Apparatus for treatment of fluid streams and method of conducting same

摘要

An apparatus for contacting a fluid stream with microorganisms is provided, the apparatus comprising a housing having a contacting chamber therein defined by a wall of the housing; a first inlet for the fluid stream to be treated; a first outlet for removing a liquid culture medium stream containing microorganisms; a rotor assembly comprising an impeller moveable within the contacting chamber to promote contact between the fluid stream being treated and the liquid culture medium within the contacting chamber; wherein at a least a portion of the wall of the housing defining the contacting chamber is transparent to light. A method of treating a fluid stream with microorganisms is also provided, the method comprising contacting the fluid stream with the microorganisms in a contacting zone, the microorganisms being retained in a liquid phase, wherein contact of the fluid stream with the microorganisms is enhanced by the action of a moving impeller, the contacting zone being within a housing, at least a portion of which is transparent to the passage of light.

主权项

1. An apparatus for contacting a fluid stream with microorganisms, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having a contacting chamber therein defined by a wall of the housing; a first inlet for the fluid stream to be treated; a first outlet for removing a liquid culture medium stream containing microorganisms; a rotor assembly comprising an impeller moveable within the contacting chamber to promote contact between the fluid stream being treated and the liquid culture medium within the contacting chamber, the impeller comprising an elongate scoop or bucket; wherein the rotor assembly further comprises an array of light emitting devices to provide a source of artificial light within the housing; wherein at a least a portion of the wall of the housing defining the contacting chamber is transparent to light; wherein, in use, the contact chamber has a first region occupied by fluid from the fluid stream to be processed and a second region occupied by the liquid medium containing microorganisms, the inlet directing fluid to be processed into the first region of the contact chamber; the impeller moving through both the first and second regions of the contact chamber; the apparatus further comprising: low density or floating solid materials to clean the inner surface of the housing; and a system for applying a potential difference across the impellor of the rotor assembly.