HIGH BIOMASS MULTI-MEDIA ANAEROBIC AMMONIA OXIDATION BIOREACTOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor characterized by comprising a raw water influent duct with a pump with a frequency converter and a flow meter, which penetrates through the wall to the bottom of said bioreactor where it connects to a central distribution chamber that distributes and expands the raw water at the bottom of the bioreactor, defining a granular biomass expansion zone in a lower anaerobic ammonia section of the bioreactor and generating an upward helical water flow around a central water mixing and recirculation column; an aeration system with a flow regulating valve defining an upper aerobic ammonia oxidation section of the bioreactor;Said central water mixing and recirculation column comprises a central duct housing a propeller mixing system with a motor and frequency converter that generates a downward axial flow of water within the central duct; an automatic control system for the operation of the bioreactor consisting of a plurality of sensor elements for ammonia nitrogen, nitrites, nitrates, dissolved oxygen and raw inlet water flow, with a central control and processing unit to activate the frequency converters of the pump and motor and open the air flow control valves.

Description

HIGH BIOMASS MULTIMEDIA ANAEROBIC AMMONIA OXIDATION BIOREACTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention falls within the field of biotechnology, water technology and science, as well as mechanics in general; in particular it relates to wastewater treatment systems and methods, specifically to the means and devices used in wastewater treatment plants and more specifically it refers to a high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for life, but in excess it has significant impacts on water bodies and human health. It is one of the most important water pollutants and, along with carbon and phosphorus, is found in various types of wastewater, whether urban, agricultural, or industrial. > your r\ c N — Ξ σ c Nu Nitrogen compounds can reach toxic levels in water that impair the ability of animals to survive, grow and reproduce; in some cases their presence is due to the direct dumping of pollutants or substances, although it can also occur due to atmospheric deposition (USEPA, 2002). The most relevant environmental problems generated by the presence of nitrogen compounds are: acidification, the development of eutrophication and reduction of dissolved oxygen. Eutrophication is a problem associated with the discharge of nitrogen compounds into water. It involves the proliferation of algae and other aquatic plants that subsequently die and decompose, resulting in this phenomenon. Eutrophication in bodies of water can facilitate the development of organisms that cause infectious diseases such as malaria, encephalitis, and cholera. Ammonium, which is the most abundant nitrogen compound in wastewater, is problematic in aquatic systems because it consumes oxygen to be oxidized to nitrite and subsequently to nitrate, through the nitrification process. (López Castillo, 2008). Direct ingestion of water contaminated by nitrite and / or nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia in humans, being > tu r\ c N — Children under four months of age are the most susceptible to this type of illness known as baby blue syndrome. This condition is characterized by a loss of oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood because hemoglobin is in its oxidized form, methemoglobin, which has a low affinity for oxygen. More than 3,000 cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported worldwide since 1945, all of which have been associated with the consumption of water from wells with nitrate concentration levels exceeding 10 mg N L-1 (Wolfe & Patz, 2002). The removal of nitrogen compounds from wastewater includes the use of physical, chemical, biological, or a combination of these treatment methods. Depending on the type of wastewater, the flow rate, its intermittency, the site temperature, costs, and many other variables, the treatment system can also be continuous or batch. (Cárdenas Calvachi & Sánchez Ortiz, 2013). Nitrification / Denitrification Historically, nitrogen removal from wastewater is an aerobic / anoxic biological nutrient removal process that has been carried out following the complete nitrification-denitrification pathway. This process consumes a significant amount of oxygen (and therefore energy to supply the oxygen to the process) and carbon. Nitrification occurs under aerobic conditions, with autotrophic oxidation of ammonium (NhU) to nitrate (NO3), with an intermediate step of nitrite (NO2) formation. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) oxidize ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) oxidize nitrite to nitrate. Oxygen is required for both steps. (Vellacott & Sharland, n.d.) The denitrification process consists of the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and, subsequently, to gaseous nitrogen compounds (nitric oxide NO, nitrous oxide N2O, and diatomic nitrogen N2) in the presence of an organic carbon source. Nitrate and nitrite replace oxygen in the electron transport chain (microbial respiration), so denitrification usually occurs in anoxic environments, lacking oxygen and with nitrite and nitrate available as electron acceptors. (Claros Bedoya, 2012). Both processes can be carried out in separate reactors in series or with differentiated fractions where, depending on the characteristics of the aerated wastewater, one fraction of the influent is nitrified and the other is treated with denitrification. It is also possible to perform both processes in the same reactor. This latter group includes biofilters with suspended biomass or with > Tu r\ c N biofilm adhered to a fixed bed, where there is formation of two differentiated layers of organisms: some predominantly heterotrophic that carry out denitrification in the outer zone and others autotrophic and nitrifying in the inner part. (Van Loosdrecht et al., 1998) According to Driessen et al. (2012), Anammox conversion (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) is an elegant shortcut in the natural nitrogen cycle whereby ammonium and nitrite are converted into nitrogen gas (NH4+ + NO2- → N2). Because the anammox process involves the removal of ammonium over nitrite (NO2-) rather than nitrate (NO3-), less oxygen (O2) is required. The Anammox® reactor, recently developed by Paques BV, is a reactor system in which nitritation and anammox conversion occur simultaneously in a single process unit. These Anammox® reactors are continuously aerated reactors that utilize granular biomass. The