Including Adding Ancillary Growth Medium For Microorganism Patents (Class 210/610)
  • Patent number: 11685682
    Abstract: Methods and systems for removing pollutants from water include one or more filter systems and a hybrid wetland system. Hybrid wetland systems may include a first pipe transporting water from a body of water to a settling tank, a first constructed wetland connected to the settling tank via a second pipe, and a first filter system removing pollutants from water passing through the second pipe. A second filter system is positioned within the first wetland to further remove pollutants. The system also includes a second constructed wetland connected to the first constructed wetland via a third pipe and a water control chamber. Filtered water exiting the first constructed wetland flows through the water control chamber, through the third pipe, and into the second constructed wetland. A fourth pipe extends between the second constructed wetland and the body of water, returning filtered water to the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Ian L. Roback
  • Patent number: 11623193
    Abstract: Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spores container to store spores, a nutrient container to store nutrients, a water supply line, a syringe tank, a syringe pump, an adjustable valve, a heater, and a controller. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can cause the syringe pump and the adjustable valve to draw into the syringe tank a volume of spores, nutrients, and water to form a mixture. The controller causes the heater to heat the mixture for a period of time. In a dispensing phase of the system, the controller can cause the syringe pump to expel the mixture through the adjustable valve and into a water distribution system. The controller can direct the system through a number of other phases of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NCH Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Schuster, Dwayne A. Porter, Douglas C. Saunders, Jeffrey W. Siegrist, Thomas R. Bajek
  • Patent number: 11491522
    Abstract: The present subject matter illustrates a zero-valent metal suspension in non-aqueous phase. The suspension comprises 41 wt. % of a plurality of zero-valent iron particles; 0.1 wt % of a surfactant; 36 wt. % of an oil; and 23 wt. % of a thickening agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Sangho Bang, David F. Alden, Gary M. Birk, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Bor Jier Shiau
  • Patent number: 11471799
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filtration device for a liquid, including: at least two superimposed layers of filter media having weld lines creating strips between them, the layers of filter media having weld lines being superimposed such that the weld lines of one layer form, with the weld lines of the other layer, a mesh structure when viewed at an angle normal to the layers of filter media; a first external face and a second external face each being produced at least locally from a water-permeable material, the layers of filter media being positioned between the external faces; and an intake connector used for drawing liquid in through the filtration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Georges Maguin
  • Patent number: 11442192
    Abstract: Methods and systems for evaluating a distribution and recoverability of a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) or a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in fractured substrate are provided. Also provided are methods and systems for evaluating a distribution and recoverability of a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) or a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in other substrates, including a layered porous media substrate. Also provided are methods and systems for calibrations related to DNAPL transmissivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GEI Consultants, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Hawthorne, Lisa Allison Reyenga
  • Patent number: 11377379
    Abstract: Provided is a method of treating feed water comprising the step of passing the feed water through a biostratum that comprises resin beads and living microorganisms to produce biostratum-treated water, wherein (a) the area-normalized free void volume in the biostratum is 0.018 m3/m2 or less; (b) the packing density in the biostratum is 0.68 to 0.96; (c) the ratio of the exterior surface area of the resin beads to the total free void volume in the biostratum is less than 2.0 to 50 m2/L; (d) the velocity of the water through the biostratum is 1 to 1,500 biostratum volumes per hour; and (e) the Reynolds number of the flow through the biostratum is 0.10 to 3.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Guillem Gilabert Oriol, Marcus J. Slagt, Gerard Massons
  • Patent number: 11220445
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus are provided for recovery of dissolved species from wastewater streams, in the form of precipitates sized by elutriation. The processes may for example be controlled so that the recovered sized solids are in the form of relatively insoluble plant nutrients, such as struvite. The extracted nutrients may for example include solid species of phosphorus, and/or nitrogen, and/or potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: Sergey Lobanov
  • Patent number: 11220700
