The specification discloses a method for treating and digesting organic
wastes in a wastewater stream. A first wastewater influent stream is
mixed with an activated sludge biomass in an aerobic digestion zone, so
that least a portion of the organic wastes in the first wastewater
influent stream are digested by activated sludge biomass. The first
wastewater influent stream is separated from the activated sludge biomass
in a first separation zone to recover activated sludge biomass and to
provide a wastewater effluent stream. The second wastewater influent
stream is mixed with recovered activated sludge biomass from the aerobic
digestion zone in a substantially anaerobic adsorption zone so that at
least a portion of the organic wastes in the second wastewater influent
stream are adsorbed by the activated sludge biomass. The second
wastewater influent stream and the activated sludge biomass are then
separated in a second separation zone to recover the activated sludge
biomass and organic wastes adsorbed thereto from the anaerobic adsorption
zone and to provide a substantially liquid wastewater stream which is
recycled to the aerobic digestion zone. Finally, at least a portion of
the activated sludge biomass and adsorbed organic wastes from the
anaerobic adsorption zone are digested under substantially anaerobic
conditions so as to recover a combustible gas stream. An apparatus for
carrying out the method is also disclosed.