WO2003042114A1 - Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods - Google Patents

Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003042114A1
WO2003042114A1 PCT/US2002/036453 US0236453W WO03042114A1 WO 2003042114 A1 WO2003042114 A1 WO 2003042114A1 US 0236453 W US0236453 W US 0236453W WO 03042114 A1 WO03042114 A1 WO 03042114A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
reactor
water
fixed
hydroponic
system recited
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/036453
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David C. Austin
David J. Maciolek
Eric Lohan
Original Assignee
Dharma Living Systems, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dharma Living Systems, Inc. filed Critical Dharma Living Systems, Inc.
Priority to NZ532856A priority Critical patent/NZ532856A/en
Priority to HU0401968A priority patent/HUP0401968A2/en
Priority to CA 2466473 priority patent/CA2466473C/en
Priority to EP02789628A priority patent/EP1451112A4/en
Priority to BR0214175A priority patent/BR0214175A/en
Priority to MXPA04004493A priority patent/MXPA04004493A/en
Publication of WO2003042114A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003042114A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/32Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage characterised by the animals or plants used, e.g. algae
    • C02F3/327Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage characterised by the animals or plants used, e.g. algae characterised by animals and plants
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/02Aerobic processes
    • C02F3/06Aerobic processes using submerged filters
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/30Aerobic and anaerobic processes
    • C02F3/302Nitrification and denitrification treatment
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/30Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation
    • C02F1/32Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation with ultraviolet light
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2301/00General aspects of water treatment
    • C02F2301/04Flow arrangements
    • C02F2301/043Treatment of partial or bypass streams
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/02Aerobic processes
    • C02F3/08Aerobic processes using moving contact bodies
    • C02F3/085Fluidized beds
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/28Anaerobic digestion processes
    • C02F3/286Anaerobic digestion processes including two or more steps
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02WCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W10/00Technologies for wastewater treatment
    • Y02W10/10Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to wastewater treatment systems and methods, and , more particularly, to such systems and methods for wastewater treatment that are nonchemically based.
  • Wastewater treatment via "natural" means i.e., without the addition of chemicals, has been accomplished with the use of aquatic and emergent macrophytes (plants) that, in concert with the attendant microorganisms and macroorganisms associated with macrophyte roots and stems, substantially mineralize biodegrade organic materials and substantially remove certain excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, phosphorus. .
  • These macrophytes have typically been located in artificial marshlands, also known as constructed wetlands, which are designed for gravity flow.
  • a negative aspect of such systems is that they are very land-intensive, requiring roughly on the order of 100 times as much land area as a conventional treatment plant, or, in terms of capacity, as much as 30-40 acres per 10 6 gallons of wastewater treated per day unless other treatment processes are incorporated into the constructed wetlands
  • Subsurface-flow wetlands which comprise aquatic plants positioned above a gravel filter are also known for use in wastewater treatment. These systems have been shown to frequently fail, however. Failure is manifested as the upstream gravel tends to become clogged with biosolids, permitting the influent to bypass the clogged region and pass substantially untreated to a downstream region. Additionally, surfaced wastewater is a breeding ground for disease vectors and nuisance insects. Ultimately the gravel becomes so clogged that design wastewater treatment is substantially compromised. Plants also appear to have little treatment role in subsurface flow wetlands because the plant root systems are inhibited by conditions in the gravel filter from growing sufficiently long to extend into the gravel, and thus have minimal contact with the influent.
  • wetland and aquatic wastewater treament systems including, but not limited to, cattails, bulrushes, sedges, and water hyacinths.
  • wetland treatment systems these plants may be packed in unlined or lined trenches or basins filled with a granular porous medium such as gravel or crushed stone. It has also been suggested to use recycled, shredded scrap tires in the place of the gravel.
  • Another suggested wetland system variant is to place a semipermeable barrier between a lower level into which effluent enters and the plant root system for directing the wastewater flow across the entire plant bed.
  • floating aquatic macrophytes typically water hyacinths
  • floating aquatic macrophytes are placed in shallow lagoons where plant roots, with attendant microorganisms and macroorganisms, extending into the water column are a principal design treatment mechanism.
  • this root zone treatment method can provide advanced secondary treatment effluent, its application is limited by climate to approximately 5% of the United States.
  • the large treatment footprint of water hyacinth treatment systsems prohibits enclosure in greenhouses for almost all economically viable applications.
  • Root zone/activated sludge technology has been known to digest in situ a large fraction of the biosolids produced and maintained within the treatment system, thereby reducing system biosolids yield.
  • yield reduction is thought to be the retention of biosolids floes on plant roots with subsequent consumption and mineralization of floes by the invertebrate community attendant to the root zone. Reduction of yield is desirable only to a certain point, however. As reactors in series are added, thereby increasing biosolids contact with the root zone, yield may be reduced to the point where an insufficient quantity of biosolids remain to be recycled from the clarifier to the reactors in series. Lack of recycled biosolids substantially degrades the treatment performance of the activated sludge treatment element. This design trap is inherent to root zone/activated sludge treatment systems.
  • the present invention provides a wastewater treatment system and method that are less land intensive than previous systems, as well as combining the advantages of a plurality of remediation techniques.
  • the present invention has a smaller footprint than previously disclosed wetlands, reduces undesirable characteristics of an influent, and has a low yield, i.e., low proportion of matter needing disposal.
  • An additional feature of the invention provides a unified environment that includes a remediation system.
  • the wastewater treatment systems and methods of the present invention are amenable to the treatment of, for example, but not intended to be limited to, domestic wastewater, industrial waste or process water, stormwater, urban runoff, agricultural wastewater or runoff, and even biological sludges.
  • the systems are capable of handling a flow range of approximately 2000-2,000,000 gal/day.
  • the types of contaminants that can be treated in the system include suspended particles, nutrients, metals, simple organics (oxygen-demanding substances), and synthetic or complex organics.
  • the undesirable characteristics typically desired to be remediated include, but are not intended to be limited to, average biological oxygen demand (BOD), average total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen, and concentration of oil and grease.
  • BOD average biological oxygen demand
  • TSS average total suspended solids
  • the systems of the present invention can reduce BOD to ⁇ 10 mg/L, TSS to ⁇ 10 mg/L, and total nitrogen to ⁇ 10 mg/L. .
  • the water treatment system of the present invention comprises a wastewater inlet, a treated water outlet, and a plurality of treatment modules between the inlet and the outlet. Each module is for treating the water with a selected process. Each module is in fluid communication with at least one other module for permitting sequential treatment of the wastewater by a plurality of processes.
  • Influent wastewater is first directed to a a pretreatment process, such as covered anaerobic reactor or screening process, which serves to perform an initial organic and solids removal.
  • a means is provided for removing odors from gases or fumes that are produced herein.
  • the wastewater is channeled to a fixed-film reactor, which achieves removal of organics and solids and denitrification.
  • This fixed-film reactor is characterized in a low yield unit process, in which yield is defined as kilograms of VSS exiting the system divided by kilograms of BOD entering the system.
  • yield is defined as kilograms of VSS exiting the system divided by kilograms of BOD entering the system.
  • plural fixed-film reactors may be provided in series.
  • a given fixed-film reactor may operate in a substantially aerobic or anoxic mode, or alternate between anoxic and aerobic modes.
  • a given fixed film reactor may operate as a complete or partial mix bulk liquid reactor. Alternatively, the reactor may operate in a fill and drain mode.
  • hydroponic reactor Water exiting the fixed-film reactor then is pumped or flows by gravity to a hydroponic reactor, in which aquatic plants are suspended atop the liquid for achieving aquatic-root-zone treatment.
  • the hydroponic reactor is substantially aerobic, and operates to achieve VSS digestion in addition to continued removal of nutrients started in the fixed-film reactor.
  • the hydroponic reactor has an inlet and an outlet.
  • hydroponic reacfor will be taken to comprise aerated reactors that have a rigid rack set at the water surface to support plants that send down roots into the wastewater column.
  • the rack covers substantially the entire water surface. Plants substantially cover the surface of the rack.
  • plural hydroponic reactors in series may be provided.
  • Digestion of VSS in the hydroponic reactors, or plurality of reactors is designed to produce an hydroponic effluent VSS concentration of approximately 50 mg/L or less, which is sufficiently low to permit economically viable filtration.
  • Filtration of hydroponic effluent to advanced standards may be achieved by a plurality of technologies. Recycling may be directed to an anaerobic pretreatment module or to the fixed- film reactor, prior to channeling water exiting the hydroponic reactor to a filtering and disinfection module.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a hydroponic reactor.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1-3 A description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be presented with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
  • FIG. 1 A schematic of a first embodiment 10 of the present invention (FIG. 1) illustrates the flow of wastewater through the system, entering a pretreatment module 11, into which influent 90 is channeled and permitted to reside for a predetermined period.
  • the pretreatment module 11 may comprise, for example, a covered anaerobic reactor, which serves to perform an initial organic and solids removal.
  • the solids from the influent settle, and anaerobic bacteria feed on the solids and wastes in the liquid.
  • a means is provided for removing odors from gases or fumes that are produced herein.
  • the wastewater 90 is then channeled to an inlet 12 of a fixed-film reactor, such as, but not intended to be limited to, a moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) 13, which as discussed previously achieves removal of organics and solids and denitrification.
  • the fixed-film reactor 13 in this system 10 comprises a containment vessel that contains manufactured medium 14, which may be rigidly fixed, fluidized, or randomly packed.
  • the medium 14 provides a large surface area that serves as a substrate for biofilm growth.
  • Nitrification occurs in the biofilms growing on the fixed-film medium 14, and denitrification occurs during recycling to an anoxic environment or by inducing a transient anoxic condition within the reactor. Sloughing of biofilms in the fixed-film reactor 13 is substantially continuous, thereby eliminating the need for recycling biosolids as in prior known devices.
  • the fixed-film reactor 13 provides treatment stability early in the operational life of the system 10. Bacteria quickly colonize the media 14, providing effective BOD treatment as heterotrophic bacteria colonize media surfaces. Denitrification can be achieved, as will be discussed in the following, by recycling nitrified effluent to an anoxic or aerobic fixed-film process 13, thereby meeting design treatment goals prior to plant maturation in the hydroponic reactor 19 discussed in the following.
  • Mixing in the reactor 13, which may be effected by mechanical means, such as a propeller 15, or by aeration 16, is designed to ensure that wastewater 90 is exchanged over the entire medium surface area in a period that may range from minutes to several hours depending upon the characteristics of the reactor 13 and the medium 14.
  • the mixing occurs substantially continuously during the operation of the system 10.
  • a hydroponic reactor 19 herein is intended to comprise a basin 20 having the inlet 18 and an outlet 22.
  • a rack 23 is positionable at the water's surface in the basin 20 and is adapted for supporting plants 24 thereon.
  • the rack 23 covers substantially the entire surface of the basin 20, and plants 24 cover substantially the entire rack 23.
  • the role of plant roots 25 has been determined to be extremely important in the remediation processes of the present system 10 and its alternate embodiments. Plant roots 25 retain significant quantities of biosolids, also known as volatile suspended solids (VSS)..
  • Retention of biosolids on plant roots is a key mechanism of the digestion of biosolids within the hydroponic reactor.
  • the aquatic root zone achieves simultaneous nitrification and denitrification.
  • Significant nitrification occurs when nitrifying biosolids are retained on the plant roots 25.
  • Denitrification occurs in localized, transient anoxic sites within the root zone. Further, overall reaction rates are higher than in pure aquatic-root-zone treatment. Since the system 10 does not employ a clarifier, as in prior known systems, capital and operating expenses and time are significantly reduced.
  • Treatment basin 20 depth 26 in relation to average root depth has a significant effect on treatment performance. At least a 20% penetration of the treatment water column 26 by root mass is believed preferable. As a number of plant species have been found that can reliably produce roots 2 feet in length, a maximum design depth 26 of approximately 6 to 7 feet is feasible for the current system 10.
  • Aeration and/or other means for imparting mechanical energy 27 is important, for mixing the contents of the reactor 13 and for forcing contact between the wastewater and the plant roots 25, ensuring that the plant root zone significantly contributes to treatment. Mixing force should not, however, be so robust as to cause the roots to splay outward, thereby decreasing exposed root surface area.
  • Time spent in the hydroponic reactor 19 should be sufficient to digest volatile organic material present in the wastewater and bacterial biomass generated in the system 10.
  • the yield from the system 10 is very low, since two reactor types 13,19 having intrinsically low yields are combined. Values less than 0.1 kg effluent VSS/kg influent BOD 5 are achievable with the present system 10.
  • the fixed-film reactor 13 is embedded into the hydroponic reactor 19; however, this is not intended as a limitation, and the principle of having the reactors 13,19 in series obtains in any physical arrangement of this system 10, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • a second hydroponic reactor 19' follows the first 19 in series.
  • one very long hydroponic reactor may also be contemplated.
  • Recirculation Q r comprises an important feature of the system 10 design. Recirculation may be achieved by any pumping means known in the art, and is preferably at least equal to the forward flow rate, and may be up to ten times the forward flow rate. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , recirculation occurs following the second hydroponic reactor 19'.
  • the hydroponic reactor 19 is substantially toroidal, with a central cylindrical module comprising the fixed-film reactor 13.
  • a central cylindrical module comprising the fixed-film reactor 13.
  • This system 10 offers improvements to prior art technologies: By integrating a high-rate fixed-film treatment 13 into an aquatic-root-zone 19 treatment system, the advantages of the combined technologies are retained while substantially eliminating the drawbacks.
  • the improvements include that the fixed-film component 13 provides treatment stability early during start-up of the system 10. Bacteria colonize the medium 14 quickly in the fixed-film reactor(s) 13, providing effective BOD treatment as heterophilic bacteria colonize medium 14 surfaces, and then nitrification as the nitrifying bacteria colonize medium 14 surfaces.
  • the elimination of the clarifier comprises an elimination of what has been heretofore considered a fundamental unit process. Elimination of the clarifier is made possible by the extremely small yield of the present system 10 while maintaining the biological nutrient removal treatment capacity found in clarifier-based treatment technology.
  • the term "low yield” is defined as the production of effluent VSS concentrations ⁇ 50 mg/L without accumulation of VSS elsewhere in the system 10.
  • VSS concentrations ⁇ 50 mg/L without accumulation of VSS elsewhere in the system 10.
  • Filtered effluent can be designed to produce TSS values ⁇ 5 mg/L from a filter influent of VSS of 50 mg/L. Filtrate from such a filtration system 28 can effectively be processed on site in most treatment applications. Recycling may also occur following the filtration system 28 (dotted line in FIG. 1) in an alternate embodiment.
  • a filtration system comprises a vertical flow wetland 28, which includes a basin 30 having an outlet 31 in a bottom thereof.
  • the basin 30 is adapted to contain a particulate medium 32,32", and a mat 33 adapted for permitting plants 35 to root 36 therein.
  • the mat 33 is positioned above the particulate medium 32.
  • the wetland cell 28 is adapted to maintain a population of aquatic invertebrates therein.
  • This system 10 is capable of achieving an ammonia concentration of ⁇ 1 mg/L.
  • a redox (oxidation reduction potential) probe 34 may be employed to regulate pumping. If the redox level is greater than a predetermined limit, the pump is turned off. Pumping only occurs as long as the system is anoxic.
  • the wetland cell may fill and draw per other means of control such as a timer, programmable logic controller, or an on-line monitoring technology othe than a redox probe.
  • the system 10 is capable of producing an effluent having a BOD ⁇ 5 mg/L, TSS ⁇ 5 mg/L, total nitrogen ⁇ 10 mg/L, and turbulence ⁇ 5 ntu's.
  • Another advantage of this system 10 is its aesthetic features.
  • the reactors 13,19 appearto be planters filled with beautiful plants, and the sound of flowing water is known to have beneficial effects to the human psyche.
  • FIG. 3 A second embodiment of the wastewater treatment system 50 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3.
  • This system 50 is also modular, and contains a first 51 and a second 52 fixed-film reactor such as the reactor 13 described above, connected in series, following the pretreatment vessel 53.
  • the first fixed-film reactor 51 remains in a substantially anoxic condition, while the second 52 remains in a substantially aerobic condition.
  • At least one hydroponic reactor 54 follows the second fixed-film reactor 52, and is substantially the same as that 19 described above. Following aquatic-root-zone treatment, a filtration system 55 removes any remaining suspended solids. Recycling for denitrification follows the filtration system 55 to the first fixed-film reactor 51.
  • Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of designing a site- specific wastewater treatment system.
  • the method comprising the step of determining parameters of wastewater at a site.
  • parameters may include, but are not intended to be limited to, measured levels of wastewater characteristics and temporal ranges thereof.
  • flow rate, volume, nutrient level, BOD, TSS, and VSS may be included in such a set of parameters.
  • a wastewater treatment system can then be configured that is specific to the determined wastewater parameters.
  • certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.
  • the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Abstract

