Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A two-stage process for the biological degradation of complex, non-readily degradable wastewater constituents in which acidification takes place in a first stage and anaerobic degradation in the presence of methanogenic organisms in the second stage, the improvement comprising, in the first stage, enriching the wastewater to be treated both with acidogenic organisms and also with dehalogenating, desulfonating, deaminating strains of organisms or mixture thereof and introducing highly sub-stoichiometric quantities of oxygen so that the concentration of oxygen in the first stage is in the range of from 0.01 to 1.2 mg/1 based on the organic carbon load, the introduction of oxygen being either direct introduction of oxygen or indirect introduction by addition of oxygen-yielding compounds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A two-stage process for the biological degradation of complex, non-readily degradable wastewater constituents in which acidification takes place in a first stage and anaerobic degradation in the presence of methanogenic organisms in the second stage, the improvement comprising, in the first stage, enriching the wastewater to be treated both with acidogenic organisms and also with dehalogenating, desulfonating, deaminating strains of organisms or mixture thereof and introducing highly sub-stoichiometric quantities of oxygen so that the concentration of oxygen in the first stage is in the range of from 0.01 to 1.2 mg/1 based on the organic carbon load, the introduction of oxygen being either direct introduction of oxygen or indirect introduction by addition of oxygen-yielding compounds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein both stages are operated as fluidized bed processes using supports to immobilize the biomass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support is a particulate polyurethane material filled with carbon powder bound in reactive, abrasion-resistant form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concentration of oxygen in the first stage is in the range from 0.02 to 1 mg/1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the concentration of oxygen in the first stage is in the range from 0.05 to 0.8 mg/1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pH value in the first stage is in the range from 2.5 to 7.5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pH value in the first stage is in the range from 3.0 to 6.8.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pH value in the first stage is in the range from 4.0 to 6.5.