Patents Examined by Chester Barry
  • Patent number: 9487419
    Abstract: A method for treating acid mine drainage includes mixing acid mine drainage (20) and alkaline tailings from a gold recovery process (140). The acid mine drainage is thereby neutralized (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MINTAILS MINING S A (PTY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jan Hendrik Phillipus Jacobs, Robert George Freeman
  • Patent number: 9475714
    Abstract: A method of treating wastewater in a wastewater treatment system is disclosed. The wastewater treatment system receives an influent of the wastewater and having at least a first bioreactor and a second bioreactor each having therein bacteria for treating the waste material. The method comprises: monitoring a load parameter being indicative of a load on the second bioreactor; responsively to a monitored value of the load parameter, controlling at least one flow rate selected from the group consisting of (i) a flow rate from the influent to the second bioreactor through the first bioreactor, and (ii) a flow rate from the influent directly to the second bioreactor, so as to maintain a generally constant and predetermined load on the second bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Biological Petroleum Cleaning Ltd.
    Inventors: David Amir, Amir Kleinstern, Gili Bittan-Banin
  • Patent number: 9463991
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of water with a gas or nutrient infused liquid. One embodiment delivers an oxidized water supply to a wastewater digester medium by means of pure oxygen introduced to the water supply via a pressure vessel or other means to infuse the liquid. This oxygen infused liquid is delivered to the medium to be treated at a critically controlled depth via a surface float delivery system. The invention involves delivering the oxygen infused liquid via nozzles which are located strategically in the supernatant allowing an extended oxygen-water interface time without over oxidizing the sludge blanket below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Dennis Lapin, Brad McMahen
  • Patent number: 9463455
    Abstract: Methods and systems for acid regeneration of ion exchange resins are disclosed. Acid resins designed for use in a variety of cleaning application using a water source use a treated, softened, acidic water source according to the invention. Various methods of using the softened acidic water generated by acid regenerate-able ion exchange resins are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence P. Everson, Li Wen, Lylien Tan, Peter Voss, Mark Toetschinger
  • Patent number: 9457295
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating mine tailings from water-absorbing polymers and regenerating the separated water-absorbing polymers. The systems and methods include a separation assembly that is configured to receive an augmented mine tailings slurry that includes mine tailings, water, and a swollen water-absorbing polymer. The separation assembly separates the swollen water-absorbing polymer from the augmented mine tailings slurry to produce a dewatered mine tailings slurry. The systems and methods further include a water-absorbing polymer regeneration unit that is configured to receive the swollen water-absorbing polymer. The water-absorbing polymer regeneration unit at least partially releases water from the swollen water-absorbing polymer to produce a regenerated water-absorbing polymer, and as a separate output or product, the released water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Paul L. Tanaka, Aaron Ortiz Gomez, Babak A. Jajuee, Chien-Chiang Chen, Robert D. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 9458040
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Soane Mining, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Berg, John H. Dise, Robert P. Mahoney, Kevin T. Petersen, David S. Soane, Kristoffer K. Stokes, William Ware, Jr., Atul C. Thakrar
  • Patent number: 9446328
    Abstract: Described herein is a liquid filtration device is disclosed comprising a fluid conduit fluidly connecting a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet; and a water filtration medium disposed in the fluid conduit; the water filter medium comprising a metal-containing particulate, wherein the metal-containing particulate comprises a thermolysis product of a metal salt wherein the salt is selected from nitrogen-containing oxyanions, sulfur-containing anions, chlorides, phosphates, and combinations thereof; and methods of removing chloramines from aqueous solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark R. Stouffer, Meredith McMurdo Doyle, Allen R. Siedle, Thomas E. Wood
  • Patent number: 9434627
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for selectively binding and separating phosphate anions from a liquid medium by providing a cross-linked molecularly imprinted polymer including cross-linked chitosan having selective binding affinity for phosphate ions, phosphate containing molecules, or a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Tracy J. Terry, Andrew F. Mason, Carl A. Marrese
  • Patent number: 9427706
    Abstract: Overburden from surface coal mining in many regions can produce a rain runoff laden with selenium, in the selenate form. This occurs from rainwater leaching through exposed selenium-containing rocks in the overburden. The selenium-containing runoff water is caught in ponds. Remediation of the pond water to remove selenate is performed by treatment with sulfur-modified iron (SMI) in a contact bed of an upflow reactor vessel. The pond water after pretreatment is pumped through the SMI reactor, and can then be run through an oxidation tank and filtered to remove iron. For extending effectiveness and life of the SMI the contact bed is either periodically “fluffed” with a high-velocity upflow of water through the bed, or moved continuously through the column in a continuous medium filtration system. A biocide can be added to runoff water prior to the contact bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Peter F. Santina
  • Patent number: 9422175
    Abstract: The water treatment system, particularly pre-filtration unit of the water treatment system, comprising at least one chlorine sensor device, is characterized in that the water treatment system contains a salt-water treatment device which is connected to the chlorine sensor device, an electrolysis cell being disposed in the associated line, and thereafter a pump and a release valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Manfred Volker
  • Patent number: 9422178
