Ballasted anaerobic method for treating wastewater
View Patent ↗A ballasted anaerobic system for treating wastewater including at least one anaerobic treatment reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix weighting agent with the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs to create a weighted anaerobic sludge blanket in the at least one anaerobic treatment reactor. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from excess sludge and reintroduce the weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.
1. A ballasted anaerobic method for treating wastewater, the method comprising:
receiving influent wastewater in at least one anaerobic treatment reactor;
forming biological flocs in the at least one anaerobic treatment reactor; and
impregnating weighting agent into the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs;
allowing the weighted biological flocs to settle to create a weighted anaerobic sludge blanket; and
directing the wastewater through the weighted anaerobic sludge blanket to provide a treated effluent.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of recycling the weighting agent.
3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing weighting agent in which the majority of the weighting agent has a particle size less than about 100 μm.
4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing weighting agent in which the majority of the weighting agent has a particle size less than about 40 μm.
5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing weighting agent in which the majority of the weighting agent has a particle size less than about 20 μm.
6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of enhancing the quality of the treated effluent by reducing suspended solids and associated contaminants therein.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising wasting excess sludge from the at least one anaerobic treatment reactor.