Systems and methods for reducing carbon-containing pollutants in public works, agriculture and manufacturing - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for providing, maintaining and using youthful microbial populations for wastewater treatment. More specifically, the present invention provides a green, sustainable, microbial, net zero carbon solution for wastewater and waste treatment using biofermentation, and provides methods for treating wastewater and waste with processes involving biofermentation microorganisms.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 227,979, filed July 30, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to new and unique applications and uses for bioremediation and waste materials, such as municipal and manufacturing wastes, including water streams. [Background technology]

[0003] Generally, wastewater treatment systems handle runoff from municipalities, industrial sites, factories, storm drainage systems, and other locations where water contaminated with undesirable substances is present. As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "wastewater treatment system," "wastewater treatment plant," "treatment plant," and similar such terms are to be given their broadest possible meaning and include industrial and municipal systems having primary, secondary, or tertiary treatment, as well as combinations and variations thereof, aerobic, facultative, or anaerobic biological wastewater systems, where aerobic processes include, for example, activated sludge systems, aerobic stabilization ponds (ASBs), aerated lagoons, single-pass lagoon systems, stabilization ponds, rotating biological contactors, and trickling filters, and where facultative processes include, for example, activated sludge systems, aerobic stabilization ponds (ASBs), aerated lagoons, single-pass lagoon systems, stabilization ponds, rotating biological contactors, and trickling filters. Examples of anaerobic processes include, for example, facultative lagoons, and anaerobic processes include, for example, anaerobic ponds, anaerobic digesters, anaerobic filters or contactors, and anaerobic treatment systems, including clarifiers, settling tanks, digesters, activated sludge systems, lagoons, single pass lagoons, and systems having combinations and variations thereof, activated sludge systems, rotating disk systems, submerged aerated filters, suspended media filters, sequencing batch reactors, non-electrical filters, and trickling filters, and combinations and variations of these and other devices for cleaning wastewater.

[0004] Wastewater treatment plants can vary in daily flow, i.e., capacity, measured in gallons per day (GPD), to large capacity, measured in flow of one million (1,000,000) gallons per day (MGD). Flow rates can be 10 GPD, 100 GPD, 1,000 GPD, 10,000 GPD, and 100,000 GPD. Typically in urban and industrial sites, wastewater flow rates are about 0.01 MGD or greater, about 0.1 MGD or greater, about 1 MGD or greater, about 2 MGD or greater, 0.01 MGD to 100 MGD, 0.05 MGD to 50 MGD, 0.1 MGD to 2 MGD, about 1 MGD to about 15 MGD, about 5 MGD to about 25 MGD, about 10 MGD to about 40 MGD, about 20 MGD to about 100 MGD, about 25 MGD to about 60 MGD, about 200 MGD to about 300 MGD, about 300 MGD or greater, about 350 MGD or greater, as well as larger and smaller flow rates and all flow rates within these ranges.

[0005] The capacity or size of a wastewater treatment plant can also be measured in population equivalents ("PE"). PE is a standardization used to measure flow rates and compare flows between different treatment plants. PE is a number that represents the ratio of the total pollutant load generated by industrial facilities and services in a 24-hour period to the individual population of domestic sewage generated by one person in the same period.

number

[0006] Typically, one unit of PE is equal to 54 grams of BOD per 24 hours. In terms of flow rate, as used herein, a unit of PE is equal to 50 gallons per person per day or 200 liters per person per day. Wastewater treatment plants can have capacities of 10,000 to 200,000 PE, 50,000 to 100,000 PE, 50,000 to 500,000 PE, 100,000 PE to 2,000,000 (2mm) PE, 1mm PE to 4mm PE, 150mm PE or more, 200mm PE or more, and about 300mm PE, as well as all capacities within these ranges, as well as larger and smaller capacities. Additionally, plants can be sized larger than their PE to handle storm surges.

[0007] In general, in the absence of expensive and sometimes unreliable treatment facilities or processes, such as sludge stabilization facilities, the sludge or waste sludge or biosolids (used synonymously herein unless otherwise specified) generated by wastewater treatment systems typically contain undesirable materials, which require even more expensive and less environmentally desirable disposal techniques. These processes require large capital investments, have high operating costs with a high carbon footprint, and use harsh and hazardous materials such as caustic and acidic chemicals, as well as other unfavorable requirements. In particular, current conventional pH-based systems, as well as other conventional disinfection systems, have proven unreliable and undesirable, and do not meet the need to produce safe, usable, economically and environmentally acceptable sludge and other end products of such processes. However, other less capital intensive variations, such as composting, have the disadvantage of using fillers such as bark that may be contaminated with regulated fecal material, making it more difficult to meet the fecal standards.

[0008] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term "influent" is to be given its broadest possible meaning and refers to raw (untreated) or partially treated wastewater or other liquids entering an apparatus, system, equipment, reservoir, basin, treatment process, treatment system, treatment device, tank, or treatment plant or facility.

[0009] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the term "sludge" is to be given its broadest possible meaning and includes materials removed from wastewater by a wastewater treatment plant. Typically, sludge can have a solids content of about 0.2% to about 80%, about 1% to about 60%, about 0.25% to 0.5%, about 2% to about 4%, about 50% to about 99%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5%, about 10%, about 1%, about 10%, about 15%, greater than about 0.5%, greater than about 2%, greater than about 5%, and combinations and variations thereof, as well as all values ​​within these ranges.

[0010] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "floc forming microorganisms", "floc forming bacteria", flocculation, and similar such terms should be given the broadest possible meaning and include the general group of microorganisms that cause flocculation or aggregation, resulting in large clumps or communities of bacteria that come together, including floc forming bacteria, Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, bacterial populations, Acinetobacter, Citromonas, predators, i.e. protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, Vorticella, Aspidisca, Paramecium, phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), algae (lagoons).

