초록

The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for treating wastewater. The wastewater treatment system includes a bioreactor including activated carbon and a first biological population. The wastewater treatment system may also include a membrane bioreactor and/or a wet oxidation unit.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater comprising a concentration of an endocrine disrupting compound; a bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the source of wastewater, the bioreactor comprising an adsorbent; and an adsorbent regeneration unit f

What is claimed is: 1. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater comprising a concentration of an endocrine disrupting compound; a bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the source of wastewater, the bioreactor comprising an adsorbent; and an adsorbent regeneration unit fluidly connected downstream of the bioreactor. 2. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent regeneration unit comprises an outlet fluidly connected to the bioreactor. 3. The wastewater treatment system of claim 2, wherein the adsorbent regeneration unit includes means for intermittently allowing sludge formed in the bioreactor to be introduced into the adsorbent regeneration unit. 4. The wastewater treatment system of claim 2, wherein the adsorbent regeneration unit comprises a wet air oxidation unit. 5. The wastewater treatment system of claim 2, wherein the adsorbent regeneration unit comprises a second bioreactor. 6. The wastewater treatment system of claim 5, wherein the bioreactor comprises a first biological population and the second bioreactor comprises a second biological population. 7. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent is powdered activated carbon. 8. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1, further comprising a separator fluidly connected downstream of the bioreactor and fluidly connected upstream of the adsorbent regeneration unit. 9. The wastewater treatment system of claim 8, wherein the separator is a hydrocyclone. 10. The wastewater treatment system of claim 8, wherein the separator is a membrane bioreactor. 11. The wastewater treatment system of claim 10, further comprising a wet air oxidation unit fluidly connected downstream of membrane bioreactor. 12. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater; a first membrane bioreactor fluidly connected to the source of wastewater, the bioreactor comprising an adsorbent; and a wet air oxidation unit fluidly connected to the bioreactor. 13. The wastewater treatment system of claim 12, wherein the adsorbent is activated carbon. 14. The wastewater treatment system of claim 12, further comprising a second bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the first membrane bioreactor and upstream of the wet air oxidation unit. 15. The wastewater treatment system of claim 12, further comprising a separator fluidly connected downstream of the first membrane bioreactor and upstream of the wet air oxidation unit. 16. The wastewater treatment system of claim 15, wherein the separator is a hydrocyclone. 17. The wastewater treatment system of claim 14, wherein the second bioreactor comprises a second membrane bioreactor. 18. The wastewater treatment system of claim 17, further comprising a hydrocyclone fluidly connected downstream of the first membrane bioreactor and upstream of the second membrane bioreactor. 19. The wastewater treatment system of claim 18, further comprising a second wet air oxidation unit fluidly connected downstream of the hydrocyclone and upstream of the second membrane bioreactor. 20. The wastewater treatment system of claim 18, further comprising a recirculation line fluidly connected to the wet air oxidation unit and the first membrane bioreactor. 21. The wastewater treatment system of claim 12, further comprising a second bioreactor fluidly connected to the inlet of the first membrane bioreactor. 22. The wastewater treatment system of claim 21, wherein the second bioreactor further comprises activated carbon. 23. The wastewater treatment system of claim 22, further comprising a hydrocyclone fluidly connected to an outlet of the second bioreactor and an inlet to the membrane bioreactor. 24. The wastewater treatment system of claim 23, further comprising a recirculation line fluidly connected to the hydrocyclone and the second bioreactor, the recirculation line comprising a wet air oxidation unit. 25. The wastewater treatment system of claim 12, further comprising a controller configured to fluidly direct a product stream comprising the adsorbent from the first membrane bioreactor to the wet air oxidation unit. 26. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater; a first bioreactor fluidly connected to the source of wastewater, the first bioreactor comprising an adsorbent; a second bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the first bioreactor; and a separator fluidly connected downstream of the first bioreactor and upstream of the second bioreactor. 27. The wastewater treatment system of claim 26, further comprising: a first biological population disposed in the first bioreactor; and a second biological population disposed in the second bioreactor. 28. The wastewater treatment system of claim 26, wherein the means for removing inert solids comprises a separator. 29. The wastewater treatment system of claim 28, wherein the separator is a clarifier. 30. The wastewater treatment system of claim 28, wherein the separator is a hydrocyclone. 31. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater; a wet air oxidation unit comprising an inlet fluidly connected to the source of wastewater and an outlet; and a membrane bioreactor comprising a biological population and fluidly connected to the outlet. 32. The waste water treatment system of claim 31, wherein the membrane bioreactor further comprises activated carbon. 33. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater; a bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the source of wastewater, the bioreactor comprising an adsorbent; and an adsorbent regeneration unit fluidly connected downstream of the bioreactor, wherein the adsorbent regeneration unit comprises a second bioreactor. 34. The wastewater treatment system of claim 33, wherein the bioreactor comprises a first biological population and the second bioreactor comprises a second biological population. 35. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a source of wastewater; a bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the source of wastewater, the bioreactor comprising an adsorbent; an adsorbent regeneration unit fluidly connected downstream of the bioreactor and a separator selected from the group consisting of a hydrocyclone and a membrane bioreactor fluidly connected downstream of the bioreactor and fluidly connected upstream of the adsorbent regeneration unit. 36. The wastewater treatment system of claim 34, wherein the adsorbent regeneration unit comprises a wet air oxidation unit. 37. The wastewater treatment system of claim 4, further comprising: a controller configured to fluidly direct a product stream comprising the adsorbent from the bioreactor to the wet air oxidation unit.