Utilizing Contact Surfaces Supporting Microorganism (e.g., Trickling Filter, Etc.) Patents (Class 210/615)
  • Patent number: 11919791
    Abstract: Disclosed are partial nitritation using a sequencing batch reaction tank with media inputted thereinto, and an apparatus and system for shortcut nitrogen removal using the same. According to one aspect of the present embodiment, a sequencing batch reaction tank operating apparatus and method capable of smoothly performing partial nitritation by adjusting the concentrations of free ammonia and free nitrous acid are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BKT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daehwan Rhu, Taeseok Oh
  • Patent number: 11845681
    Abstract: A completely biological method for removing a first group of micropollutants of pharmaceutical origin and a second group of micropollutants of pharmaceutical origin from raw wastewater includes: providing a first buffer tank upstream of a bioreactor; providing a moving bed membrane bioreactor (MB-MBR) for developing biomass growth both on a fixed support and in suspension in a form of flocs, and on mobile supports, the bioreactor obtaining an effluent with a COD concentration of organic matter of less than 50 mg l?1 and a total nitrogen concentration of less than 15 mg l?1; providing a biofiltration tank, separate from the first buffer tank of the bioreactor, that includes one or more biologically activated carbon (BAC) columns containing activated carbon; supplying the first buffer tank upstream of the bioreactor with raw wastewater containing micropollutants of pharmaceutical origin; pretreating the wastewater by passing the wastewater through a fine mesh sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: COCKERILL MAINTENANCE & INGENIERIE S.A., CENTRE BELGE D'ETUDE ET DE DOCUMENTATION DE L'EAU, EN ABREGE CEBEDEAU ASBL, LIST—LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Stephane Nonet, Christian Koehler, Alain Magis
  • Patent number: 11840467
    Abstract: A modular system for aeration and biosource augmentation of a body of water and a method of using the system to prevent or eliminate an algal bloom in a water body include one or more mechanical basins located outside the body of water and at least two of: one or more residence pods submerged in the body of water that aerate the body of water, dose beneficial biosource, host biosource, and provide biosource to the body of water; one or more residence air pods submerged in the body of water that aerate the body of water, host beneficial bacteria, and provide beneficial bacteria to the body of water; and one or more residence nano pods submerged in the body of water that host, the one or more residence pods or the one or more residence air pods in fluid communication with the one or more mechanical basins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rigero LLC
    Inventor: Richard Baum
  • Patent number: 11795081
    Abstract: This application relates to a system of treating wastewater wherein an oxygen infusion system is used to supersaturate wastewater before aerobic biological processes, wherein oxygen is transferred to the wastewater free of oxygen bubbles and achieves a reduction in power demand for the aeration process of wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PROSPER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Max MacKenzie, David Wade Campbell
  • Patent number: 11767542
    Abstract: Waste gas mixtures produced and used in industry may contain harmful sulphurous compounds. The present disclosure provides a method for treatment of gas mixtures contaminated with harmful sulphurous compounds by using microorganisms capable of degrading said harmful sulphurous compounds which involves controlling nitrate levels in the medium in which microbiological conversion of harmful sulphurous compounds takes place at high levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Bonno Koers
  • Patent number: 11731890
    Abstract: A septic system is provided that includes a septic tank having a plurality of compartments with a tank inlet in a first compartment. First and second vaults are positioned in a second compartment. The first vault receives fluid from the first compartment at a level near a fluid surface in the tank. A first flow inducer receives fluid from the first vault at a level near a bottom of the first vault, and releases fluid into the second compartment at a level near the fluid surface. The second vault receives fluid from the second compartment at a level near a bottom of the second vault and discharge fluid at a level near the fluid surface. Third and fourth vaults and a second flow inducer are positioned in a third compartment, the third vault receiving fluid from the second vault, and the fourth vault discharging fluid to a tank outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Todd Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11724951
    Abstract: A decentralized wastewater reuse design utilizing trickling filter (TF)-based aerobic bioreactors responds to the growing need for efficient energy usage per gallon of wastewater treated and/or pound of biological oxygen demand (BOD) removed from processed influent. A facility based on this design is able to adjust power consumption as needed due to external factors, such as utility rate scheduling, grid availability, and/or renewable power sources, without compromising effluent quality performance or increasing energy intensity. The facility improves on past TF applications by overcoming physical hydraulic constraints and expanding the capacity for both aerobic nitrification and anaerobic denitrification throughout the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Dana K. Ripley
  • Patent number: 11714348
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a pellicle frame from a photomask includes a heater configured to soften an adhesive between the pellicle frame and the photomask; a shower head including a plate, a central region of the plate is configured to overlap with a pattern area of the photomask, and a periphery region of the plate is configured to provide a flow from the periphery region of the plate toward the pellicle frame and the adhesive; and a gripper configured to secure the pellicle frame against the flow and remove the adhesive and the pellicle frame from the photomask. A method of removing a pellicle frame, includes providing a plate overlapped with a pattern area of the photomask; providing a flow from the plate toward the pellicle frame and an adhesive; securing the pellicle frame; soften the adhesive; and leveraging the pellicle frame to remove the adhesive and the pellicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Huang, Kun-Lung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11629082
    Abstract: An algae scrubber system operates via a flow of water and a power source. The algae scrubber system does not require a bubbler. The rate of flow of the water may be variable. The algae scrubber system includes a screen that is configured to be removed from the system without shutting off the flow of water through the system and without spilling the water. The system includes a main body with a water distributor providing water to a tray. A screen hangs from the tray to and grow light(s) encourage algae growth on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Joshua A. Johnson, Kyle James Robert Elder
  • Patent number: 11597671
    Abstract: Transportable wastewater treatment systems and wastewater treatment methods are provided, which employ a clarification unit to treat highly polluted wastewater (e.g., with BODs over 400 mg/l and up to 1500 mg/l) with a small footprint and without elaborate infrastructure or even without grid-based energy sources. The clarification unit comprises an anaerobic digestion unit configured to receive influent and reduce an organic load thereof to yield a first stream, an aerobic anoxic air lift reactor configured to treat the first stream and further reduce the organic load thereof to yield a second stream, and an aerobic unit configured to clarify the second stream and deliver effluent, the aerobic unit comprising a plurality of vertical sheets configured to support growth of algae on biofilm, a sprinkling system configured to sprinkle the second stream onto the vertical sheets, and an organic matter removal unit configured to collect organic mass falling off the vertical sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Laguna Innovation Ltd.
