Device for filtering and purifying grey water or other waste water to produce new clean and safe water source by biofiltration

Abstract

A device (1) for filtering and purifying grey water or other waste water to produce a new clean and safe water source, comprising: a pool (2) for collecting the water to be treated, comprising an inlet or opening (5) for introducing the water to be treated and discharging it after it has been filtered and purified; the biological carrier container (3) is located in the water tank (2) and comprises a plurality of biological carriers, the biological carriers carry growing microorganisms, and the microorganisms are responsible for purifying water; the aeration device is used for supplying oxygen into the water tank so as to promote aerobic metabolism of microorganisms and prevent stink; and a biological carrier for microbial growth for filtration and purification of grey water or other wastewater.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the water recycling industry, and in particular to a wastewater (such as grey water) recycling device which can generate new water sources in water-deficient areas and reduce water consumption. Background Art

[0002] The water crisis is a growing global problem. It is predicted that by 2030, the global water shortage will reach 40%. Chile is one of the most affected countries, with 72% of the territory suffering from drought and more than 1 million Chileans without access to water. This situation makes action necessary, which is why there is an urgent need to find new sources of water. A very attractive option is to reuse the wastewater generated by human activities. Of the total consumption per person, 40-75% is wastewater generated by showering, washing hands and washing clothes, mainly grey water. Although wastewater or grey water is less polluted and can be reused, in practice it is almost completely wasted due to the lack of sustainable, efficient, simple and affordable technologies to implement locally or to be purchased by customers.

[0003] Among the existing technical solutions, patent CL200803104 introduces a grey water reuse system fully controlled by a programmable logic controller, which consists of a primary water tank, a secondary water tank with an aerator, a membrane and a suction pump, and a tertiary water tank for chlorination, all of which are connected to a total collector. The disadvantage of this solution is that the water is treated in different tanks in turn instead of being treated in only one tank, and there is no use of microorganisms on a matrix such as biological filtration to metabolize pollutants in the grey water to achieve water filtration and purification.

[0004] Patent US20150191365 describes a grey water recovery and reuse system, which includes a body for collecting, treating and discharging grey water, the body including an inlet connected to a grey water source, a grey water solids filter located at the inlet of the body, a drain located near and below the filter for separating such solids, a tank for receiving the filtered grey water, a disinfectant for disinfecting the filtered grey water, a pump for discharging the treated grey water from the tank, a discharge connection to a sewer system, a connection to a fresh water source, and a control system for controlling the operation of the system. In this case, the system can treat water in a single body of water or tank, but instead of using microorganisms on a substrate that metabolizes pollutants in the grey water, the substrate is continuously shaken by an aeration device to promote interaction between the microorganisms and the water to be filtered.

[0005] Patent US4196082 describes an integrated domestic wastewater treatment and water purification system, which includes a dry toilet, a main composting tank, a sewage settling tank with upper and lower parts, a biological filter through which the water to be purified flows, a pipe device for moving water from the settling tank to the biological filter, a pipe device for moving sewage from the settling tank to the main tank, a pipe device for conveying grey water from the toilet to a mechanical purification device for filtering grey water, a pipe device for conveying mechanically purified water from this mechanical purification device to the sewage settling tank, and a common exhaust fan for replacing the gas in the toilet and the biological filter. Although the system introduces the use of biological filtration for water treatment, the disadvantage of this solution is that the water is treated in different tanks in sequence, rather than in only one tank, which makes the implementation of the system difficult.

[0006] In addition, in the prior art, there are various microbial matrices, especially biological carriers or carriers for water purification. For example, patent US20070102354 describes a support medium for biological growth, which includes a tubular cross-section and a disturbed outer periphery. The disturbed outer periphery can form a protective outer surface that supports biological growth, wherein the disturbed outer periphery can promote mixing of the medium.

[0007] Therefore, none of the above patents show a device for filtering and purifying wastewater (such as gray water), which can use multiple biological carriers to maximize the contact between the water to be treated and the microorganisms on the substrate, and improve the transmission of oxygen to these microorganisms, which is beneficial to the aerobic metabolism of the microorganisms, thereby improving the water purification process, thereby achieving the reuse of wastewater locally or in a single household or even in a large number of water bodies in an efficient, simple and economical configuration, but none of the above patents introduce carriers or biological carriers, the cavity and blade structure of which are beneficial to the growth of microorganisms and ensure the fluid dynamic performance of the interaction between the biological carrier and water. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention relates to an integrated device for filtering and purifying wastewater (such as grey water) which can be reused by generating a new water source. The device can reuse wastewater (such as grey water) that is usually wasted as a resource to generate a new, clean and safe water source, thereby reducing water consumption, which is particularly important in arid and water-scarce areas.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can treat wastewater, such as grey water, in a sustainable manner without generating toxic by-products.

[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to generate a water source to restore green areas and crops that have been affected by water shortage.

[0011] Specifically, the device belongs to biological filtration, and the biological filter used contains microorganisms, which are established on a matrix and can remove pollutants and / or impurities from wastewater (such as gray water). The design of the matrix used in the device improves its fluid dynamics and has greater interaction with water and air, thereby maximizing the contact between the water to be treated and the microorganisms on the matrix, and improving the transmission of oxygen to these microorganisms, which is beneficial to their aerobic metabolism, thereby improving the purification process of wastewater, especially gray water.

[0012] The device purifies water and reuses it 100% for irrigation, toilet flushing and / or industrial use, reducing water consumption by an average of 40%-70%, which is both economical and water-saving. Compared with other biotechnologies, this is an efficient, compact, sustainable, easy-to-operate, low-maintenance and low-cost technology that is affordable to people.

[0013] The device is designed to be suitable for a wide range of users, from local or single household water use to large-scale water use, such as urban or rural households, farmers, companies looking to reduce water usage, institutions, builders and real estate developers, the industrial sector or any consumer looking to reduce their water footprint.

[0014] This integrated device for reusing wastewater (such as gray water) to generate new water sources is a biological filtration device, which includes a pool for collecting water to be treated, a container including multiple biological carriers containing growing microorganisms responsible for purifying water to constitute biological filtration, and an aeration device for supplying oxygen to the inside of the pool to promote aerobic metabolism of microorganisms, prevent the occurrence of odors, and keep the biological carriers constantly shaking so that they interact with the water.

