Inorganic Porous Medium Microbial Loading for Wastewater Sludge Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wastewater treatment processes face challenges in reducing sludge quantity and improving biosolids quality, as existing technologies are inefficient in removing pathogens and contaminants, and require significant resources for disposal and treatment.

Innovation Solution

The method involves loading microbial species onto an inorganic porous medium, such as silica or zeolite, and integrating them into wastewater treatment systems to enhance microbial activity, reduce biosolids, and improve effluent quality by consuming biosolids and contaminants, thereby increasing the carrying capacity and reducing sludge production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional wastewater treatment processes are used, then treatment capacity is maintained, but sludge quantity increases and biosolids quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesludge quantityVSAvoidbiosolids quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the treatment system by introducing an inorganic porous medium with specific surface area and porosity characteristics. This medium provides adsorption sites that alter the interaction between microorganisms and contaminants, enabling simultaneous sludge reduction and pathogen removal through enhanced adsorption mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite system combining inorganic porous medium (such as zeolite or silica) with microbial communities. This composite structure allows the inorganic material to provide structural support and adsorption capacity while the microorganisms perform biological degradation, achieving both sludge quantity reduction and quality improvement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If existing pathogen removal technologies are applied, then pathogen levels decrease, but treatment complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen removalVSAvoidtreatment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inorganic porous medium acts as an intermediary between the wastewater and the treatment process. It provides a surface for microbial attachment and creates localized environments that enhance pathogen removal through adsorption and concentrated microbial activity, simplifying the overall treatment system by eliminating the need for separate disinfection steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service pathogen removal where the microbial community, supported by the inorganic porous medium, naturally degrades and removes pathogens without requiring external chemical additives or complex control systems. The porous medium continuously provides adsorption capacity as contaminants are introduced

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If sludge disposal and treatment are performed, then environmental compliance is maintained, but resource consumption and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental complianceVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sludge reduction function from the conventional treatment process by introducing the inorganic porous medium that selectively adsorbs contaminants and pathogens. This extraction allows the system to produce a concentrated, high-quality biosolids product that requires minimal further treatment, thereby reducing the energy and resources needed for downstream disposal operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 significantly reduces sludge production by up to 40%, enhances biosolids quality by decreasing contaminants like arsenic, cadmium, and fecal coliform, and improves effluent quality by reducing ammonia and phosphorous levels, without the need for additional chemicals like chlorine or ozone.

Implementation Method 1

the inorganic porous medium is selected or modified for sorption of nitrogen and/or phosphorous from the aqueous phase to (i) increase a nutrient concentration of the fertilizer of compost and (ii) decrease the amount of nitrogen and/or phosphorous in the aqueous phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSorption: Sorption

Implementation Method 2

the at least one microbial species consumes a portion of the biosolids phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS11440853B2Systems, methods, and apparatus for increased wastewater effluent and biosolids quality

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 DRYLET LLC

AI summary

Methods of delivering microorganisms loaded onto an inorganic porous medium. Methods of treating wastewater to increase effluent and biosolids quality. Methods of reducing ammonia and denitrifying wastewater effluent. Methods of reducing phosphorous concentration in wastewater effluent. Composition of biosolids derived from wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment assemblage for increasing wastewater effluent and biosolids quality.