Patent ID: 8663473
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: C02F,Y02E,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method of enhancing methane production in a wastewater treatment process comprising: introducing a wastewater into a biological treatment unit to provide a wastewater having a reduced nutrient content; separating the wastewater having the reduced nutrient content to provide an effluent and a waste activated sludge; contacting the waste activated sludge with an amount of chlorine dioxide in an oxidant treatment zone for a period of time sufficient to reduce a concentration of microorganisms in the waste activated sludge and provide a chlorine dioxide treated waste activated sludge having a soluble COD concentration of about 10% of a total COD concentration of the chlorine dioxide treated waste activated sludge; and anaerobically digesting the chlorine dioxide treated waste activated sludge downstream of the oxidant treatment zone to provide a digested waste activated sludge and methane.