Anammox® process is a cost-effective and sustainable way to remove ammonia from wastewater and ammonia from exhaust gases. Compared to conventional nitrification / denitrification systems, operating cost savings can reach up to 60%, while CO2 emissions are reduced. > your r\ c N In the process, two contaminants, ammonium and nitrite, are removed simultaneously. This was first discovered in a denitrifying fluidized bed reactor in 1994 (Mulder et al., 1995). Over the last decade, much effort has been dedicated to investigating the mechanism of the microorganisms responsible for this process. ANAMMOX. The main characteristic of the anammox system is that it does not need biodegradable organic matter to denitrify because the bacteria involved in the process are chemolithoautotrophic, that is, they obtain the carbon necessary for their growth from inorganic carbon (Strous et al., 1997; Jetten et al., 1999). The Anammox® reactor, recently developed by Paques BV, is a reactor system in which nitritation and anammox conversion occur simultaneously in a single process unit. These Anammox® reactors are continuously aerated reactors that use granular biomass. (Driessen et al., 2012). The Anammox® process was developed by Delft University of Technology and subsequently licensed by Paques BV. This company patented a reactor capable of achieving partial nitritation-deammonification following the principles described above; however, it was and still is for influents with nitrogen concentrations in the hundreds and thousands of Parts per million (PPM) and the type of biomass they use is granular biomass. On the other hand, there is a process called ANITA® Mox, developed by Veolia, which also uses the partial nitritation-deammonification route. However, unlike Paques, it utilizes a fixed film and, in some cases, activated sludge to achieve nitrogen removal. These processes are also designed for influents with high nitrogen concentrations. The existing pathways for nitrogen elimination are: a) Complete nitrification - Denitrification b) Denitrification by simultaneous nitrification (SND) c) Nitrition - Denitrification Nitrite Derivation d) Partial nitration, deammonification (anaerobic oxidation of ammonia). (López Castillo, 2008) Of these four routes, the most commonly followed is the first, Nitrification (Complete) - Denitrification; however, it is also the one that consumes the most energy, requires the most process units, and in some cases additional sources of carbon such as ethanol or methanol. The fourth treatment pathway processes, partial nitritation plus deammonification, were identified as such in the 1990s in the > tu r\ c N — Ξ σ Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands; however, its first applications outside the laboratory didn't occur until the mid-2000s, and these were for industrial discharges, landfill leachate, or sludge dewatering liquors separated from the main process in treatment plants, also known as "side streams." The common denominator of all these influents was that they had ammonia nitrogen contents above several hundred or thousands of mg / L PPM. However, to date, there is no known commercially viable partial nitritation and deammonification process for the main influent of treatment plants when it contains more modest levels of ammonia nitrogen, on the order of tens of parts per million. Additionally, although the objective sought and achieved was to remove nitrogen from modest ammonium loads, it is important to mention that it performs even better with influents of significantly higher loads, ranging from hundreds to thousands of ppm of ammonia. On the other hand, it is widely known that population growth and its social and industrial needs mean that the demand for water from everyone is constantly increasing. Therefore, it is vitally important to make proper use of wastewater in order to free up significant volumes of clean water for human consumption (Gil Pulido). In the field of wastewater treatment, there are various techniques, apparatuses and devices to carry out the treatment of contaminated water, reduce the organic load and reduce or eliminate certain contaminants to provide water that can be reused for different purposes. A bioreactor is a vessel or system that maintains a biologically active environment. Chemical and biological processes involving microorganisms or biochemically active substances derived from these organisms take place in such bioreactors. This process can be aerobic or anaerobic. Microorganisms play an important role in all wastewater treatment processes. Generally, liquid waste from various industrial sectors (agribusiness, food processing, some petrochemical industries, among others), as well as municipal sewage, is treated biologically. These biological processes, which occur in most reactors under specific and controlled conditions, also take place naturally in rivers, lakes, and other aquatic systems (Gil Pulido). Biotechnology can be defined as “any technological application that uses biological systems and living organisms or their derivatives to create or modify products or processes for a specific use” (Convention on Biological Diversity, Article 2, Use of Terms, United Nations, 1992). Therefore, the use of the tools naturally provided by microorganisms means that biotechnological processes are increasingly being considered a technology for the economical and ecological management of this type of waste. (Gil Pulido) In the specific case of wastewater, the biotechnology techniques developed in this area not only aim to reduce the overall organic load, but are also used to eliminate other industrial pollutants present in the water, as well as to convert the waste stream from the purification process into useful products or even products with added value so that they can be released into the environment without causing harm (such as compost from sewage sludge). (Gil Pulido). Both aerobic and anaerobic biological processes are widely used in wastewater treatment for sanitation. The present invention is focused on a high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation (AAO) bioreactor (MMBR) for wastewater treatment for high and low nitrogen load flows, which remains operational even with shorter retention times, lower ammonia concentrations and lower temperatures than existing solutions. Although designed to operate at low loads, this new process is a promising alternative for the treatment of wastewater with high concentrations of ammonia and low concentrations of biodegradable organic matter (low C:N ratio), such as landfill leachate, anaerobic digester effluents, or pig slurry. A search was conducted to determine the closest prior