System for supporting denitrification
A method of supporting denitrification includes receiving biological material at a pulsed electric field station and applying a pulsed electric field to the biological material within a treatment zone in the pulse electric field station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the treated biological material to an anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor. A system for supporting denitrification is also provided.
1. A wastewater treatment system, comprising:
a treatment station including an anoxic bioreactor in which denitrification is performed on a wastewater having a nitrate concentration with a supply of electron donor and carbon;
a pulsed electric field station comprising an inlet adapted to receive biological material, a treatment chamber through which biological material received via the inlet passes and including at least two spaced electrodes between which is generated a pulsed electric field and which define at least one treatment zone therebetween, and an outlet adapted to pass treated biological material, the pulsed electric field station generating a non-arcing pulsed electric field with pulses that have a pulse width of 2 to 15 microseconds, a peak field strength of 20 to 60 kV/cm and a frequency of 2,000 to 10,000; and
a transport system coupled to the outlet of the pulsed electric field station and the anoxic bioreactor to provide treated biological material to the anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor and carbon, to decrease said nitrate concentration.
2. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1 , wherein the treated biological material is provided to the anoxic bioreactor in substitution for an external source of electron donor.
3. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the pulsed electrical field station is also coupled to at least one of a primary treatment station, a secondary treatment station, a thickening station, or a press.
4. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 3 , wherein the outlet of the pulsed electrical field station is selectively coupled to the transport system or the at least one of the primary treatment station, the secondary treatment station, the thickening station or the press.
5. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1 , wherein a duration of treatment is a function of the shape of the treatment zone and the pulse width and frequency of the pulsed electric field, and the duration of treatment is between 20-100 microseconds.
6. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1 , comprising at least one of a primary treatment station, a secondary treatment station, a thickening station, or a press, the inlet of the pulsed electrical field station coupled to the at least one of the primary treatment station, the secondary treatment station, the thickening station, or the press.
7. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 1 , comprising:
a source of biological material, the source comprising at least one of municipal waste material, industrial waste material, or agricultural waste material, the inlet of the pulsed electrical field station coupled to the source of biological material.
8. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the transport system provides treated biological material to the anoxic bioreactor in substitution only in part for an external source of electron donor that does not originate with wastewater incoming to the treatment system.
9. The wastewater treatment system according to claim 8 , wherein the external source comprises a source of methanol, ethanol or glycol.