    Abstract: The systems and methods described provide for reducing sludge generation, and thus sludge wasting and handling, by including an anaerobic completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) as a bioreactor in a side-stream. The CSTR provides a significant simplification of side-stream treatment design, enhanced sludge minimization, and enhanced removal of nitrogen and phosphorous without the need to add organic carbon. The described systems and methods provide generation of biogas including both hydrogen and methane from the activated sludge system. The described systems and methods avoid complex reactor designs for nutrient removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
    Inventors: Chul Park, Dong-Hyun Chon
  • Patent number: 9415342
    Abstract: A system for depressurizing a molecular sieve used in ethanol production is provided. The ethanol production system includes a plurality of on-line molecular sieve bottles for removing water from ethanol production. When the molecular sieve bottle becomes saturated with water it is taken off-line to depressurize it. The depressurization and removal of water is done from the product discharge end resulting in an approximately 5% to 10% reduction in external energy required to run the ethanol production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTEGROENERGY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Sonnek, Gregory W. Loest
  • Patent number: 9409144
    Abstract: A cation adsorbent of an embodiment includes tungsten oxide particles having a BET specific surface area in a range of 0.82 m2/g or more and 820 m2/g or less. The cation adsorbent is added to a solution to be treated containing cations being recovery objects, and the cation adsorbent adsorbing the cations is precipitated. The generated precipitate is separated from the solution to recover the cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Sato, Daisuke Fukushi, Takao Kusaka, Kayo Nakano, Yukiko Inui, Akito Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9409803
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems of improving sludge removal and maintaining effluent quality. The methods include directing an incoming wastewater stream to a treatment facility, the steam having a flow of at least 20,000 gallons per day; the incoming wastewater stream having at least 50 mg/L solids and 100 mg/L BOD; removing solids and BOD from the incoming wastewater stream in the treatment facility to provide a final effluent stream; the final effluent stream having less than 10% of the solids of the wastewater stream and less than 10% of the BOD of the wastewater stream; the removal of solids and BOD yielding less than about 0.25 pounds of secondary sludge per pound of BOD removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Whiteman
  • Patent number: 9403695
    Abstract: Described herein is a filtration medium comprising a carbon substrate having a surface of COxEy, wherein E is selected from at least one of S, Se, and Te; and wherein x is no more than 0.1 and y is 0.005 to 0.3; a filtration device comprising the filtration medium; and methods of removing chloramines from aqueous solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Allen R. Siedle, Mark R. Stouffer
  • Patent number: 9403705
    Abstract: In a water treatment method and an apparatus therefor, after an anionic polymer flocculant is added to water to be treated, granulation is performed by stirring, and solid-liquid separation is then performed to obtain treated water, and flocs which are not disintegrated by a shearing force during stirring and have a preferable settling property can be formed, so that the quality of treated water is also improved. Particularly, a water treatment method includes a flocculating step of adding an anionic polymer flocculant to water to be treated to form flocculated flocs, a subsequent granulating step of stirring the water to be treated to granulate the flocculated flocs, and a solid-liquid separation step of performing solid-liquid separation of generated granulated substances, wherein a cationic polymer flocculant having a cationic group rate of 10 to 50 mole % is added to the water to be treated before the anionic polymer flocculant is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimizu, Mitsuharu Terashima
  • Patent number: 9403706
    Abstract: A composition for the treatment of water comprising a treating component and a support wherein the treating component is a liquid organic compound, and the support is a solid organic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Marine Easy-Clean Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Peter Morgan
  • Patent number: 9394185
    Abstract: A method of remediating a water-based fluid includes the steps of providing a container providing a fluid cavity and organic, inorganic and biological remediation media within the cavity. The container is tubular and provides a linear flow direction, organic, inorganic and biological remediation media arranged in the cavity and configured to permit a water-based fluid within the cavity to simultaneously flow through the media. The organic, the inorganic and the biological remediation media are respectively configured to remove organic, inorganic and microbiological constituents. The organic, inorganic and biological remediation media are arranged within the cavity along the linear flow direction. Multiple cartridges are arranged within the cavity and spaced apart from one another. A predetermined flow rate of the water-based fluid through the cavity is set and it concurrently removes organic, inorganic and iodine-based biocide contaminants from the fluid within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND SPACE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Tony Rector, John W. Steele
  • Patent number: 9387471
    Abstract: Methods and systems for employing softened acidified water sources from an acid regenerated ion exchange resins are disclosed. Various methods of dispensing and/or using the softened acidic water generated by an acid regenerate-able ion exchange resin are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, including water conditioning agents, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence P. Everson, Li Wen, Lylien Tan, Peter Voss, Mark Toetschinger, Terry J. Klos, Mark Dennis Levitt, Sara Treder, Toyin Alowonle
  • Patent number: 9388061
    Abstract: A metalloid contaminated liquid water solution purification process providing decrease to safe human consumption-rated levels of metalloid concentration therein, by precipitation without oxidation and without liquid water heating. The process comprises the following steps: injecting a ferric iron coagulant; injection of lime in the liquid solution; precipitating the metalloid; separating the resulting slurry between a liquid and a solid phase, wherein a clarified water solution is obtained; wherein the liquid phase of the solution is economically reclaimed, while the solid phase slurry is disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventor: Marc Laliberte