FILTRATION APPARATUS COMPRISING MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR AND TREATMENT VESSEL FOR DIGESTING ORGANIC MATERIAL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filtration apparatus related to a process for treating waste water that provides significant benefits in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. SOLUTION: The filtration apparatus is provided with a membrane bioreactor and a biological sludge treatment vessel. The membrane bioreactor comprises at least one membrane module and an apparatus for injecting air into a liquid. The membrane module comprises a plurality of porous membranes and is configured so that a substrate comprising activated sludge is brought into contact with outer surfaces of the membranes and treated water is removed from lumens of the membranes. The biological sludge treatment vessel is configured to operate in an anaerobic environment so that a process fluid is digested, at least a portion of the digested process fluid is returned to the membrane bioreactor and at least a portion of the substrate in the membrane bioreactor is transferred to the biological sludge treatment vessel. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT