Supported biofilm apparatus and process
First Claim
1. A process for treating a liquid comprising the steps of:
- 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).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from melt spun thermoplastic polymers treated after spinning to increase their permeability to oxygen, used, for example, 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. In one process, oxygen travels through fibers, optionally through an attached biofilm, to oxygenate surrounding water. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods, for example endogenous respiration, are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A process for treating a liquid comprising the steps of:
-
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 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification