Patents by Inventor George Nakhla

George Nakhla has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240190742
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for treating a fluid that includes a particulate fraction and a soluble fraction, such as wastewater fluid including biosolids. The treatment includes biochemically transforming solids in the particulate fraction of the fluid in a biochemical process while simultaneously subjecting the fluid to a vacuum pressure, and evaporating off at least a portion of the soluble fraction of the fluid and thereby thickening a remaining portion of the fluid. A residence time of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be at least 25% greater than a residence time of the soluble fraction, for example. A solids content of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be in a range of from 2% to 99%, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: U.S. PEROXIDE, LLC
    Inventors: Domenico SANTORO, Tie MAO, John R. WALTON, George NAKHLA, Elsayed ELBESHBISHY, Eunkyung JANG
  • Publication number: 20240132387
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for treating a fluid that includes a particulate fraction and a soluble fraction, such as wastewater fluid including biosolids. The treatment includes biochemically transforming solids in the particulate fraction of the fluid in a biochemical process while simultaneously subjecting the fluid to a vacuum pressure, and evaporating off at least a portion of the soluble fraction of the fluid and thereby thickening a remaining portion of the fluid. A residence time of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be at least 25% greater than a residence time of the soluble fraction, for example. A solids content of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be in a range of from 2% to 99%, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: U.S. PEROXIDE, LLC
    Inventors: Domenico SANTORO, Tie MAO, John R. WALTON, George NAKHLA, Elsayed ELBESHBISHY, Eunkyung JANG
  • Publication number: 20220267183
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for treating a fluid that includes a particulate fraction and a soluble fraction, such as wastewater fluid including biosolids. The treatment includes biochemically transforming solids in the particulate fraction of the fluid in a biochemical process while simultaneously subjecting the fluid to a vacuum pressure, and evaporating off at least a portion of the soluble fraction of the fluid and thereby thickening a remaining portion of the fluid. A residence time of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be at least 25% greater than a residence time of the soluble fraction, for example. A solids content of the particulate fraction can be controlled to be in a range of from 2% to 99%, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: U.S. PEROXIDE, LLC
    Inventors: Domenico SANTORO, Tie MAO, John R. WALTON, George NAKHLA, Elsayed ELBESHBISHY, Eunkyung JANG
  • Publication number: 20200330902
    Abstract: A container-type apparatus for wastewater treatment with a suspended particle system, including one or multiple biological reaction zones. The biological reaction zones can be facultative, anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic and at least one of the biological reaction zones is a suspended particle system. Particles in the suspended particle system act as the carrier of microbiota and offer better conditions for them to grow. The apparatus adopts a box structure, such as a container type, which is convenient to move, flexible to assemble, and can be used multiple times. Based on actual requirements, this apparatus can also be a structure type. The suspended particle system can increase the concentration of microorganisms significantly, improve the ability to bear impact load, produce less sludge, and without sludge expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Jingxu ZHU, Haibin LI, Yuanyuan SHAO, Xiaobo WANG, Anqi LIU, Zengli ZHAO, George NAKHLA, Ming LI
  • Publication number: 20200140303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cage particle distribution system for wastewater treatment comprising contactors. Said contactors include shells and the interior of said shells is a hollow cavity. At least one of the side walls, the upper surface and the lower surface of said shells are equipped with through-holes. Particles are loaded inside said shells and said particles can carry some microorganisms on their surfaces at least. Said cage systems are placed in the water of a wastewater system or a wastewater treatment system and one or multiple said cage systems can be placed. Separate aeration and/or liquid distribution into each individual cage system disperse particles in the system by the gas and/or liquid, which improves the efficiency of wastewater treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Jingxu ZHU, Yuanyuan SHAO, Keying MA, Lin WANG, George NAKHLA
  • Publication number: 20180290901
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cage particle distribution system for wastewater treatment comprising contactors. Said contactors include shells and the interior of said shells is a hollow cavity. At least one of the side walls, the upper surface and the lower surface of said shells are equipped with through-holes. Particles are loaded inside said shells and said particles can carry some microorganisms on their surfaces at least. Said cage systems are placed in the water of a wastewater system or a wastewater treatment system and one or multiple said cage systems can be placed. Separate aeration and/or liquid distribution into each individual cage system disperse particles in the system by the gas and/or liquid, which improves the efficiency of wastewater treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Jingxu ZHU, Yuanyuan SHAO, Keying MA, Lin WANG, George NAKHLA
  • Publication number: 20180280907
