Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for detecting and controlling the dosing and residual concentration of hard surface cleaners and rinse aids in an automotive parts washer. In particular, the methods and systems are particularly suitable for washing systems employed prior to exterior plastic part painting. The methods and systems comprise a UV meter, a controller, and a metering pump; wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the UV meter and the metering pump.

Abstract: A method of processing thin stillage in an ethanol refining operation is provided. The method comprises treating thin stillage upstream of a concentration or evaporation step with an aid comprising a sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, an ethoxylated sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, or a combination thereof, thereby forming treated thin stillage. The aid may include at least one of sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate.

Abstract: A material wetting system for wetting a powder material includes a liquid supply system, a material mixing unit, a material supply system, and a shroud assembly. The liquid supply system includes a supply line. The material mixing unit is in fluid communication with the supply line and includes a central cavity having an open upper end configured to receive a supply of powder material. The material mixing unit is configured to receive liquid from the supply line and is operatively connected to a reduced pressure source to draw air into the central cavity. The material supply system includes an orifice and is configured to feed powder material through the orifice, with the orifice disposed above the central cavity of the material mixing unit. The shroud assembly is disposed about the open upper end of the central cavity of the material mixing unit and the orifice of the material supply system.

Abstract: A hopper system for powder material includes a hopper and a cover. The hopper has hopper sidewalls that extend downward from an upper end of the hopper with at least one of the hopper sidewalls being sloped along a portion thereof. A hopper axis extends vertically between at least some of the hopper sidewalls. The cover is disposed at the upper end of the hopper and includes an opening configured for the powder material to flow therethrough and into the hopper. The opening defines a vertical material loading axis that is offset relative to the hopper axis. A diverter member may be provided that is positioned along the material loading axis and configured to divert the powder material entering through the opening. A powder material feed system may be disposed adjacent the lower end of the hopper to feed the powder material from the hopper.

Abstract: A hopper system for powder material includes a hopper and a cover. The hopper has hopper sidewalls that extend downward from an upper end of the hopper with at least one of the hopper sidewalls being sloped along a portion thereof. A hopper axis extends vertically between at least some of the hopper sidewalls. The cover is disposed at the upper end of the hopper and includes an opening configured for the powder material to flow therethrough and into the hopper. The opening defines a vertical material loading axis that is offset relative to the hopper axis. A diverter member may be provided that is positioned along the material loading axis and configured to divert the powder material entering through the opening. A powder material feed system may be disposed adjacent the lower end of the hopper to feed the powder material from the hopper.

Abstract: A material wetting system for wetting a powder material includes a liquid supply system, a material mixing unit, a material supply system, and a shroud assembly. The liquid supply system includes a supply line. The material mixing unit is in fluid communication with the supply line and includes a central cavity having an open upper end configured to receive a supply of powder material. The material mixing unit is configured to receive liquid from the supply line and is operatively connected to a reduced pressure source to draw air into the central cavity. The material supply system includes an orifice and is configured to feed powder material through the orifice, with the orifice disposed above the central cavity of the material mixing unit. The shroud assembly is disposed about the open upper end of the central cavity of the material mixing unit and the orifice of the material supply system.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for a composition and/or a method for treating impurities in a circulating water system. The circulating water system impurities may be oversprayed paint in paint spray booth applications. The composition includes an aqueous solution of a cationized starch, a polybasic aluminum salt such as aluminum chlorohydrate or polyaluminum chloride and a solution of a medium to high MW aqueous flocculant. The composition is particularly useful when added to recirculating scrubber water in paint spray booths for effectively treating both water based and solvent based paints.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to purge fluids, methods of using the purge fluids, and systems to be used for recycling the purge fluids. In some aspects, the purge fluid may be used to clean or purge an automated spray coating apparatus, such as a paint gun. The purge fluid may include a solvent and water. After the purge fluid is utilized for purging or cleaning certain system components, the purge fluid may be treated, subjected to a liquid-solid separation technique, and reused as a purge fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing the energy needed to process stillage in an ethanol refining operation. The method involves adding to stillage an effective amount of at least one processing aid. The flocculant induces the separation of insoluble material that would otherwise remain suspended in water but which impose a high shear energy cost on the refining processes. This allows for the removal of insoluble material that would otherwise be overlooked but which increase energy costs. This allows for more efficient and effective separation and recovery of insoluble fractions of the concentrated thin stillage that would otherwise be overlooked and lost in the process. Loss of these valued fractions as a result of traditional processing techniques and those requiring extensive additional energy input results in the loss of high value co-products to low revenue process streams.