The wastewater treatment system have a plurality of treatment modules. Influent is directed to a fixed film reactor (13). The water then flows to a hydroponic reactor (19) in which aquatic plants are suspended atop the liquid. A filtration device (28) in the form of a vertical flow wetland removes suspended solids. Water may be recycled to the fixed film reactor to enhance nitrogen removal.

Description

INTEGRATED HYDROPONIC AND FIXED-FILM WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cross-Reference to Related Application
This application claims priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/333,203, filed on November 14, 2001 , entitled "Integrated Hydroponicand Fixed-Film Wastewater Treatment Systems and Associated Methods."
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wastewater treatment systems and methods, and , more particularly, to such systems and methods for wastewater treatment that are nonchemically based.
Description of Related Art
Wastewater treatment via "natural" means, i.e., without the addition of chemicals, has been accomplished with the use of aquatic and emergent macrophytes (plants) that, in concert with the attendant microorganisms and macroorganisms associated with macrophyte roots and stems, substantially mineralize biodegrade organic materials and substantially remove certain excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, phosphorus. . These macrophytes have typically been located in artificial marshlands, also known as constructed wetlands, which are designed for gravity flow. A negative aspect of such systems is that they are very land-intensive, requiring roughly on the order of 100 times as much land area as a conventional treatment plant, or, in terms of capacity, as much as 30-40 acres per 106 gallons of wastewater treated per day unless other treatment processes are incorporated into the constructed wetlands
Subsurface-flow wetlands, which comprise aquatic plants positioned above a gravel filter are also known for use in wastewater treatment. These systems have been shown to frequently fail, however. Failure is manifested as the upstream gravel tends to become clogged with biosolids, permitting the influent to bypass the clogged region and pass substantially untreated to a downstream region. Additionally, surfaced wastewater is a breeding ground for disease vectors and nuisance insects. Ultimately the gravel becomes so clogged that design wastewater treatment is substantially compromised. Plants also appear to have little treatment role in subsurface flow wetlands because the plant root systems are inhibited by conditions in the gravel filter from growing sufficiently long to extend into the gravel, and thus have minimal contact with the influent.
Several varieties of aquatic and emergent macrophytes are known to be used in wetland and aquatic wastewater treament systems, including, but not limited to, cattails, bulrushes, sedges, and water hyacinths. In wetland treatment systems these plants may be packed in unlined or lined trenches or basins filled with a granular porous medium such as gravel or crushed stone. It has also been suggested to use recycled, shredded scrap tires in the place of the gravel. Another suggested wetland system variant is to place a semipermeable barrier between a lower level into which effluent enters and the plant root system for directing the wastewater flow across the entire plant bed. In yet another variant floating aquatic macrophytes, typically water hyacinths, are placed in shallow lagoons where plant roots, with attendant microorganisms and macroorganisms, extending into the water column are a principal design treatment mechanism. Although this root zone treatment method can provide advanced secondary treatment effluent, its application is limited by climate to approximately 5% of the United States. The large treatment footprint of water hyacinth treatment systsems prohibits enclosure in greenhouses for almost all economically viable applications.
It is also known to combine plant root zone treatment with conventional activated sludge technology. The principal advantages of combining root zone treatment with activated sludge are improved nutrient removal capability over root zone treatment alone and improved treatment stability in small, activated sludge treatment systems. Among the problems encountered with root zone/activated sludge technology is that the clarifiers employed do not scale well when the size of the system is reduced beyond a certain point. In addition, operator qualifications are high for activated sludge systems, adding to the expense of running the system. Root zone/activated sludge technology has been known to digest in situ a large fraction of the biosolids produced and maintained within the treatment system, thereby reducing system biosolids yield. The mechanism for yield reduction is thought to be the retention of biosolids floes on plant roots with subsequent consumption and mineralization of floes by the invertebrate community attendant to the root zone. Reduction of yield is desirable only to a certain point, however. As reactors in series are added, thereby increasing biosolids contact with the root zone, yield may be reduced to the point where an insufficient quantity of biosolids remain to be recycled from the clarifier to the reactors in series. Lack of recycled biosolids substantially degrades the treatment performance of the activated sludge treatment element. This design trap is inherent to root zone/activated sludge treatment systems. Preliminary studies have been performed on various aspects of the present invention by the inventors and other colleagues, as reported in "Final Report on the South Burlington, Vermont Advanced Ecologically Engineered System (AEES) for Wastewater Treatment," D. Austin etal., 2000; and "Parallel Performance Comparison between Aquatic Root Zone and Textile Medium Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFFAS) Wastewater Treatment Systems," D. Austin, Water Environment Federation, 2001; both of these documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a wastewater treatment system and method that are less land intensive than previous systems, as well as combining the advantages of a plurality of remediation techniques. The present invention has a smaller footprint than previously disclosed wetlands, reduces undesirable characteristics of an influent, and has a low yield, i.e., low proportion of matter needing disposal.
An additional feature of the invention provides a unified environment that includes a remediation system.
The wastewater treatment systems and methods of the present invention are amenable to the treatment of, for example, but not intended to be limited to, domestic wastewater, industrial waste or process water, stormwater, urban runoff, agricultural wastewater or runoff, and even biological sludges. The systems are capable of handling a flow range of approximately 2000-2,000,000 gal/day. The types of contaminants that can be treated in the system include suspended particles, nutrients, metals, simple organics (oxygen-demanding substances), and synthetic or complex organics. The undesirable characteristics typically desired to be remediated include, but are not intended to be limited to, average biological oxygen demand (BOD), average total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen, and concentration of oil and grease. The systems of the present invention can reduce BOD to < 10 mg/L, TSS to < 10 mg/L, and total nitrogen to < 10 mg/L. .
The water treatment system of the present invention comprises a wastewater inlet, a treated water outlet, and a plurality of treatment modules between the inlet and the outlet. Each module is for treating the water with a selected process. Each module is in fluid communication with at least one other module for permitting sequential treatment of the wastewater by a plurality of processes.
Influent wastewater is first directed to a a pretreatment process, such as covered anaerobic reactor or screening process, which serves to perform an initial organic and solids removal. A means is provided for removing odors from gases or fumes that are produced herein.
Following pretreatment for a predetermined period, the wastewater is channeled to a fixed-film reactor, which achieves removal of organics and solids and denitrification. This fixed-film reactor is characterized in a low yield unit process, in which yield is defined as kilograms of VSS exiting the system divided by kilograms of BOD entering the system. In alternate embodiments of the system, plural fixed-film reactors may be provided in series.
A given fixed-film reactor may operate in a substantially aerobic or anoxic mode, or alternate between anoxic and aerobic modes. A given fixed film reactor may operate as a complete or partial mix bulk liquid reactor. Alternatively, the reactor may operate in a fill and drain mode.
Water exiting the fixed-film reactor then is pumped or flows by gravity to a hydroponic reactor, in which aquatic plants are suspended atop the liquid for achieving aquatic-root-zone treatment. The hydroponic reactor is substantially aerobic, and operates to achieve VSS digestion in addition to continued removal of nutrients started in the fixed-film reactor. The hydroponic reactor has an inlet and an outlet. Herein the term hydroponic reacforwill be taken to comprise aerated reactors that have a rigid rack set at the water surface to support plants that send down roots into the wastewater column. The rack covers substantially the entire water surface. Plants substantially cover the surface of the rack. In alternate embodiments plural hydroponic reactors in series may be provided. Digestion of VSS in the hydroponic reactors, or plurality of reactors, is designed to produce an hydroponic effluent VSS concentration of approximately 50 mg/L or less, which is sufficiently low to permit economically viable filtration. Filtration of hydroponic effluent to advanced standards may be achieved by a plurality of technologies. Recycling may be directed to an anaerobic pretreatment module or to the fixed- film reactor, prior to channeling water exiting the hydroponic reactor to a filtering and disinfection module.
The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a hydroponic reactor. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be presented with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