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing lipids and amino acids from a gaseous substrate comprising methane and oxygen. The process uses a culture of a methanotrophic microorganism in a liquid nutrient medium. The methanotrophic microorganism can be a Methylomicrobium bacterium and more specifically Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1. The lipid products can be in the cellular membrane of the methanotroph and can be extracted in a separate extraction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THROUGH ITS CENTER FOR COMMERCIALIZATION, ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Mary Elizabeth Lidstrom, Marina Georgievna Kalyuzhnaya, Derek Wayne Griffin, Nicholas Bourdakos, Philip Thomas Pienkos, Lieve Maria Louisa Laurens
  • Patent number: 11198840
    Abstract: Provided is an assembled bioreactor chamber comprising an upper end portion, at least one intermediate portion and a lower end portion for forming a chamber of the reactor chamber. The upper end portion and the lower end portion are respectively provided with an interface connected with a culture medium line, and the upper end portion and the intermediate portion, and the intermediate portion and the lower end portion are detachably connected in a sealed manner through a connecting mechanism; when the number of the intermediate portions is ?2, the adjacent intermediate portions are detachably connected in a sealed manner through a connecting mechanism; and the chamber also comprises a cell carrier for cell attachment growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Nanjing Recongene Biomedical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Xiao Meng
  • Patent number: 11185059
    Abstract: Provided is a purification method for water to be used for culture of an aquatic organism, wherein the method includes a nitrification step of oxidizing ammonia to nitric acid using a nitrifying bacterium adhering to a base material containing an alkaline earth metal, and a denitrification step of reducing nitric acid to nitrogen using a denitrifying bacterium adhering to a base material containing a biodegradable resin which has a structural unit derived from dicarboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawasaki, Jun Ogawa, Akinori Ando, Daisei Ando, Ryohei Yasutomi, Naoyuki Misaka
  • Patent number: 11168012
    Abstract: A method for achieving rapid startup of a denitrification biofilter tank, which belongs to the technical field of biofilm sewage treatment. The specific steps are: 1. selecting heterotrophic denitrification or mixotrophic denitrification to treat influent sewage; 2. when the heterotrophic denitrification is used, pretreating the filter material with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution and then adding rhamnolipid after the introduction of sewage until the biofilter tank system starts successfully; 3. when the mixotrophic denitrification method is used, the filter tank is inoculated after the introduction of sewage, and the rhamnolipid is added thereto and is changed to sulfur source after operation for a while until startup is complete. The invention solves the problem that the denitrification biofilter tank in the sewage treatment is particularly slow in the mixotrophic state, and has a good application prospect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hui Huang, Chong Peng, XuXiang Zhang, HongQiang Ren
  • Patent number: 11124437
    Abstract: A modular and mobile unpressurized bioreactor for removing nitrate from water, and methods and systems thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Tailwater Systems, LLC
    Inventor: John N. Skardon
  • Patent number: 11084017
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides device comprising a cylindrical reaction vessel having one or more permeable cylindrical membranes disposed therein separating the cylindrical reaction vessel into at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the one or more permeable cylindrical membranes are configured to permit first reactants from a first solution in the first portion or reactants from a second solution in the second portion to percolate or seep to a reaction zone proximate a surface of the one or more cylindrical membranes. A lifting device (mechanism) located above the first portion of the cylindrical reaction vessel configured to continuously draw a preform two-dimensional polymer tube formed by continuous reaction of the first and second reactants out from the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: 86 Solar Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Lazarev, Pavel I. Lazarev
  • Patent number: 10933381
    Abstract: The very purpose of an improved oil recovery or an enhanced oil recovery method is to mobilize oil from an oil-bearing formation as stable wet oil emulsion to an oil gathering center. Yet, the very purpose of the latter is to de-stabilize such a stable emulsion using a multitude of redundant oil-water separation steps and bulky equipment. Methods are herein provided for preparing a material for casting a flat-sheet, extruding a solid-fiber, and/or extruding a hollow-fiber utilizing an aqueous amine solution as an effective solvent to form a crystalline polymorph structure of the material. This material in the form of, for example, an effective and selective oil-wet membrane can be used to simultaneously de-mix oil and water phases from a wet oil emulsion, whether the emulsion is stable or instable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Mansour S. Bader
  • Patent number: 10782053
