TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS MEDIA CONTAINING ELECTRICALLY CHARGED COMPOUNDS

摘要

This invention provides a method of reducing the concentration of at least one electrically charged compound present in aqueous feedstock ( 5 ), such as water and waste water. The feedstock to be treated is continuously supplied to one surface of a selectively permeable, electrically charged membrane ( 2 ) contained within a module ( 1 ). Simultaneously an aqueous reaction medium, containing an active microbial culture, contacts with the opposite face of the membrane ( 2 ). The microbial culture, fed with selected nutrients and salts, is capable to convert at least one electrically charged compound, after it permeates through the wall of the membrane ( 2 ) to by-products. The membrane is substantially impermeable to electrically uncharged compounds. The ion-exchange properties of the membrane allow avoiding secondary pollution of the treated water by metabolic by-products and residual nutrients from the reaction medium. The membrane separates physically the polluted water stream ( 5 ) from the reaction medium, which assures that the treated water ( 6 ) does never directly contact with the microbial culture.