[0011] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term "greenhouse gas" and similar such terms include any gas that, when in the atmosphere, contributes to global warming or temperature rise. Such gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). N2O is approximately 300 times more decisive in causing global warming than CO2 equivalent.

[0012] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, room temperature is 25° C. and standard temperature and pressure are 25° C. and 1 atmosphere.

[0013] In general, the term "about" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, is meant to encompass a variance or range of ±10%, or the greater of the experimental or instrumental error associated with obtaining the stated value.

[0014] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise stated herein, each individual value within a range is incorporated herein as if it were individually set forth herein. Summary of the Invention

[0015] There has been a long-standing need for methods and apparatus for removing and eliminating contaminants from wastes, such as wastewater, generated by human, urban and rural living environments, agricultural and manufacturing activities. Along these lines, there has been an ever-increasing need to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, generated by such activities, and there has been an ever-increasing need to make these activities carbon neutral. The present invention solves these needs by, among other things, providing compositions of matter, materials, articles of manufacture, apparatus and processes as taught, disclosed and claimed herein.

[0016] Globally, wastewater treatment represents 3% of carbon dioxide emissions, or 31.5 billion tons per year. For over 100 years, the solution to growing population and wastewater treatment demands has been to build capital facilities and energy-intensive processes to contain natural ecology. The goal is to remove sources of total suspended solids (TSS), organic matter measured as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) before discharging clean water. Energy-intensive processes increase the carbon footprint and add to the collective climate crisis. The present invention solves these and other problems by providing a treatment facility and method of operating the facility described herein.

[0017] Prior to this invention, there were only expensive and complex engineered solutions to address the problems of biosolids handling. All of these processes are capital intensive with significant "embodied carbon" in their construction, which is most often overlooked. Furthermore, the overall processing, handling, and disposal of biosolids can represent 30-40% of a utility's operating budget. This invention addresses these issues and reduces the carbon footprint of all these processes by 20% to 60%, potentially more, while also reducing the need for new capital investments.

[0018] Prior to the present invention, the use of added microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) in wastewater treatment systems was understood to provide some benefit in removing contaminants from wastewater, but was not very effective. Prior to the present invention, it is believed that these types of microbial addition techniques were not known, understood, or implemented to reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment facilities, or to reduce greenhouse gas production from the facilities.

[0019] The use of on-site grown or on-site provided active microorganism treatment batches for use in wastewater treatment plants provides great benefits in reducing the pollution of effluent from treatment plants.Preferred types of these "active treatment batch" systems (e.g., systems, methods, methodologies and techniques) are taught and disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 11,155,484, 9,409,803 and 7,879,593, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.A particularly preferred type of active treatment batch system is the Biofermentation system, which is taught and disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 11,155,484, 9,409,803 and 7,879,593. These techniques have been used, for example, to address problems in wastewater plant operation, increasing influent contamination, plant imbalance, increasing effluent purity (i.e., reducing contaminants in the effluent), reducing sludge generation while maintaining effluent purity, and obtaining sludge with reduced levels of contaminants, e.g., Class A sludge.

[0020] Prior to the present invention, the construction, implementation, and use of active treatment batch methodologies and technologies, such as Biofermentation® methodologies and technologies, to reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment facilities, to break the paradigm of increasing effluent purity that forces increased greenhouse gas production, and combinations and variations of these and other advantages were not known, understood, or implemented. The present invention provides surprising new uses, applications, and constructions of active treatment batch methodologies and technologies, such as Biofermentation® methodologies and technologies, to, among other things, reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants, to increase wastewater effluent purity without increasing greenhouse gas production, to break the paradigm that links increased effluent purity with increased carbon footprint and increased greenhouse gas production, and other benefits and advantages set forth herein.

[0021] Thus, there is provided a method of increasing the capacity of a wastewater treatment facility without increasing the carbon footprint of the wastewater treatment plant while maintaining effluent quality, the method comprising: determining an initial flow rate for the wastewater treatment facility, where the wastewater treatment facility has an embodied carbon footprint, the initial flow rate being at a capacity of the embodied carbon footprint that maintains a contaminant in an effluent from the wastewater treatment plant at or below a first contaminant level; and increasing the flow rate of the wastewater treatment facility to obtain an increased flow rate, where the increased flow rate is at least 25% greater than the initial flow rate, where the level of the contaminant in the effluent is maintained at or below the first contaminant level at the increased flow rate, and where the embodied carbon footprint of the wastewater treatment facility remains the same.

[0022] Additionally, methods are provided that provide a green, sustainable, microbiological, net-zero carbon solution for wastewater and waste treatment that utilizes biofermentation to treat wastewater and waste using a process that includes biofermenting microorganisms.

[0023] Further provided is a method of operating a wastewater treatment facility to reduce greenhouse gas production associated with the treatment of wastewater without reducing the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant while maintaining effluent quality, the method comprising: the wastewater treatment facility producing a first amount of greenhouse gas in connection with the treatment and disposal of sludge having an initial flow rate of the wastewater treatment, the contaminants in the effluent from the wastewater treatment plant being maintained at or below a first contaminant level, producing greenhouse gas, and reducing the first amount of greenhouse gas produced by at least 25% while maintaining the level of the contaminants in the effluent at or below the first contaminant level.

