EQUIPMENT AND METHOD FOR PURIFYING SLUDGE IN WATER AREA ENVIRONMENT BY USING IMMOBILIZED PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide sludge purification equipment which can promote the sludge decomposing action of photosynthetic bacteria in water area environment. SOLUTION: A rail-like structure 10 retaining the gel immobilized bacterial body 20 of the photosynthetic bacteria is laid on the bottom of the water area 50 to be purified, where sludge 40 has deposited. Gentle water flow is generated in the inside of the rail-like structure 10 by a water flow generating means installed at one end of the rail-like structure 10. This enables sufficient contact between water in the lower layer and the photosynthetic bacteria retained in the rail-like structure 10, thereby improving sludge decomposing effect due to the photosynthetic bacteria. The generation of the gentle water flow from the surface layer to the rail-like structure 10 in the water area 50 to be purified increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water bottom, which enables small animals, such as a sludgeworm, eating the sludge to live therein and further promotes the sludge decomposition. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI