Passive treatment of wastewater and contaminated groundwater
View Patent ↗A bioremediation system using inorganic oxide-reducing microbial consortia for the treatment of, inter alia coal mine and coal yard runoff uses a containment vessel for contaminated water and a second, floating phase for nutrients. Biodegradable oils are preferred nutrients.
1. An apparatus for the treatment of wastewater and contaminated groundwater comprising:
a) a treatment zone having top, bottom and sides, said zone being substantially empty of solids;
b) at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port, said ports being substantially opposite each other in the treatment zone and above said bottom;
c) means for intermittently introducing floating non-aqueous liquid electron donor;
d) means to maintain floating non-aqueous liquid electron donor within said treatment zone;
e) means for withdrawing accumulated precipitated solids from the bottom of said treatment zone;
f) means for directing wastewater and contaminated groundwater into said treatment zone; and
g) means for directing treated water and groundwater out of said treatment zone.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to maintain and said means for directing include at least a pair of baffles to separate the treatment zone into an anteroom, a main treatment room and a recessional room.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising biological support media within the treatment zone.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a pervious separation between said biological support media and said bottom of said treatment zone.
5. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising established bacterial strains in the main treatment room.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said bacterial strains are selected from the group consisting of facultative anaerobes, obligate anaerobes and mixtures thereof.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said treatment zone has a bottom which is substantially horizontal.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said treatment zone has a sloping floor.