[0015] The aerator continuously agitates the bio-carriers, allowing the microorganisms to interact with the water, thereby filtering and purifying. In addition, since oxygen is added to the device, the aerator can also inject gas to promote the aerobic metabolism of the microorganisms in the biofiltration.

[0016] The biocarrier is designed to have hydrodynamic properties that are beneficial to the wastewater (especially grey water) biofiltration process, resulting in greater interaction of the biocarrier with water and gases, leading to oxygen production and aerobic metabolism.

[0017] The pool comprises an inlet for introducing water to be treated and for discharging the water after filtering and purification. If desired, the pool may comprise an outlet separate from the inlet for discharging the filtered and purified water. If desired, the device may comprise a pre-filter at its inlet for removing suspended particles and solids from the water to be treated before it enters the pool. The device embodiment collects waste water, in particular grey water, from showers, baths, hand washing and / or laundry and then treats it until it is purified.

[0018] The microorganisms are on a bio-carrier, which is an inert, lightweight matrix in which the microorganisms grow. Its design facilitates the movement of microorganisms in the water and the interaction between microorganisms and water, ensuring that the treated water is purified.

[0019] The biological carrier container carries microorganisms grown on a plurality of biological carriers and is located in the water pool. In one embodiment, the biological carrier container includes a fixing device that can fix the container on the water pool so that it is suspended without contacting the pool wall.

[0020] The device may include a connection device that can introduce the treated water from the water source into the collection tank. In addition, the device may also include a water pump to facilitate the introduction of the treated water into the tank and the discharge of the purified water from the tank.

[0021] If required, the unit can also include a real-time monitoring system that measures water quality parameters via sensors integrated in the central circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to further understand the present invention, the accompanying drawings constitute a part of this specification and further illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention:

[0023] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a device for filtering and purifying wastewater (such as grey water) in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a biological carrier container in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a pool opening in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of a gas diffusion ring of an aeration device connected to a biological carrier container in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another arrangement of a wastewater (such as grey water) filtration and purification device.

[0028] Fig. 6A Isometric view designed for the first biological vector.

[0029] Figure 6B Front view of the design for the first biovector.

[0030] Fig. 7A Isometric view designed for the second biological vector.

[0031] Figure 7B Front view of the second biocarrier design.

[0032] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a biological carrier design based on the latest technology.

[0033] Fig. 9A Schematic diagram of the volume of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0034] Fig. 9B Schematic diagram of the volume of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0035] Fig. 10A Schematic diagram of the quality of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0036] Fig. 10B Schematic diagram of the quality of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0037] Fig.11A Schematic diagram of the floating time recorded for the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0038] Fig. 11B Schematic representation of the floating times recorded for the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0039] Fig. 12A Schematic diagram of the suspension time recorded for the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0040] Fig. 12B Schematic representation of the suspension times recorded for the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made from polyethylene terephthalate.

[0041] Fig.13A Schematic diagram of the bottom time recorded for the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0042] Fig. 13B Bottom schematic diagram of the time recorded for the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0043] Fig.14A Schematic diagram of the vertical rotation times of commercial K3 biocarriers and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0044] Fig. 14B Schematic diagram of the vertical rotation times of the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0045] Fig.15A Schematic diagram of the clockwise rotation times of commercial K3 biocarriers and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0046] Fig. 15B Schematic diagram of the clockwise rotation times of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0047] Fig.16A Schematic diagram of the counterclockwise rotation times of commercial K3 biocarriers and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid.

[0048] Fig. 16B Schematic diagram of the counterclockwise rotation times of the commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0049] Fig.17A Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms grown on K3 biocarriers made of high-density polyethylene after 5 weeks of growth.

[0050] Fig. 17B Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms grown on K3 biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate after 5 weeks of growth.

[0051] Fig. 17C Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms growing on K3 biocarriers made of polylactic acid after 5 weeks of growth.

[0052] Fig.18A Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms grown on V1 biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate after 5 weeks of growth.

[0053] Fig.18B Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms grown on V1 biocarriers made of polylactic acid after 5 weeks of growth.

[0054] Fig.19A Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms after 5 weeks of growth on V2 biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate.

[0055] Fig.19B Schematic diagram comparing the initial state (left) and final state (right) of microorganisms growing on V2 biocarriers made of polylactic acid after 5 weeks of growth.

[0056] Fig. 20A Schematic diagram of the total amount of fresh biomass of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid after 3 months.

[0057] Fig. 20BSchematic diagram of the total amount of fresh biomass of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate after 3 months.

[0058] Fig.21A Schematic diagram of the total amount of dry biomass of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid after 3 months.

[0059] Fig.21B Schematic diagram of the total amount of dry biomass of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate after 3 months.

[0060] Fig.22A Schematic representation of bacterial densities obtained for commercial K3 biocarriers and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid during water quality testing taking into account 3 months of biomass growth, constant aeration, and weekly greywater replacement.

[0061] Fig. 22B Schematic representation of bacterial densities obtained for commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate during water quality testing taking into account 3 months of biomass growth, constant aeration and weekly greywater replacement.

[0062] Fig.23A Schematic representation of the quantification of biomass metabolic activity obtained after 3 months for commercial K3 biocarriers and various biocarriers made with polylactic acid under constant aeration and weekly greywater replacement.

[0063] Fig. 23B Schematic representation of the quantification of biomass metabolic activity obtained after 3 months for commercial K3 biocarriers and various biocarriers made from polyethylene terephthalate under constant aeration and weekly greywater replacement.

[0064] Fig.24A Graph showing the turbidity removal rates of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polylactic acid compared to day 0 (untreated water) obtained from water quality tests conducted after 24 hours of treatment taking into account 3 months of biomass growth, constant aeration and weekly grey water replacement.

[0065] Fig. 24B Graph showing the turbidity removal rates of commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made of polyethylene terephthalate obtained from water quality tests after 24 hours of treatment compared to day 0 (untreated water) taking into account 3 months of biomass growth, constant aeration and weekly grey water replacement.

[0066] Fig.25ASchematic representation of the COD removal of water obtained from water quality tests after 24 h of treatment compared to day 0 (untreated water) for commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made from polylactic acid, taking into account 3 months of biomass growth, constant aeration, and weekly greywater replacement.