[0024] Additionally, the following characteristics may be met: increased flow rate is at least 20% greater than the initial flow rate; increased flow rate is at least 50% greater than the initial flow rate; increased flow rate is at least 70% greater than the initial flow rate; the amount of biosolids produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 25%; the amount of biosolids produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%; the amount of biosolids produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 60%; the amount of phosphorus produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 20%; the amount of phosphorus produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%; the amount of nitrogen produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 20%; the amount of nitrogen produced by treating from the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%; greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 30%; greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 40%; greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 60%. These methods, and systems for operating these methods, are provided that have one or more of: reduced greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80%; reduced amount of biosolids produced by treating an initial flow rate to an increased flow rate by at least 50%; reduced amount of biosolids produced by treating an initial flow rate to an increased flow rate by at least 60%; reduced amount of phosphorus produced by treating an initial flow rate to an increased flow rate by at least 20%; reduced amount of phosphorus produced by treating an initial flow rate to an increased flow rate by at least 50%; reduced amount of nitrogen produced by treating an initial flow rate to an increased flow rate by at least 20%; including treatment of fats, oils and grease; including enhancing alkalinity recovery by improving denitrification; including improving biomass settleability; including control of undesirable filamentous growth; including improving nitrification to increase ammonia removal; including re-rating wastewater plants; including increasing; [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a chart illustrating the impact of an embodiment of an activated batch process on the embodied carbon footprint of an embodiment of a designed or proposed treatment facility in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a chart showing the effect of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment regime on embodied carbon versus operating carbon in accordance with the present invention.

[0027] [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating the effect on the total carbon footprint of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment method in accordance with the present invention.

[0028] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a chart showing the effect of one embodiment of an activated treatment batch system on soil application practices in accordance with the present invention.

[0029] [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a chart illustrating the effect on incineration practices of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment method in accordance with the present invention.

[0030] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating the effect of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment process on increasing phosphorus removal in accordance with the present invention.

[0031] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a chart illustrating the effect of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment method in accordance with the present invention on increasing capacity and hydraulic throughput.

[0032] [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a chart illustrating the effect of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment process on improved ammonia-nitrogen removal in accordance with the present invention.

[0033] [Figure 9] 9A and 9B are charts illustrating the effect of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment regime on improving settleability and controlling filamentous growth in accordance with the present invention.

[0034] [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are charts illustrating the effect of one embodiment of an activated batch treatment regime on alkalinity recovery through improved denitrification in accordance with the present invention.

[0035] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a chart illustrating power consumption by activity in one embodiment of a wastewater treatment facility.

[0036] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a chart illustrating an embodiment of carbon contribution to a wastewater treatment facility by a process in one embodiment.

[0037] [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a chart illustrating one embodiment of the improved energy usage reduction according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] In general, the present invention relates to systems, apparatus and processes for treating wastewater and waste materials to reduce the amount of pollutants, such as greenhouse gases present, particularly greenhouse gases, released into the environment. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention relate to the treatment of wastewater and waste materials with biological materials, systems and methods for performing such treatment, and the production of useful, safe and environmentally acceptable materials, including liquids, from wastewater. The types of apparatus, equipment, systems, treatments and biofermentation methods taught and disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0087183, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, can be used in the present invention to achieve the benefits and advantages of the present invention.

[0039] While this specification focuses primarily on municipal wastewater treatment plants, the invention is not so limited. Embodiments of the systems and methods described herein find use, applicability, and benefit in industrial wastewater treatment plants, such as those in the pulp and paper industry, mining, and commercial (factory) farms and livestock facilities.

[0040] Embodiments of the present systems, apparatus, and methods can reduce the production and generation of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, N2O, and CH4) and can operate in a net carbon neutral manner.

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention can increase the purity of the effluent without increasing the production of greenhouse gases associated with the treatment facility. Thus, embodiments of the present invention achieve increased effluent purity, i.e., reduced contaminants, without increasing greenhouse gas production and preferably with reduced greenhouse gases.

[0042] As wastewater environmental quality standards (EQS) increase in the United States and around the world, secondary or additional treatment processes and equipment are generally required to meet these increased standards. These additional treatment measures require increased energy usage, both through the construction of larger or additional facilities, including increased cement usage, and through increased energy usage to operate these additional facilities, processes, or treatment equipment. Thus, meeting higher EQS increases effluent quality, but at the cost of increased carbon footprint and greenhouse gas pollution, creating an unfortunate and, prior to the present invention, unsolvable paradigm. The present invention addresses and overcomes this paradigm. Embodiments of the present invention allow for meeting higher ESO standards, i.e., cleaner effluent from wastewater treatment facilities, without the need for up-front additional measures and the resulting increase in carbon footprint and greenhouse gases that accompany those additional measures.

[0043] In general, embodiments of the present invention provide for the construction of new treatment facilities that can be built to have comparable or better throughput capacity and effluent quality while significantly reducing the carbon footprint, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, for example, a treatment facility built to use an active treatment batch method can conservatively increase capacity by 25%, thereby reducing the embodied carbon of the design and new build by at least 25%. For an existing treatment facility, an example of reducing the carbon footprint by eliminating the need for construction while still increasing capacity by 25% is further illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, the biggest challenge for a treatment facility with a flow rate of 200-300 MGP is to increase the treatment facility capacity by 25% over the next 25 years, meaning that this could easily eliminate all or most of the capital investment planned for expansion or embodied carbon. Thus, for example, embodied carbon is equivalent to 6.4 to 14 years of operating carbon emissions for a plant that processes 14,500 to 300 PE.

[0044] According to embodiments of the present invention, an increase in the capacity of a treatment facility is realized over an extended period of time, e.g., the next 10 years, the next 20 years, the next 25 years, etc., without increasing the embodied carbon footprint. Such an increase in capacity can be 25% or more, 30% or more, and 50% or more. The present invention does not limit its claims to a 25% increase in capacity, which is merely an example. These operating configurations and methods of increasing capacity without increasing the carbon footprint (e.g., the embodied carbon footprint) can be implemented in wastewater treatment plants having capacities of 10,000 to 200,000 PE, 50,000 to 100,000 PE, 50,000 to 500,000 PE, 100,000 PE to 2 mm PE, 1 mm PE to 4 mm PE, 150 mm PE or more, 200 mm PE or more, and about 300 mm PE, as well as all values ​​within these ranges.

