SUSPENDED MEDIA MEMBRANE BIOLOGICAL REACTOR SYSTEM AND PROCESS INCLUDING MULTIPLE BIOLOGICAL REACTOR ZONES
A wastewater treatment system is provided comprising a first biological reaction zone, a second biological reaction zone and a membrane operating system. The first biological reaction zone is constructed and arranged to receive and treat the wastewater. The second biological reaction zone includes a separation subsystem and is constructed and arranged to receive effluent from the first biological reaction zone. A suspension system for adsorbent material is provided in the second biological reaction zone. The membrane operating system is located downstream of the second biological reaction zone and is constructed and arranged to receive treated wastewater from the second biological reaction zone and discharge a membrane permeate.
1 . A wastewater treatment system comprising:
a first biological reaction zone constructed and arranged to receive and treat the wastewater;
a second biological reaction zone including a separation subsystem, the second biological reaction zone constructed and arranged to receive effluent from the first biological reaction zone and the separation subsystem constructed and arranged to maintain an adsorbent material in the second biological reaction zone with the effluent from the first biological reaction zone;
a suspension system constructed and arranged to maintain the adsorbent material in suspension in the second biological reaction zone; and
a membrane operating system located downstream of the second biological reaction zone that is constructed and arranged to receive treated wastewater from the second biological reaction zone and discharge a membrane permeate.
2 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the first biological reaction zone and the second biological reaction zone are segregated sections of the same vessel.
3 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the first biological reaction zone and the second biological reaction zone are located in separate vessels.
4 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the separation subsystem includes a screen positioned at an outlet of the second biological reaction zone.
5 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the separation subsystem includes a settling zone located proximate the outlet of the second biological reaction zone.
6 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 5 , wherein the settling zone comprises a first baffle and a second baffle positioned and dimensioned to define a quiescent zone in which the adsorbent material separates from a mixed liquor and settles into the mixed liquor in a lower portion of the second biological reaction zone.
7 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 5 , wherein the separation subsystem comprises a screen positioned proximate the outlet of the second biological reaction zone.
8 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 5 , wherein the separation subsystem comprises a weir positioned proximate the outlet of the second biological reaction zone.
9 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the first biological reaction zone and the second biological reaction zone are constructed and arranged to support biological oxidation.
10 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 6 , further comprising an anoxic zone upstream of the first biological reaction zone.
11 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the suspension system comprises a gas lift suspension system.
12 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 11 , wherein the gas lift suspension system comprises: at least one draft tube positioned in the second biological reaction zone; and a gas conduit having one or more apertures constructed and arranged to direct gas to an inlet end of the draft tube.
13 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 11 , wherein the gas lift suspension system comprises: at least one draft trough positioned in the second biological reaction zone; and a gas conduit having one or more apertures constructed and arranged to direct gas to a lower portion of the draft trough.
14 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 13 , wherein the draft trough is formed by at least two baffles positioned in the second biological reaction zone.
15 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the suspension system comprises a jet suspension system.
16 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , further comprising
a source of adsorbent material introduction apparatus in communication with the second biological reaction zone;
a sensor constructed and arranged to measure a parameter of the system; and
a controller in electronic communication with the sensor and programmed to instruct performance of an act based on the measured parameter of the system.
17 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 16 , wherein the measured parameter is the concentration of at least one predetermined compounds.
18 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 16 , wherein the act comprises removing at least a portion of the adsorbent material from the second biological reaction zone.
19 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 16 , wherein the act comprises adding adsorbent material to the second biological reaction zone.
20 . A wastewater treatment system comprising:
a first biological reaction zone having a wastewater inlet and a first zone mixed liquor outlet,
a second biological reaction zone having
a mixed liquor inlet in fluid communication with the first zone mixed liquor outlet,
a suspension system for an adsorbent material,
a second zone mixed liquor outlet, and
a separation subsystem associated with the second zone mixed liquor outlet; and
a membrane operating system located downstream of the second biological reaction zone having
an inlet in fluid communication with the second zone mixed liquor outlet, and
a treated effluent outlet.
21 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 20 , wherein the first biological reaction zone and the second biological reaction zone are segregated sections of the same vessel.
22 . The wastewater treatment system of claim 20 , wherein the first biological reaction zone and the second biological reaction zone are located in separate vessels.
23 . A process for treating wastewater comprising:
introducing a mixed liquor into a first biological reaction zone to form a treated mixed liquor;
passing the treated mixed liquor to a second biological reaction zone;
suspending an adsorbent material in the treated mixed liquor of the second biological reaction zone, operating under conditions that promote adsorption of contaminants in the treated mixed liquor on the adsorbent material; and
passing an effluent that is substantially free of adsorbent material from the second biological reaction zone to a membrane operating system while maintaining adsorbent material in the second biological reaction zone.