Abstract: A method of processing thin stillage in an ethanol refining operation is provided. The method comprises treating thin stillage upstream of a concentration or evaporation step with an inverse emulsion comprising at least one anionic flocculant and an emulsifying agent selected from a sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, an ethoxylated sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, and combinations thereof, thereby forming treated thin stillage; clarifying the treated thin stillage via at least one of dissolved air flotation and induced air flotation, thereby forming clarified thin stillage and a float layer comprising oil and solids; separating the oil from the solids of the float layer; and recovering the oil.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for a composition and/or a method for treating impurities in a circulating water system. The circulating water system impurities may be oversprayed paint in paint spray booth applications. The composition includes an aqueous solution of a cationized starch, a polybasic aluminum salt such as aluminum. chlorohydrate or polyaluminum chloride and a solution of a medium to high MW aqueous flocculant. The composition is particularly useful when added to recirculating scrubber water in paint spray booths for effectively treating both water based and solvent based paints.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to purge fluids, methods of using the purge fluids, and systems to be used for recycling the purge fluids. In some aspects, the purge fluid may be used to clean or purge an automated spray coating apparatus, such as a paint gun. The purge fluid may include a solvent and water. After the purge fluid is utilized for purging or cleaning certain system components, the purge fluid may be treated, subjected to a liquid-solid separation technique, and reused as a purge fluid.

Abstract: The current invention relates to composition and method for treating impurities in a circulating water system. The circulating water system impurities may be oversprayed paint in paint spray booth applications. The composition includes an aqueous solution of a cationized starch, a polybasic aluminum salt such as aluminum chlorohydrate or polyaluminum chloride and a solution of a medium to high MW aqueous flocculent. The composition is particularly useful when added to recirculating scrubber water in paint spray booths for effectively treating both water based and solvent based paints.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of dewatering corn gluten stream wherein coagulant is add to the corn gluten stream of the corn wet milling process. The method of dewatering corn gluten uses an effective amount of a coagulant of one or more anionic polymers, the anionic polymers comprising one or more anionic monomers. The method further includes a process for separating the water from the gluten using a solids/liquids filtration device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing the energy needed to process stillage in an ethanol refining operation. The method involves adding to stillage an effective amount of at least one processing aid. The flocculant induces the separation of insoluble material that would otherwise remain suspended in water but which impose a high shear energy cost on the refining processes. This allows for the removal of insoluble material that would otherwise be overlooked but which increase energy costs. This allows for more efficient and effective separation and recovery of insoluble fractions of the concentrated thin stillage that would otherwise be overlooked and lost in the process. Loss of these valued fractions as a result of traditional processing techniques and those requiring extensive additional energy input results in the loss of high value co-products to low revenue process streams.

Abstract: The current invention relates to composition and method for treating impurities in a circulating water system. The circulating water system impurities may be oversprayed paint in paint spray booth applications. The composition includes an aqueous solution of a cationized starch, a polybasic aluminum salt such as aluminum chlorohydrate or polyaluminum chloride and a solution of a medium to high MW aqueous flocculent. The composition is particularly useful when added to recirculating scrubber water in paint spray booths for effectively treating both water based and solvent based paints.

Abstract: A method of dewatering corn stillage solids comprising adding to the solids an effective coagulating and flocculating amount of an anionic copolymer comprising acrylic acid sodium salt, methacrylic acid sodium salt or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt to form a mixture of water and coagulated and flocculated solids; and separating the water from the coagulated and flocculated solids using a dewatering device.

Abstract: A method dewatering thin stillage process streams generated in the processing of grain to ethanol comprising adding to the process streams an effective flocculating amount of an anionic copolymer comprising acrylic acid sodium salt, methacrylic acid sodium salt or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt to form a mixture of water and flocculated solids; and separating the water from the flocculated solids using a dewatering device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of dewatering corn gluten stream wherein coagulant is add to the corn gluten stream of the corn wet milling process. The method of dewatering corn gluten uses an effective amount of a coagulant of one or more anionic polymers, the anionic polymers comprising one or more anionic monomers. The method further includes a process for separating the water from the gluten using a solids/liquids filtration device.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for optimizing the dosage of a chemical waste water treatment agent using a fluorescent tracer by processing a sample of the waste water stream and allowing continuous on-stream monitoring of the performance of the chemical waste water treatment agent. The apparatus is comprised of a series of components that sample the waste stream, process the sample for analysis, analyze the sample, record the data in a historical database and, based upon the analysis as compared to historical data, adjust the chemical feed system to optimize the chemical waste water treatment agent according to the programmed optimization logic.