid separator is disposed on the top of the reactor body. The lower water distribution system and the upper water distribution system are connected to an influent pipe. A lower biogas ascending pipe connected to the gas-liquid separator is disposed on the top of the lower three-phase separator. An upper biogas ascending pipe and an effluent pipe are disposed above the upper inclined plate separator. An outlet end of the upper biogas ascending pipe is connected to the gas-liquid separator. A downcomer is disposed on the bottom of the gas-liquid separator. An air pipe is disposed on the top of the gas-liquid separator. The reactor of the present invention has the characteristics of low energy consumption, good effluent water quality, large biogas production, and no odor, is capable of enhancing the even water distribution and fully mixing sludge and water, have a high removal efficiency of pollutants. Moreover, an internal circulating water dilutes influent water. A system having a strong impact resistance ability and a reactor being operated stably for a long term are achieved.

Processes and system are provided for digesting biosolids in a multistage digestion system. The processes and system are well suited for producing Class A biosolids and biogas containing a high content of methane. Methods and systems are also provided for recovery of phosphorus from wastewater and biosolids.

The present invention is related to an anaerobic photobioreactor and a method for active biomass cultivation, wastewater treatment, nutrients recovery, energy production and high-value products synthesis. Phototrophic bacteria are cultured in the anaerobic photobioreactor lighted with solar or artificial irradiation where certain light wavelengths are selectively discarded with a light selector installed on the top of the photobioreactor. In this light-based process wastewater treatment and resources recovery, like nutrients and high-value bioproducts (fertilizers, polymers and proteins) present in wastewater are performed simultaneously. Cultured biomass is treated by anaerobic digestion for biofuel production, including optative hydrolytic pre-treatment, and/or valuable bioproducts can be obtained in a downstream process.

To promote anaerobic digestion and delay calcification, one or more signal molecules are used to regulate the microenvironment of anaerobic granular sludge. In the process of anaerobic granular sludge treatment of papermaking wastewater, AHLs (N-acyl Hyperserine Lactones) are added to papermaking wastewater before the papermaking wastewater enters the anaerobic reactor. This may occur when the proportion of microorganism in anaerobic granular sludge VSS/TSS is less than 0.6. Further, the addition of the one or more signal molecules changes the community structure of the bacteria and methanogens, promoting anaerobic digestion and delay calcification. Additionally, the microenvironment of granular sludge is regulated by adding one or more micro-signal molecules to improve the number of bacteria susceptible to calcification, improve the anaerobic digestion rate of sludge that has not been calcified, and delay the calcification rate.

Culture systems and methods of using same. The systems include a housing defining an inner space. The inner space includes a headspace and at least a portion of a reservoir. A surface for immobilizing cells is moveable between the headspace and the reservoir. The systems can be used for coculturing methanotrophs and phototrophs for processing biogas and wastewater, particularly from anaerobic digesters.

A wastewater treatment apparatus for remediation of a wastewater treatment system has a septic tank with a lower sludge layer and an upper liquid effluent layer. The apparatus is comprised of a brush that includes a brush arm having a first end, a second end, and bristles disposed on the brush arm between the first end and the second end. The brush is configured to be positioned within the liquid effluent layer in the septic tank in a vertical orientation such that the second end is disposed below the first end.