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light particle system or a mixed particle system for wastewater treatment comprising a contactor. The contactor includes a gas-liquid-solid three-phase region, and the gas-liquid-solid three-phase region includes gas phase, liquid phase, and solid phase. The liquid phase is a continuous phase and the solid phase is light particles or mixed particles. The mixed particles include light particles and heavy particles. The density of the light particles is lower than the density of the liquid phase and the density of the heavy particles is higher than the density of the liquid phase. The light particles or mixed particles are able to carry some microorganisms on their surfaces at least. The light/mixed particle-suspension system in the present invention applied in wastewater treatment can increase the concentration of microorganisms significantly, improve the ability to bear impact load, produce less sludge, and without sludge expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jingxu ZHU, Yuanyuan SHAO, Keying MA, Lin WANG, George NAKHLA
  • Publication number: 20180280835
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a container-type apparatus for wastewater treatment with a suspended particle system, including one or multiple biological reaction zones. Said biological reaction zones can be facultative, anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic and at least one of said biological reaction zones is a suspended particle system. Particles in said suspended particle system act as the carrier of microbiota and offer better conditions for them to grow. The apparatus adopts a box structure, such as a container type, which is convenient to move, flexible to assemble, and can be used for multiple times. Based on actual requirements, this apparatus can also be a structure type. The suspended particle system disclosed herein applied in wastewater treatment can increase the concentration of microorganisms significantly, improve the ability to bear impact load, produce less sludge, and without sludge expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jingxu ZHU, Haibin LI, Yuanyuan SHAO, Xiaobo WANG, Anqi LIU, Zengli ZHAO, George NAKHLA, Ming LI
  • Publication number: 20180282185
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a slightly heavy particle system for wastewater treatment, comprising a contactor. Said contactor includes a gas-liquid-solid three-phase region, and said gas-liquid-solid three-phase region includes gas phase, liquid phase, and solid phase. Said liquid phase is the continuous phase and said solid phase is slightly heavy particles. Said slightly heavy particles are able to carry some microorganisms on their surfaces at least, and the density of said slightly heavy particles is higher than the density of said liquid. The slightly heavy particle system of the present disclosure applied in wastewater treatment can increase the concentration of microorganisms significantly, improve the ability to bear impact load, produce less sludge, and without sludge expansion. Meanwhile, the means to suspend slightly heavy particles with the combined effect of gas and liquid is able to reduce energy consumption to a larger extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jingxu ZHU, Haibin LI, Yuanyuan Shao, Xiaobo WANG, Anqi LIU, Zengli Zhao, George NAKHLA, Michael NELSON
  • Patent number: 7736513
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Jingxu Zhu, George Nakhla, Yubo Cui
  • Publication number: 20100133158
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
    Inventors: Jingxu Zhu, George Nakhla, Yubo Cui
  • Publication number: 20080053897
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jingxu Zhu, George Nakhla, Yubo Cui
  • Patent number: 7326343
    Abstract: A method and process for the treatment of wastewater containing phosphorous and nitrogen. The wastewater is first anaerobically treated to produce an anaerobic effluent from which insoluble organic carbon is separated to form a sludge rich in organic carbon that is used as a substrate during anoxic treatment of the wastewater by de-nitrifying phosphorous accumulating organisms (DPAO's) and ordinary de-nitrifying organisms. The separation of insoluble organic carbon is normally conducted using a clarifier located intermediate the anaerobic and anoxic bio-reactors. In one embodiment, the ammonia rich clarifier supernatant is directed to an aerobic reactor for nitrification and the nitrate produced is recycled to the anoxic bio-reactor. The final effluent may be membrane filtered to retain nitrifying biomass within the aerobic bio-reactor. The invention reduces overall hydraulic residence time and sludge volume, which results in a smaller, less expensive wastewater treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: University of Western Ontario Canada
    Inventors: George Nakhla, Jigneshkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 7261811
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in municipal wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: George Nakhla, Jingxu Zhu, Yubo Cui
  • Publication number: 20060249449
    Abstract: A method and process for the treatment of wastewater containing phosphorous and nitrogen. The wastewater is first anaerobically treated to produce an anaerobic effluent from which insoluble organic carbon is separated to form a sludge rich in organic carbon that is used as a substrate during anoxic treatment of the wastewater by de-nitrifying phosphorous accumulating organisms (DPAO's) and ordinary de-nitrifying organisms. The separation of insoluble organic carbon is normally conducted using a clarifier located intermediate the anaerobic and anoxic bio-reactors. In one embodiment, the ammonia rich clarifier supernatant is directed to an aerobic reactor for nitrification and the nitrate produced is recycled to the anoxic bio-reactor. The final effluent may be membrane filtered to retain nitrifying biomass within the aerobic bio-reactor. The invention reduces overall hydraulic residence time and sludge volume, which results in a smaller, less expensive wastewater treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: George Nakhla, Jigneshkumar Patel
  • Publication number: 20040178132
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in municipal wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: George Nakhla, Jingxu Zhu, Yubo Cui