SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASED WASTEWATER EFFLUENT AND BIOSOLIDS QUALITY
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.
1 .- 19 . (canceled)
20 . An assemblage for treating wastewater and producing fertilizer or compost, the assemblage comprising:
a reaction vessel comprising one or more inlets configured to receive an influent stream and a microbial solution, and one or more outlets to direct an effluent stream out of the reaction vessel,
wherein the influent stream comprises an aqueous phase and a biosolids phase, and
wherein the microbial solution comprises at least one microbial species loaded onto or within an inorganic porous medium; and
a separator comprising at least one inlet stream and at least one outlet stream, wherein the separator is configured to separate the effluent stream into a treated aqueous phase and a treated biosolids phase.
21 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the inorganic porous medium comprises silica, zeolite, aluminosilicate, silicate, diatomaceous earth, or any combination thereof.
22 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the biosolids phase comprises at least one nutrient source for the at least one microbial species.
23 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the reaction vessel is configured to operate under anaerobic condition.
24 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the reaction vessel is configured to operate under aerobic condition.
25 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the at least one microbial species comprises a facultative microbial species.
26 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the reaction vessel is configured to cycle through aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
27 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the inorganic porous medium comprises a physical modification configured to aggregate or agglomerate the inorganic porous medium.
28 . The assemblage of claim 27 , wherein the physical modification comprises a roughened surface.
29 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the inorganic porous medium comprises a chemical modification configured to precipitate or preferentially bind ammonia and phosphorous.
30 . The assemblage of claim 29 , wherein the chemical modification comprises a chelating agent.
31 . The assemblage of claim 29 , wherein the chemical modification comprises a salt.
32 . The assemblage of claim 29 , wherein the chemical modification comprises a ligand.
33 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the influent stream comprises residential wastewater, agricultural wastewater, industrial wastewater, runoff wastewater, or any combination thereof.
34 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the separator comprises a decanter, filter, centrifuge, or any combination thereof.
35 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the reaction vessel is configured to be operated in a stationary phase such that a number of the at least one microbial species produced is equal to a number of microbial species consumed and an overall population of the at least one microbial species remains unchanged.
36 . The assemblage of claim 20 , further comprising a return activated sludge (RAS) line that carries a portion of the treated biosolids phase from the separator to the reaction vessel.
37 . The assemblage of claim 20 , further comprising a waste activated sludge (WAS) line that carries a portion of the treated biosolids phase from the separator to a dewaterer configured to dewater the treated biosolids phase to produce the fertilizer or compost.
38 . The assemblage of claim 20 , wherein the reaction vessel comprises an anaerobic digester.