Bacteriologically Activated Carbon Column for Micropollutant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wastewater treatment systems face challenges in efficiently removing micropollutants due to high costs associated with activated carbon replacement, ozone/UV generation, and the need for specific bacterial strains adapted to different types of wastewater, which complicates storage, transfer, and preliminary studies to determine suitable bacteria for pollutant digestion.
Innovation Solution
A wastewater treatment device with a column divided into subzones A, B, and C, using bacteriologically activated carbon where microorganisms in subzone A are starved, fed in subzone B, and trained with structural analogs in subzone C, with a backwashing system mixing these zones to adapt and degrade micropollutants, reducing costs and simplifying the treatment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional activated carbon columns or filters are used to remove micropollutants, then micropollutant removal is achieved, but the costs associated with replacing or regenerating activated carbon particles increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the chemical adsorption process into a biological degradation process by introducing and cultivating specific microorganisms on the activated carbon. This parameter change from chemical to biological mechanism eliminates the need for frequent carbon replacement, as the microorganisms continuously degrade micropollutants rather than merely adsorbing them.
Solution Approach 2:
The microorganisms colonizing the activated carbon particles perform self-replication and self-maintenance, continuously degrading micropollutants without external intervention. The system sustains itself through microbial metabolism, eliminating the need for manual carbon regeneration or replacement that characterizes conventional systems.
2Reliability
If ozone treatment or UV treatment with oxidising agents is used, then micropollutant removal is achieved, but the costs associated with generating ozone or UV light and safe storage of chemicals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/energy-intensive ozone generation and UV light systems with a biological system using microorganisms. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive equipment like ozone generators and UV lamps, replacing them with simple bioreactors that use natural microbial metabolism to degrade micropollutants.
Solution Approach 2:
The microorganisms produce natural oxidizing enzymes (such as laccases, peroxidases, and cytochrome P450 systems) that degrade micropollutants through biological oxidation. This biological oxidation achieves micropollutant removal without requiring external ozone or UV energy input, significantly reducing operational costs.
3Reliability
If specific bacterial strains are used for different types of wastewater, then effective treatment of specific pollutants is achieved, but the complexity of storage, transfer, and preliminary studies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a consortium of microorganisms that can degrade multiple classes of micropollutants simultaneously, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate bacterial strains for different wastewater types, simplifying storage and application while maintaining broad effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The microorganisms are pre-cultivated and adapted to the specific wastewater composition before being applied to the treatment system. This preliminary adaptation phase allows the microbial community to develop optimal degradation pathways for the target pollutants, ensuring high efficiency without requiring complex preliminary studies or multiple strain selections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows continuous adaptation and efficient degradation of micropollutants, reducing costs by varying microorganism environments for starvation, recovery, and learning, achieving effective wastewater treatment with a single system.
Implementation Method 1
Said device is remarkable in that the bacteriologically activated carbon of subzone A comprises starving micro-organisms, the bacteriologically activated carbon of subzone B comprises micro-organisms fed through a first feeding system adapted to feed said micro-organisms with ethanol, sugar derivatives, and/or nutrients
Implementation Method 2
One of the current state of the art technologies for removing micropollutants is a conventional activated carbon column or a conventional filter
Implementation Method 3
These filters or columns are normally equipped with a backwash (treated water with an air-scour)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention is directed to a device adapted for wastewater treatment, said wastewater comprising at least one sort of micropollutant. Said device comprises a column 2 and a backwashing system in fluid connection with said column. The column comprises an inlet 4 and an outlet 6, said inlet being upstream to said outlet. The column also comprises a zone which comprises bacteriologically activated carbon 8 which is downstream to said inlet, said zone being divided in subzones A, B and C. In addition, the column comprises a backwashing space 10, being downstream to said zone comprising bacteriologically activated carbon. Said device is remarkable in that the bacteriologically activated carbon of subzone A comprises starving micro-organisms, the bacteriologically activated carbon of subzone B comprises micro-organisms fed through a first feeding system 14 and the bacteriologically activated carbon of subzone C comprises micro-organisms fed through a second feeding system 16.