art, and the following documents were found: US patent 9376335 by Tim Corben et al., dated March 26, 2012, was located, disclosing a process for the treatment of industrial wastewater comprising organic matter. The process comprises: first, carrying out a biological treatment step by treating the wastewater in an anaerobic bioreactor by adding a nitrate solution in an amount between 0.4 kg / m3 and 0.8 kg / m3 to the wastewater, and > tu r\ c N — Optionally, remove the sludge formed in the biological treatment stage, in which probe signals for pH and oxygen reduction potential (ORP) are used in the anaerobic bioreactor to control and monitor the biological treatment step and modify the amount of nitrate solution added to the wastewater, and secondly perform a chemical oxidation step by treating the wastewater in a second reactor by adding an amount of a permanganate oxidant to the wastewater to reduce an amount of non-biological degradable compounds in the wastewater, wherein probe signals for organics in an effluent from the second reactor are used to control and monitor the step and modification of the chemical oxidation. However, the process described in that document does not utilize three types of biomass in its reactors: granular biomass, diffuse biomass (sludge), and biofilm adhered to plastic carriers. It also fails to disclose the existence of two zones—one aerobic and one anaerobic—and two types of mixing within the same reactor. Furthermore, the document does not permit operation with removal rates exceeding 90% and 80% for ammoniacal and total nitrogen, respectively. The main problem with existing systems is that they are not suitable for high flows and low nitrogen load, such as those corresponding to the main flows of municipal discharges. > your r\ c N — Ξ σ c Nu There are already dozens of partial nitritation-deammonification reactors worldwide, implemented by the companies and institutions mentioned above; however, none of them have been directed at major influents. Another limitation of current reactors is that their performance is significantly affected at temperatures below 38°C. Finally, the control systems of the existing alternatives are very sophisticated and, while they are more common in complex water industrial processes, they seem complicated for municipal plants that operate simpler systems. Given the need for a multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation (AAO) bioreactor (MMBR) with high biomass content for wastewater treatment for high and low nitrogen load flows, the present invention was developed. Our system differs from others in that it uses three types of biomass in its reactors: granular biomass, diffuse biomass (sludge), and biofilm adhered to plastic carriers. Additionally, it features two zones and two types of mixing within the reactor, and finally, an automatic aeration, temperature control, and pH control system. The Ξ σ c N u allows for very precise delimitation of the reactions that take place inside the reactor. These and other characteristics, which will be detailed later, allow it to operate with removal rates exceeding 90% and 80% for ammoniacal and total nitrogen, respectively. Likewise, the system is more resilient than others to low temperatures and operates successfully from low loads, on the order of tens of mg / L of nitrogen concentration, to loads in the hundreds and thousands of mg / L. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION The main objective of the present invention is to make available a multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor with high biomass content, which uses three types of biomass in its reactors: granular biomass, diffuse biomass (sludge), and biofilm attached to plastic carriers. The bioreactor defines two zones and two types of mixing within it and also features an automatic aeration, temperature, and pH control system that allows for precise control of the reactions taking place inside the reactor and enables operation with removal rates exceeding 90% and 80% for ammoniacal and total nitrogen, respectively. > your r\ c N — S σ c N u Another objective of the invention is to provide said multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor with high biomass content, which is also more resilient to low temperatures and operates successfully from low loads, on the order of tens of mg / l of nitrogen concentration, to loads that are in the hundreds and thousands of mg / l of nitrogen concentration. Another objective of the invention is to provide said multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor with high biomass content that also allows the conversion of ammonia nitrogen into nitrogen gas for a wide range of input concentrations, without having to go through all the stages of the conventional nitrogen return cycle to the atmosphere. Another objective of the invention is to provide said high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor that, compared to traditional systems, uses about 60% less oxygen and about 90% less carbon to take nitrogen from its ammoniacal form in water to its natural state as a gas in the atmosphere, being the most efficient and lowest carbon footprint process that exists to complete the nitrogen cycle. Another objective of the invention is to provide said bioreactor with > tu r\ c N anaerobic oxidation of multi-media ammonia with high biomass content that is also structurally simple, practical, easy to manufacture and highly efficient. And all those qualities and objectives that will become apparent when making a general and detailed description of the present invention supported by the illustrated modalities. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For the development of a multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor with high biomass content that uses three types of biomass in its reactors, granular biomass, diffuse biomass (sludge) and biofilm attached to plastic carriers, a series of problems arose that were solved. a) The first problem encountered was that both the bacteria responsible for nitritation, Nitrosomonas bacteria, and those responsible for deammonification, Planctomycetes, are slow-reproducing bacteria, the latter taking an average of 11 days to reach maturity. In contrast, some aerobic carbon-feeding bacteria have doubling rates on the order of minutes and hours, so environments that would allow them to multiply rapidly cannot be created. Ξ σ c N u compete. b) For the above reason it is known that in an environment with high carbon / nitrogen ratios the bacteria that will predominate will be those that feed on the former, so it is important to have prior processes that limit the ratio between these