Process and apparatus for microbial filtration and bacterial injection for one or more environmental contaminants

摘要

Scaleable bacterial injection, aeration and filtration system to effectively control microbial community function of aquatic systems. The present invention is a substantially simplified system with respect to handling growth and dispersion of microorganisms in solution and is also adaptable to many different end-use applications, including treatment of ornamental fish and aquaculture, pond and streams and sewage treatment systems. Initial microorganism materials are provided in the form of aqueous suspensions, which are incorporated into a large volume of water in a vessel. Microorganisms are entrapped inside a carrier that serves as a physical enclosure for cell retention. It has a porous structure to facilitate the diffusion of substances, such as ammonia, nitrate, nutrients, fuels and organic carbon, into its internal void volume, where substrate reduction is accomplished by entrapped cells. Specific species of microbes are injected into a filtration matrix that is bathed in oxygenated effluent and a portion of which is dispensed into an aqueous environment. The apparatus can be electronic, air or fluid driven and injected with the desired microbial species, preferably multiple time per day. Multi-stage media can be placed into packed filter units of convenient sizes for wastewater regeneration as well as natural water pollution reduction. The reactor canisters containing entrapped cells are portable and can be assembled off-site and then delivered to the field for installation and immediate operation. Bio-solid reduction, odor reduction, unplugging of leaching fields, conversion and reduction of nitrogen species in natural waters such as lakes and ponds, etc. can be accomplished.