A schematic of a first embodiment 10 of the present invention (FIG. 1) illustrates the flow of wastewater through the system, entering a pretreatment module 11, into which influent 90 is channeled and permitted to reside for a predetermined period. The pretreatment module 11 may comprise, for example, a covered anaerobic reactor, which serves to perform an initial organic and solids removal. In this vessel 11 the solids from the influent settle, and anaerobic bacteria feed on the solids and wastes in the liquid. A means is provided for removing odors from gases or fumes that are produced herein. The wastewater 90 is then channeled to an inlet 12 of a fixed-film reactor, such as, but not intended to be limited to, a moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) 13, which as discussed previously achieves removal of organics and solids and denitrification. The fixed-film reactor 13 in this system 10 comprises a containment vessel that contains manufactured medium 14, which may be rigidly fixed, fluidized, or randomly packed. The medium 14 provides a large surface area that serves as a substrate for biofilm growth. Nitrification occurs in the biofilms growing on the fixed-film medium 14, and denitrification occurs during recycling to an anoxic environment or by inducing a transient anoxic condition within the reactor. Sloughing of biofilms in the fixed-film reactor 13 is substantially continuous, thereby eliminating the need for recycling biosolids as in prior known devices.
The fixed-film reactor 13 provides treatment stability early in the operational life of the system 10. Bacteria quickly colonize the media 14, providing effective BOD treatment as heterotrophic bacteria colonize media surfaces. Denitrification can be achieved, as will be discussed in the following, by recycling nitrified effluent to an anoxic or aerobic fixed-film process 13, thereby meeting design treatment goals prior to plant maturation in the hydroponic reactor 19 discussed in the following.
Mixing in the reactor 13, which may be effected by mechanical means, such as a propeller 15, or by aeration 16, is designed to ensure that wastewater 90 is exchanged over the entire medium surface area in a period that may range from minutes to several hours depending upon the characteristics of the reactor 13 and the medium 14. Preferably the mixing occurs substantially continuously during the operation of the system 10.
Following f lowthrough the fixed-film reactor 13, water is channeled from an outlet 17 of the fixed-film reactor 13 to an inlet 18 of a first hydroponic reactor 19 (FIG. 2). A hydroponic reactor 19 herein is intended to comprise a basin 20 having the inlet 18 and an outlet 22. A rack 23 is positionable at the water's surface in the basin 20 and is adapted for supporting plants 24 thereon. Preferably the rack 23 covers substantially the entire surface of the basin 20, and plants 24 cover substantially the entire rack 23. The role of plant roots 25 has been determined to be extremely important in the remediation processes of the present system 10 and its alternate embodiments. Plant roots 25 retain significant quantities of biosolids, also known as volatile suspended solids (VSS).. Retention of biosolids on plant roots is a key mechanism of the digestion of biosolids within the hydroponic reactor. The aquatic root zone achieves simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Significant nitrification occurs when nitrifying biosolids are retained on the plant roots 25. Denitrification occurs in localized, transient anoxic sites within the root zone. Further, overall reaction rates are higher than in pure aquatic-root-zone treatment. Since the system 10 does not employ a clarifier, as in prior known systems, capital and operating expenses and time are significantly reduced.
Treatment basin 20 depth 26 in relation to average root depth has a significant effect on treatment performance. At least a 20% penetration of the treatment water column 26 by root mass is believed preferable. As a number of plant species have been found that can reliably produce roots 2 feet in length, a maximum design depth 26 of approximately 6 to 7 feet is feasible for the current system 10.
Aeration and/or other means for imparting mechanical energy 27 is important, for mixing the contents of the reactor 13 and for forcing contact between the wastewater and the plant roots 25, ensuring that the plant root zone significantly contributes to treatment. Mixing force should not, however, be so robust as to cause the roots to splay outward, thereby decreasing exposed root surface area.
Time spent in the hydroponic reactor 19 should be sufficient to digest volatile organic material present in the wastewater and bacterial biomass generated in the system 10.
The yield from the system 10 is very low, since two reactor types 13,19 having intrinsically low yields are combined. Values less than 0.1 kg effluent VSS/kg influent BOD5 are achievable with the present system 10.
In a particular embodiment, the fixed-film reactor 13 is embedded into the hydroponic reactor 19; however, this is not intended as a limitation, and the principle of having the reactors 13,19 in series obtains in any physical arrangement of this system 10, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , a second hydroponic reactor 19' follows the first 19 in series. Alternatively, one very long hydroponic reactor may also be contemplated.
Recirculation Qr comprises an important feature of the system 10 design. Recirculation may be achieved by any pumping means known in the art, and is preferably at least equal to the forward flow rate, and may be up to ten times the forward flow rate. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , recirculation occurs following the second hydroponic reactor 19'.
In an alternate embodiment, the hydroponic reactor 19 is substantially toroidal, with a central cylindrical module comprising the fixed-film reactor 13. One of skill in the art will recognize that other configurations are also feasible.
This system 10 offers improvements to prior art technologies: By integrating a high-rate fixed-film treatment 13 into an aquatic-root-zone 19 treatment system, the advantages of the combined technologies are retained while substantially eliminating the drawbacks. The improvements include that the fixed-film component 13 provides treatment stability early during start-up of the system 10. Bacteria colonize the medium 14 quickly in the fixed-film reactor(s) 13, providing effective BOD treatment as heterophilic bacteria colonize medium 14 surfaces, and then nitrification as the nitrifying bacteria colonize medium 14 surfaces. The elimination of the clarifier comprises an elimination of what has been heretofore considered a fundamental unit process. Elimination of the clarifier is made possible by the extremely small yield of the present system 10 while maintaining the biological nutrient removal treatment capacity found in clarifier-based treatment technology. For the purposed of filtration, the term "low yield" is defined as the production of effluent VSS concentrations < 50 mg/L without accumulation of VSS elsewhere in the system 10. At these VSS concentrations, several filtration technologies can effectively replace the clarifier, with a filter 28 following the second hydroponic reactor 19'. Filtered effluent can be designed to produce TSS values < 5 mg/L from a filter influent of VSS of 50 mg/L. Filtrate from such a filtration system 28 can effectively be processed on site in most treatment applications. Recycling may also occur following the filtration system 28 (dotted line in FIG. 1) in an alternate embodiment.
One embodiment of a filtration system comprises a vertical flow wetland 28, which includes a basin 30 having an outlet 31 in a bottom thereof. The basin 30 is adapted to contain a particulate medium 32,32", and a mat 33 adapted for permitting plants 35 to root 36 therein. The mat 33 is positioned above the particulate medium 32. The wetland cell 28 is adapted to maintain a population of aquatic invertebrates therein. This system 10 is capable of achieving an ammonia concentration of < 1 mg/L. A redox (oxidation reduction potential) probe 34 may be employed to regulate pumping. If the redox level is greater than a predetermined limit, the pump is turned off. Pumping only occurs as long as the system is anoxic. Alternatively, the wetland cell may fill and draw per other means of control such as a timer, programmable logic controller, or an on-line monitoring technology othe than a redox probe. The system 10 is capable of producing an effluent having a BOD < 5 mg/L, TSS < 5 mg/L, total nitrogen < 10 mg/L, and turbulence < 5 ntu's.
Another advantage of this system 10 is its aesthetic features. In use, the reactors 13,19 appearto be planters filled with beautiful plants, and the sound of flowing water is known to have beneficial effects to the human psyche.
A second embodiment of the wastewater treatment system 50 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3. This system 50 is also modular, and contains a first 51 and a second 52 fixed-film reactor such as the reactor 13 described above, connected in series, following the pretreatment vessel 53. In this configuration the first fixed-film reactor 51 remains in a substantially anoxic condition, while the second 52 remains in a substantially aerobic condition.
At least one hydroponic reactor 54 follows the second fixed-film reactor 52, and is substantially the same as that 19 described above. Following aquatic-root-zone treatment, a filtration system 55 removes any remaining suspended solids. Recycling for denitrification follows the filtration system 55 to the first fixed-film reactor 51.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of designing a site- specific wastewater treatment system. The method comprising the step of determining parameters of wastewater at a site. Such parameters may include, but are not intended to be limited to, measured levels of wastewater characteristics and temporal ranges thereof. One of skill in the art will recognize that flow rate, volume, nutrient level, BOD, TSS, and VSS may be included in such a set of parameters.
Owing to the modular nature of the systems 10,50 of the present invention, a wastewater treatment system can then be configured that is specific to the determined wastewater parameters. In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.
Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a fixed-film reactor having an inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and an outlet, the fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth; a hydroponic reactor having an inlet and an outlet; a filtration device for removing suspended solids; means for transferring water exiting the fixed-film reactor outlet to the hydroponic reactor inlet; means for channeling water from the hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device; and means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
2. The system recited in Claim 1 , wherein the vessel mixing means comprises at least one of a mechanical mixing device and an aeration device.
3. The system recited in Claim 1 , wherein the vessel mixing means is adapted to function substantially continuously during system operation.
4. The system recited in Claim 1 , wherein the hydroponic reactor comprises a basin having an inlet and an outlet, and a rack positionable at a surface of water in the basin for supporting plants thereon.
5. The system recited in Claim 4, wherein the basin has a depth no greater than five times a length of roots of the plants growable therein.
6. The system recited in Claim 4, wherein the channeling means is operable to permit a water residence time in the hydroponic reactor sufficient to substantially digest volatile suspended solids therein.
