Patent ID: 7108782

Claim:
A system for processing wastewater onboard a marine vessel, comprising: treatment means for receiving, holding, and treating the wastewater into a clean effluent and a sludge concentrate; plumbing means connected to the treatment means for discharging said clean effluent overboard and discharging said sludge concentrate either overboard, into an onboard holding tank or to undergo further onboard treatment, wherein said further onboard treatment includes concentration or destruction; and selective control means operatively connected to said treatment means and said plumbing means for establishing different operational modes involving said treating of the wastewater, said discharging of the clean effluent separately from said discharging of the sludge concentrate overboard based on location of the marine vessel and operating conditions of the system, said system further comprising: wastewater feed connecting means for enabling collection and temporary holding of the wastewater; ultraviolet disinfection means for reducing concentration of fecal coliform bacteria in the wastewater; bioreactor means for reception and holding of the wastewater a sufficient period of time during which naturally present bacteria consumes organic matter to allow filtration, said bioreactor means including a tank having membrane modules and diffusers therein, and aeration means for scouring surfaces of the membrane modules and sustaining bacterial population within the tank; and, vent means connected to the bioreactor means for exiting of air and foam from the tank; and means for collection of the foam from the tank and feedback thereof to the bioreactor means.