Septic systems are treated with alkane-utilizing bacteria. Alkanes such as butane are injected into septic system wastewater in order to enhance growth of alkane-utilizing bacteria which degrade wastes. Aerobic processes may be achieved by injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the septic system. Alternatively, anaerobic processes may be used. The alkane and oxygen-containing gas may be injected at any suitable stage of the septic system, such as injection into a septic tank, drainfield and/or grease or oil interceptor tank.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/344,947 filed Dec. 21, 2001. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/308,607 filed Dec. 2, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/924,791 filed Aug. 8, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,846, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/291,165 filed May 15, 2001. These applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for remediating sulfur-containing pollutants with a hydrocarbon that is used to stimulate the growth of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. The hydrocarbon is preferably an alkane such as butane. The sulfur-containing pollutant may comprise sulfate, sulfite, sulfide, disulfides, mercaptans, alkanesulfonates, dialkyl sulfides, thiosulfate, thiofurans, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates, thioureas, thiols, thiophenols, thioethers, thiophene, tetrathionate, dithionite, dialkyl disulfides, sulfones, sulfoxides, sulfolanes, sulfonic acid, dimethylsulfoniopropionate, sulfonic esters, hydrogen sulfide, sulfate esters, sulfur dioxide and any other sour gases, elemental sulfur and any other sulfur-containing material considered to be a contaminant or pollutant.
A portable wastewater treatment system comprising a wastewater holding tank having an interior adapted to hold wastewater, and a generator positioned to provide ozone, oxygen, or a combination of the two to the interior of the holding tank. In one embodiment, the holding tank comprises a gray-water tank, and the system further comprises a non-potable water tank having an interior. In this embodiment, the system further includes a second generator positioned to provide ozone, oxygen, or a combination of the two to the interior of the non-potable water tank and a conduit coupling the gray-water tank to the non-potable water tank. The system can further include a black-water tank having an interior, a third generator positioned to provide ozone, oxygen, or a combination of the two to the interior of the black-water tank, and a conduit coupling the black-water tank to the non-potable water tank. The system can further include a toilet having an inlet and an outlet, a first conduit coupling the non-potable water tank to the inlet of the toilet, and a second conduit coupling the outlet to the black-water tank. The system can also include a potable water tank, a point of water usage coupled to the potable water tank, and a fourth generator positioned to provide ozone, oxygen, or a combination of the two to the potable water tank.