7. The system recited in Claim 6, wherein water exiting the hydroponic reactor has a yield less than or equal to 0.1 , wherein yield is defined as kilograms of effluent volatile suspended solids per kilograms influent biologicalchemical oxygen demand.
8. The system recited in Claim 4, wherein the rack covers substantially the entire surface of the basin and, in use, plants cover substantially the entire rack.
9. The system recited in Claim 4, further comprising means for mixing water in the hydroponic reactor for facilitating contact between water therein and plant roots.
10. The system recited in Claim 9, wherein the hydroponic reactor mixing means comprises at least one of an aerator and a mechanical mixer.
11. The system recited in Claim 9, wherein plants in the hydroponic reactor are adapted to retain biofilms on roots for enhancing nutrient removal and for digesting the biofilms.
12. The system recited in Claim 1 , wherein the filtration device comprises a vertical flow wetland.
13. The system recited in Claim 12, wherein the wetland comprises a basin having an outlet in a bottom thereof, the basin adapted to contain a particulate medium, and a mat adapted for permitting plants to root therein, the mat positioned above the particulate medium, the wetland cell adapted to maintain a population of aquatic invertebrates therein.
14. The system recited in Claim 1 , wherein the recycling means functions to recycle water at a rate between 1 and 10 times a rate of water entering the system.
15. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a fixed-film reactor having an inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and an outlet, the fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth; a first and a second hydroponic reactor, each having an inlet and an outlet; a filtration device for removing suspended solids; means for transferring water exiting the fixed-film reactor outlet to the first hydroponic reactor inlet; first means for channeling water from the first hydroponic reactor outlet to the second hydroponic reactor inlet; second means for channeling water from the second hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device; and means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
16. The system recited in Claim 15, wherein the first and the second hydroponic reactor each comprises a basin having an inlet and an outlet, and a rack positionable at a surface of water in the basin for supporting plants thereon.
17. The system recited in Claim 16, wherein each of the basins of the first and the second hydroponic reactor has a depth no greater than five times a length of roots of the plants growable therein.
18. The system recited in Claim 16, wherein the first and the second channeling means are together operable to permit a total water residence time in the first and the second hydroponic reactors sufficient to substantially digest volatile suspended solids therein.
19. The system recited in Claim 18, wherein water exiting the second hydroponic reactor has a yield less than or equal to 0.1 , wherein yield is defined as kilograms of effluent volatile suspended solids per kilograms influent biological oxygen demand.
20. The system recited in Claim 16, wherein the racks of the first and the second hydroponic reactors each covers substantially the entire surface of the respective basin and, in use, plants cover substantially the entire racks.
21. The system recited in Claim 16, further comprising means for mixing water in the first and the second hydroponic reactor for facilitating contact between water therein and plant roots.
22. The system recited in Claim 21 , wherein plants in the hydroponic reactor are adapted to retain biofilms on roots for enhancing nutrient removal and for digesting the biofilms.
23. The system recited in Claim 15, wherein the filtration device comprises a vertical flow wetland.
24. The system recited in Claim 23, wherein the wetland comprises a basin having an outlet in a bottom thereof, the basin adapted to contain a particulate medium, and a mat adapted for permitting plants to root therein, the mat positioned above the particulate medium, the wetland cell adapted to maintain a population of aquatic invertebrates therein.
25. The system recited in Claim 15, wherein the recycling means functions to recycle water at a rate between 1 and 10 times a rate of water entering the system.
26. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a first and a second fixed-film reactor, each having an inlet and an outlet, each fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth; a hydroponic reactor having an inlet and an outlet; a filtration device for removing suspended solids; first means for transferring water to be treated into the first fixed-film reactor inlet; second means for transferring water exiting the first fixed-film reactor outlet to the second fixed-film reactor inlet; third means for transferring water exiting the second fixed-film reactor outlet to the hydroponic reactor inlet; means for channeling water from the hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device; and means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
27. The system recited in Claim 26, wherein the first fixed-film reactor is adapted to function essentially anoxically and the second fixed-film reactor is adapted to function essentially aerobically.
28. The system recited in Claim 26, wherein the vessel mixing means of the first and the second fixed-film reactor each comprises at least one of a mechanical mixing device and an aeration device.
29. The system recited in Claim 26, wherein the vessel mixing means of the first and the second fixed-film reactor each is adapted to function substantially continuously during system operation.
30. The system recited in Claim 26, wherein the hydroponic reactor comprises a basin having an inlet and an outlet, and a rack positionable at a surface of water in the basin for supporting plants thereon.
31. The system recited in Claim 30, wherein the basin has a depth no greater than five times a length of roots of the plants growable therein.
32. The system recited in Claim 30, wherein the channeling means is operable to permit a water residence time in the hydroponic reactor sufficient to substantially digest volatile suspended solids therein.
33. The system recited in Claim 32, wherein water exiting the hydroponic reactor has a yield less than or equal to 0.1 , wherein yield is defined as kilograms of effluent volatile suspended solids per kilograms influent biological oxygen demand.
34. The system recited in Claim 30, wherein the rack covers substantially the entire surface of the basin and, in use, plants cover substantially the entire rack.
35. The system recited in Claim 30, further comprising means for mixing water in the hydroponic reactor for facilitating contact between water therein and plant roots.
36. The system recited in Claim 35, wherein the hydroponic reactor mixing means comprises at least one of an aerator and a mechanical mixer.
37. The system recited in Claim 35, wherein plants in the hydroponic reactor are adapted to retain biofilms on roots for enhancing nutrient removal and for digesting the biofilms.
38. The system recited in Claim 26, wherein the filtration device comprises a vertical flow wetland.
39. The system recited in Claim 38, wherein the wetland comprises a basin having an outlet in a bottom thereof, the basin adapted to contain a particulate medium, and a mat adapted for permitting plants to root therein, the mat positioned above the particulate medium, the wetland cell adapted to maintain a population of aquatic invertebrates therein.
40. The system recited in Claim 26, wherein the recycling means functions to recycle water at a rate between 1 and 10 times a rate of water entering the system.
41. A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of: treating wastewater with a fixed-film treatment in an anoxic/aerobic environment; treating water containing biofilms sloughed off in the anoxic/aerobic environment with an aerobic aquatic-root-zone treatment sufficient to substantially eliminate yield; filtering water emerging from the aerobic treatment to remove any remaining suspended solids; and recycling a portion of the filtered water to the anoxic/aerobic environment.
42. The method recited in Claim 41 , wherein the anoxic/aerobic treating step comprises treating wastewater with a first fixed-film reactor having a substantially anoxic environment and subsequently treating water having been treated in the first fixed-film reactor with a second fixed-film reactor having a substantially aerobic environment.
43. The method recited in Claim 42, wherein the recycling step comprises channeling filtered water to the anoxic environment.
44. The method recited in Claim 41 , wherein the aerobic treating step comprises treating water in a hydroponic reactor.
45. The method recited in Claim 41 , wherein the recycling step comprises recycling water at a rate between 1 and 10 times a rate of water entering the fixed-film treatment step.
46. A method of designing a site-specific wastewater treatment system, the method comprising the steps of: determining parameters of wastewater at a site, the parameters including measured levels of wastewater characteristics and temporal ranges thereof; configuring a wastewater treatment system specific to the determined wastewater parameters, the system including: at least one fixed-film reactor having an inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and an outlet, the fixed-film reactor comprising a vessel adapted for holding media therein and means for mixing contents of the vessel, the media adapted to support biofilm growth; at least one hydroponic reactor having an inlet and an outlet; a filtration device for removing suspended solids; means for transferring water exiting the fixed-film reactor outlet to the hydroponic reactor inlet; means for channeling water from the hydroponic reactor outlet to the filtration device; and means for recycling a portion of the water exiting the filtration device to the fixed-film reactor inlet.
PCT/US2002/036453 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods WO2003042114A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ532856A NZ532856A (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
HU0401968A HUP0401968A2 (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
CA 2466473 CA2466473C (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
EP02789628A EP1451112A4 (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
BR0214175A BR0214175A (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Tailings water treatment system, and methods for treating tailings water, and to design a site-specific tailings water treatment system
MXPA04004493A MXPA04004493A (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33320301P 2001-11-14 2001-11-14
US60/333,203 2001-11-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003042114A1 true WO2003042114A1 (en) 2003-05-22

