Patent ID: 6761823
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
A method for removing contaminants from water with a relatively low oxygen content, the water having naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, and at least one of ferrous iron and sulfide, the method comprising:oxygenating the water; directing the oxygenated water to a filtration vessel, the filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water; propagating the chemoautotrophic bacteria in the presence of the oxygenated water and at least one of the ferrous iron and sulfide; depositing at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate on the bio-filtration media as a by-product of the chemoautotrophic bacteria; precipitating at least one of ferric iron and iron sulfate in the presence of the oxygenated water; removing the water from the filtration vessel; and wherein the chemoautotrophic bacteria include Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, the water is oxygenated by exposing the water to air and turbulence in an oxygenation vessel, the oxygenation vessel includes a housing with bio-filtration media to thereby create the turbulence in the water, and the bio-filtration media includes a plurality of bio-media balls, at least one having a plurality of axially extending pins positioned on concentric rings.