to less than 3 to 1, which was achieved using multimedia anaerobic reactors before entering the nitritation-deammonification stage. c) The third problem is that in the ammonia nitrogen to nitrite route one has to be very precise, first because only a part of the influent is to be nitrited, 56% to be precise, and second because it is very easy for nitrite in an environment where there is available oxygen to jump to nitrate if the process is not carefully monitored. d) The response times of any batch process or manual periodic adjustment would be inadequate to maintain the variables within the range where the system functions correctly. For this reason, it is of paramount importance that the control mechanism be fully automatic. This presents significant challenges in terms of sampling strategy, instrumentation selection, and estimation of process control variables. e) Temperature and pH also play an important role in their performance and the system must be prepared to mitigate abrupt changes in them; f) In addition to the main challenges mentioned above, there are a number of secondary challenges that are also important in the process and that the system must address in its design. These include, but are not limited to, the control of digested / inert sludge in the expansion zone, the thickness and renewal of the biofilm on the biocarrier, and the prevention of encrustation of the interstitial spaces of the biocarriers by granular biomass, among others. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor for partial nitritation - deammonification is a system that allows the conversion of ammonia nitrogen into nitrogen gas for a wide range of input concentrations without having to go through all the stages of the conventional nitrogen return cycle to the atmosphere. In the traditional pathway, nitrification requires two moles of oxygen for every mole of ammonia nitrogen (NH4) to convert it to nitrites (NO2). Subsequently, each mole of nitrites requires an additional mole of oxygen to convert it to nitrates (NO3). These nitrates are then reduced to nitrogen gas (N2) by heterotrophic bacteria in a process known as denitrification. In total, nitrification requires 4.57 grams of oxygen per gram of ammonia nitrogen (NH4), and denitrification requires 4 grams of carbon per gram of nitrogen. > your r\ c N — Ξ σ c N u On the other hand, in partial nitritation, as its name suggests, only 56% of the ammonia nitrogen is converted to nitrites, which reduces oxygen consumption to 1.71 grams of O2 per gram of NH4. To complete the cycle and return nitrogen as a gas to the atmosphere, deammonification is used, which is carried out primarily by autotrophic bacteria and uses only 0.5 grams of carbon per gram of nitrogen. In general, the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor according to the present invention consists of a preferably cylindrical body arranged in a vertical position, with a bottom wall and an ascending vertical annular wall, a top cover and an upper effluent outlet duct, and externally comprising a raw water feed and expansion column defined by a raw water influent duct, where a raw water injection pump with a frequency converter and a raw water flow meter are connected.and in its preferred embodiment comprises at least two sludge service and / or extraction valves, and wherein said duct continues and penetrates the ascending vertical annular wall of the bioreactor in an area near the lower end and projects to a central area near the bottom of said bioreactor where it connects to a central distribution chamber to which a plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts are connected, distributing and expanding the raw water > tu r\ c N —, Ξ σ c N u from the center of the bottom towards the ascending vertical wall of the bioreactor defining a granular biomass expansion zone in a lower anaerobic section of the bioreactor and generating an upward flow of water in a helical shape around a central column of water mixing and recirculation;an aeration system defined by an air distributor that runs circumferentially on the outside and surrounds an area below half the height of said bioreactor to aerate and carry out part of the reactions via anammox, defining an upper aerobic ammonium oxidation section of the bioreactor and responsible for feeding and distributing air to the bioreactor, fed from an air supply source with a flow regulating valve and comprising in its preferred embodiment a plurality of branches with a flow control valve and penetrating the wall of the bioreactor and internally comprising radially distributed membrane fine bubble diffusers inside the bioreactor, comprising a protective mesh to prevent damage to the floating biocarriers dispersed inside the bioreactor;This central water mixing and recirculation column is defined by a fixed central duct at the center of the bioreactor's bottom. This duct has a closed lower end housing the central raw water distribution chamber, from whose wall protrudes a plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts, generating a helical upward water flow around the central water mixing and recirculation column. The open upper end allows water from the upper zone of the bioreactor to be poured into the central duct, where a propeller mixing system with a frequency converter is located. This system generates a downward axial flow of water within the central duct, which is then expelled through an outlet section positioned above the aeration system but without reaching the bottom of the bioreactor. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor further comprises an automatic control system for the operation of the bioreactor consisting of a plurality of sensor elements for ammonia nitrogen (NH4), nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3), dissolved oxygen (O2) and inlet water flow, arranged minimally in at least the raw water influent duct and in the upper zone of the bioreactor and ideally in said raw water influent duct, in the outlet zone of the granular biomass expansion zone, in the middle of the central mixing and recirculation column and in the upper effluent duct zone of the bioreactor;A central control and processing unit configured to store and process readings, and based on predetermined data, activates the frequency converter of the raw water injection pump to regulate the raw water feed volume in the granular biomass expansion zone, the frequency converter of the propeller mixing system motor in the mixing and recirculation zone, and the degree of opening of the air flow control valves of the aeration system. Dissolved oxygen (O2) should never exceed 0.4 mg / L. If it does, aeration must be reduced because