Supported biofilm apparatus and process
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for supporting a biofilm in a liquid comprising:
- a) a plurality of gas permeable hollow fibers, each hollow fiber having a lumen, an outer surface and an open end; and
, b) a header, the header having a cavity and a port open to the cavity, wherein the hollow fibers extend from the header, with the outer surfaces of the open ends of the hollow fibers sealed to the header and the lumens of the hollow fibers communicating with the port through the cavity.
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Abstract
A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from dense wall Poly methylpentene (PMP) used in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibres. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.
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Citations
87 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting a biofilm in a liquid comprising:
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a) a plurality of gas permeable hollow fibers, each hollow fiber having a lumen, an outer surface and an open end; and
,b) a header, the header having a cavity and a port open to the cavity, wherein the hollow fibers extend from the header, with the outer surfaces of the open ends of the hollow fibers sealed to the header and the lumens of the hollow fibers communicating with the port through the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 84, 85)
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46. A process for treating a liquid comprising the steps of:
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a) contacting an apparatus having a port in communication with one or more inner surfaces of a gas permeable biofilm support medium with the liquid; and
,b) providing a gas to the port of the apparatus, the gas permeating to outer surface(s) of the medium to support a biofilm growing on the outer surface(s). - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87)
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Specification