SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING WATER CONTAMINATION

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system may reduce contaminants in water. A system may include a biofilm in a container. The biofilm may be formed from one or more bacteria coupled to one or more substrates. The bacteria may be selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. The system may include one or more bacteria generators to provide bacteria to the biofilm and/or one or more air sources to provide an air bubble stream to the container and/or the bacteria generator. In some embodiments, bacteria may be preserved in a starvation phase. Bacteria may be incubated until they reach a starvation phase. The bacteria may then be preserved as beads or immobilized on a substrate. The preserved bacteria may be used in a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the methods and apparatus of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a system that includes settling containers for the reduction of contaminants in water.

FIGS. 3A-C depict embodiments of substrates for a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.

FIG. 4A depicts a representation of an embodiment of bacteria coupled to substrate.

FIG. 4B depicts a representation of an embodiment of bacteria coupled to substrate.

FIGS. 5A-B depict graphs that show the change in concentration of benzene over time in an embodiment of a system that includes bacteria in the genus Gordonia.

FIG. 6 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of ethylbenzene over time in an embodiment of a system that includes bacteria in the genus Gordonia.

FIG. 7A depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of benzene over time in an embodiment of a system that includes bacteria in the genus Gordonia but does not include substrate.

FIG. 7B depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of benzene over time in an embodiment of a system that includes bacteria in the genus Gordonia coupled to a substrate.

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants in water in which fluid is recycled through multiple containers.

FIG. 10 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of benzene over time in an embodiment of a system in which nutrients are not added to the system.

FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of preserving bacteria.

FIG. 12 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of methyl ethyl ketone over time in an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants.

FIG. 13 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of trichloroethylene over time in an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants.

FIG. 14 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of toluene over time in an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants.

FIG. 15 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of m-xylene over time in an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants.

FIG. 16 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of p-xylene over time in an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants.

FIG. 17 depicts a graph that shows the change in concentration of o-xylene over time in an embodiment of a system for the reduction of contaminants.

Claims

1. A system for reducing contaminants in water comprising: a container;one or more substrates in the container;one or more bacteria configured to couple to one or more of the substrates;one or more bacteria generators configured to supply at least one of the bacteria to the container; andone or more air sources configured to be coupled to the container, wherein one or more of the air sources are configured to produce an air bubble stream with an average bubble diameter less than approximately 1 mm.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the substrates are hydrophobic.

3-26. (canceled)

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising more than one stirrer in the container, wherein stirrers are positioned in the container such that stagnant areas are minimized.

28-29. (canceled)

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more filters configured to inhibit bacteria from flowing out of the container and/or remove one or more contaminants from the fluid passing through the filter.

31-32. (canceled)

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising a biofilm comprising one or more bacteria coupled to one or more of the substrates in the container.

34-38. (canceled)

39. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the bacteria generators are capable of producing one or more of the bacteria to supply to the container in less than 48 hours.

40. (canceled)

41. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the bacteria generators are capable of producing more than one type of bacteria simultaneously.

42-49. (canceled)

50. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the air sources is configured to at least partially mix fluids in the container.

51. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to detect levels of one or more of the bacteria in the container.

52-53. (canceled)

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the controller is further configured to control the amount and/or the type of bacteria delivered from one of the bacteria generators to the container.

55-108. (canceled)

109. A method for generating a biofilm capable of reducing contaminants in water comprising: allowing one or more bacteria to reproduce in one or more bacteria generators;providing at least a portion of one or more of the bacteria from at least one of the bacteria generators to a container that comprises a substrate;providing air to the container, wherein the air comprises an air bubble stream with an average bubble diameter less than approximately 1 mm; andallowing a biofilm of the provided bacteria to form in or on the substrate in the container, wherein the biofilm is capable of reducing contaminants in water.

110-120. (canceled)

121. A method for reducing contaminants in water comprising: providing a biofilm in or on a substrate in a container;providing one or more bacteria from bacteria generator to the container to replenish the biofilm;introducing wastewater comprising contaminants to the container; andallowing the biofilm in the container to reduce the contaminants in the wastewater.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein providing a biofilm comprises: allowing one or more bacteria to reproduce in one or more bacteria generators;providing at least a portion of one or more of the bacteria from at least one of the bacteria generators to a container that comprises a substrate;allowing a biofilm of the provided bacteria to form in or on the substrate in the container, wherein the biofilm is capable of reducing contaminants in water.

123-129. (canceled)

130. The method of claim 129, further comprising allowing fluid flowing out of the container to flow into a second container comprising a biofilm.

131. (canceled)

132. The method of claim 131, further comprising recycling at least a portion of fluid exiting the container into the container.

133-136. (canceled)

137. The method of claim 129, further comprising allowing solids in the fluid in the container to sink to a bottom of the container.

138. (canceled)

139. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the bacteria comprises bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Agrobacterium, Enterobacter, Gordonia, Caulobacter, Zoogloea, or combinations thereof.

140. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the bacteria comprises Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, Agrobacterium sp., Enterobacter cloacae, Gordonia sp., Caulobacter vibrioides, Caulobacter crescentus, Zoogloea sp., or combinations thereof.

141. The method of claim 109, wherein at least one of the bacteria comprises bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Agrobacterium, Enterobacter, Gordonia, Caulobacter, Zoogloea, or combinations thereof.

142. The method of claim 121, wherein at least one of the bacteria comprises bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Agrobacterium, Enterobacter, Gordonia, Caulobacter, Zoogloea, or combinations thereof.