[0067] Fig.25B Schematic representation of the COD removal of water obtained from water quality tests after 24 h of treatment compared to day 0 (untreated water) for commercial K3 biocarrier and various biocarriers made from polyethylene terephthalate, taking into account 3 months of biomass growth, constant aeration, and weekly greywater replacement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] like Figure 1 As shown, the integrated device (1) for filtering and purifying wastewater (such as gray water) that allows wastewater to be reused to generate new water sources is a biological filtration device, including a pool (2) for collecting water to be treated, a biological carrier container (3) that constitutes biological filtration and is located in the pool (2), and is composed of a plurality of biological carriers in which microorganisms responsible for purifying water grow, and an aeration device for providing oxygen in the pool to promote aerobic metabolism of microorganisms, prevent the occurrence of bad odors, and keep the biological carriers in a continuous shaking state to promote their interaction with water. The pool (2) includes an inlet or opening (5) for introducing water to be treated and discharging it after the water is filtered and purified. If necessary, the pool (2) may include an outlet or discharge port for leading out the filtered and purified water, which is separated from the inlet or opening (5). In an embodiment, the microorganisms grow in the form of a biofilm. In the case of treating or purifying wastewater, especially gray water, the device can collect gray water generated by showering, bathing, washing hands and / or washing clothes, and treat it until purification is achieved.

[0069] like Figure 2 As shown, the bio-carrier container (3) carries microorganisms grown on a plurality of bio-carriers, and comprises an elongated body (31) made of a water-permeable material having opposite upper and lower ends, wherein the lower end comprises a connection device (33) for connecting an aeration device.

[0070] In an embodiment, the upper end of the biological carrier container (3) includes a fixing device (32) for fixing or mounting the biological carrier container (3) on the pool (2), wherein the fixing device (32) can fix the biological carrier container (3) to the opening (5) of the pool (2), so that the biological carrier container (3) is suspended in the pool (2), does not contact the pool wall, and is aligned with its opening (5). The biological carrier container (3) can be suspended at different heights in the pool (2), that is, between the position where the upper end of the main body (31) is consistent with the pool opening (5) and the position where the lower end of the main body (31) is close to the lower wall of the pool (2), and the biological carrier container (3) does not contact any pool wall of the pool (2). The position of the biological carrier container (3) in the pool (2) is determined by the fixing device (32), and the fixing device (32) can be fixed or adjustable.

[0071] In an embodiment, the fixing device (32) comprises at least two tie bars (321) located at the upper end of the main body (31) of the biological carrier container (3), at least two fixing elements (322) composed of support belts (323), and the two ends of the support belts (323) include quick connections (324), which are respectively connected to the tie bars (321) and the opening (5) of the pool (2). The length of the support belt (323) determines the suspension height of the biological carrier container (3), and can be a fixed length to determine a fixed suspension height, or a variable or adjustable length to change the position of the biological carrier container (3) in the pool (2). The end of the support belt (323) may include a ring for installing the quick connection (324).

[0072] In an embodiment, Figure 3 As shown, the opening (5) of the pool (2) includes at least two mounting hooks (51) to facilitate the installation or fastening of the fixture (32). Specifically, the mounting hooks (51) can be connected to the quick connection (324) of the fixing element (322) on the fixture (32). The quick connection (324) and the mounting hooks (51) are preferably made of stainless material, such as stainless steel.

[0073] In an embodiment, the body (31) of the bio-carrier container (3) is a porous fabric bag, cylindrical, and includes a closure (311), preferably a plastic closure, for accessing the interior of the body to place and / or replace the bio-carrier. The porous fabric is preferably made of recycled fabric or plant material.

[0074] To ensure that the body (31) maintains its shape, the biological carrier container (3) can be equipped with a ring at each end of the body (31). In an embodiment, the ring is made of polyethylene tube, which is specially designed for contact with water. In another embodiment, the ring is made of stainless steel.

[0075] The aeration device comprises a gas diffusion ring (4), which is connected to the bio-carrier container (3) at the lower end of the main body (31) and is connected to one end of a gas hose (6), wherein the gas hose (6) is led out from the water pool (2) and the other end is connected to a micro gas compressor, and gas is injected into the water pool (2) through the gas diffusion ring (4), wherein the gas diffusion ring (4) comprises an annular bracket, which is connected to a circular diffusion hose, and micro bubbles are sprayed from the circular diffusion hose to supply oxygen to the water pool (2) to promote the aerobic metabolism of microorganisms and prevent the generation of bad odor. The bracket of the gas diffusion ring (4) is used to shape its structure, and is preferably made of stainless steel. The bubbles generated by the gas diffusion ring (4) keep the multiple bio-carriers in a continuous shaking state, which is conducive to the interaction between the microorganisms and water for filtering and purification. The position of the bio-carrier container (3) in the water pool (2) is preferably such that the gas diffusion ring (4) is completely immersed but not in contact with the water pool (2) to avoid the vibration of the gas diffusion ring (4) to generate noise and cause discomfort to the user.

[0076] In an embodiment, for the treatment of water in a 1000 liter pool, a micro compressor of at least 38 watts may be used, and for the treatment of water in a 2000 liter pool, a micro compressor of at least 58 watts may be used.

[0077] like Figure 4 As shown, the gas diffusion ring (4) is connected to the biological carrier container (3) through a connecting device (33) located at the lower end of the main body (31). The connecting device (33) includes at least four support belts (331), wherein one end of these support belts is connected to the lower end of the main body (31), and the other end is connected to the gas diffusion ring (4). In an embodiment, the connection between the connecting device (33) and the gas diffusion ring (4) is achieved by hooks (332) at both ends of the support belt (331). Both ends of the support belt (331) may have a ring for connecting the hook (332). The hook (332) is preferably made of stainless steel. In another embodiment, the connection between the connecting device (33) and the gas diffusion ring (4) is achieved by a cable tie.

[0078] In an embodiment, a portion of the gas hose (6) is fixed to the body (31) of the biological carrier container (3) by at least one transverse pin (34) near each end of the body (31), so that the portion of the gas hose (6) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body (31). In another embodiment, the gas hose (6) is located inside the pool (2) and is not connected to the biological carrier container (3).

[0079] In an embodiment, the pool (2) is substantially cylindrical and may have a vertical shape (eg Figure 1 ) or horizontal shape structures (such as Figure 5). If the pool (2) has a vertical shape, the opening (5) is located on the upper surface, and if the pool (2) has a horizontal shape, the opening (5) is located in the upper part of the pool (2) corresponding to the curved surface or body of the cylinder. In both cases, the arrangement of the biological carrier container (3) and the aeration device is the same. In an embodiment in which the biological carrier container (3) is fixed or mounted on the pool (2), the arrangement of this biological carrier container (3) is such that it is aligned with the opening (5) in the vertical direction. In addition, the opening (5) also includes a protective device to prevent foreign objects or contaminants from entering. In one embodiment, this protective device is a cover (7) covering the opening (5).

