| 摘要 |
A method of using micro-organisms to continuously and sustainably regenerate zeolite cation exchange capacity (CEC) for removing nitrogen (ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate) from wastewater. The zeolite immobilizes the ammonium ions, and the micro-organisms ingest the ammonium from the surface of the zeolite thereby freeing the cation exchange sites to trap more ammonium. The zeolite is continuously regenerated by the microbes, sustainably maintaining available ion exchange capacity for removing ammonium, and does not need to be shut down for regeneration or replacement. The microbial complex contains nitrifiers, anammox, denitrifiers, archaea, and others. All the micro-organisms co-exist in the same reactor promoting symbiotic interactions, thereby increasing treatment efficiency. The end product is di-nitrogen gas which dissipates into the atmosphere. The system does not require aeration, operates by gravity flow, and has very low energy requirements. Maintenance is minimal, and the system can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (nitrous oxide).;Notes: This document uses the terms ammonia and ammonium interchangeably, just as the compounds themselves are interchangeable (NH3+H+NH4+). In aquatic systems ammonia (NH3) is predominantly found in the ionic form as ammonium (NH4). |
| 主权项 |
1. A method for removing total nitrogen (TN), or ammonium, from waste water or any freshwater or brackish aquatic medium, using a zeolite-anammox reactor consisting of bio-zeolite comprising:
a) a physico-biological process predominated by a cationic exchange medium, such as zeolite, and a biological component containing anammox; b) a combination of zeolite and anammox to form a continuously running, self-regulating, self-regenerating zeolite-anammox treatment system for removing TN; c) a combination of zeolite and a microbial mixture forming bio-zeolite, d) bio-zeolite as a permanent, stratified, fixed film cation exchange reactor for nitrogen species removal including continuous ongoing in-situ biological regeneration of zeolite (i.e. does not require shutting down for regeneration); e) options include a low energy system that can run by gravity flow and atmospheric aeration. |
