Novel systems and methods for converting gaseous byproducts of wastewater treatment into energy

Abstract

A method for removing methane from biogas is described. The method includes: (i) receiving biogas including methane and other components into a first tank; (ii) receiving water into the first tank; (iii) contacting the biogas with the water inside the first tank; (iv) dispensing methane gas from an outlet of the first tank; and (v) producing from the tank an effluent stream that includes other components of the biogas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of wastewater treatment, comprising:
 removing solids from wastewater to produce solids-depleted water;   processing organic material in said solids-depleted wastewater to produce treated water;   discharging a first portion of treated water and a second portion of treated water; and   using said first portion of treated water to processes byproduct gases resulting from wastewater treatment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing nutrients from wastewater. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said using is carried out after said removing nutrients. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conducting anaerobic digestion in an anaerobic digestion tank to produce said byproduct gases including methane and at least one gas; and   contacting in a first tank a first amount of said first option of treated water with said byproduct gases to produce methane exhaust and treated water having dissolved therein said at least one gas.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising conveying methane to an electrical generator and producing electricity and gases including at least one of C02 gas, SOx gas, and NOx gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising contacting in a second tank a second amount of said first portion of treated water with said gases to produce treated water having dissolved therein at least one of C02 gas, SOx gas, and NOx gas and a residual gas including at least one of residual C02 gas, SOx gas, and residual NOx gas. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 sending said treated water having dissolved therein at least one of C02 gas, SOx gas, and NOx gas to an algal pond; and   recirculating back to said second tank said residual gas including at least one of residual CO2 gas, SOx gas, and residual NOx gas.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conducting aerobic digestion in presence of biological chips and producing said byproduct gases including at least one of ammonia gas and sulfur gas; and   contacting in a tank a first portion of said treated water with said byproduct gases including at least one of ammonia gas and sulfur gas to produce treated water having dissolved therein at least one of aqueous ammonia and sulfur and produce a residual gas including at least one of residual ammonia gas and residual sulfur gas.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 conveying to an algal pond said treated water including at least one of aqueous ammonia and sulfur if the amount of ammonia in said treated water is less than a predetermined value, or conveying to said biological chip reactor said treated water if the amount of ammonia in said treated water is greater than or equal to said predetermined value, wherein said predetermined value is between about 0 ppm and about 10 ppm.