Patent ID: 6100081
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02A,Y02W

Abstract:
Apparatus for the purification of waste water with oxygen-containing gas, comprising:a) a housing comprising bottom and side walls;b) a gas inlet located in a lower portion of the housing and a water inlet located in an upper portion of the housing, the gas inlet being connected to a gas distributor and the water inlet being connected to a water distributor, the gas distributor and water distributor being located inside the housing;c) a water outlet located below the gas inlet, and a gas outlet located in the upper portion of the housing;d) a filtering material contained inside the housing for providing adsorption and/or absorption of the waste water, ionic exchange capacity with the waste water, nutrients and support for colonization and growth of microorganisms adapted to biofilter contaminants contained in the waste water in contact with the gas, said filtering material comprises a succession of layers, said succession of layers comprising at least one layer including a filtering carrier material and at least one layer including a structural carrier material in a sufficient amount to prevent compaction of the filtering material and channels formation; whereby the waste water and the gas can flow, thereby ensuring purification of said waste water;wherein the gas supplied through the gas inlet substantially moves upward through the filtering material to escape by the gas outlet and the waste water supplied through the water inlet moves downward through the filtering material to escape by the water outlet, andwherein the filtering material is characterized by downwardly increasing biofiltration capacity to prevent clogging of the filtering material upon downward flow of the waste water.