    Abstract: A fluid chiller includes a tubular coil enclosed within a vacuum housing which is partially filled with a coolant and an atmosphere with the vacuum housing connected to a vacuum source. A valve selectively connects the vacuum source to the vacuum housing to allow selective reduction of the pressure within the vacuum housing to obtain a reduction of temperature of the coolant therein. A conventional, compressor type refrigeration system may be connected to the vacuum housing for chilling the vacuum housing and the atmosphere and coolant therein to an initial temperature, prior to applying a vacuum to the vacuum housing for further temperature reduction. A fluid, which may be a secondary coolant, flows through the tubular coil at least partially immersed in the coolant to cool the secondary coolant. The secondary coolant is used to cool a heat load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: OTG, LLC
    Inventors: John Murray, Jon Saferstein
  • Patent number: 10717849
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions having lecithin and an organic acid and related methods. The disclosed compositions may also include one or more co-surfactants such as anionic surfactants and/or non-ionic surfactants, and may be used as a dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Shireen S. Baseeth, Teodora R. Tabuena-Salyers, Bruce R. Sebree
  • Patent number: 10645926
    Abstract: Described herein are compositions comprising an acidifier intermixed with an emulsifier and a co-surfactant that form stable microemulsions in water. Also described are methods of dispersing a compound in an aqueous solution using the compositions of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Shireen Baseeth, Bruce Sebree
  • Patent number: 10579951
    Abstract: A water agency management platform provides an exchange for administering groundwater extraction rights in one or more trading-zones. The platform matches offers to trade utilization of groundwater extraction rights (GWRs), and intermediates transfers of the matched GWRs based one or more transfer rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: IPQ PTY LTD
    Inventor: Thomas Henry Rooney
  • Patent number: 10556220
    Abstract: Provided are media cartridges that have adjustable bypasses, and systems and methods that use them. Aspects include an adjustable bypass filter cartridge where a treated stream and an adjusted non-treated stream combine prior to post-filtration and the percentage or ratio of treated the and the non-treated water is adjustable at the time of installation from the outside of the filter cartridge with a known or predictable level of bypass. Media cartridges comprise: an inlet in fluid communication with a feed chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with a mixing compartment; a media compartment containing a media; a bypass port in fluid communication with the feed chamber and the mixing compartment. Such cartridges can be adjusted to meet the needs of a wide variety of end uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald L. McGibbon, Laurence W. Bassett
  • Patent number: 10519054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier insert for accommodating and maintaining the biofilm culture of fluid cleaning structures, which contains a spatial web made of staple fibres using the hosiery method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Organica Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag
    Inventors: István Kenyeres, Robert Kovács
  • Patent number: 10494279
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the biological cleaning of wastewater in an activated-sludge plant including at least one activated-sludge tank, the method including: contacting, in the plant, the wastewater with activated sludge in the activated-sludge tank so as to clean the wastewater; and after the cleaning of the wastewater, separating, in the plant, the suspended activated sludge from the cleaned wastewater by sedimentation in a secondary clarification tank downstream of the activated-sludge tank or in the activated-sludge tank. The activated sludge suspended in the wastewater is admixed with growth bodies in the activated-sludge tank in order to contact the growth bodies with the microorganisms present in the activated sludge and to bring about formation of a biofilm of microorganisms on the growth bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ESSDE GMBH
    Inventor: Geert Nyhuis
  • Patent number: 10457962
    Abstract: Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Virerco AD, LLC
    Inventors: Surya Raja Pidaparti, Jeffrey Ray Zierdt, Joseph Philip Burke
  • Patent number: 10259733
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a laundry wastewater tank that temporarily stores laundry wastewater from a plant facility; a biological treatment tank in which the laundry wastewater from the laundry wastewater tank is aerated and mixed with activated sludge; a treated water tank that stores the treated laundry wastewater that has been biologically treated; and a treatment preparation supplying device that supplies a laundry wastewater biological treatment preparation to the biological treatment tank. The laundry wastewater biological treatment preparation is introduced when a change in water quality that deteriorates the biological treatment in the biological treatment tank is detected. Thus, biological treatment can be performed stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuji Nakajima, Naoki Ogawa, Kyoko Wada, Yuta Nakatsuchi, Atsushi Kinugasa
  • Patent number: 10179744
