Waste treatment method and apparatus with integral membrane apparatus

Abstract

A wastewater treatment method and apparatus including a denitrification (anoxic) chamber for denitrifying wastewater, an aeration basin with Bio-Wheel for aerating the wastewater, and a membrane device in which sludge particles are separated out of the wastewater, leaving clean discharge water and reusable sludge. Sludge from the membrane chamber floor is sent back to the aeration basin or denitrification chamber or both. Excess sludge is wasted or held for further processing. Preferably, the method and apparatus facilitate both activated sludge and fixed film processes.

1 . A wastewater treatment apparatus comprising: 
 a rotary aerator positioned in an aeration basin, said aerator comprising a fixed film and    at least one membrane positioned downstream of said rotary aerator for removing solid particles from treated wastewater treated by said rotary aerator.    
   
   
       2 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A method for treating wastewater comprising: 
 performing an activated sludge/fixed film process in a rotary aerator and    separating clean permeate from aerated wastewater by passing the aerated wastewater through one or more membranes.    
   
   
       16 . The method for treating wastewater according to  claim 15 , further comprising aerating a chamber containing the one or more membranes.  
   
   
       17 . The method for treating wastewater according to  claim 15 , further comprising relatively moving the one or more membranes through a membrane chamber.  
   
   
       18 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 15 , comprising producing a permeate comprising at least one of: 
 at most 5 mg/L biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids;    at most 5 mg/L of total nitrogen; and    at most 0.5 mg/L of total phosphorous.    
   
   
       19 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 18 , comprising producing a permeate comprising each of: 
 at most 5 mg/L biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids;    at most 5 mg/L of total nitrogen; and    at most 0.5 mg/L of total phosphorous.    
   
   
       20 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 15 , comprising removing pathogenic microorganisms with the membrane.  
   
   
       21 . The method for treating wastewater of  claim 15 , further comprising biologically treating the rotary aerated fluid.