Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for remediating a stored liquid waste by reducing a content of a species capable of being bacterially degraded under anaerobic conditions, the stored liquid waste having bulk properties incompatible with anaerobic biodegradation. The method comprises the following steps (a) and (b), which are repeated until the stored liquid waste has bulk properties compatible with anaerobic biodegradation and contains an amount of the microorganism effective to sustain biodegradation of the species in the stored liquid waste: (a) removing an aliquot of the liquid waste and treating the aliquot by exposing to conditions whereby the species is anaerobically biodegraded by a microorganism capable of biodegrading the species; and (b) returning the treated aliquot back to the stored liquid waste, whereby the bulk properties of the stored liquid waste become more conducive to anaerobic biodegradation.

IPC Classes  ?

• C02F 3/28 - Anaerobic digestion processes
• C02F 3/34 - Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage characterised by the microorganisms used
• C01F 7/47 - Purification of aluminium oxide, aluminium hydroxide or aluminates of aluminates, e.g. removal of compounds of Si, Fe, Ga or of organic compounds from Bayer process liquors

Abstract

A cover and gas collection system (11) for capturing and collecting biogas produced in an anaerobic digester (13). The system (11) comprises a plurality of modules (30) each defining a separate gas holder 50. The gas holder modules (30) cooperate in an assembly (33) to overlie the contents within the anaerobic digester (13). The gas holder modules (30) are individually removable from the assembly (33). Each gas holder module (30) has a gas collection space (35) and a hydraulic seal (37) to trap biogas within the space (35). Biogas is captured within the gas collection space (35) from where is can be retrieved. The lower end of each gas holder module (30) is adapted to be immersed in liquid to provide the hydraulic seal (37). In one arrangement, the liquid may comprise a liquid constituted by the contents of the anaerobic digester (13). In another arrangement, the liquid may comprise a different liquid contained separately of the contents of the anaerobic digester (13).

IPC Classes  ?

• C02F 3/28 - Anaerobic digestion processes
• C02F 11/04 - Anaerobic treatmentProduction of methane by such processes