anaerobic conditions are no longer being created in the lower anaerobic section of the bioreactor. If high levels of nitrites (NO2) and nitrates (NO3) are measured in the upper effluent duct of the bioreactor, along with low levels of ammonia, it means that a higher percentage of ammonia nitrogen (NH4) is being oxygenated than required, and aeration must be reduced.Care must be taken to ensure that there are no high levels of nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4) in the upper zone of the bioreactor, and based on predetermined values ​​the automatic control system of the operation of the bioreactor activates the frequency converter of the raw water injection pump to regulate the volume of raw water feed in the granular biomass expansion zone, the frequency converter of the propeller mixer motor of the mixing and recirculation zone and the degree of opening of the air flow control valves of the aeration system. A fine balance of the influent water must be maintained between the values ​​of ammonia nitrogen (NH4), nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3), dissolved oxygen (O2) and the amount of air that must be supplied through the aeration system to keep the nitritation process at the appropriate percentages. > your r\ c N This bioreactor has a retention time of more than one hour, so the automatic control system for the operation of the bioreactor allows the determination of the values ​​of ammonia nitrogen (NH4), nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3), dissolved oxygen (O2) and based on them, adjustments can be made to the raw water feed volume in the influent duct, the speed of the propeller agitation, and the opening of the air inlet valves of the aeration system. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said raw water feed and expansion column further comprises an upward water recirculation bypass duct with a flow control valve, the upper end of which penetrates a high area of ​​the upward vertical wall of the bioreactor for the recirculation of water from the top of the bioreactor to the bottom thereof, when the amount of water entering through the raw water influent duct is less than that required by the reactor in the treatment process. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said service and / or sludge extraction valves connected in said water influent duct of the raw water feed and expansion column are configured to, when activated, prevent the exit of water from the reactor through the raw water influent duct and connect a "Vactor" truck for the extraction of sludge from the bottom of said bioreactor. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the raw water entering through said raw water feed and expansion column must be pretreated raw water from other reactors, preferably multimedia anaerobic bioreactors, having a carbon / nitrogen ratio of less than 3 to 1. The flow meter for raw water injected into the bioreactor through the raw water feed and expansion column is an electromagnetic meter. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said propeller mixing system consists of a geared motor with a frequency converter fixed to the external upper part of the bioreactor lid and whose output drive shaft is connected to a rotating vertical shaft that is housed axially inside said central duct and at whose lower end it permanently comprises a mixing propeller that generates a downward axial flow of water inside the central duct, so that inside the bioreactor an upward external recirculating flow and a downward internal flow to said central duct are generated. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said bioreactor further comprises in the upper and interior area below the lid, a floating biocarrier containment structure, consisting of a cylindrical frame defined by annular bodies joined by vertical arms distributed around the perimeter with a closed enveloping mesh to prevent the floating biocarriers from exiting through the ascending water recirculation bypass duct and the upper effluent outlet duct. The high-biomass, multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor overcomes the treatment limitations imposed on other technologies by suboptimal temperature, ammonia concentration, and flow rate conditions. This was achieved by optimizing several factors that influence biological activity and the stability and resilience of the process: 1. Oxygen exchange rate: Bioreactors operate with fine bubble diffusers and high injection depths, which makes oxygen exchange more efficient and also much more predictable. This is particularly important because only 56% of the total ammonia entering the reactor needs to be nitrited. If this percentage is lower, there won't be enough oxygen in the nitrites to oxidize the ammonia and release nitrogen from both. If there is more oxygen, there is a risk of converting a higher percentage to nitrites (or even nitrates), and these, without sufficient ammonia to anoxically deplete the oxygen, will be released into the effluent instead of as a gas, as desired. 2. Bioreactors have a much more robust and abundant bacterial colony due to the presence of three types of biomass. Contents of up to 200 kg / m³ of volatile suspended solids give bioreactors the ability to operate even under suboptimal temperature, load, and flow conditions, maintaining adequate operating and removal characteristics. In particular, the biocarriers add a resilience factor, since even in the event of overflows, it is virtually impossible for them to leave the bioreactor, thus preserving process stability. 3. The bioreactor has a better contact factor than conventional reactors because it uses a column mixing system that allows continuous movement of water with biocarriers from the top to the bottom of the reactor. This improves the exchange ratio between the biocarriers, the water being treated, and the injected air, substantially increasing the bioreactor's treatment capacity. 4. Bioreactors have a cylindrical geometry where the length is several times greater than the diameter of the base. This allows aerobic reactors to be built on a much smaller area of ​​land, resulting in substantial savings in land use for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant. 5. Bioreactors have two zones within the same body. The lower half is what we call the expansion zone. This is where the highest concentration of granular and diffuse biomass is found, in addition to the injection of ammonia-rich water at the base > tu r\ c N — Ξ σ c N u of this (typically coming from an anaerobic reactor). Oxygen is not injected in this part, but part of the flow from the top of the reactor can be mixed in, especially if it still contains nitrites. 