Family

ID=23301780

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/036453 WO2003042114A1 (en) 2001-11-14 2002-11-14 Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (2) US6811700B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1451112A4 (en)
BR (1) BR0214175A (en)
CA (1) CA2466473C (en)
HU (1) HUP0401968A2 (en)
MX (1) MXPA04004493A (en)
NZ (1) NZ532856A (en)
PL (1) PL370001A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003042114A1 (en)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2900921A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-16 Philippe Michel Treatment of effluents comprises biological pretreatment of effluents using bacterial bed, and biological treatment of nitrification-denitrification of clarification sludge obtained at an exit of the bed using vertical-flow reed bed filter
CN100400439C (en) * 2006-06-16 2008-07-09 宁波市科技园区德安生态城市工程有限公司 Artificial wetland in use for processing polluted water
WO2009128765A1 (en) 2008-04-17 2009-10-22 Phytotechnology Europe Ab A phytosystem for treatment of sewage
FR2941226A1 (en) * 2009-01-22 2010-07-23 Setur Ingenierie Audit Conseil WATER SANITATION INSTALLATION.
CN101863584A (en) * 2010-04-29 2010-10-20 重庆大学 Biological contact oxidation and artificial wetland combined treatment system for grey water of residential area
CN101885563A (en) * 2010-04-29 2010-11-17 重庆大学 SBR+ artificial wetland combined treatment system for domestic sewage recycling
CN101693585B (en) * 2009-10-21 2011-06-15 中国环境科学研究院 Septic tank-artificial wetland rural sewage courtyard type landscape treating device
CN101475284B (en) * 2008-12-24 2011-06-15 江苏百纳环境工程有限公司 Domestic sewage treatment process and apparatus
CN101633545B (en) * 2009-08-13 2011-06-29 重庆大学 Integrated biological and ecological cooperative sewage treatment method and reactor
CN102120672A (en) * 2011-01-21 2011-07-13 哈尔滨工业大学 Alpine area contact oxidation-artificial wetland combined treatment system and method thereof for treating rural domestic sewage
WO2016048151A1 (en) * 2014-09-26 2016-03-31 Van Der Ende Pompen B.V. Method and system for treating a fluid flow
IT202100014126A1 (en) * 2021-05-28 2022-11-28 Leonardo Bordi PROCESS AND PLANT TO REDUCE STINKY EMISSIONS OF LANDFILL LEATHER.

Families Citing this family (33)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPR012400A0 (en) * 2000-09-13 2000-10-05 Rootzone Australia Pty Ltd Polluted water treatment system
US6830690B2 (en) * 2002-09-16 2004-12-14 Lawrence A. Schmid Two-stage high synthesis activated sludge system with intermediate bio-solids removal
US7029586B2 (en) * 2003-02-28 2006-04-18 Dharma Living Systems, Inc. Integrated tidal wastewater treatment system and method
US20040234629A1 (en) * 2003-03-14 2004-11-25 Top Ecology International Corporation Method of decreasing a sessile bivalve population
US7336026B2 (en) * 2003-10-03 2008-02-26 Ngk Insulators, Ltd. High efficiency dielectric electron emitter
US6896805B2 (en) * 2003-10-20 2005-05-24 Dharma Living Systems, Inc. Tidal vertical flow wastewater treatment system and method
US7347940B2 (en) * 2004-06-17 2008-03-25 Worrell Water Technologies, Llc Nitrogen removal system and method for wastewater treatment lagoons
US7276164B2 (en) * 2004-10-07 2007-10-02 Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company Nitrate removal in a purge stream using constructed wetlands
CN1298638C (en) * 2005-04-20 2007-02-07 中南林学院环境工程研究所 Combination type wetland system for wastewater treatment and technique of wastewater treatment
US7686956B1 (en) * 2006-05-22 2010-03-30 Kenneth Casebier Water purification system for storm drain channels
KR100818912B1 (en) 2006-07-19 2008-04-02 상 을 이 Waste Water Natural Purgation System Using Aquatic Trees and Plants
US7491325B2 (en) * 2006-10-20 2009-02-17 Brentwood Industries, Inc. Biological treatment system and assembly
US20080179254A1 (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-07-31 Kauppi Frederick J Porous ceramics
FR2929936B1 (en) * 2008-04-09 2015-10-02 Sarl Vincent Vallee ARRANGEMENT FOR A BIOLOGICAL BATH
WO2009129533A2 (en) * 2008-04-18 2009-10-22 The Ohio State University Bi-phasic bioretention system
US7553410B1 (en) * 2008-05-02 2009-06-30 Eastwood Research, Inc. Septage treatment system
US20090277830A1 (en) * 2008-05-02 2009-11-12 Eastwood Research, Inc. Septage treatment system and method of treating septage
WO2009134402A2 (en) * 2008-05-02 2009-11-05 Eastwood Research, Inc. Septage treatment system and method of treating septage
US20100276364A1 (en) * 2009-05-01 2010-11-04 Michael Dale Fletcher Wastewater treatment system and method
CN102115260B (en) * 2009-12-30 2012-07-11 中国科学院生态环境研究中心 Method of artificial construction of root holes in wetland
US8382982B2 (en) 2010-06-04 2013-02-26 John L. Hondulas Apparatus merging wetland plants with a floating substrate to treat pollution in any river, lake or body of water
US8778184B2 (en) 2010-10-15 2014-07-15 Derek Byrd Modular bioreactor system
BR112013030062A2 (en) * 2011-05-24 2017-12-05 Korbi Co Ltd natural diffuse purification device, sewage treatment device, and hybrid artificial wetland water purification system
US8795518B2 (en) 2011-05-26 2014-08-05 Abdulreidha AlSaffar Method and system for wastewater treatment and disposal
CN103265145B (en) * 2013-05-17 2014-05-07 中国科学院南京土壤研究所 Method for purifying river water with low load and low temperature by using natural biofilm reactor
US10807885B1 (en) * 2014-10-24 2020-10-20 Clean Water Services Low energy nitrogen removal wetland technology
CN107867781B (en) * 2017-10-30 2020-05-29 浙江鑫直建筑有限公司 Lake water body purification device and treatment method thereof
CN108059242B (en) * 2017-12-13 2019-01-18 中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所 A kind of extreme dehydration rural activity area Treated sewage reusing pollutant preventing control method and device
US11148965B2 (en) * 2018-07-16 2021-10-19 Yonathan RECHES Process for the biological purification of nutrient-contaminated wastewater
WO2020220115A1 (en) 2019-04-30 2020-11-05 AVA Technologies Inc. Gardening apparatus
US20220232786A1 (en) * 2019-06-12 2022-07-28 Robert W. Noble Improved Automated Horticulture System
USD932345S1 (en) 2020-01-10 2021-10-05 AVA Technologies Inc. Plant pod
USD932346S1 (en) 2020-01-10 2021-10-05 AVA Technologies Inc. Planter

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3770623A (en) * 1971-06-15 1973-11-06 Max Planck Gesellschaft System for purification of polluted water
US5078882A (en) * 1990-03-21 1992-01-07 Bion Technologies, Inc. Bioconversion reactor and system
US5137625A (en) * 1990-12-28 1992-08-11 Wolverton Billy C Aquatic plant/microbial water purification system
US5766474A (en) * 1995-02-15 1998-06-16 Landmark Reclamation, Inc. Biomass impoundment management system for purifying water
US6086755A (en) * 1999-05-21 2000-07-11 Tepper; Julius Floating hydroponic biofiltration device

Family Cites Families (65)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US681884A (en) 1900-12-18 1901-09-03 Cleophas Monjeau Purifying water.
US2306027A (en) 1939-03-09 1942-12-22 Ellis Lab Inc Hydrocultural propagation
US2486512A (en) 1945-06-08 1949-11-01 Nelson B Armstrong Method and apparatus for promoting the growth of vegetation
US2822329A (en) 1955-08-30 1958-02-04 Llewellyn B Griffith Aquatic pond
US3385786A (en) 1966-10-28 1968-05-28 Interior Usa System for biological treatment of sewage
FR1581500A (en) 1968-03-29 1969-09-19
US3563888A (en) 1968-08-21 1971-02-16 Research Corp Method and apparatus for treating waste-containing liquor
US3598726A (en) 1968-08-27 1971-08-10 Autotrol Corp Water treatment apparatus and method
US3768200A (en) 1971-07-16 1973-10-30 Research Corp Apparatus for the production of algae including a filtering medium
US3925206A (en) 1974-09-26 1975-12-09 Stanley J Dea System for home wastewater treatment and disposal
US4008159A (en) 1975-01-21 1977-02-15 Ontario Research Foundation Renovation of waste water
US4057933A (en) 1976-05-05 1977-11-15 Enyeart Lyle F Apparatus for aerating comminuted matter such as soil
GB1579623A (en) 1976-06-08 1980-11-19 Clough G F G Filtration medium for the biological treatment of waste water
HU174397B (en) 1977-08-04 1979-12-28 Varosepitesi Tudomanyos Process for refining waters poured into the receptive water and containing materials causing the latter's eutrphysation, and apparatus for this process
US4169050A (en) 1977-11-03 1979-09-25 Solar Aquasystems, Inc. Buoyant contact surfaces in waste treatment pond
JPS603873B2 (en) 1978-03-31 1985-01-31 東レ株式会社 Water treatment method
US4284508A (en) 1979-10-01 1981-08-18 Jewell William J Methane production by attached film
US4277342A (en) 1979-10-01 1981-07-07 Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. Combined biological-chemical detoxification of organics
DE2944421A1 (en) 1979-11-03 1981-05-14 Reinhold Prof. Dr. 3436 Hessisch Lichtenau Kickuth METHOD FOR BUILDING DEFINED PHOSPHATE DEPOTS FROM WASTE PHOSPHATES
US4267038A (en) 1979-11-20 1981-05-12 Thompson Worthington J Controlled natural purification system for advanced wastewater treatment and protein conversion and recovery
JPS5870891A (en) 1981-10-21 1983-04-27 Toa Harbor Works Co Ltd Water-purifier utilizing aquatic plant
US4415450A (en) 1981-12-28 1983-11-15 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Method for treating wastewater using microorganisms and vascular aquatic plants
FR2533548B1 (en) 1982-09-28 1985-07-26 Degremont METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANAEROBIC TREATMENT OF WASTE WATER IN A GRANULAR MATERIAL FILLED FILTER
JPH0634993B2 (en) 1984-09-17 1994-05-11 学校法人早稲田大学 Three-phase fluidized bed water purification method
SU1346588A1 (en) 1985-04-09 1987-10-23 Всесоюзный Научно-Исследовательский Институт По Охране Вод Device for biological treatment of water in water reservoirs and water flows
DK153135C (en) 1985-06-26 1988-11-07 Joergen Loegstrup RED ZONE PLANT TO CLEAN PURE WATER
JPS6263729A (en) 1985-09-12 1987-03-20 砂研株式会社 Method for purifying sewage
US4678582A (en) 1986-01-24 1987-07-07 Lavigne Ronald L Treatment system for landfill leachate
US4693827A (en) * 1986-03-20 1987-09-15 Zimpro Inc. Process for protection of biological nitrification systems
GB8607653D0 (en) 1986-03-27 1986-04-30 Lisborg N Flow control system
DE3618029A1 (en) 1986-05-28 1987-12-03 Kickuth Reinhold WASTE WATER TREATMENT METHOD
US4872985A (en) 1986-11-10 1989-10-10 Ray Dinges Method for application of wastewater to plants for improved wastewater treatment
US4895645A (en) 1987-12-09 1990-01-23 Zorich Jr Nicholas F Anaerobic/aerobic filter plant
US5087353A (en) 1988-11-03 1992-02-11 Ecological Engineering Associates Solar aquatic apparatus for treating waste
US4921604A (en) 1989-03-21 1990-05-01 Biotech Industries Incorporated Upflow biological reator waste water treatment system
US4959084A (en) 1989-05-26 1990-09-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Combined air and water pollution control system
US4997568A (en) 1989-09-08 1991-03-05 Vandervelde Don M Process and apparatus for a biological reactor to purify water
DE3941211A1 (en) 1989-12-14 1991-06-20 Fred Harf Procedure and device for water treatment - by biologically purifying by flowing over roots of water plants in labyrinthine path
US5337516A (en) 1991-05-08 1994-08-16 Hondulas John L Treatment of polluted water using wetland plants in a floating habitat
US5174897A (en) 1991-09-24 1992-12-29 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture Constructed wetlands to control nonpoint source pollution
US5486291A (en) 1993-11-10 1996-01-23 Ocean Arks International, Inc. Ecological fluidized bed method for the treatment of polluted water
US6126827A (en) 1993-11-30 2000-10-03 Charles L. Johnson, Jr. High-strength septage biological treatment system
GB9326329D0 (en) 1993-12-23 1994-02-23 Todd John J Waste water treatment
RU2175646C2 (en) 1995-02-13 2001-11-10 Просефф Лимитед Treatment of sewage, agent for it and technology of its production
US5906745A (en) 1995-04-04 1999-05-25 Aquatech, Ltd. Apparatus and method for purifying polluted water
US5876484A (en) 1995-05-17 1999-03-02 Phytotech, Inc. Method for removing soluble metals from an aqueous phase
EP0744884A3 (en) * 1995-05-23 1997-09-24 Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd Process for producing multilayer printed circuit board
US5785864A (en) 1995-06-23 1998-07-28 Ajt & Associates, Inc. Apparatus for the purification of water and method therefor
US6090294A (en) 1995-06-23 2000-07-18 Ajt & Associates, Inc. Apparatus for the purification of water and method therefor
US5785684A (en) * 1996-02-06 1998-07-28 Zimmon Science Corporation Apparatus and method for the deployment of an esophagastric balloon tamponade device
US5985149A (en) 1995-12-08 1999-11-16 Raetz; Richard M. Bioremediation system
JP2000513224A (en) 1996-06-24 2000-10-10 ボード オブ リージェンツ,ザ ユニバーシティ オブ テキサス システム Automated and sealed recirculating aquaculture filtration system
US5733453A (en) 1996-07-15 1998-03-31 Azurea, Inc. Wastewater treatment system and method
US5951866A (en) 1996-07-31 1999-09-14 Grove; John E. Cold climate wetland waste water treatment system
US5863433A (en) 1996-12-02 1999-01-26 Tennessee Valley Authority United States Corp. Reciprocating subsurface-flow constructed wetlands for improving wastewater treatment
US5893975A (en) 1997-04-23 1999-04-13 Roux Associates, Inc. Enhanced subsurface flow constructed wetland
US6159371A (en) 1997-05-30 2000-12-12 Albuquerque Public Schools District No. 12 Constructed wetlands remediation system
WO1998058881A1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-12-30 Wallace Scott D Method and apparatus for biological treatment of waste water
US5897777A (en) 1997-10-03 1999-04-27 Zoeller Co. Waste water treatment system
US6277274B1 (en) 1999-04-16 2001-08-21 Larry Steven Coffman Method and apparatus for treating stormwater runoff
FR2795067B3 (en) * 1999-06-21 2001-10-12 Jean Pierre Dautais ACTIVE DEPURATION STRUCTURES FOR DOPING PHYSICO-BIOLOGICAL REACTORS
US6447681B1 (en) 2000-08-07 2002-09-10 Kent Sea Tech Corporation Aquaculture wastewater treatment system and method of making same
US6428691B1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-08-06 Charles Wofford Biological waste water treatment system
US6447682B1 (en) 2001-07-03 2002-09-10 David A. Flowers Process and system for enhanced nitrogen removal in a wetland wastewater treatment facility
US6531062B1 (en) * 2001-09-10 2003-03-11 Thomas J. Whitehill Wastewater treatment system for small flow applications