[0080] In an embodiment, the device (1) may include a pre-filter before or at the opening (5) for removing suspended particles and solids from the water before the water to be treated enters the tank (2) or after the water is treated after biological filtration.

[0081] The device (1) may include a connection device for introducing the water to be treated from the water source into the collection tank (2). In addition, the device may also include a water pump to facilitate the introduction of the water to be treated into the tank (2) and the discharge of the purified water from the tank (2). If necessary, the device (1) may also include a connection device connected to a post-treatment tank for storing treated or biologically filtered water.

[0082] If necessary, the device (1) may also include a real-time monitoring system that measures water quality parameters through sensors integrated in the central circuit and controls the operation of the device (1). The monitoring system can at least measure the pH value, turbidity, temperature and conductivity of the water in the pool (2). The monitoring system also includes a timer that can establish different aeration cycles (on / off) to control the water purification time.

[0083] The device (1) can be used for different purposes according to the needs of the user, for example, for low-cost, high-efficiency drip irrigation systems for delivering water to plant roots, toilet flushing or other domestic or industrial uses, depending on the regulations of the country in which the device is used. In addition, the device (1) can also be combined with the use of renewable energy, such as using solar energy from solar panels as a power supply to ensure autonomous operation.

[0084] Furthermore, the device (1) can be automated by installing a controller which can realize the general operation of the device (1), the loading and discharge of water, and can also introduce water quality parameters as required.

[0085] The microorganisms are on multiple bio-carriers, which are inert, lightweight matrices that allow the microorganisms to grow and colonize. These bio-carriers are designed to be mobile in water, promote interaction between the microorganisms and water, and ensure water purification. The microorganisms belong to a special association that can effectively remove pollutants in wastewater (such as gray water), resist adverse conditions, and dynamically adapt to changes in the composition, pH value, humidity and temperature of the water to be treated. In an embodiment, the microorganisms in the device (1) are environmental microorganisms that have filtering capabilities and can grow on a matrix. Before use, the microorganisms are first enriched to ensure filtration efficiency, the microorganisms are grown on the matrix, and they are loaded into a bio-carrier container (3). In an embodiment, the biomass growth of the microorganisms on the bio-carrier should be at least 3 months to ensure filtration efficiency.

[0086] The device (1) can be applied to different scales, for example, for on-site reuse of shower water for flushing toilets, reuse of laundry water, all grey water of a house, a group of houses or a larger building, or even industrial scale. In this way, the device (1) can be adjusted to different wastewater flows, especially grey water flows, wherein the size of the pool (2) can have any volume according to the needs of the user.

[0087] The device (1) can filter wastewater, especially grey water, within 12 to 24 hours, depending on the amount of water. In this regard, it has been shown that at least 1 kg of bio-carrier is required to filter 1000 liters of grey water, and 12 hours of water treatment time is required. If other water volumes are to be treated, the bio-carrier can be adjusted in proportion to the biomass required for treatment. The filtration process can be accelerated by adding bio-carriers to the device (1), thereby shortening the treatment time while maintaining the amount of water to be treated. To ensure that the system is operating optimally, one quarter of the bio-carrier should be replaced every 18 months.

[0088] The size of the bio-carrier container (3) can be adjusted according to the number of bio-carriers used, so that the bio-carriers can move in the container under the shaking of the aeration device.

[0089] In an embodiment, a plurality of bio-carriers may be directly inserted into the water pool (2) without the use of a bio-carrier container (3), thereby allowing the bio-carriers and microorganisms to move freely within the water pool (2).

[0090] In an embodiment, the device (1) is integrated with a post-treatment disinfection system, including chlorination, ultraviolet light, ozone or other chemical and physicochemical methods.

[0091] The biocarrier is designed to have hydrodynamic properties that are beneficial to the wastewater (especially gray water) biofiltration process, thereby allowing greater interaction between the biocarrier and water and gases, thereby producing oxygen that promotes aerobic metabolism. In this aspect, the biological carrier comprises a hollow cylindrical outer ring (81), a polygonal inner ring (82) concentric with the outer ring (81) and located at the center of the outer ring (81), and an intermediate ring (83) concentric with the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81) and located between the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81) to divide the biological carrier into a plurality of parts, wherein arc-shaped first ribs (84) extending from each vertex of the polygonal inner ring (82) connect all the rings (81, 82, 83) of the biological carrier, each first rib (84) further extends outward from the outer ring (81) to form a blade (86) around the outer ring (81), and between each pair of first ribs (84) there is an arc-shaped second rib (85) connected between the outer wall of the intermediate ring (83) and the inner wall of the outer ring (81). The first rib (84) and the second rib (85) have the same curvature.

[0092] The intersections between the rings (81, 82, 83) and the ribs (84, 85) form a plurality of cavities, which increase the surface area of ​​the biological carrier and improve the ability of microorganisms to grow therein.

[0093] The blades (86) around the outer ring (81) of the biocarrier facilitate rotation in the direction of the blades, resulting in greater interaction between the biocarrier and the water, thereby maximizing contact between the water to be treated and the biocarrier, and delivering oxygen to the microorganisms to promote their aerobic metabolism, thereby facilitating the operation of the water purification process. In this manner, the biocarrier is designed with fluid dynamics that facilitate the biological filtration process of wastewater (such as gray water).

[0094] In an embodiment, the biological carrier further comprises at least one additional intermediate ring (84) located between the intermediate ring (83) and the polygonal inner ring (82), wherein the radii of the intermediate ring (83) and the at least one additional intermediate ring (87) make the radial spacing distances of all the rings (81, 82, 83, 87) of the biological carrier the same. By adding additional intermediate rings, additional cavities can be formed, thereby increasing the surface area for microbial growth.

[0095] The cavities and surface area of ​​the bio-carrier can promote the growth of microorganisms to the greatest extent, wherein the addition of blades (86) helps to form new biomass attachment points, so that the bio-carrier in the bio-carrier container (3) immersed in the water to be treated begins to colonize under continuous aeration, movement and shaking.

[0096] The design of this biocarrier increases the surface area, number of cavities, and fluid dynamic interactions to promote the growth of biomass, reduce production costs, and enable localized production.

