Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater
to reduce often associated offensive odors by promoting aerobic conditions through
decreasing the amount of oxygen required to maintain aerobic cultures and/or aerobic
biological activity in the wastewater. Also, the wastewater is screened or otherwise
separated the wastewater to remove or concentrate the solids which are anaerobically
digested. By concentrating the solids, a smaller digester can be used. The anaerobic
digestion produces biogas that may be collected and used, or burned by a flare
or oxidized by a semipermeable membrane to deodorize the biogas. The heat produced
from the biogas may have a variety of uses, including raising the temperature of
the anaerobic digester and the bacterial metabolism. The wastewater is also clarified
to remove nitrogenous and organic carbon wastes.