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3770623A (en) * 1971-06-15 1973-11-06 Max Planck Gesellschaft System for purification of polluted water
US5078882A (en) * 1990-03-21 1992-01-07 Bion Technologies, Inc. Bioconversion reactor and system
US5137625A (en) * 1990-12-28 1992-08-11 Wolverton Billy C Aquatic plant/microbial water purification system
US5766474A (en) * 1995-02-15 1998-06-16 Landmark Reclamation, Inc. Biomass impoundment management system for purifying water
US6086755A (en) * 1999-05-21 2000-07-11 Tepper; Julius Floating hydroponic biofiltration device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP1451112A4 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1857419A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-21 M. Philippe Michel Method and installation for processing effluent
FR2900921A1 (en) * 2006-05-09 2007-11-16 Philippe Michel Treatment of effluents comprises biological pretreatment of effluents using bacterial bed, and biological treatment of nitrification-denitrification of clarification sludge obtained at an exit of the bed using vertical-flow reed bed filter
CN100400439C (en) * 2006-06-16 2008-07-09 宁波市科技园区德安生态城市工程有限公司 Artificial wetland in use for processing polluted water
WO2009128765A1 (en) 2008-04-17 2009-10-22 Phytotechnology Europe Ab A phytosystem for treatment of sewage
CN102007076B (en) * 2008-04-17 2013-06-12 奥纳普净水技术公司 A phytosystem for treatment of sewage
CN101475284B (en) * 2008-12-24 2011-06-15 江苏百纳环境工程有限公司 Domestic sewage treatment process and apparatus
FR2941226A1 (en) * 2009-01-22 2010-07-23 Setur Ingenierie Audit Conseil WATER SANITATION INSTALLATION.
WO2010084267A1 (en) * 2009-01-22 2010-07-29 Setur Ingénierie Audit Conseil Water sanitising plant comprising a laid filtration zone
CN101633545B (en) * 2009-08-13 2011-06-29 重庆大学 Integrated biological and ecological cooperative sewage treatment method and reactor
CN101693585B (en) * 2009-10-21 2011-06-15 中国环境科学研究院 Septic tank-artificial wetland rural sewage courtyard type landscape treating device
CN101885563A (en) * 2010-04-29 2010-11-17 重庆大学 SBR+ artificial wetland combined treatment system for domestic sewage recycling
CN101863584A (en) * 2010-04-29 2010-10-20 重庆大学 Biological contact oxidation and artificial wetland combined treatment system for grey water of residential area
CN102120672A (en) * 2011-01-21 2011-07-13 哈尔滨工业大学 Alpine area contact oxidation-artificial wetland combined treatment system and method thereof for treating rural domestic sewage
CN102120672B (en) * 2011-01-21 2013-05-29 哈尔滨工业大学 Alpine area contact oxidation-artificial wetland combined treatment system and method thereof for treating rural domestic sewage
WO2016048151A1 (en) * 2014-09-26 2016-03-31 Van Der Ende Pompen B.V. Method and system for treating a fluid flow
IT202100014126A1 (en) * 2021-05-28 2022-11-28 Leonardo Bordi PROCESS AND PLANT TO REDUCE STINKY EMISSIONS OF LANDFILL LEATHER.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6811700B2 (en) 2004-11-02
US20030111409A1 (en) 2003-06-19
US20050126991A1 (en) 2005-06-16
PL370001A1 (en) 2005-05-16
EP1451112A1 (en) 2004-09-01
HUP0401968A2 (en) 2008-02-28
CA2466473C (en) 2008-05-13
EP1451112A4 (en) 2006-06-21
MXPA04004493A (en) 2005-09-12
BR0214175A (en) 2004-08-31
NZ532856A (en) 2005-11-25
CA2466473A1 (en) 2003-05-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6811700B2 (en) Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
US6830688B2 (en) Integrated hydroponic and wetland wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
Tawfik et al. Sewage treatment in a combined up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)–down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) system
US5733453A (en) Wastewater treatment system and method
US7790032B2 (en) Waste treatment process
Nourmohammadi et al. Nitrogen removal in a full-scale domestic wastewater treatment plant with activated sludge and trickling filter
KR100784933B1 (en) Apparatus for treating organic matter and nitrogen of high density organic wastewater
Yildiz Water and wastewater treatment: Biological processes
WO2004087584A1 (en) System and method for the treatment of wastewater using plants
WO2001072644A1 (en) Nitrogen reduction wastewater treatment system
Mahmoudkhani et al. Study on high-strength anaerobic landfill leachate treatability by membrane bioreactor coupled with reverse osmosis
US20070102354A1 (en) System for treating wastewater and a media usable therein
US7820048B2 (en) Method and system for treating organically contaminated waste water
CN209759222U (en) Novel food processing waste water treatment equipment
KR100702194B1 (en) Advanced wasterwater treatment system by a combination of membrane bio-reactor and sulfur denitrification and method thereof
WO2021165980A1 (en) A multi-zone attached growth batch bio-reactor &amp; method of biological treatment of domestic wastewater
KR100530555B1 (en) Small-scale facility and method for treating wastewater biologically
Jassal et al. Sustainable Waste Water Treatment: Opportunities and Challenges
AU2002352680A1 (en) Integrated hydroponic and fixed-film wastewater treatment systems and associated methods
Vigneswaran et al. Sequencing batch reactors: principles, design/operation and case studies
Saleh et al. A Study to Distinguish Between Wastewater Treatment Plants in Rural Egypt
WO2007050775A1 (en) System and method for treating wastewater and a growth supporting media usable therein
Mahvi et al. Upgrading of Wastewater Treatment Plant Using an Aerated Submerged Fixed Film Reactor (ASFFR)
WO2005077842A1 (en) Improved waste treatment
Silva Secondary Municipal Wastewater Treatment Using the UASB/Solids Contact Technology

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ OM PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 532856

Country of ref document: NZ

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: PA/a/2004/004493

Country of ref document: MX

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2466473

Country of ref document: CA

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2002789628

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2002352680

Country of ref document: AU

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 2002789628

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 532856

Country of ref document: NZ

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 532856

Country of ref document: NZ

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 2002789628

Country of ref document: EP