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Treatment of volatile organic substances at waste water treatment plants

  • US 5,106,496 A
  • Filed: 06/27/1991
  • Issued: 04/21/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for purifying industrial waste effluent containing both waste water and off-gases containing volatile organic solvents comprising:

  • an aerobic treatment zone for treating industrial waste water with a mixture of biologically active solids and activated carbon particles, said zone comprising an open aeration tank having means for agitating the waste water in said tank, means in said tank for supplying a gas below the surface of said waste water and means for adding activated carbon particles from a source of activated carbon particles into said tank;

    enclosed means for imparting a primary treatment to industrial waste effluent from a source of industrial waste effluent containing both waste water and off-gases containing volatile organic solvents including at least adjusting the pH of the industrial waste water and removing solids therefrom and supplying the thus primarily treated waste water to said aerobic treatment zone;

    means connected to said aerobic treatment zone for receiving primarily treated industrial waste effluent therefrom and means for separating the sludge produced in said aerobic treatment zone from the thus treated industrial waste water;

    an aerobic digesting zone for digesting the sludge from said aerobic treatment zone with a mixture of biologically active solids and activated carbon particles remaining in the sludge, said zone comprising an open tank having a means for supplying a gas below the surface of said sludge;

    means connected between said separating means and said aerobic treatment zone and said aerobic digesting zone for recycling some sludge from said separating means to said aerobic treatment zone and conveying the remainder of the sludge to said aerobic digesting zone;

    off-gas collecting means operatively associated with said enclosed primary treatment means for collecting volatile organic gases given off from the waste water and mixed with air in said primary treatment means, and directing the thus collected mixture of air and off-gases to at least one of said means for supplying a gas to said aerobic treatment zone or said aerobic digesting zone for supplying air for the treatment in the zone and for substantially completely biologically degrading and eliminating the organic gases therefrom.

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