[0097] Fig. 6A , Figure 6B , Fig. 7A and Figure 7B An example of a biological carrier designed according to the elements shown is shown. Fig. 6A and 6B The first biological carrier (8A) is shown, comprising an outer ring (81), an octagonal polygonal inner ring (82), an intermediate ring (83) located between the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81), an additional intermediate ring (87) located between the intermediate ring (83) and the polygonal inner ring (82), eight arc-shaped first ribs (84) extending from each vertex of the polygonal inner ring (82) to form eight blades (86) around the outer ring (81), and eight arc-shaped second ribs (85) located between each pair of first ribs (85) between the intermediate ring (83) and the outer ring (81). In this way, the first biological carrier (8A) comprises thirty-three cavities and eight blades (86). Fig. 7A and 7B A second biological carrier (8B) is shown, comprising an outer ring (81), an octagonal polygonal inner ring (82), an intermediate ring (83) located between the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81), eight arcuate first ribs (84) extending from each vertex of the polygonal inner ring (82) to form eight blades (86) around the outer ring (81), and eight arcuate second ribs (85) located between each pair of first ribs (85) between the intermediate ring (83) and the outer ring (81). In this way, the second biological carrier (8B) comprises twenty-five cavities and eight blades (86).

[0098] The microorganisms used in the device (1) can be attached to and grown on a plastic matrix, and the biological carrier is made of high-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polylactic acid. In an embodiment, the biological carrier is manufactured using a 3D printer.

[0099] Experimental results:

[0100] Biological vector design:

[0101] The biocarrier designs considered in the test included: the first biocarrier (8A), referred to as version 1 or V1, including 33 cavities and 8 blades; the second biocarrier (8B), referred to as version 2 or V2, including 25 cavities and 8 blades; the third biocarrier, referred to as K3, corresponds to the biocarrier design on the market, as shown in Figure 8, including 19 cavities and no blades. The three biocarriers considered for testing were of the same size, with the first biocarrier (8A) having a cavity area of ​​6027mm 2 The cavity area of ​​the second biological carrier (8B) is 5650 mm 2 The cavity area of ​​K3 biocarrier is 3309mm 2 .

[0102] In general, the following conditions apply:

[0103] 1. K3 (or commercial) biocarrier made of high-density polyethylene material: This matrix is ​​available in the market.

[0104] 2. K3 biomatrix made of polyethylene terephthalate material: The matrix was obtained by 3D printing using polyethylene terephthalate filaments for comparison with other conditions.

[0105] 3. K3 biocarrier made of polylactic acid: The matrix was obtained by 3D printing using polylactic acid filaments for comparison with other conditions.

[0106] 4. Polyethylene terephthalate material biocarrier version 1: The matrix was obtained by 3D printing using polyethylene terephthalate filaments for comparison with other conditions.

[0107] 5. Biocarrier version 1 of PLA material: The matrix was obtained by 3D printing using PLA filaments for comparison with other conditions.

[0108] 6. Biocarrier version 2 made of polyethylene terephthalate: The matrix was obtained by 3D printing using polyethylene terephthalate filaments for comparison with other conditions.

[0109] VII. Biocarrier version 2 of PLA material: The matrix was obtained by 3D printing using PLA filaments for comparison with other conditions.

[0110] General Features:

[0111] As general characteristics, the volume, surface area, and mass of each biocarrier were measured.

[0112] In terms of volume, Fig. 9A and 9BAs shown, it can be seen that among all versions of the biological carrier, the commercial K3 (high-density polyethylene) version has the smallest volume. In general, the volume of the K3 version (all materials) is smaller than that of V1 and V2. In the polylactic acid material, the volume of V1 is the same as that of V2, but in the polyethylene terephthalate material, the volume of V1 is significantly larger. In terms of materials, the polyethylene terephthalate material is larger than the polylactic acid material.

[0113] In terms of surface area, Table 1 shows the number of cavities and surface area of ​​the three considered biocarrier geometries. Compared with K3, V1 and V2 have more cavities, especially V1 with a 73% increase and V2 with a 31% increase. In addition, the new versions of the biocarriers have a larger surface area compared with K3, with V1 increasing by 82% and V2 increasing by 70%.

[0114] Table 1: Number of cavities and surface area of ​​biocarriers

[0115]

[0116]

[0117] In terms of the mass of the biocarrier, it was characterized whether the increase in surface area and volume of the new designs V1 and V2 was associated with an increase in the mass of the biocarrier, which in turn would affect its hydrodynamic properties. Fig. 10A and 10B As shown, the high-density polyethylene commercial K3 biocarrier is the lightest among all carriers, which is reasonable because it is the material with the lowest density (0.95 g / cm3 for high-density polyethylene, 1.24 g / cm3 for polylactic acid, and 1.27 g / cm3 for polyethylene terephthalate).

[0118] Among the new biocarrier designs, for both V1 and V2, the biocarriers printed with polyethylene terephthalate are heavier than those printed with polylactic acid (the same version), which can also be explained based on the density of the materials. For both polylactic acid and polyethylene terephthalate, the weight of the V1 biocarrier is higher than that of V2, which in turn weighs more than the K3 printed. This is because V1 has the largest surface area and therefore has more material / printing unit. Following the same logic, after V1 in terms of surface area is V2, and then K3.

[0119] In summary, one aspect pursued in the design of new biocarriers is to increase the surface area. The theoretical surface area results correlate well with the volume results, and the results show that the volume of the new biocarrier design increases. In addition, as expected, it is also found that as the surface area of ​​the new biocarrier increases, the mass of each biocarrier also increases, which may affect the hydrodynamic properties of the biocarrier. Hydrodynamic performance testing:

[0120] The purpose of these tests is to determine whether there are differences between different types or versions of biocarriers in terms of their hydrodynamic properties, i.e., their interactions with water.

[0121] The experiment consisted of immersing 10 biocarriers of the same type in a pool of water and aeration, with a one-minute video recorded for each biocarrier to observe its performance and movement. This was repeated 10 times for the same type of biocarrier, with 10 videos obtained for each type. This was repeated 7 times in total, once for each different biocarrier design, for a total of 70 measurements.

[0122] The amount of aeration was kept constant in each experiment. The amount of water in the tank was also kept constant.

[0123] The measured parameters are as follows:

[0124] ●Floating time: refers to the time the biological carrier is in the waterline in contact with the gas.

[0125] ●Suspension time: refers to the time the biological carrier is suspended in the pool, that is, the time it is not in contact with the bottom or water line.