6. At the base of the upper half is what is called the mixing zone. At its base (approximately halfway up the reactor's total height) is the controlled oxygen injection system for achieving partial nitritation of the ammonia. These nitrites, along with the ammonia that is not fully nitrified, travel to the top of the reactor through a zone saturated with biocarriers where deammonification occurs. At the top of this zone (and the reactor) is the mixing column, which, through a low-speed propeller, draws the reactors down to the bottom of this zone. 7. The process control system measures and / or calculates the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH, both for the influent and for at least two points along the reactor, one at the end of each of the two sections mentioned above. These measurements and a proprietary algorithm determine the values ​​sent to the valves of the oxygenation systems, the pumps and recirculators of the expansion systems, and the mixers in the mixing zone. The nature of this process requires a bioreactor > tu r\ c N — The column is preferably cylindrical, but must be tall. It features a highly efficient diffusion system due to its fine bubble injection, high biocarrier content, and mixing system. It also boasts a very high biomass content due to its presence in granular, diffuse, and biofilm forms. The column expansion and mixing systems are also essential, ensuring excellent contact between the injected air, the different types of biomass, and the various compounds that enter and are generated during the process. Finally, the proprietary control system is of vital importance, as it reads all the parameters and adjusts the variables to achieve the necessary reactions at each stage of the process. To better understand the characteristics of the invention, the following drawings, which are illustrative but not limiting, are included as an integral part of this description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows a conventional perspective view of the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows a conventional perspective view showing the raw water feed and expansion column, the aeration system, the central water mixing and recirculation column, the lid, and the floating biocarrier containment structure, in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a conventional perspective view of the aeration system of the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 shows a conventional perspective view of the propeller mixer system with frequency converter that generates a downward axial flow of water within the central duct. Figure 5 shows a conventional perspective view of the central distribution chamber into which a plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts are connected, forming part of the raw water feed and expansion column, and distributing and expanding the raw water from the center of the bottom towards the wall of the bioreactor. > your r\ c N — Ξ σ c Nu Figure 6 shows an axial cross-section of the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor, showing the water flows within the bioreactor, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure Ί illustrates a schematic diagram of the control loops of the automatic control system of the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation process, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. For a better understanding of the invention, some of its modalities will be described in detail below, as shown in the drawings that are attached to this description for illustrative but not limiting purposes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The characteristic details of the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor are clearly shown in the following description and in the attached illustrative drawings, with the same reference signs serving to indicate the same parts. Referring to figures 1 to 5, the high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor of > tu r\ c N — Ξ σ c N u in accordance with the present invention consists of a cylindrical body (1) arranged in a vertical position, with a bottom wall (2), a perimeter wall (3), a top cover (4) and an upper effluent outlet duct (not shown) and which externally comprises a raw water feed and expansion column (5) defined by a raw water influent duct (6), where a raw water injection pump with a frequency converter (7), an electromagnetic raw water flow meter (8), two service and / or sludge extraction valves (9, 10) connected to a service duct (11) with a shut-off valve (12) are connected and where said raw water influent duct (6) continues and penetrates through the perimeter wall (3) of the bioreactor in an area near the lower end and projects to a central area near the bottom wall (2) of said bioreactor where it connects to a central distribution chamber (13,(see figure 5) in which a plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts (14, see figures 2 and 5) are connected, distributing and expanding the raw water from the center of the bottom wall (2) towards the perimeter wall (3) of the bioreactor, defining a granular biomass expansion zone in a lower anaerobic section of the bioreactor “A” and generating a helical upward water flow around a central water mixing and recirculation column (15); an aeration system (16, see figures 2 and 3) defined by an air distributor (17) that runs circumferentially on the outside and surrounds a zone below half the height of said bioreactor to aerate and carry out part of the reactions via anammox, defining an upper aerobic ammonium oxidation section “B” of the bioreactor and which is responsible for feeding and distributing air to the bioreactor,fed from an air supply source with a flow regulating valve (not shown) and comprising in its preferred embodiment a plurality of branches (18) with flow control valves (19) penetrating the perimeter wall (3) of the bioreactor and internally comprising fine bubble membrane diffusers (not shown), distributed perpendicularly inside the bioreactor, comprising a protective mesh (not shown) to prevent damage to the floating biocarriers (20, see figure 6) dispersed in the water inside the bioreactor; said central water mixing and recirculation column (15) is defined by a central duct (21) fixed in the center of the bottom wall (2) of the bioreactor, defining a closed lower end housing the central raw water distribution chamber (13, see figure 5), from whose wall protrudes the plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts (14).generating an upward helical flow of water around said central water mixing and recirculation column (15) and an open upper end (22, see figure 6), through which water is poured from the upper zone of the bioreactor into the interior of the central duct (21) where a propeller mixing system is housed (23, see figure 4) which generates a downward axial flow of water inside the duct >, your central N (21) and is expelled through an outlet section (24, see figures 2 and 6) of the central duct (21) arranged at a height above the aeration system (16), the lower section (21a) of the central duct (21) being closed in that area of ​​the outlet section (24) so ​​as to prevent the recirculating water from reaching the bottom of the bioreactor. According to figures 1, 2 and 6, said raw water feed and expansion column (5) also comprises an upward water recirculation bypass duct (25) with a flow control valve (26), the upper end of which penetrates a high area of ​​the perimeter wall (3) of the bioreactor for the recirculation of water from the top of the bioreactor to the bottom of the same, when the amount of water entering through the raw water influent duct (6) is less than that required by the reactor in the treatment process. According to figures 1, 2 and 6, said service and / or sludge removal valves (9, 10) connected in said raw water influent duct (6) of the raw water feed and expansion column (5), are configured so that one of them, the service and / or sludge removal valve (9), is closed to prevent water from leaving the reactor through the raw water influent duct (6), and the service and / or sludge removal valve (10) is opened to connect a “Vactor” truck (not shown) for sludge removal from the bottom of said bioreactor, when required. According to figures 4 and 6, said propeller mixing system (23) consists of a geared motor (27) with a fixed frequency converter on the external upper part of the top cover (4) of the bioreactor and whose output drive shaft (28, see figure 6) is connected to a rotating vertical shaft (29, see figure 6), housed in a casing (30) and axially housed inside said central duct (21) of said central water mixing and recirculation column (15, see figures 2 and 6) and at whose lower end it permanently comprises a mixing propeller (31), which generates a downward axial flow of water inside the central duct (21), so that inside the bioreactor an upward external recirculating flow and a downward internal flow to said central duct (21) are generated. According to figures 2 and 6, said bioreactor also comprises in the upper and interior zone below the top cover (4), a containment structure (32) of floating biocarriers (20, see figure 6), which consists of a cylindrical frame defined by annular bodies (33) joined by vertical arms (34) distributed around the perimeter with a closed enveloping mesh (not shown) to prevent the floating biocarriers (20, see figure 6) from exiting through the ascending water recirculation bypass duct (25) and through the upper effluent outlet duct (not shown). > your r\ c N — Ξ σ c N u According to Figure 6, the direction of water flow is shown with arrows, showing the raw water inlet through the raw water influent duct (6) which is discharged through the central distribution chamber (13), through the plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts (14) which distribute and expand the raw water from the center of the bottom wall (2) towards the perimeter wall (3) of the bioreactor, defining a granular biomass expansion zone in a lower anaerobic section of the bioreactor “A” and which generate an upward helical water flow around the central duct (21) of the central water mixing and recirculation column (15).At the open upper end (22) of the central duct (21) of the central water mixing and recirculation column (15), the water intake from the upper zone of the bioreactor is shown with arrows. This water is mixed and agitated by the mixing propeller (31) of the propeller mixing system (23), which is driven by the geared motor (27) with a frequency converter. This generates a downward axial flow of water within the central duct (21) and is expelled through an outlet section (24) located at a height above the aeration system (16) without reaching the bottom of the bioreactor. The containment structure (32) of floating biocarriers (20) arranged in the upper area of ​​the bioreactor below the top cover (4), prevents the floating biocarriers (20) from exiting through the ascending water recirculation bypass duct (25) and through the upper effluent outlet duct (not shown). According to figures 1 and anchored to the floor through peripherally distributed for said bioreactor. 6, the bioreactor body is held by a plurality of anchors (35) and kept firm and stable The bioreactor also includes a maintenance and service door (36) in a lower area of ​​the same (see figure 1). According to figures 1, 2, 6 and 7, the bioreactor further comprises an automatic control system for the operation of the bioreactor (not shown) consisting of a plurality of sensor elements (37) for ammonia nitrogen (NH4), nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3), dissolved oxygen (O2) and raw water inlet flow, arranged in at least the raw water influent duct (6) and in at least the upper zone of the bioreactor with a central control and processing unit (not shown) configured to store and process the readings and based on predetermined reading values ​​activate the frequency converter of the raw water injection pump (7) to regulate the raw water feed volume in the granular biomass expansion zone, the frequency converter of the geared motor (27) of the propeller mixing system (23) of the mixing and recirculation zone and the degree of opening of the air flow control valves (19) of the aeration system;to maintain readings at the optimal levels required for the process. According to Figure 7, a schematic diagram of the control loops of the automatic control system of the operation process of the multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation of high biomass content is illustrated, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the reference values ​​of input in the raw water influent duct (6), the control of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation process which, based on the readings of ammonia nitrogen (NH4), nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3), dissolved oxygen (DO) from the sensor elements, activates the frequency converter of the raw water injection pump (7), the frequency converter of the geared motor (27) and the opening control of the flow control valves (19) of the aeration system (16) which allow for an output with controlled variables at the end of the process. The invention has been sufficiently described to allow a person of average skill to reproduce it and