Method and apparatus for nitrogen removal and treatment of digester reject water in wastewater using bioagumenation

Abstract

An efficient system and process for removing nitrogen from wastewater while enriching seed sludge in the mainstream treatment process. Bioaugmentation of seed autotrophic organisms facilitate the nitrification reactions by enhancing the rates of reaction advantageously within a smaller volume or within a shorter activated sludge solids retention time. Likewise, bioaugmentation of seed denitrification organisms will also enhance rate of reaction within a smaller volume or shorter activated sludge solids retention time. Separate treatment of high ammonia digester reject water is an efficient method to treat nitrogen in recycle streams as well as to enrich the seed nitrifying and denitrifying cultures.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A system for the treatment of wastewater comprising: 
 a mainstream reactor receiving wastewater as influent and outputting an effluent; and    a seed production reactor for receiving and performing bioaugmentation on the mainstream reactor effluent, wherein the seed production reactor outputs bioaugmentation seed sludge, at least a portion of which is returned to the mainstream reactor.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the solids retention time for carbonaceous substrate removal in the mainstream reactor is within the range of about 1 to about 3 days.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the solids retention time for the seed production reactor is within the range of about 7 to about 20 days.  
   
   
       20 . A system for the treatment of wastewater comprising: 
 a mainstream reactor for receiving wastewater as influent and for producing mainstream reactor effluent;    a seed production reactor for receiving and treating the mainstream reactor effluent and for producing a quantity of seed sludge; and    a sidestream bioaugmentation enrichment reactor (SBER) for receiving and treating the quantity of seed sludge and for producing bioaugmentation sludge, at least a portion of which is returned to the mainstream reactor.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the SBER also receives digester reject water as influent.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the mainstream reactor sends at least a portion of its effluent to the SBER for treatment to enhance the formation of nitrite in the SBER and in the mainstream reactor.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the SBER sends at least a portion of the bioaugmentation sludge to the seed production reactor.