[0045] According to embodiments of the present invention, an increase in capacity of a treatment facility is achieved over an extended period of time, e.g., the next 10 years, the next 20 years, the next 25 years, etc., without increasing the embodied carbon footprint. Such an increase in capacity can be 25% or more, 30% or more, and 50% or more. The present invention does not limit its claims to a 25% increase in capacity, which is merely an example. These operating configurations and methods of increasing capacity without increasing the carbon footprint (e.g., embodied carbon footprint) can be implemented in wastewater treatment plants having wastewater flow rates of about 0.01 MGD or more, about 0.1 MGD or more, about 1 MGD or more, about 2 MGD or more, 0.01 MGD to 100 MGD, 0.05 MGD to 50 MGD, 0.1 MGD to 2 MGD, about 1 MGD to about 15 MGD, about 5 MGD to about 25 MGD, about 10 MGD to about 40 MGD, about 20 MGD to about 100 MGD, about 25 MGD to about 60 MGD, about 200 MGD to about 300 MGD, about 300 MGD or more, about 350 MGD or more, flow rates above and below, and all flow rates within these ranges.

[0046] In general, embodiments of the present invention use and optimize active treatment batch methodologies and techniques, thus eliminating significant embodied carbon emissions. The embodied carbon footprint of such facilities relative to wastewater treatment facilities is four orders of magnitude smaller than engineered solutions (e.g., requiring additional size and processes to obtain the same quality and throughput). The operating carbon footprint of such systems is three orders of magnitude smaller and superior than engineered solutions. The implementation, operation and advantages of such facilities are further illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0047] In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to landfill design and operations that reduce greenhouse gases. Thus, the activated treatment batch method and technology reduces sludge production by at least 44%, which will proportionally impact (e.g., reduce) NOX and methane emissions from landfill applications used as disposal routes. The implementation, operation, and advantages of such a facility are further illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0048] In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to sludge incineration operations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the activated treatment batch method and technology reduces sludge production by at least 44%, which will proportionally impact (e.g., reduce) CO2 and NOX emissions from sludge incineration applications used as disposal routes. The implementation, operation, and advantages of such a facility are further illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0049] Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the treatment of wastewater and disposal of sludge produced therefrom. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide a total, i.e. start to finish, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with wastewater treatment, particularly municipal wastewater treatment.

[0050] Thus, in general, embodiments of the present invention relate to wastewater management embodiments utilizing activated treatment batch methods and technologies that provide solutions for utilities and operators to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet national, regional and global regulatory and organizational zero carbon or low carbon guidelines, rules or standards from existing facilities as well as newly constructed facilities, among other benefits.

[0051] In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to wastewater treatment facilities that are configured, constructed, modified, and operated to implement treatment batches of active microorganisms grown or provided on-site, and combinations and variations thereof. (The active microorganisms in the treatment batches are a theorized synergistic function, similar to probiotics in the mammalian gut.) The treatment batches can be grown on-site at the treatment facility or in close proximity to the treatment facility, such that a liquid treatment batch containing live active microorganisms is provided to wastewater within the facility at one or more application points.

[0052] These preferred types of liquid activated batch processing systems (e.g., systems, methods, methodologies, and techniques) are taught and disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 11,155,484, 9,409,803, and 7,879,593. A particularly preferred type of activated batch processing system is the Biofermentation® system, taught and disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 11,155,484, 9,409,803, and 7,879,593. Liquid activated batch processing systems utilize reactors, methods, and processes for growing microbial cultures on-site or at nearby off-site facilities as sidestream reactors to obtain liquid batch processing systems. Preferably, these systems avoid freeze-drying or storage steps that may have very high mortality, possibly as high as 99.9%, before adding microbial cultures to the reactor to grow the batch processing system.

[0053] In general, the microorganisms in the liquid treatment batch can be any microorganism useful for treating wastewater, and are preferably selected from one or more floc-forming microorganisms. In general, the liquid treatment batch can be added to one or more locations in the wastewater treatment facility, such as activated sludge systems, aerobic stabilization ponds (ASBs), aerated lagoons, single-pass lagoon systems, stabilization ponds, rotating biological contactors, and trickling filters, facultative processes include, for example, facultative lagoons, anaerobic processes include, for example, anaerobic ponds, anaerobic digesters, anaerobic filters or contactors, and anaerobic treatment systems, clarifiers, settling tanks, digesters, activated sludge systems, lagoons, single-pass lagoons, and systems with combinations and variations thereof, activated sludge systems, rotating disk systems, submerged aerated filters, suspended media filters, sequencing batch reactors, non-electrical filters, and trickling filters, and combinations and variations of these and other devices for cleaning wastewater. These preferred types of active treatment batch modes (e.g., systems, methods, methodologies and techniques) are taught and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,155,484, 9,409,803 and 7,879,593, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0054] Generally, the microorganisms in the liquid treatment batch for use in the present embodiment can be one or more strains, classes or species of microorganisms. The term microorganisms as used herein includes fungi, yeasts, bacteria, and other small biodegradable single-celled organisms. For example, the microorganisms can be floc-forming microorganisms. Some additional examples of microorganisms with specific biodegradation properties for use in the liquid treatment batch are shown in Table 1.

[0055] [Table 1]

[0056] Further examples of microorganisms that may be used in the liquid treatment batch include Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida and Nocardia strains, and other strains for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons documented in Watkinson, "Developments in Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons-1," Applied Science Publishers, 1978 ISBN:0-85334-751-4, which is incorporated herein by reference. Biodegradation of chloroorganics using white-rot fungi is well documented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,075, which is incorporated herein by reference. Cultivation methods are discussed in "Increasing Ligninolytic Enzyme Activities in Several White-Rot Basidiomycetes by Nitrogen Sufficient Media," Erwin et al., Biosource Technology, Vol. 53 (1995), pp. 133-139, Elsevier Science Limited, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0057] Generally, the first liquid processing batch is grown for approximately 10 7 ~10 10 Colony forming units / milliliter (cfu / ml), approximately 10 8 ~10 9 cfu / ml, approximately 10 7 cfu or more, about 10 9 The concentration of the microorganisms may be greater than or equal to 10 cfu. When grown on-site, these treatment batches can be added directly to the wastewater. These treatment batches can be further concentrated in a manner that maintains the viability and activity of the microorganisms and then fed to the wastewater in a treatment plant. The concentration of these treatment batches is determined by the concentration of the liquid treatment batch when first grown (i.e., about 10 8 From 10 9cfu / ml), about 2 to 400 times greater, about 4 times greater, about 20 times greater, about 40 times greater, about 100 times greater, about 200 times greater, about 10 to 100 times greater, about 300 to about 400 times greater, and all values ​​within these ranges. These liquid concentrated treatment batches are then added to the wastewater within 24 hours after production, up to 48 hours after production, up to 72 hours after production, or up to one week after production, or variations thereof.

