Hybrid high rate anaerobic treatment process

Claim 1

A process for effecting anaerobic biological treatment of waste water with high solids content, said process comprising: contacting waste water with anaerobic sludge having appropriate live microorganisms therein, in a first, lower reactor zone, to effect digestion of wast products therein and generation of gaseous by-products; moving said waste water and said gaseous by-products upwardly into a second, upper reactor zone disposed vertically above the first, lower reactor zone, said upper zone comprising a filter bed; effecting dislodgement of excess deposited solids. in said filter bed and inhibiting clogging of said filter bed by passing the waste water and said gaseous by-products upwardly through said filter bed, said filter bed having anaerobic sludge with live microorganisms therein or thereon so that the waste water contacts the anaerobic sludge as it passes upwardly through the filter bed to effect further digestion of waste products therein and generation of further gaseous by-products and so that said gaseous by-products and said further gaseous by-products pass through said filter bed in a turbulent manner to obtain a vertical mixing effect, said mixing effect extending through said lower reactor zone and said upper reactor zone; and recovering treated waste water from above the filter bed, wherein said gaseous by-products and said further gaseous by-products are removed from the process only above the filter bed and after having passed through the filter bed in the upper reactor zone from at least one exit port.