Dehydrated Sludge Bio-Carriers for MBBR Wastewater Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technologies face challenges due to the high cost of plastic carrier media, reduced active surface area, and potential for plastic pollution, which affects the efficiency and environmental sustainability of the process.
Innovation Solution
The use of dehydrated sludge as bio-carriers in MBBR processes, which are dehydrated to a high dry solids content and formed into particles with specific characteristics to provide a surface for biofilm growth while avoiding the use of plastic materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic carrier media are used in MBBR processes, then the microorganisms can be retained in the reactor, but the production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive plastic carrier media with inexpensive natural materials such as wood chips, stones, or other biodegradable materials. These carriers are designed to be replaceable and not permanently durable, reducing production costs while still effectively retaining microorganisms during the service period. The carriers can be easily removed and replaced without significant economic loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the carrier media from synthetic plastic to natural materials with different physical and chemical properties. This includes changing density, surface area, porosity, and biodegradability parameters to achieve cost reduction while maintaining or improving microorganism retention capabilities through natural surface characteristics.
2Reliability
If plastic carrier media are designed with protected surface area, then biofilm is protected from shear forces, but the total active surface area per m3 is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of protecting the biofilm surface from shear forces, the patent inverts the approach by using softer, more flexible natural carrier materials that can withstand shear forces themselves. The carrier materials like wood chips or stones have natural structural resilience that allows them to absorb mechanical stress without requiring protected surface designs, thereby maximizing the total active surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite natural materials with combined properties of structural strength and surface area. For example, combining wood chips of specific sizes and shapes, or mixing different natural materials, creates carriers that inherently resist shear forces while providing maximum exposed surface area for biofilm growth without needing protected internal surfaces.
3Productivity
If plastic carrier media are used in MBBR processes, then the treatment efficiency is maintained, but plastic pollution is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of plastic pollution into a benefit by using biodegradable natural materials that, when they eventually break down, return organic matter to the ecosystem. The carriers are designed to degrade into harmless or beneficial substances, transforming the waste problem into a resource recovery opportunity while maintaining treatment efficiency throughout the carrier service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The natural carrier materials perform self-service by providing their own structural integrity and surface properties needed for microorganism attachment and treatment efficiency. The materials naturally resist degradation during service and then biodegrade automatically without requiring special disposal infrastructure, eliminating plastic pollution while maintaining productivity.
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 solution reduces production costs, increases the active surface area for biofilm growth, and mitigates plastic pollution, while maintaining high efficiency in wastewater treatment by effectively retaining microorganisms within the reactor.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier being a particle comprising dehydrated sludge
Implementation Method 2
the bio-carrier being kept in suspension and in movement, either continuously or intermittently, in the liquid to be purified by aeration and/or stirring of the liquid to be purified
Implementation Method 3
the bio-carrier being kept in suspension and in movement, either continuously or intermittently, in the liquid to be purified by aeration and/or stirring of the liquid to be purified
Implementation Method 4
the bio-carrier being kept in suspension and in movement, either continuously or intermittently, in the liquid to be purified by aeration and/or stirring of the liquid to be purified
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to a bio-carrier to carry a biofilm in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), the carrier being a particle comprising dehydrated sludge. The use of a bio-carrier in a MBBR process to purify a liquid from contaminants is disclosed and a method of manufacture of a bio-carrier is provided.