[0058] The amount of treatment batch (e.g., dose, or dosing rate, dosage rate) added to a particular treatment system depends on factors such as flow rate, PE, organic and hydraulic loading rates, the rapidity or response required, the challenges faced, the increase in serious apparent loads of industrial discharges in municipal plants, the presence of toxic or toxic compounds that kill existing ecosystems, the desired results and concentration of the liquid to be applied, and the type of plant. For example, an activated sludge plant with an MCRT of more than 7 days may only need to apply the treatment batch once a week, but for best results, one-pass lagoons should be added continuously, with trickle filters preferably being added daily. As mentioned above, the concentration of the treatment batch can vary from 1x to 400x, so the volume can vary accordingly. In general, using 4x as a basis, the volume to treat a flow rate of 1 MGD would be 100-400 gallons of liquid treatment batch per week. For a PE of 14,500, a dosing rate of 1,500 to 5,000 liters per week at four times the dose is effective.

[0059] Further, for example, a treatment plant with a PE of 14,500 is treated at 3,000 liters / week with a batch concentration of 4. A 6 GPM is treated at 200 gallons / week with a batch concentration of 4.

[0060] Thus, the dosing rate for the 4X concentration can be in the range of about 50 gal / week to 400 gal / week, about 100 gal / week to about 300 gal / week, about 200 gal / week to 400 gal / week, about 50 gal / week or more, about 100 gal / week or more, about 150 gal / week or more, about 500 gal / week or more, about 1,000 gal / week or more (e.g., for a 10-50 MGD plant), and all values ​​within these ranges, as well as greater and lesser amounts. In general, as the concentration increases, the dosing rate of the liquid treatment batch (e.g., amount per week) decreases proportionately. Similarly, as the PE increases and the flow rate increases, the dosing rate of the liquid treatment batch increases.

[0061] In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to a novel and unique process called "Advanced Digestion." Advanced Digestion relates to embodiments of the present invention, which relate to the present active treatment batch method for aerobic digesters to increase microbial survival during the death phase or sludge reduction with the decomposition of sludge / existing biology. This releases ammonia, which is aerobically converted to nitrate by nitrifying bacteria. Decant from the aerobic digestate is typically returned to the head of the wastewater treatment plant with a nitrogen load of ammonia and / or nitrate. Advanced Digestion cycles the air on and off in the digester to create facultative or anoxic conditions where the nitrate is used by the bacteria to break down more sludge. Eventually, when the nitrate is gone, the sludge changes to an anaerobic phase, which can be used to break down more sludge and release more ammonia, or aeration can be turned back on to start the nitrification / denitrification cycle again. This allows the digester to be operated for extended periods of time, e.g., 60 months, without the need to dispose of or haul away sludge, or reduce overall sludge treatment and handling by 90% + / - 5%, while reducing sludge haulage and thereby reducing the carbon footprint associated with downstream treatment, handling and final disposal. The carbon footprint from aeration is reduced by 30-70% depending on the nature of the sludge and the aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic phases circulating through the digester.

[0062] In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to the present active processing batch process and processing facility embodiments, which may be configured and operated under one or more of the parameters in Table 2.

[0063] [Table 2]

[0064] Parameters for assessing or preventing carbon footprint reduction, as well as greenhouse gas reduction, are known to those skilled in the art of global warming mitigation, including, for example, that one cubic yard of cement (3900 pounds) is equivalent to approximately 400 pounds of carbon dioxide.

[0065] In general, embodiments of the invention provide one or more of the following: 1) Hydraulic throughput = more with the same equipment - we have demonstrated over 200%. 2) Organic capacity = 40-200% greater using the same equipment and no additional aeration required = less energy per mass of organics treated = smaller footprint (we believe this process increases oxygen transfer efficiency - see pulp and paper case study). 3) Improved settling of biomass resulting in reduced recycling rate and therefore reduced electricity and therefore reduced carbon footprint. 4) Improved denitrification = Nitrates are used instead of oxygen for the conversion of organic matter, thus increasing energy recovery. 5) Improved phosphate removal eliminates expensive chemicals that have a high carbon footprint. 6) Biosolids (e.g., sludge) a) Up to 70% reduction in biosolids production from aeration tanks (20-30%+ without optimization) = no downstream treatment, less chemicals = less carbon footprint – this is directly proportional b) Advanced digestion i. Meet Class B, A or AA or lower fecal limits without adding capital (no carbon footprint) ii. Improved nutritional value and less iii. Years / months without abandonment.

