Patent ID: 6660164
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
An aerobic thermophilic process for treating waste comprising the steps of:injecting waste material into a reactor vessel having thermopihlic microorganisms to form a volume of bulk liquid in the reactor vessel; injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the reactor vessel in such manner as to transfer oxygen into the reactor bulk liquid for utilization by the thermophilic microorganisms in aerobic treatment of the waste material; monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid to determine whether the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature are each within predetermined set point ranges; and adjusting at least a selected one of the rate of injection of the oxygen-containing gas, the oxygen-transfer efficiency of the oxygen-containing gas, and the volume of bulk liquid in the reactor in response to a determination that one of the oxidation-reduction potential and temperature of the reactor bulk liquid are outside the corresponding set point ranges to maintain the temperature of the reactor bulk liquid within autothermal operating conditions.