Patent ID: 7455776

Claim:
A method of treating high-solids content liquid in an open aeration basin of a wastewater system, the aeration basin having a draft tube disposed therein, the draft tube having an entrance, an exit and a passageway where an agitator is disposed and through which the high-solids content liquid flows in a downward orientation, the method comprising the steps of: disposing the high-solids content liquid within the aeration basin; introducing oxygen into the open aeration basin at a location proximate to the draft tube; agitating the high-solids content liquid and oxygen to produce gas bubbles within the high-solids content liquid within the draft tube, the gas bubbles having an average diameter of between about 0.3 mm and 3.0 mm; and ejecting the high-solid content liquid including the gas bubbles from the exit of the draft tube into the aeration basin to disperse the gas bubbles within the open aeration basin and increase residency time of the gas bubbles within the open aeration basin.