[0066] In general, embodiments of the invention can provide one or more of the following: 1. Reduce concrete use = Increase capacity without concrete 2. Reduced power usage for pumping and aeration = better settleability of biomass and better oxygen transfer efficiency 3. Reduce biosolids mass = in situ in aeration tanks = reduce transportation and all downstream processing, reduce mass to land

[0067] The following examples are provided to illustrate various embodiments of the systems and methods of the present invention. These examples are for illustrative purposes and may be prescient, and should not be considered limiting and do not limit the scope of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0068] Example 1

[0069] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds a liquid treatment batch of live microorganisms (e.g., floc-forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining a live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that removes biological oxygen demand (BOD) and nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). This use of an active treatment batch method significantly improves the settleability of the biomass, allowing the wastewater treatment plant to minimize effluent turbidity, minimize total P, and maximize mean cell residence time (MCRT), thereby resulting in more consistent phosphorus removal. This embodiment reduces contaminants in the effluent without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0070] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps achieve zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards of national, regional and global regulations and organizations. Activated treatment batch processes grow microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. Alternatively, if the treatment batch is delivered to the site as a liquid, it can be concentrated up to 2x, up to 5x, up to 10x, up to 20x, up to 40x or up to 400x or combinations thereof to reduce the volume delivered. This liquid or concentrate is then added within 24 hours of preparation, up to 48 hours of preparation, up to 72 hours of preparation, or up to one week of preparation, or variations thereof, as previously described, which greatly improves biomass settleability and phosphorus uptake, allowing the wastewater system to reach its full and increased potential.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 6, the reduction in P is shown. This active batch treatment process provides a profitable solution that does not increase CAPEX and does not increase OPEX. Importantly, the active batch treatment process achieves significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions by eliminating capital accretion costs and then reducing biosolids production on-site by 25% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, about 25% to about 70%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, while still retaining phosphorus in the remaining biosolids. This reduction in biosolids and reduction in P is achieved in conjunction with a carbon footprint that is at least 20% lower, at least 40% lower, at least 100% lower, at least 50% lower, and 40% to 70% lower when compared to conventional processes that need to be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) to even approach the above reduction in biosolids production (e.g., 60% or more reduction) and P reduction achieved by the active batch treatment process.

[0072] Example 2

[0073] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds liquid treatment batches of live microorganisms (e.g., floc forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that remove excess biosolids. This use of an active treatment batch method significantly controls filamentous growth and improves floc structure, allowing the wastewater treatment facility to maximize mean cell residence time (MCRT) and thus treat more organic load and flow rate per unit volume. This embodiment provides this improved throughput and maintains the low levels of pollutants required in the effluent without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0074] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps meet national, regional and global regulatory and organizational zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards. The activated treatment batch process grows microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. This significantly improves the settleability of biomass, enabling wastewater systems to reach their full and greater potential by treating 125% or more of their design capacity and hydraulically treating surges of 150% or more.

[0075] With reference to FIG. 7, this increase in capacity and hydraulic throughput is illustrated. This active batch treatment process provides a profitable solution that does not increase CAPEX and does not increase OPEX. Importantly, the active batch treatment process increases capacity and hydraulic throughput while achieving significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions by eliminating capital accretion costs and then reducing biosolids production on-site by 25% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, about 25% to about 70%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%. This reduction in biosolids and increase in throughput is achieved in conjunction with a carbon footprint that is at least 20% lower, at least 40% lower, at least 100% lower, at least 50% lower, and 40% to 70% lower when compared to conventional processes that need to be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) just to approach the above reduction in biosolids production (e.g., 60% or more reduction) and increase in capacity and hydraulic throughput that the active batch treatment process achieves.

[0076] Example 3

[0077] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds a liquid treatment batch of live microorganisms (e.g., floc-forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that remove excess biosolids. This use of an active treatment batch method controls filamentous growth to allow nitrification, and the minimum mean cell residence time (MCRT) of 8 days for nitrification may not be achieved due to poor settling. If cold weather and MCRT affect the extent of nitrification, the MCRT can be increased to offset the low growth rate of the nitrifying organisms and allow a stable nitrification process. This embodiment provides this improved nitrification and denitrification without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0078] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps meet national, regional and global regulatory and organizational zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards. The activated treatment batch process grows microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. This significantly improves biomass settleability as well as nitrification and denitrification, allowing wastewater systems to reach their full and greater potential.

[0079] With reference to FIG. 8, this improved ammonia-nitrogen removal is illustrated. This activated batch treatment process provides a profitable solution that does not increase CAPEX and does not increase OPEX. Importantly, the activated batch treatment process achieves improved ammonia-nitrogen removal while simultaneously achieving significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions by eliminating capital accretion costs and, in turn, reducing biosolids production on-site by 25% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, about 25% to about 70%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%. This reduction in biosolids and improved ammonia-nitrogen removal is achieved in conjunction with a carbon footprint that is at least 20% lower, at least 40% lower, at least 100% lower, at least 50% lower, and 40% to 70% lower when compared to conventional processes that need to be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) just to approach the above reduction in biosolids production (e.g., 60% or more reduction) and the capacity and improved ammonia-nitrogen removal achieved by the activated batch treatment process.

[0080] Example 4

[0081] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds liquid treatment batches of live microorganisms (e.g., floc forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that remove excess biosolids. This use of an active treatment batch method improves floc structure, allowing the wastewater plant to maximize mean cell residence time (MCRT) and thus treat more organic loading rates and flow rates per unit volume. This embodiment provides this improved organic loading and flow rate per unit volume without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0082] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps meet national, regional and global regulatory and organizational zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards. The activated treatment batch process grows microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. This significantly improves the settleability of biomass and the loading and flow rate of organic matter per unit volume, allowing wastewater systems to reach their full and greater potential.

[0083] Referring to Figure 9A (untreated) and Figure 9B (activated batch application), it is shown that this improved settling and floc structure allows for maximization of MCRT, which in turn increases organic loading rate and flow rate per unit volume. This activated batch treatment method provides a profitable solution that does not increase CAPEX and does not increase OPEX. Importantly, the activated batch treatment method achieves improved ammonia-nitrogen removal while simultaneously achieving significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions by eliminating capital accretion costs and in turn reducing biosolids production on-site by 25% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, from about 25% to about 70%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%. When compared to conventional processes that must be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) just to approach the above-described reductions in biosolids production (e.g., 60% or more reductions) and improvements in capacity and organic loads and flows per unit volume that activated treatment batch processes achieve, this reduction in biosolids and improvements in organic loads and flows per unit volume are achieved in conjunction with a carbon footprint that is at least 20% lower, at least 40% lower, at least 100% lower, at least 50% lower, and 40% to 70% lower.

