Patent ID: 6096214
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: C02F,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for treating a wastewater feed using an alternating anaerobic contact process comprising the steps of:(a) contacting a first portion of said wastewater feed with anaerobic bacteria in a first enclosed vessel to form a first anaerobic liquor, said first enclosed vessel serving as a reacting vessel for anaerobic bacteria to break-down organic material existing in said first portion of said wastewater feed;(b) passing a portion of said first anaerobic liquor from said first enclosed vessel to a second enclosed vessel, said second enclosed vessel serving as a settling vessel;(c) permitting anaerobic bacteria of said portion of said first anaerobic liquor in said second enclosed vessel to settle towards a bottom of said second enclosed vessel and treated wastewater to flow from said second enclosed vessel;(d) allowing anaerobic bacteria in a remaining portion of said first anaerobic liquor in said first enclosed vessel to settle towards a bottom of said first enclosed vessel;(e) contacting a second portion of said wastewater feed with anaerobic bacteria in said second enclosed vessel to form a second anaerobic liquor, said second enclosed vessel now serving as the reacting vessel for anaerobic bacteria to break-down organic material existing in said second portion of said wastewater feed;(f) passing a portion of said second anaerobic liquor from said second enclosed vessel to said first enclosed vessel, said first enclosed vessel now serving as the settling vessel;(g) permitting anaerobic bacteria in said portion of said second anaerobic liquor in said first enclosed vessel to settle towards the bottom of said first enclosed vessel and treated wastewater to flow from said first enclosed vessel;(h) allowing anaerobic bacteria in a remaining portion of said second anaerobic liquor in said second enclosed vessel to settle towards the bottom of said second enclosed vessel.