    Abstract: A method to remediate water includes preparing a microbial solution with microbes, a growth medium, and water; iteratively and selectively breeding generations of microbes to arrive at a predetermined microbial solution in a highly concentrated form of at least 1×109 cfu/ml (colony-forming units per milliliter); and dispensing the microbial solution into the water, wherein the microbes metabolizes excess nutrients and uses microbial desalination to reduce water salinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Cisbay Global Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh Le
  • Patent number: 10174283
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning a water dispenser by preparing a bioremediation solution with microbes, a growth medium, and water; injecting the bioremediation solution into a water supply; and flushing the water supply with the bioremediation solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Cisbay Global Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh Le
  • Patent number: 10160679
    Abstract: Wastewater is treated though primary treatment of the water by way of a micro-sieve to produce a primary effluent and primary sludge. There is secondary treatment of the primary effluent by way of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) or an integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor to produce a secondary effluent and a waste activated sludge. The micro-sieve may have openings of 250 microns or less, for example about 150 microns. In a process, a gas transfer membrane is immersed in water. Pressurized air flows into the gas transfer membrane. An exhaust gas is withdrawn from the gas transfer membrane and used to produce bubbles from an aerator immersed in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: BL Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien Cote, Steven Kristian Pedersen, Wajahat Hussain Syed, Jeffrey Gerard Peeters, Nicholas William H. Adams, Youngseck Hong, Geert-Henk Koops, James John Royston
  • Patent number: 10059613
    Abstract: At coal mining sites rain runoff can be laden with selenium, in the selenate form. The selenium-containing runoff water is caught in ponds. Remediation of the pond water to remove selenate, or remediation of other contaminated water with selenium or other contaminants, is performed by treatment with sulfur-modified iron (SMI) in a contact bed of an upflow reactor vessel. The contaminated water after pretreatment is pumped through the SMI reactor, where the SMI removes selenium and/or other contaminants from the water. For extending effectiveness and life of the SMI the contact bed is either periodically “fluffed” with a high-flowrate upflow of water or gas through the bed, or moved continuously through the column in a continuous medium filtration system. In either event, a gas inert to SMI, such as nitrogen, can be used in fluffing the SMI or lifting the SMI as a continuously moving medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventor: Peter F. Santina
  • Patent number: 10005684
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for in situ ground water remediation. The compositions comprise a colloidal biomatrix comprised of sorbent particles, such as zeolites, organoclays and activated carbon, dispersed in aqueous solution that are injectable into the permeable zones of an aquifer to be treated. Once deposited into the permeable zones of the aquifer, the groundwater concentrations of contaminants in those zones are depleted, thus increasing the rate of diffusion of contaminants of the less permeable zones. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used to treat any organic contaminants and provide rapid remediation of contaminated ground water by adsorption and biodegradation of such contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Regenesis Bioremediation Products
    Inventors: Scott B. Wilson, Benjamin V. Mork, Jeremy Birnstingl, Kristen A. Thoreson
  • Patent number: 9932275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating organic waste, which comprises the step of contacting an organic waste with one or more microorganisms from at least three of the following microorganism species: Bacillus sp. microorganisms, Pseudomonas sp. microorganisms, Bifidobacterium sp. microorganisms and Lactobacillus sp. microorganisms, the contacting being undertaken under conditions to at least partly convert the organic waste to organic fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Biomax Holdings PTE LTD
    Inventors: Chum Mok Puah, Eng Tong Sim, Siok Lui Chua
  • Patent number: 9890343
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a biofilter system (10) for removing H2S from a H2S contaminated energy production gas stream containing methane. The aqueous biofilter system comprises a biofilter (6) having biofilter support material constituting a biofilter bed supporting a humidified biofilm having microorganisms that are capable of oxidizing H2S. The process comprises the steps of contacting the H2S contaminated energy production gas stream with the microorganisms of the humidified biofilm, and oxidation of at least part of the H2S in the H2S contaminated energy production gas stream by the microorganisms, resulting in a H2S depleted energy production gas stream, wherein the process further comprises the step of adding an aqueous nitrate solution to the H2S contaminated energy production gas stream prior to being contacted with the microorganisms, enabling the microorganisms to oxidize the H2S under anoxic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: YARA INTERNATIONAL ASA