[0084] Example 5

[0085] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds liquid treatment batches of live microorganisms (e.g., floc-forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that remove excess biosolids. This use of an active treatment batch method improves the recovery of alkalinity (3-3.6 mg / mg nitrate) from denitrification in the anoxic zone or aeration tank. Alkalinity is often limiting but necessary for complete nitrification to occur (7.14 mg CaCO3 per mg ammonia oxide). When alkalinity restoration occurs in the aeration basin, it is an indication of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND), effectively producing 25% less biosolids with 25% reduced aeration. This embodiment provides this improved organic loading and flow rate per unit volume without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0086] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps meet zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards of national, regional and global regulations and organizations. The activated treatment batch process grows microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. This significantly improves nitrate-nitrogen removal, allowing wastewater systems to reach their full and greater potential.

[0087] With reference to Figures 10A and 10B, this improved nitrate-nitrogen removal with alkalinity recovery is illustrated. This activated batch treatment process provides a profitable solution with no increased CAPEX and no increased OPEX. Importantly, the activated batch treatment process achieves improved nitrate-nitrogen removal while simultaneously achieving significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions by eliminating capital accretion costs and in turn reducing biosolids production on-site by 25% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, from about 25% to about 70%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%. When compared to conventional processes that must be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) just to approach the above-described reduction in biosolids production (e.g., 60% or more reduction) and improvements in capacity and ammonia-nitrogen removal achieved by activated batch treatment processes, this reduction in biosolids and improvement in nitrate-nitrogen removal are achieved in conjunction with at least 20% lower, at least 40% lower, at least 100% lower, at least 50% lower, and 40% to 70% lower carbon footprints.

[0088] Example 6

[0089] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds a liquid treatment batch of live microorganisms (e.g., floc-forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that remove excess biosolids. This use of an active treatment batch method reduces FOG and odors in the recovery system. The liquid treatment batches are applied twice daily to wet wells and lift stations in the recovery network using a dedicated feed system. This embodiment provides this improved organic load and flow rate per unit volume without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0090] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps meet national, regional and global regulatory and organizational zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards. The activated treatment batch process grows microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. This results in significant improvements in FOG and odor reduction, allowing wastewater systems to reach their full and greater potential.

[0091] This activated batch process offers a profitable solution with no increased CAPEX and no increased OPEX. Importantly, the activated batch process achieves significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions by eliminating capital incremental costs while simultaneously achieving improvements in FOG and odor reduction.

[0092] This FOG and odor reduction is achieved along with a carbon footprint that is at least 20% lower, at least 40% lower, at least 100% lower, at least 50% lower, and 40% to 70% lower when compared to conventional processes that must be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) to even approach the FOG and odor reduction achieved by activated batch processes.

[0093] Example 7

[0094] In one embodiment, the microbiological population of the wastewater treatment system is controlled using an active treatment batch method, e.g., Biofermentation®, which adds a liquid treatment batch of live microorganisms (e.g., floc-forming microorganisms, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia, etc.) to the wastewater system at any number of addition points, thereby controlling and predetermining the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the live consortium of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that remove excess biosolids. This use of an active treatment batch method provides one or more, and preferably all of the following: increased biomass settleability, capacity and hydraulic throughput, improved nitrogen and phosphorus removal, dewatering of biosolids, and reduced treatment and disposal burdens by creating U.S. Class A / AA residuals or international equivalent standards. This embodiment provides these improved operating parameters without increasing the carbon footprint of the facility.

[0095] This breakthrough brings about a paradigm shift, breaking the conventional paradigm that increased effluent purity directly translates to increased greenhouse gas production. This shift provided by the present invention fulfills a long-standing need of wastewater facilities, addresses the current regulatory and funding limitations facing the industry today, and helps meet national, regional and global regulatory and organizational zero-carbon or low-carbon guidelines, rules or standards. The activated treatment batch process grows microorganisms on-site using sidestream reactors that routinely inject these microorganisms directly into aeration tanks, RAS (return activated sludge) lines, anoxic zones of wastewater plants, and combinations and variations thereof. This provides these improved operating parameters, enabling wastewater systems to reach their full and greater potential.

[0096] This activated batch process provides a profitable solution that does not increase CAPEX and does not increase OPEX. Importantly, the activated batch process eliminates capital accretion costs and significantly reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) by providing these improved operating parameters. These improved operating parameters achieve a 25%+ (i.e., more than 25%) lower carbon footprint compared to traditional processes that would need to be added and operated (i.e., additional energy usage) just to approach the above improved operating parameters that the activated batch process achieves. These operating parameters are summarized in Table 3.

[0097] [Table 3]

[0098] Example 8

[0099] In one embodiment, the energy consumption per process breakdown for a wastewater treatment scheme (~100+MG) is shown in Figure 11. It can be seen that aeration for biodegradation of soluble organic matter is 53% (180.2 GWh / yr) of the total energy consumption. Handling the biosolids remaining from anaerobic digestion and belt press is another approximately 19% (64.6 GWh / yr).

[0100] The amount of treatment batch added to a particular treatment system depends on the flow rate, PE, organic and hydraulic loading rates, the rapidity or response required, the challenges faced, the serious apparent load increase of industrial discharges in a municipal plant, the presence of toxic or toxic compounds that kill existing ecosystems, the desired results and concentration of the liquid to be applied, and the type of plant. For example, an activated sludge plant with an MCRT of more than 7 days may apply the treatment batch once a week, but for best results, one-pass lagoons should be added continuously and trickle filters should be added daily. As mentioned earlier, the concentration of the treatment batch can vary from 1x to 400x, so the volume can vary accordingly. In general, using 4x as a basis, the volume to treat a flow rate of 1MGD would be 100-400 gallons per week. With a PE of 14,500, a dosing rate of 1,500-5,000 liters per week at 4x would be effective.