obtain the results mentioned herein. However, any person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may be able to make modifications not described herein; however, if for the application of these modifications to a structure > tü r\ c N determined or in the manufacturing process thereof, the material claimed in the following claims is required, said structures shall be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A high-biomass, multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor of the type comprising a preferably cylindrical body arranged vertically, with a bottom and a perimeter wall, a top cover, and an upper effluent outlet duct, characterized by externally comprising a raw water feed and expansion column defined by a raw water influent duct, where a raw water injection pump with a frequency converter and a raw water flow meter is connected, and wherein said duct penetrates the wall in a lower zone and projects to a central zone near the bottom of said bioreactor where it connects to a central distribution chamber comprising a plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts that distribute and expand the raw water from the center of the bottom towards the wall of the bioreactor, defining a granular biomass expansion zone in a lower sectionanaerobic ammonia bioreactor and generating a helical upward water flow around a central water mixing and recirculation column; an aeration system defined by an air distributor in a zone below the mid-height of said bioreactor, fed from an air supply source with a flow regulating valve, and comprising a plurality of branches with flow control valves for aerating, defining an upper aerobic ammonia oxidation section of the bioreactor; said central water mixing and recirculation column is defined by a central duct fixed at the center of the bottom of the bioreactor, defining a closed lower end that houses the central raw water distribution chamber and from whose wall protrudes the plurality of curved radial raw water injection ducts, and an open upper end through which water is poured from the upper zone of the bioreactor into the interior of the central duct whereA propeller mixing system with a motor and frequency inverter is housed, generating a downward axial flow of water within the central duct, which is expelled through an outlet section located above the aeration system but without reaching the bottom of the bioreactor. An automatic control system for the operation of the bioreactor consists of a plurality of sensor elements for ammonia nitrogen (NH4), nitrites (NO2), nitrates (NO3), dissolved oxygen (O2), and incoming raw water flow, arranged at least in the raw water influent duct and at least in the upper zone of the bioreactor. A central control and processing unit is configured to store and process the readings and, based on predetermined reading values, activate the frequency inverter of the raw water injection pump to regulate the raw water feed volume in the granular biomass expansion zone.propeller mixing system of the mixing and recirculation zone and the degree of opening of the air flow control valves of the aeration system; to maintain the reading values ​​at optimal levels required for the process. 2.- The multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor with high biomass content according to claim 1, characterized in that said raw water influent duct of the raw water feed and expansion column further comprises at least two service and / or sludge extraction valves.

3. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said air distributor of the aeration system, which runs circumferentially on the outside and surrounds an area below half the height of said bioreactor, comprises a plurality of branches with a flow control valve and which penetrate the wall of the bioreactor and internally comprise radially distributed membrane fine bubble diffusers inside the bioreactor, comprising a protective mesh for the fine bubble diffuser membrane. 4.- The multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor of > tu r\ c N — 42 Ξ σ c N u high biomass content according to claim 1, characterized in that said raw water feed and expansion column further comprises an upward water recirculation bypass duct with a flow control valve, the upper end of which penetrates a high area of ​​the bioreactor wall for the recirculation of water from the top of the bioreactor to the bottom thereof.

5. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said raw water flow meter injected into the bioreactor through said raw water feed and expansion column is an electromagnetic meter.

6. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said propeller mixing system consists of a geared motor with a frequency converter fixed to the external upper part of the bioreactor lid and whose output drive shaft is connected to a rotating vertical shaft housed axially inside said central duct and at whose lower end it permanently comprises a mixing propeller that generates a downward axial flow of water within the central duct. 7.- The multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor of > tu r\ c N — 43 Ξ σ c N u high biomass content according to claim 1, characterized in that said bioreactor further comprises in the upper and interior zone below the lid, a floating biocarrier containment structure consisting of a cylindrical frame defined by annular bodies joined by vertical arms distributed perimetrically with a closed enveloping mesh that prevents the exit of floating biocarriers through the ascending water recirculation bypass duct and through the upper effluent outlet duct.

8. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor according to claim 2, characterized in that said service and / or sludge extraction valves connected in said water influent duct of the raw water feed and expansion column are configured to activate and prevent water from leaving the reactor through the raw water influent duct and connect a “Vactor” truck for sludge extraction from the bottom of said bioreactor.

9. The high biomass multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said ammonia nitrogen (Nhh), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), dissolved oxygen (O2) sensor elements are arranged in the raw water influent duct, in the outlet zone of the granular biomass expansion zone, in the middle of the central mixing and recirculation column and in the upper effluent duct zone of the bioreactor. 10.- The multi-media anaerobic ammonia oxidation bioreactor with a high biomass content according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes floating biocarriers.

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