    Inventors: Marina Ettl, Wolfram Franke, Werner Van Borm
  • Patent number: 9828271
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modified activated sludge-based two-compartment treatment method for processing nitrate-contaminated drinking water. Raw water is firstly sent to a first TiO2-modified denitrifying activated sludge bioreactor (2), wherein organic carbon source is added in a controlled amount, and nitrate is partly reduced with nitrite being accumulated. Then, the effluent from the first bioreactor is sent to a second TiO2-modified denitrifying activated sludge bioreactor (3), wherein organic carbon source and hydrogen gas are supplemented, and remaining nitrate and accumulated nitrite are reduced to nitrogen gas. The denitrified effluent from the second bioreactor is sent to a settling tank (4), and TiO2-containing precipitates collected from the settling tank receive sequential alkaline and acidic treatment before being injected into the first bioreactor (2) for TiO2 recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Shenyang Institute Of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Bin Huang, Jianlin Li, Yi Shi, Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 9790114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of remi-neralization and correction of pH for water produced by a fuel cell (P) on board an aircraft, noteworthy in that it consists in diverting part of the water (E1) produced by the cell to at least one treatment tank (200) containing a saturation reagent and in mixing the flow of treated water (E2) issuing from the treatment tank (200) with the undiverted flow of water (E3) so as to obtain water (E5) with the desired mineralization and/or pH. The invention also relates to devices making it possible to implement said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: PRODOSE
    Inventors: Morou Boukari, Marc Auriol
  • Patent number: 9758402
    Abstract: Present invention relates to a method and apparatus for purification of water, said method comprises the steps of feeding the water into a reactor (4) through one or more inlet tubes (1) or inlet zones and feed water an substrate through carrier elements for bio film (5) which have a large protected surface (>200 m2/m3 carrier elements) and large pore volume (>60%), and that the carrier elements are fluidized for the removal of waste sludge, wherein the ratio of charge of the elements (5) by normal duty corresponds to an amount corresponding to 90%-100%, more preferred 92%-100%, and most preferred 92%-99% of the vet volume of the reactor (4), said carrier elements (5) is kept substantially at rest or hindered movement between the times surplus sludge is removed, and that the carrier elements being fluidised for removal of surplus sludge, said carrier elements (5) having a specific gravity in the area of 0.8-1.4, more preferred 0.90-1.1 and most preferred 0.93-0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: BioWater Technology AS
    Inventors: Thorbjorn Westrum, Terje Andersen, Jon G. Siljudalen, Bjorn Rusten
  • Patent number: 9611433
    Abstract: An improved separator for desalting petroleum crude oils which may be operated in a continuous manner under automatic control; the improved desalter is therefore well suited to modern refinery operation with minimal downtime. A portion of the emulsion layer is withdrawn from the desalter through external withdrawal ports according to the thickness and position of the emulsion layer with the selected withdrawal header(s) being controlled by sensors monitoring the position and thickness of the emulsion layer. The withdrawn emulsion layer can be routed as such or with the desalter water effluent to a settling tank or directly to another unit for separation and reprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Jose X. Simonetty, Brian D. Albert, Jennifer A. Gillett, Victor Alva, Theodore T. Trier, John R. Faber
  • Patent number: 9561977
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for decreasing the contents of metals, metalloids, nitrate and nitrite, respectively, in raw water flowing through a basin (1), whereby water containing either oxygen, oxygen-releasing substances, naturally occurring micro-organisms and/or substrates therefore is intermittently introduced to the basin (1) through horizontally arranged infiltration/extraction means (2) above and below the injection pipes of raw water, and by alternating the withdrawal and infiltration of conditioned water between the horizontal means so that essentially a vertical flow of water is created between these means, thereby creating a reaction zone for purification of raw water before it reaches the central extraction well. The water to be purified is fed into the basin by horizontally arranged feeding pipes (5) and the extraction of purified water from said at least one extraction well (3) is such that a substantially negative pressure is created around said at least one extraction well (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: 2Alfa Hydrotech AB
    Inventor: Rolf O. Hallberg
  • Patent number: 9522369
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions having lecithin and an organic acid and related methods. The disclosed compositions may also include one or more co-surfactants such as anionic surfactants and/or non-ionic surfactants, and may be used as a dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