[0101] Using one embodiment of the present activated batch treatment method and technology, the power consumption for aeration can be reduced by 25% (45 GWh / year), the power consumption for biosolids processing can be reduced by 60% (38.7 GWh / year), and the power consumption can be reduced by 83.7 GWh / year, or 25% of the total power consumption, which in turn can reduce the greenhouse gases to generate this power. Furthermore, the overall processing, handling, and disposal of biosolids can represent 30-40% of a utility's operating budget. The present invention addresses these issues and reduces the carbon footprint of all these processes by 20% to 60% and potentially more, while also reducing the need for new capital investments. Furthermore, the present embodiment provides the capacity to eliminate all CAPX without increasing the carbon footprint.

[0102] These embodiments can reduce carbon footprint and nitrous oxides (NOX) as shown in Figure 12. Using the total carbon footprint of all eleven conventional processes and disposal methods compared in Figure 12, the average carbon footprint is approximately 32,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Thus, this example embodiment reduces the CO2 emissions equivalent to taking 11,509 SUVs off the road per year.

[0103] Example 9

[0104] One embodiment of a treatment facility and operation using activated treatment batch methods and techniques is operated under the parameters shown in FIG.

[0105] Example 10

[0106] A wastewater treatment facility can be constructed to operate under one or more, preferably all, of the conditions of Examples 1-9, or an existing wastewater facility can be operated under one or more, preferably all, of the conditions of Examples 1-9.

[0107] It should be noted that it is not necessary to present or refer to the theory underlying the novel and innovative process, material, performance, or other beneficial features and characteristics that are the subject of or related to embodiments of the present invention. Nevertheless, various theories are presented herein in order to further advance the art in this field. The theories described herein are in no way intended to limit, restrict, or narrow the scope of protection to be given to the claimed invention, unless otherwise specified. These theories are often not required or implemented to utilize the present invention. It is further understood that the present invention may lead to new, previously unknown theories to explain the functional features of embodiments of the methods, articles, materials, devices, and systems of the present invention, and that such theories developed later are not intended to limit the scope of protection to be given to the present invention.

[0108] The various embodiments of the systems, equipment, techniques, methods, activities and operations described herein may be used in various other activities and other fields in addition to those described herein. Furthermore, these embodiments may be used, for example, with other equipment or activities that may be developed in the future, or with existing equipment or activities that may be modified based in part on the teachings of the present specification. Furthermore, the various embodiments described herein, such as dosages and rates, age of microorganisms, addition points of microorganisms, etc., may be used with each other, in any of one or more examples, in any of one or more embodiments, and in various different combinations. Thus, for example, the configurations provided in the various embodiments herein may be used with each other, and the scope of protection given to the present invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments, configurations, or arrangements described in a specific embodiment, example, or specific illustrated embodiment.

[0109] The present invention may be embodied in forms other than those specifically disclosed herein without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics, and the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. 1. A method for increasing the capacity of a wastewater treatment facility while maintaining effluent quality and without increasing the carbon footprint of the wastewater treatment plant, comprising: a. determining an initial flow rate for a wastewater treatment facility, the wastewater treatment facility having an embodied carbon footprint, the initial flow rate being at a capacity of the embodied carbon footprint that maintains a contaminant in an effluent from the wastewater treatment plant at or below a first contaminant level; b. increasing the flow rate of the wastewater treatment facility to obtain an increased flow rate, the increased flow rate being at least 25% greater than the initial flow rate; c. the level of the contaminant in the effluent is maintained at or below a first contaminant level at the increased flow rate; obtaining an increased flow rate, wherein the embodied carbon footprint of said wastewater treatment facility remains the same.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the increased flow rate is at least 20% greater than the initial flow rate.

3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the increased flow rate is at least 50% greater than the initial flow rate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the increased flow rate is at least 70% greater than the initial flow rate.

5. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of biosolids produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 25%.

6. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of biosolids produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%.

7. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of biosolids produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 60%.

8. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of phosphorus produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 20%.

9. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of phosphorus from processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%.

10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of nitrogen produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 20%.

11. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of nitrogen produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%.

12. 1. A method of operating a wastewater treatment facility to reduce greenhouse gas production associated with wastewater treatment while maintaining effluent quality and without reducing wastewater treatment plant capacity, comprising: a) the wastewater treatment facility producing a first amount of greenhouse gases in connection with the treatment and disposal of sludge having an initial flow rate of wastewater treatment, wherein contaminants in effluent from the wastewater treatment plant are maintained at or below a first contaminant level; b) reducing a first amount of greenhouse gas produced by at least 25% while maintaining a level of a contaminant in said effluent at or below said first contaminant level.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 30%.

14. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 40%.

15. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 60%.

16. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gases are reduced by at least 80%.

17. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of biosolids produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%.

18. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of biosolids produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 60%.

19. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of phosphorus produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 20%.

20. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of phosphorus from processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%.

21. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of nitrogen produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 20%.

22. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of nitrogen produced by processing the initial flow rate to the increased flow rate is reduced by at least 50%.

23. A method for providing a green, sustainable, microbiological, net-zero carbon solution to wastewater and waste treatment utilizing biofermentation to treat wastewater and waste using a process involving biofermenting microorganisms.

24. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising processing fats, oils and greases.

25. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising increasing alkalinity recovery by improving denitrification.

26. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising improving the settleability of biomass.

27. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling undesirable filamentous growth.

28. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising improving nitrification and increasing ammonia removal.

29. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising rerating a wastewater plant.

30. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising increasing the capacity and hydraulic throughput of a wastewater plant.

31. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising increasing phosphorus removal.

32. 10. The method of claim 1, comprising minimizing the cost of OPEX.

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