Patent ID: 7387733
Filing Date: 2008-06-17
Classification: C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method of maintaining a biomass disposed on a substrate in a bioreactor tank, said bioreactor tank having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a waste treatment system whereby an influent fluid may be selectively introduced through the inlet into the bioreactor tank for removal of waste material therefrom to produce an effluent fluid which can be returned through the outlet to the waste treatment system, the method comprising: processing a quantity of influent fluid through the bioreactor tank to produce a quantity of effluent fluid; removing the effluent fluid from the bioreactor tank through the outlet; isolating the bioreactor tank from the waste treatment system; establishing a set of dry cycle conditions in the bioreactor tank, the dry cycle conditions being selected to effect endogenous growth within at least a portion of the biomass whereby an average age of the at least a portion of the biomass may be tailored; and restoring the bioreactor tank connection to the waste treatment system.