Patents Examined by Chester Barry
  • Patent number: 9770743
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating contaminated soil and/or ground water in situ. The compositions and methods comprise stabilized forms of colloidal activated carbon that are used to quickly sorb contaminants. Unlike traditional activated carbon in granular or powder form, the compounds and methods of the present invention are operative to transport particulate activated carbon through a matrix of soil and groundwater upon application by injection, gravity feed, or percolation into soil and groundwater, which in turn decontaminate groundwater in place without the cost or disruption associated with digging the contaminated soil and groundwater out of the ground for on-site purification or disposal at a hazardous waste landfill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: REGENESIS BIOREMEDIATION PRODUCTS
    Inventors: Benjamin V. Mork, Joy M. Gravitt, Ryan A. Ferguson, Stephanie R. Rittenhouse, Kristen A. Thoreson
  • Patent number: 9771286
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for biological sewage treatment, including a concentrated mixed liquor driving device that uses a gas to drive a concentrated mixed liquor to flow. The present invention further relates to a method for biological sewage treatment, including a step of using a gas to drive a concentrated mixed liquor to flow. The gas can be an aeration gas, especially an oxygen-containing aeration gas after aeration treatment. The apparatus and method of the present invention can sufficiently utilize the energy and oxygen of the aeration gas, so that the energy consumption and maintenance cost of whole apparatus are reduced, biological sewage treatment effects are improved, and sludge floating is prevented. In addition, the apparatus of present invention has advantages of high performance, energy saving, high reliability, and good movability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Jinmin Li, Liankui Zhou, Dayong Li
  • Patent number: 9764262
    Abstract: This relates to a rolling water container system that can, in various examples, be used to gather, transport, filter, store and dispense liquids such as water. The rolling water container system according to various examples of the disclosure can provide easier transportation of the water, lifting of the water container or drum, and accessibility to the inside of the drum. Additional features can assist with conservation of water by preventing water leakage from the drum and providing for near-complete emptying of the drum. Further features can include handles with greater mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: WELLO
    Inventors: Cynthia Koenig, Noel Wilson
  • Patent number: 9751780
    Abstract: Coagulation/flocculation apparatus for the treatment of a hydraulic flow of any type of liquid, upstream of a physical separation element, in particular upstream of a flotation unit, or of a filtration unit, in particular a membrane filtration unit, which apparatus comprises at least one coagulator with injection of coagulant, followed by a flocculator, which are successively passed through by the hydraulic flow, in which apparatus: the coagulator comprises a reactor (1) for injection of coagulant under high energy, followed by a low-energy coagulation reactor (2); an intermediate high-energy element (3) is placed between the coagulation reactor (2) and the flocculator (4); and the flocculator is a static flocculator of piston type (4) having the same width as the physical separation element (5) located downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: DEGREMONT
    Inventors: Patrick Vion, Guillem Grau
  • Patent number: 9751787
    Abstract: A digester system for digesting feed material comprises a digester tank, a thickener, and a seal system. The digester tank generates a first digested material and biogas from the feed material. The thickener is operatively connected to the digester tank to remove a second digested material from the feed material to alter a solid content of the feed material in the digester tank. The seal system substantially prevents the thickener from removing biogas from the feed material with the second digested material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Daritech, Inc.
