BIO-SLURRY REACTION SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT

A method for improved slurry-phase bioremediation treatment of organic sludge and mixtures of organic sludge and organics-contaminated soils by dissolving the contaminants into an aqueous phase and microbially degrading same. A high solids slurry of the sludge and soils is formed with water and an active bioslurry consisting of large populations of acclimated hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria and small amounts of biodegradation residue. The slurry is passed through a plurality of in-series bioreactors in each of which a low hydraulic shear is maintained to promote the development of a large population of microorganisms that will form flocculent suspensions. The output from the series of bioreactors is flowed continuously or semicontinuously to a liquid-solids separator to partition the mixed liquor bioslurry from the biodegraded waste residue The mixed liquor bioslurry containing small amounts of biodegradation residue is returned to the slurry being processed for recycling. Off-gas components from the system are recirculated back to one or more of the bioreactors, to return high volatility toxic constituents for increased microbial degradation and control of volatile toxic constituent emissions from the process. The related system is also disclosed and claimed.