    Inventors: Shireen S. Baseeth, Teodora R. Tabuena-Salyers, Bruce R. Sebree
  • Patent number: 9517442
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions having lecithin and an organic acid and related methods. The disclosed compositions may also include one or more co-surfactants such as anionic surfactants and/or non-ionic surfactants, and may be used as a dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
    Inventors: Shireen S. Baseeth, Teodora R. Tabuena-Salyers, Bruce R. Sebree
  • Patent number: 9458423
    Abstract: Provided are: a capsule for non-ferrous metal collection that can collect a non-ferrous metal; and a method for collecting a non-ferrous metal using same. The capsule for non-ferrous metal collection comprises capsule contents and a covering section covering the capsule contents, and collects a non-ferrous metal within the capsule for non-ferrous metal collection by means of the capsule for non-ferrous metal collection being immersed in a solution containing a non-ferrous metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: MORISHITA JINTAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Konishi, Koshiro Tamaoki, Ryosei Kamaguchi, Daisuke Tagawa, Taku Hashimoto, Masaaki Nakatsuji
  • Patent number: 9333542
    Abstract: A method for treating LNAPL source zones using a cost effective LNAPL source zone technology to degrade residual LNAPL, by introducing bioremediation amendments comprising nutritional supplements in quantities, locations, and depths required to stimulate and sustain the anaerobic biodegradation of an LNAPL source zone; monitoring the LNAPL source zone for adverse conditions that decrease anaerobic LNAPL biodegradation; eliminating any identified adverse conditions to sustain LNAPL biodegradation; and maintaining the water with nutritional supplements in quantities, locations, and depths required to stimulate and sustain the anaerobic biodegradation of LNAPL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Parsons Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn Ulrich
  • Patent number: 9266761
    Abstract: An anaerobic lagoon wastewater treatment system has a flow-splitter tank for accurately dividing a flow of raw, untreated wastewater. The system is designed as an earthen basin or as a tank and includes at least one partitioning element for providing two connected wastewater treatment zones. The first wastewater treatment zone in the direction of wastewater flow has a larger volume and is more efficient in the removal of biological oxygen demand (BOD) than the second wastewater treatment zone. The flow-splitter tank divides the incoming wastewater flow into two streams, which are conducted to the first and second wastewater treatment zones, respectively. A predetermined ratio of carbon to nitrogen is maintained within an effluent pumped from the second wastewater treatment zone by adjusting the relative amount of raw wastewater added directly to the second wastewater treatment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: John H. Reid
  • Patent number: 9206059
    Abstract: An installation and a method for removing dissolved biodegradable compounds as a biological treatment step upstream of an equipment to be protected from biofouling being part of a ground water, surface water or tertiary wastewater treatment line, wherein said upstream biological treatment step is carried out in at least one packed bed bioreactor comprising a vessel or a tank filled with packing elements, characterized in that: iv) said packing elements of said packed bed show a void fraction of at least 70% and the flow velocity of water through said packed bed bioreactor is at least 20 m/h, so that said packed bed does not have a removal efficiency of suspended solids in water, if any, of more than 30%; v) said packing elements of said packed bed show a specific surface area of at least 750 m2/m3; vi) said process does not require the use of any biocide or biostatic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Harry Brouwer, Erich Wittmann
  • Patent number: 9163208
    Abstract: Novel bioreactor systems, adapted to provide continuous batch incubation of microbes, especially bacteria, are provided. Bioreactor bags are preloaded with inert microbes prior to being shipped to the user. The inert microbes may be substantially dry or in other inert forms, and are stored in soluble containers within the bioreactor bags. Multiple sterile, preloaded, disposable bioreactor bags are used in a self-contained housing. The bags are automatically incubated in the housing and dispensed, preferably into an irrigation system. The system provides serial batch production of useful microbes for a week or more, without further supervision or intervention. Methods of manufacture, methods of use, methods of sales, and methods of farming are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: Larry Runyon
  • Patent number: 9162910
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system includes a fluid source, at least one anaerobic reactor vessel, and at least one aerobic reactor vessel. The anaerobic reactor vessel contains retaining a set of retaining structures that are at least partially coated with an anaerobic biofilm. The aerobic reactor vessel contains an aerobic biofilm. When fluid from the fluid source is exposed to the anaerobic biofilm, the anaerobic biofilm removes one or more metal substances from the fluid. When the fluid is exposed to the aerobic biofilm, the aerobic biofilm may cause organic materials in the fluid to metabolize. The system also may include a precipitation reactor that separates divalent metals from the fluid, a settling facility that forms a slurry comprising separated metals, and a neutralization reactor that modifies the fluid to a substantially neutral pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ALLEGHENY-SINGER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: James Christopher Post, Randy Hiebert, Robert Hyatt
