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