Patent ID: 11661366

Abstract:
Water containing selenium, for example flue gas desulfurization (FGD) blowdown water is treated with a combination of biological and chemical treatment and membrane filtration. The biologically treated water is dosed with a dithiocarbamate compound and flocculated prior to membrane filtration. Optionally, the treatment may be enhanced with one or more adsorptive agents prior to, or in conjunction with, membrane filtration. Membrane concentrate may be re-circulated to one or more biological treatment zones. The biological treatment may be by way of suspended growth, fixed growth on a moving bed, or both. One or more biological treatment zones may be controlled considering their oxygen reduction potential (ORP). Optionally, the biological treatment includes an aerobic zone following one or more anoxic or anaerobic zones. The non-aerobic zones remove selenium and optionally nitrogen and sulfur. The aerobic zone removes carbon, which may include carbon added as a nutrient in a non-aerobic zone.