Importance

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Abstract

An arrangement for operation to reduce organic contaminant concentration in water passing therethrough as provided. The arrangement includes at least one reactor comprising a plurality of treatment chambers oriented in series, each chamber including an upstream downcomer portion and a downstream column portion separated by a wall member. Fluid flow is provided between a downcomer portion and the column portion. Means are provided such that water can flow through any associated chamber by introduction into an upper portion of the downcomer portion of the chamber, with passage downwardly to a feed space and a bottom portion of the column portion of the chamber and upwardly through the column portion. The water then flows outwardly from the chamber, into a next downstream chamber if one is provided. Each chamber includes a by-pass arrangement in association therewith, whereby should the column portion become temporarily occluded or plugged water backed up in the next upstream downcomer portion can overflow from an upper part of the downcomer portion across the column portion and above packing material therein, and into the next downstream chamber or, if none is provided, outwardly from the reactor. As a result of the by-pass arrangement, the arrangement according to the invention readily self-corrects for occlusion in any given column portion as a result of overdevelopment of biomass therein. A method is also provided for purification of water contaminated with organics. In preferred applications, the method involves inoculating water fed through a staged reactor, to develop a preferred microorganism population profile through the reactor.

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First Claim