A pseudofluidized bed reactor has been developed and successfully used with the purpose of water and wastewater treatment based on both biological and physical-chemical processes. The reactor was tested in a full-scale industrial facility for the treatment of petrochemical wastewater. Major reactor's process and hydraulic components were also investigated for the removal of chromium from ground water. Combined simultaneous biological and chemical treatment was tested to remove organic as well as inorganic contaminants. The reactor provides accomplishment of several process phases proceeding in one apparatus unit including oxygen transfer to water, mixing, gas bubbles removal, creation of pseudofluidized beds, internal recirculation, and liquid/solid phase separation. Hydraulic conditions for the pseudofluidization regime were investigated in a three-column pilot-scale unit then checked in a 1-gpm (0.0631 L/s) reactor prototype. Treatment process parameters were investigated in continuous operation of a 1.5-gpm (0.1 L/s) full-scale facility based on a symbiotic (algae and activated sludge) biological treatment process modification. The obtained results allowed 40 - 50% decrease in total residence time of reaction and phase separation processes.

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