    Inventor: David DeWaard
  • Patent number: 9744482
    Abstract: A screen decanter for decanting liquid from a reservoir, comprising at least one rack comprising screens and baffles forming the sides of a cavity; a frame attached to the screens and baffles and providing a barrier so that liquid cannot pass from outside into the cavity without passing through the screens; a patterned perforated drain pipe inside the cavity and leading to an opening through which liquids may drain out from the cavity. The pattern of the openings counteracts the hydrostatic head within the rack such that flow through the screens is uniform at all depths of immersion in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the screens have a porosity of about 50 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ClearCove Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Qausarali Goriawala, Alfred Bertoni, Jonathan M. Jacobs, Michael A. Butler, Terry Wright
  • Patent number: 9738029
    Abstract: A method for producing a molded body includes providing a composite including a first plate having a polymer film pressed into its surface, providing a third plate including roughened areas on at least part of one of its surfaces, placing the third plate opposite the polymer film without the third plate touching the composite, heating the third plate to a temperature above the glass transition temperature Tg of the polymer of the polymer film without heating the composite and without the heated third plate coming into contact with the surface of the polymer film, and structuring the surface of the polymer film facing the third plate by a relative movement which removes the third plate from the first plate while the polymer film remains soft and is thus extended lengthwise, thereby forming a modified composite that comprises the molded body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventors: Michael Roehrig, Hendrik Hoelscher, Marc Schneider, Matthias Worgull, Andreas Hopf
  • Patent number: 9738549
    Abstract: Method and system for treating wastewater includes treating sludge with ozone in a plug-flow type reactor to cause lysis of biosolids in the sludge. The ozonated sludge may be provided to an anaerobic or anoxic section of the wastewater treatment system to aid the denitrification processes occurring in the anaerobic or anoxic section of the wastewater treatment system or to other sections of the wastewater treatment system such as a fermenter, an aerobic digester, or an anaerobic digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Novak, Malcolm E. Fabiyi
  • Patent number: 9738544
    Abstract: A field water purification system filter is described. The filter includes a water tight enclosure formed between two layers of a polymeric material, an inlet and an outlet are coupled to the water tight enclosure. A filter envelope including a quantity of filter media is inside the water tight enclosure. The water filter having a minimal thickness when not filled with water. The filter envelope is formed by a first set of bonded segments of the two layers of polymeric material. The filter can also include an outer channel having a first side formed by the water tight enclosure and a second side opposite from the first side. The second side can include a second set of bonded segments of the two layers of polymeric material interspersed with a set of nonbonded segments, the nonbonded segments defining openings in an intermittent barrier between the outer channel and the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CAL POLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Trygve J. Lundquist, Patricia M. Compas-Markman
  • Patent number: 9738554
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a composite biogenic flocculant for enhancing flocculation and dewaterability of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) sludge. The present invention also discloses method of conditioning CEPT sludge using the composite biogenic flocculant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hong Kong Baptist University
    Inventor: Jonathan Woon-Chung Wong
  • Patent number: 9739750
    Abstract: An oil removal device for removing oil from a stream (103) of oil-separated sample droplets (104) is disclosed. The oil removal device comprises a sample delivery channel (101) for conducting the stream of sample droplets to an outlet (102). A porous, hydrophobic and oleophilic absorber element (106) is arranged at the outlet of the sample delivery channel so as to absorb the oil phase (105) from the stream of oil-separated sample droplets. The oil removal device can be used in two-dimensional separation techniques such as LC-MS, LC-CE, CE-CE etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ETH ZURICH
    Inventors: Andrew DeMello, Fiona Pereira, Niu Xize
  • Patent number: 9731221
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting mineral particles in a slurry or the tailings is disclosed, including a collection area or tank having one or more collection surfaces configured to contact with a mixture having water and valuable material, the valuable material having a plurality of mineral particles of interest; and a synthetic material provided at least on the one or more collection surfaces, the synthetic material having plurality of molecules with a siloxane functional group configured to attract the mineral particles of interest to the collection surfaces. The one or more collection surfaces includes a conveyor belt that is driven through the collection area or tank, through a release area or tank, back through the collection area or tank. The mixture includes a pulp slurry having ground ore with mineral particles of interest forming part thereof, including mineral particles of interest of about 500 microns or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CiDRA CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Rothman, Mark R. Fernald, Francis K. Didden, Douglas H. Adamson
  • Patent number: 9731987
