| abstract |
A reactor and method are presented for processing water, in a manner enabling treatment of contaminated water to produce purified water and enabling simultaneous production of a biomass. The reactor comprises first and second compartments interfacing one another by a gas-permeable membrane. The first compartment serves for interaction between the water and at least one species of aerobic heterotrophic microorganism which are adapted to break down one or more organic contaminants in the contaminated water. The second compartment serves for interaction between the water and at least one species of phototrophic microorganism capable of producing oxygen. The gas-permeable membrane prevents transfer of the organic contaminant therethrough, while allows gas diffusion therethrough. As a result, oxygen, produced by the phototrophic microorganism in the second compartment, is allowed to pass into the first compartment thus facilitating breakage down of the one or more contaminants of the contaminated water in the first compartment. |