Patent ID: 7527735

Claim:
A system for treating wastewater, the system capable of removing granules from treated wastewater, the system comprising: a source of activated sludge for promoting anaerobic and aerobic digestion of wastewater; a compressor for supplying a volume of pressurized air for promoting aerobic digestion of wastewater; at least one anaerobic reactor for anaerobically treating wastewater with the activated sludge; at least one aerobic reactor connected in a circulation loop with the at least one anaerobic reactor for aerobically treating wastewater with the activated sludge and pressurized air, thereby producing additional activated sludge material containing granules; a circulation pump for circulating wastewater through the circulation loop of the system; a pressure control system for regulating pressure in the system; a discharge system connected to the at least one anaerobic reactor and the at least one aerobic reactor for removing treated wastewater and activated sludge from the at least one anaerobic reactor and the at least one aerobic reactor, the discharge system comprising: a clarifier for receiving wastewater and activated sludge from the at least one anaerobic and the at least one aerobic reactors and separating the wastewater from the activated sludge such that the wastewater is removed from the system and the activated sludge is returned to the source of activated sludge; and a filter positioned between the at least one aerobic and the at least one anaerobic reactors and the clarifier for removing the granules from the additional activated sludge.