    Abstract: A mobile water re-use system can include a chemical treatment apparatus, at least one weir tank in fluid communication with the chemical treatment apparatus, and two or more settling tanks in fluid communication with each other and at least one of the settling tanks in fluid communication with the weir tank. The weir tank can have a first end, a second end, an internal chamber, and a plurality of baffles that induce turbulent flow of fluid through the internal chamber. The settling tanks can provide, promote, facilitate, result in, and/or induce laminar flow of fluid through at least a portion of the internal chamber. Weir tanks, settling tanks, and method of treating flowback and produced water are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hillstone Environmental Partners, LLC
    Inventors: James Chance Richie, Anthony Gutta
  • Patent number: 9731983
    Abstract: The present invention includes a novel salt-free water softening method that utilizes an exchange medium (such as a gel exchange polymer, a macroporous exchange polymer, or an inorganic cation exchanger) that is pre-loaded with a polyvalent cation that has low solubility in aqueous phase at nearly neutral pH. The method of the invention does not require use of a sodium salt or mineral acid in the regeneration of the exchange medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Lehigh University
    Inventors: Arup K Sengupta, Surapol Padungthon, Michael German, Jinze Li
  • Patent number: 9724646
    Abstract: A separation membrane element includes a water collecting pipe, a separation membrane main body having a feed-side face and a permeate-side face, a feed-side channel material and permeate-side channel materials. The separation membrane main body, the feed-side channel material and the permeate-side channel materials are spirally wound around the water collecting tube. A plurality of the permeate-side channel materials are discontinuously provided on the permeate-side face of the separation membrane main body, along a first direction that is a longitudinal direction of the water collecting pipe. The feed-side channel material has a thickness of from 0.15 to 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okamoto, Masakazu Koiwa, Hiroyuki Yamada, Kentaro Takagi, Hiroho Hirozawa, Tsuyoshi Hamada, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 9725335
    Abstract: Techniques for reduction of copper from aqueous streams using an iron promoted activated alumina are disclosed. An adsorbent media composition that reduces copper levels in an aqueous feed stream includes an iron containing activated alumina. A process for reducing copper levels in an aqueous fluid using an iron promoted activated alumina sorption media includes contacting the aqueous fluid containing a copper contaminant with the iron promoted activated alumina to achieve reductions in copper from the aqueous fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: THE FRAZER AND CRUICKSHANK LIVING TRUST DATED 3/24/1982
    Inventors: Nancy S. Sherwood, Duane R. Steelman
  • Patent number: 9725342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing phosphine-based selective transition metal binding particles, said method comprising at least a step of reacting macroporous particles comprising at least one “NH” reactive function reacted with at least one molar equivalent of a phosphine derivative R—P(CH2OH)2, with a nucleophile reactive agent of formula NHRaRb, wherein NHRaRb comprises at least one “NH” function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: MAGPIE POLYMERS
    Inventors: Steven Van Zutphen, Vladica Bocokic
  • Patent number: 9708206
    Abstract: Techniques are described that relate to enhancing flocculation and dewatering of thick fine tailings, for example by reducing process oscillations. One example method includes dispersing a flocculant into thick fine tailings having a turbulent flow regime to produce turbulent flocculating tailings; subjecting the turbulent flocculating tailings to shear to build up flocs and increase yield stress, to produce a flocculated material having a non-turbulent flow regime; and shear conditioning the flocculated material to decrease the yield stress and produce conditioned flocculated tailings within a water release zone; and dewatering the conditioned flocculated tailings, for example by employing sub-aerial deposition. The thick fine tailings may have a Bingham Reynolds Number of at least 40,000 upon flocculant addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Bugg, Ana Sanchez, Adrian Revington, James Patrick Macaulay
  • Patent number: 9708198
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a container for removing antimicrobials from an antimicrobial composition includes a container body having an exterior and an interior. The interior is at least partially filled with carbon granules configured to remove a portion of the antimicrobials in the antimicrobial composition. The interior is further filled with a liquid to at least a level that completely submerges each of the carbon granules. The container further includes an agitator configured to agitate at least a portion of the carbon granules. The container further includes a drain and a drainage valve. The location of the drainage valve is configured to prevent the drainage valve from lowering a current level of the liquid below the level that completely submerges each of the carbon granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAFE FOODS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Justin Massey, Tim Yeaman
  • Patent number: 9707326
    Abstract: A mobile system for separating donor blood by gravitational force into erythrocyte concentrate and plasma. The system includes a first bag serving as a reservoir for the blood to be separated and at least a second and third bag for respectively receiving the erythrocyte concentrate and plasma, and also multiple tubes for connecting the flexible bags to a separator module having a separating membrane in the form of a bundle of hollow fibers. This system is divided into at least one first and one second sterilely packaged, individual subsystem. The first subsystem includes the individual bags and associated connection tubes and the second subsystem includes the separator module, and male/female connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Roland Müller, Bodo Von Harten