[0126] ●Bottom time: refers to the time the biological carrier stays at the bottom.

[0127] ●Vertical rotation: refers to the rotation of the biological carrier in a non-circular direction, that is, rotation around an axis perpendicular to the circumference.

[0128] ●Clockwise rotation: refers to the circumferential rotation of the biological carrier around its circumferential axis in a clockwise direction.

[0129] ●Counterclockwise rotation: refers to the circumferential rotation of the biological carrier around its circumferential axis in a counterclockwise direction.

[0130] The results for these parameters are as follows FIG. 11A to FIG. 16B As shown. From the results we can see that Fig.11A and Fig. 11B As shown, the high-density polyethylene commercial K3 biocarrier is in a floating state most of the time, that is, it is in the upper water line in contact with the gas, loses interaction in the water volume area, has the least number of rotations, the shortest suspension time, and the shortest time at the bottom of the water layer among all types, as shown in FIG. 12A to FIG. 13B When comparing biological carriers of the same material, for polyethylene terephthalate, the polyethylene terephthalate material V1 has the longest suspension time in water compared to polyethylene terephthalate K3 ( Fig. 12B ), and the time at the bottom of the water layer is the shortest ( Fig. 13B ). In terms of vertical rotation, there is no significant difference between the K3 and V2 designs printed on PLA and PET (see Fig.14Aand 14B Compared with the HDPE commercial K3, the new designs V1 and V2 made of PLA and PET showed more clockwise rotation (see Fig.15A and 15B ), while PLA V2 also rotates more than PLA K3, showing the improvement of the new design ( Fig.15A ). In terms of counterclockwise circular rotation, polylactic acid and polyethylene terephthalate V2 performed better than high-density polyethylene commercial K3 (see Fig.16A and 16B ). The improvement in circular rotation is due to the blade design in the V1 and V2 making it rotate, facilitating its movement through the water.

[0131] In summary, the new designs V1 and V2 increase the total volume of the biocarriers and their ability to move in water, which is an improvement over the geometry of the commercial K3, with shorter floating time, longer suspension time, and more vertical and circular rotations of the biocarriers, verifying that the increased mass of the new designs V1 and V2 does not affect the hydrodynamic performance of these biocarriers. The improvements achieved in the new designs V1 and V2 allow for greater interaction between the biocarriers and the water, maximizing the contact between the water to be treated and the biocarriers, and delivering oxygen to the microorganisms to promote their aerobic metabolism, thereby facilitating the water purification process.

[0132] Colonization test:

[0133] For this purpose, a test was conducted in which the prototype biocarrier type was distributed among different flasks.

[0134] Under all conditions, i.e. on different types of biocarriers, microbial inoculum from previously colonized biocarriers was added and domestic grey water (from laundry) was added. The water was changed every two weeks and the growth of biomass on the new biocarriers was monitored. After 3 months, the cultivation was carried out under conditions of continuous aeration and weekly water changes. After 5 and 3 months, the biomass was evaluated by macroscopic observation, quantification of fresh and dry biomass (analytical balance), quantification of bacterial density (ultrasonic degradation and optical density at 600 nm) and quantification of metabolic activity (thiazolyl blue test).

[0135] In terms of macroscopic observations, when comparing the same biocarrier (e.g., three different materials of K3), we can see that PET and PLA have better colonization. This suggests that commercial K3 (high-density polyethylene) is not the best choice for biofilter microbial growth because, for example, Fig.17A , 17B As shown in Figures 17 and 17C, the total amount of biomass observed was greater in polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid K3.

[0136] About the new design, Fig.18Aand 18B The microbial growth of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid V1 are shown respectively. Fig.19A and 19B The microbial growth of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid V2 is shown. It can be seen that for V1 and V2, the microorganisms of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid have better growth compared with commercial K3.

[0137] On the other hand, if only the geometries made with PLA are compared, we can see that the new versions (V1 or V2) show better growth compared to the PLA K3 geometry. In the case of the biocarriers made with PET, the new design V1 showed better colonization than the PET K3. The increase in the leaves probably facilitated the formation of new biomass attachment points, facilitating the start of colonization under the constant aeration, movement and shaking of the biocarriers in the biofilter submerged in greywater. In addition, the new V1 and V2 designs have a larger surface area than the K3 design, so there is more surface area per unit of biocarrier available for microbial development and growth. Regarding the quantification of fresh and dry biomass, the total amount of biomass was quantified using a high-precision analytical balance. For this purpose, the microorganisms were separated from the biocarriers by ultrasonic degradation, vortexing and centrifugation. The weight of the fresh microbial pellets and the microbial pellets dried at 65 °C for 48 h were measured.

[0138] Fig. 20A The results in show that the fresh biomass was significantly increased when using PLA with any geometry compared to the commercial K3 biocarrier (HDPE), i.e. the PLA material had a positive effect on the fresh weight of the biomass. In addition, the fresh biomass obtained with V1 was significantly higher compared to PLA K3, i.e. the change in geometry also had a positive effect on this parameter. In the case of PET, for example Fig. 20B As shown, the fresh biomass of all geometries was significantly higher compared to the commercial K3. For the dry biomass of the PLA biocarrier, Fig.21A As shown, the new geometries V1 and V2 obtained more biomass compared to the commercial K3 biocarrier (HDPE), but this was not the case for the polylactic acid K3. V1 obtained the most dry biomass compared to the other groups. Fig.21B As shown, all geometries significantly increased biomass dry weight compared to the commercial K3. In summary, the new geometries had a positive impact on biomass, with V1 having the greatest impact, resulting in a clear improvement in both fresh and dry biomass growth.

[0139] Regarding the quantification of bacterial density (OD600), the absorbance at 600 nm of the microorganisms suspended in phosphate-buffered saline buffer solution was measured following the acquisition process described in the previous paragraph. Fig.22A It was shown that the microbial density in biocarriers V1 and V2 was higher compared to the polylactic acid K3 biocarrier, and was also improved compared to the commercial K3 due to the material (polylactic acid) and the new geometry of biocarriers V1 and V2. Fig. 22B The results showed that the three polyethylene terephthalate biocarriers had higher bacterial densities compared to the commercial K3 biocarrier, an improvement brought about by the new material; however, the results did not show significant differences when different biocarrier geometries were used.

