Regenerating organically polluted adsorbent esp. activated carbon - by washing with suspension of bacteria which decompose biodegradable pollutants

摘要

Biological purificn. process is now used to decompose the organic material. Pref. the absorbant material to be regenerated is put into suspension in a fluid rich in bacteria capable of biodegrading the contaminants. Alternatively, a fluid enriched with suitable bacteria can flushed through a bed of adsorbant material to be regenerated. Several independent beds of absorbent material can be used in series, the first bed collecting mainly the pollutant which is most readily adsorbed of the remainder etc. Each bed is regenerated separately, with specific bacteria as necessary and employing aerobic and/or anaerobic decomposition as suitable. The adsorbant material should be washed in clean water, e.g. beds backflushed, to remove sludge after biological purificn.