  • Patent number: 9133043
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biological treatment method of biologically treating the subject water containing phenol, thiocyanate and the like, which improves the quality of treated water, while suppressing a reduction in treatment efficiency. As a means for achieving the aforementioned object, the present invention relates to a biological treatment method including introducing subject water containing a COD component, wherein the COD component is at least one of phenol and thiocyanate, into a biological treatment tank containing sludge containing bacteria capable of decomposing the COD component to thereby biologically treat the COD component with the bacteria, wherein, before the introduction of the subject water into the biological treatment tank, a step of counting the total number of bacteria contained in the sludge is carried out, so that the amount of the COD component loaded on a single bacterium per unit time can be controlled within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: Kansai Coke and Chemicals Co., Ltd., Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Matsuoka, Masanori Inukai, Hironobu Inamasu, Tetsuo Yamashita, Akira Akashi
  • Patent number: 9126855
    Abstract: The invention discloses systems and methods for producing a gas stream containing ozone and a “carrier” or sweep gas that has an oxygen concentration that is below a predetermined percentage for treatment of organic waste feed stocks in an anaerobic digester. In one embodiment, ozone and unreacted oxygen from an ozone generator are delivered to a pressure swing adsorption cycle, wherein the ozone is adsorbed onto a sieve and the excess oxygen is removed from the cycle. The sweep gas, which has a limited oxygen concentration, is then used to desorb the ozone from the pressure swing adsorption cycle and deliver the ozone to an anaerobic digester, where the ozone is used to treat the feed stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Annemarie Ott Weist, Vipul P. Dholakia, Neil Hannay
  • Patent number: 9039897
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Peter George Stroot
  • Publication number: 20150122730
    Abstract: Methods for seating water and gulp used in a paper or cardboard manufacturing process. Oxygen and nutrients are added to the water or pulp to increase the activity of aerobic bacteria resulting in a reduction of organic substances such as fatty acids. Alternatively oxygen alone is added to the water or pulp to reduce all both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Luminita Claudia Schmid, Joost van de Ven
  • Publication number: 20150108066
    Abstract: A denitrification biofilter device, including: a regulating pool, a reactor body, a water tank, a first doser, a second doser, a backwash pump, a water inlet pump, and a blower. The regulating pool includes a raw water inlet and a water outlet. The reactor body includes a uniform water distributor, a filler layer, a buffer layer, a filter layer, a supporting layer, a filler supporting plate, a backwash water outlet, a treated water outlet, and a backwash water inlet. The treated water outlet and the backwash water inlet are disposed at the bottom of the reactor body and are connected to the water tank via pipes. The filler layer is filled with zeolites having a grain size of between 4 and 8 mm, a density of between 1.9 and 2.6 g/cm3, a porosity greater or equal to 48%, and a specific surface area of between 570 and 670 m2/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Hongqiang REN, Haidong HU, Jinju GENG, Ke XU
  • Publication number: 20150108067
    Abstract: A treatment process for municipal, commercial, industrial, and institutional fluids containing one or more substances at a first concentration includes a contactor, an aerator, and a separator. The fluid is mixed with a powdered natural lignocellulosic material (“PNLM”), a microbial growth inoculum, and at least a portion of the fluid in the contactor to provide a mixture that includes an established, acclimated microbial growth in the fluid. The mixture is introduced to an aerator where physical binding and chemical bonding of at least some of the one or more substances to the PNLM additionally physiological uptake by microbial growth in a biosludge reduces the concentration of at least some of the one or more substances in the fluid discharged from the aerator to a second concentration. The biosludge is separated to recover at least a portion of the PNLM that is recycled to the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Jason Calhoun
  • Patent number: 8992776
    Abstract: A system of treating high nitrogen content waste water is disclosed, where the system includes a precipitation and conditioning subsystem, an ammonia stripper subsystem, and a denitrification subsystem. The system is adapted to reduce nitrogen contamination to level below about 10 ppm and in certain embodiments below 3 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Randy A. Galgon, Allen Ray Stickney, Richard B. Steinberg