[0140] For metabolic activity, a thiazolyl blue reduction assay was performed by measuring the absorbance at 570 nm. Fig.23A The results showed that the polylactic acid materials V1 and V2 biocarriers had higher activity compared to commercial K3 and polylactic acid K3 biocarriers, among which the K3 biocarrier made of polylactic acid had no significant difference in metabolic activity from the commercial K3 biocarrier. Accordingly, the metabolic activity of polylactic acid V1 was significantly higher than that of polylactic acid V2, indicating that the same geometric shape of V1 promoted a higher metabolic rate of the biocarrier. Fig. 23B As can be seen, the activity of the PET K3 biocarrier is not significantly different from that of the HDPE commercial K3, while the activity of the new V2 and V1 geometries is significantly improved compared to the HDPE commercial K3. Therefore, the new geometries of the V1 and V2 biocarriers have better metabolic activity compared to the commercial biocarriers, while the V2 geometry has higher metabolic activity compared to the PLA and PET printed K3.

[0141] On the other hand, the V1 geometry made with PLA improves the functionality of the biocarrier, with higher fresh biomass, dry biomass, bacterial density, and metabolic activity compared to the K3 geometry made with PLA. Therefore, when comparing different geometries of the same material, it can be confirmed that the V1 geometry itself favors the growth of biomass and thus improves the functionality of the biocarrier, independent of the material.

[0142] In conclusion, both the designs of biocarriers V1 and V2 significantly increased the biomass growth of microorganisms compared to the commercial K3 geometry, as assessed by images, fresh and dry weights, and bacterial density, thereby increasing metabolic activity and benefiting the water filtration process.

[0143] Water quality testing:

[0144] To measure the quality of the biofiltered water, the same experimental environment as for the biomass measurements was used, taking into account a total of 3 months of biomass growth, continuous aeration, weekly replacement of grey water, and distribution of the prototype biocarrier types in the different flasks as follows:

[0145] 1. K3 (or commercial) biocarrier made of high-density polyethylene

[0146] 2. K3 bio-carrier made of polylactic acid

[0147] 3. K3 Biocarrier Made of Polyethylene Terephthalate

[0148] 4. Version 1 of polylactic acid material for bio-carriers

[0149] 5. Polyethylene terephthalate material version 1 biological carrier

[0150] 6. Version 2 Bio-Carrier of Polylactic Acid Material

[0151] 7. Polyethylene terephthalate material version 2 biological carrier

[0152] 200 ml of water was drawn from each flask for measuring water quality parameters: turbidity removal and chemical oxygen demand removal.

[0153] Fig.24A and 24B The quality parameter of water pollution degree shown is measured by the turbidity removal rate compared to day zero (untreated water), and we observed higher turbidity removal rates for the new designs V1 and V2 made of polylactic acid and polyethylene terephthalate compared to the high-density polyethylene commercial K3, exceeding 80% after 24 hours of treatment. In terms of turbidity removal rates, no significant differences were found between polylactic acid K3 biocarriers and high-density polyethylene K3 biocarriers compared to V1 and V2 made of the same materials, with high turbidity removal rates for all groups.

[0154] Finally, the removal rate of chemical oxygen demand relative to day zero was quantified to measure the organic matter in the water, e.g. Fig.25A and Fig.25B All versions of the PLA biocarriers showed significant improvements in COD removal compared to the commercial K3. In other words, this material has a positive effect on organic removal. In the case of the PET biocarriers, PET V2 showed a significant improvement in COD removal compared to HDPE K3 and PET K3, indicating that the geometry of V2 has a positive effect on organic removal.

[0155] These water quality measurements confirmed that the novel PLA V2 and PLA V1 designs improved water quality with higher turbidity removal and chemical oxygen demand removal rates compared to the commercial K3 geometry, thereby increasing the efficiency of the water filtration process.

[0156] In addition, water quality was measured in the field using a 2000-liter purification system consisting of a 1000-liter tank with filtration and purification equipment (tank 1), a 1000-liter tank for post-treatment of the water (tank 2), and a pump and a chlorinator for transporting water from tank 1 to tank 2 and chlorinating the water. Filtered grey water from showers, hand washing and laundry was used for irrigation and toilet flushing. Water samples were collected after 14 hours of treatment using the device of the invention, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0157] Table 2: Water quality measurement results of a water purification system including water filtration and purification devices

[0158]

[0159]

Claims

1. A wastewater filtering and purification device (1), characterized in that: The device (1) comprises: a water tank (2) for collecting the water to be treated, the water tank (2) comprising an inlet or opening (5) for introducing the water to be treated and for discharging the water after it has been filtered and purified; A biological carrier container (3), which is located in the pool (2) and includes a plurality of biological carriers, wherein the biological carriers carry growing microorganisms, which are responsible for purifying water; Aeration device: Aeration device is used to provide oxygen in the pool to promote aerobic metabolism of microorganisms and prevent odor.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The biological carrier container (3) comprises an elongated body (31) made of a water-permeable material having opposite upper and lower ends, and a connecting device (33) at the lower end, the connecting device (33) being used for connecting to an aeration device.

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper end of the biological carrier container (3) includes a fixing device (32), which is used to fix or install the biological carrier container (3) on the pool (2) so that the biological carrier container (3) is suspended in the pool (2) without contacting the pool wall and is aligned with its opening (5).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fixing device (32) comprises at least two pull bars (321) located at the upper end of the main body (31) of the biological carrier container (3), and at least two fixing elements (322) composed of support belts (323), and both ends of the support belts (323) include quick connectors (324), and the quick connectors (324) are respectively connected to the pull bars (321) and the opening (5) of the pool (2).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The support belt (323) may have a fixed length to determine a fixed suspension height, or may have a variable or adjustable length to change the position of the bio-carrier container (3) within the pool (2).

6. The device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The support strap (323) includes loops at the ends of the support strap for attaching a quick connector (324).

7. Device (1) according to claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: The quick connector (324) is made of stainless steel.

8. Device (1) according to claims 2 to 7, characterized in that: The main body (31) of the biological carrier container (3) is a bag made of a porous material fabric.

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that: Porous material fabrics are made from recycled fabrics or plant-based materials.

10. Device (1) according to claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: The body (31) of the biological carrier container (3) is cylindrical in shape and includes a ring at each end to maintain the shape of the body.

11. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that: The rings at each end of the body (31) of the biological carrier container (3) are made of polyethylene tube or stainless steel material.

12. Device (1) according to claims 2 to 11, characterized in that: The main body (31) of the biological carrier container (3) comprises a closure (311) for accessing the interior of the main body (31) to place and / or replace the biological carrier.

13. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aeration device comprises a gas diffusion ring (4) connected to the bottom of a biological carrier container (3), and a gas hose (6) connected to one end of the gas diffusion ring (4), wherein the gas hose (6) is led out from a water pool (2), and the other end of the gas diffusion ring (4) is connected to a micro gas compressor, so that gas is injected into the water pool (2) through the gas diffusion ring (4).

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that: The gas diffusion ring (4) comprises an annular support, which is connected to a circular diffusion hose. Microbubbles are sprayed from the circular diffusion hose to supply oxygen to the inside of the water pool (2) to promote aerobic metabolism of microorganisms and prevent the generation of bad odor.

15. The device (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that: The diffusion ring (4) is connected to the biological carrier container (3) via a connection device (33) at the bottom end of the body (31).

16. The device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that: The connecting device (33) comprises at least a supporting belt (331), wherein one end of the belt is attached to the lower end of the biological carrier container (3) and the other end of the belt is connected to the gas diffusion ring (4).

17. The device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that: The connection device (33) is connected to the gas diffusion ring (4) using hooks (332) at each end of the support strap (331).

18. The device (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that: The support strap (331) includes loops at the ends of the support strap for positioning the hooks (332).

19. The device (1) according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that: The hook (332) is made of stainless steel.

20. The device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that: The connection device (33) is connected to the gas diffusion ring (4) using a cable tie.

21. Device (1) according to claims 13 to 20, characterized in that: A portion of the air hose (6) is connected to the biological carrier container (3) by at least one transverse pin (34), which is close to the bottom and top of the biological carrier container (3), so that a portion of the air hose (6) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the biological carrier container (3).

22. Device (1) according to claims 2 to 12, characterized in that: The opening (5) of the pool (2) comprises at least two mounting hooks (51) for fixing the mounting or anchoring of the fixing device (32).

23. The device (1) according to claim 22, characterized in that: The mounting hook (51) is made of stainless steel.

24. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 23, characterized in that: The pool (2) is in the shape of a vertically arranged cylinder, wherein the opening (5) is located in the upper surface of the cylinder.

25. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 23, characterized in that: The pool (2) is in the shape of a horizontally arranged cylinder, wherein the opening (5) is located at the top of the pool (2) corresponding to the arcuate surface or body of the cylinder.

26. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 22, characterized in that: The pool (2) further comprises a protection device in the opening (5) to prevent the ingress of foreign matter or contaminants.

27. The device (1) according to claim 26, characterized in that: The protective device in the opening (5) is a cover (7).

28. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 27, characterized in that: Multiple biological vectors include: · Cylindrical outer ring (81); A polygonal inner ring (82) that is concentric with the outer ring (81) and located at the center of the outer ring (81); An intermediate ring (83) that is concentric with the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81) and is located between the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81); wherein arc-shaped first ribs (84) extending from each vertex of the polygonal inner ring (82) connect all the rings (81, 82, 83) of the biological carrier, and each first rib (84) further extends outward from the outer ring (81) to form blades (86) around the outer ring (81); and There is an arcuate second rib (85) between each pair of first ribs (84), and the arcuate second rib (85) is connected between the outer wall of the intermediate ring (83) and the inner wall of the outer ring (81).

29. The device (1) according to claim 28, characterized in that: The plurality of biological carriers further comprises at least one additional intermediate ring (87) located between the intermediate ring (83) and the polygonal inner ring (82).

30. The device (1) according to claim 29, characterized in that: The radii of the intermediate ring (83) and the at least one additional intermediate ring (87) are such that all rings (81, 82, 83, 87) of the biological carrier are radially spaced the same distance apart.

31. Device (1) according to claims 28 to 30, characterized in that: The polygonal inner ring (82) is octagonal in shape.

32. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 31, characterized in that: Several biocarriers are made from high-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polylactic acid.

33. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 32, characterized in that: It further comprises a pre-filtration before or at the opening (5) for removing suspended particles and solids in the water before the water to be treated enters the pool (2) or after the water is treated after biological filtration.

34. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 33, characterized in that: It further comprises connection means for directing the water to be treated from its source to a collection tank (2).

35. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 34, characterized in that: Further included is a connection to a post-treatment tank for storing treated or biofiltered water.

36. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 35, characterized in that: It further comprises at least one water pump so as to supply the water to be treated to the water pool (2) and discharge the purified water from the water pool.

37. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 36, characterized in that: It further comprises a real-time monitoring system which allows the water quality parameters to be measured and the operation of the device (1) to be controlled by sensors integrated in the centralized circuit.

38. The device (1) according to claim 37, characterized in that: The monitoring system further includes a timer for establishing different aeration cycles (on / off) to control the water purification time.

39. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 38, characterized in that: The pool (2) includes an outlet or drain separate from the inlet or opening (5) for conducting filtered and purified water.

40. Device (1) according to claims 1 to 39, characterized in that: The amount of biological carrier in the water pool (2) is at least 1 kg of biological carrier per 1000 liters of water to be treated.

41. A biological carrier for the growth of microorganisms for wastewater filtration and purification, characterized in that: include: · Cylindrical outer ring (81); A polygonal inner ring (82) that is concentric with the outer ring (81) and located at the center of the outer ring (81); An intermediate ring (83) that is concentric with the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81) and is located between the polygonal inner ring (82) and the outer ring (81); wherein arc-shaped first ribs (84) extending from each vertex of the polygonal inner ring (82) connect all the rings (81, 82, 83) of the biological carrier, and each first rib (84) further extends outward from the outer ring (81) to form blades (86) around the outer ring (81); and Between each pair of first ribs (84) there is an arcuate second rib (85) which connects between the outer wall of the intermediate ring (83) and the inner wall of the outer ring (81).

42. The biological carrier according to claim 41, characterized in that: Also included is at least one additional intermediate ring (87) located between the intermediate ring (83) and the polygonal inner ring (82).

43. The biological carrier according to claim 42, characterized in that: The radii of the intermediate ring (83) and at least one additional intermediate ring (87) are such that the radial spacing distances of all the rings (81, 82, 83, 87) of the biological carrier are the same.

44. The biological carrier according to claims 41 to 43, characterized in that: The polygonal inner ring (82) is octagonal in shape.

45. The biological carrier according to claims 41 to 44, characterized in that: The biocarrier is made of high-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polylactic acid.

Images