    Inventor: Amir Assa
  • Patent number: 11535545
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and process for the anaerobic and aerobic treatment of landfill wastewater, including landfill condensate, landfill leachate and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: McFadden Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Frank McFadden
  • Patent number: 11474103
    Abstract: Cell-based sensor devices, systems, and methods for the detection and identification of volatile compounds, and for the determination of the location of the source of the volatile compounds in an enclosed space are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KONIKU INC.
    Inventors: Winston Mann, Renaud Renault, Jean-Charles Neel, Michael Siani-Rose, Oshiorenoya Agabi
  • Patent number: 11406088
    Abstract: A water treatment system for a water reservoir comprises a collection box; a rotary drum filter arranged to receive gravity flow from the collection box through a receiving line; a primary bio-filter; a secondary bio-filter; one or more connecting lines originating at the rotary drum filter and comprising at least a first outlet line connected to the primary bio-filter and a second outlet line connected to the secondary bio-filter, the second outlet line comprising a pump; and a return line originating at the primary bio-filter and terminating at the water reservoir. The collection box has a bottom and sides defining an interior volume, and comprises a first water intake having a first riser; a second water intake having a second riser; and a third water intake having a third riser, each riser being disposed inside the interior volume and extend upwardly from the bottom of the collection box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Koi Acres LLC
    Inventor: Mike Swanson
  • Patent number: 11407664
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for biological treatment of carbon, nitrogen and optionally phosphorus in water, in a reactor system (1) comprising a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) (2) and a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) (3). The method comprises a step (10) of filling said SBR reactor (2) with water to be treated (5), a step (20) of anoxic/aerobic biological treatment in said reactor system (1) and a step (30) of discharging treated water (35) from said SBR reactor (2). The anoxic/aerobic biological treatment step (20) comprises: a biological treatment (210) under largely anoxic conditions in the SBR reactor (2), producing a first effluent (215), a biological treatment (220) under aerobic conditions in the MBBR reactor (3), producing a second effluent (225), and a continuous recirculation of the first and second effluents. The present invention also concerns a corresponding facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Romain Lemaire, Tristan Germain, Daniel Lamarre
  • Patent number: 11401187
    Abstract: Provided are: a water treatment method that includes at least a denitrification step for denitrifying water to be treated with a denitrifying bacterium in the presence of a hydrogen donor, wherein the denitrification activity of the denitrifying bacterium can be maintained at a high level and thus the treatment speed can be increased; and a water treatment apparatus. The water treatment method includes at least a denitrification step for passing water to be treated through a biological treatment tank and denitrifying the same with a heterotrophic denitrifying bacterium in the presence of a hydrogen donor, wherein: molybdenum is added to the water to be treated to give a concentration of 0.01-1.0 mgMo/gN; a carrier is added to the biological treatment tank; and the nitrogen load to the carrier is controlled to 1.6 kgN/(m3-carrier·d) or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Yui, Taichi Yamamoto, Masaki Miyake, Yoshiaki Hasebe
  • Patent number: 11392025
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a pellicle frame from a photomask includes a heater, a shower head, and a gripper. The heater is configured to soften a portion of an adhesive between the pellicle frame and the photomask. The shower head facing to the heater and configured to provide a flow from a patterned area of the photomask toward the pellicle frame and the adhesive. The gripper is configured to secure the pellicle frame against the flow and to remove the adhesive and the pellicle frame from the photomask. A method of removing a pellicle frame from a photomask includes providing a flow from a pattern area of the photomask toward the pellicle frame and an adhesive; securing the pellicle frame in a force-transmitting manner against the flow; soften at least a portion of the adhesive; and leveraging the pellicle frame to remove the adhesive and the pellicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Cheng Huang, Kun-Lung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11319230
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating municipal sewage by anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic (AOA) [1] process via simultaneous endogenous partial [2] denitrification coupled with anammox in anoxic zone is disclosed. The apparatus mainly includes a raw water tank (1) for sewage, an AOA reactor (2) and a sedimentation tank (3), the sludge flows back from the bottom of the sedimentation tank (3) to the anoxic zone (2.4) and the anaerobic zone (2.2) respectively, and biofilm filler is added to the anoxic zone (2.4). The sewage enters the AOA reactor (2), and the intracellular carbon source is stored in the anaerobic zone (2.2) to remove the organic matter in the raw water. Then it enters the aerobic zone (2.3) for nitrification, and the generated nitrate-nitrogen enters the anoxic zone (2.4) for endogenous partial denitrification. The filler in the anoxic zone (2.4) uses the generated nitrite-nitrogen by endogenous partial denitrification and the remaining ammonia-nitrogen in the raw water to perform anammox reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing University of Technology
    Inventors: Yongzhen Peng, Xinjie Gao, Zaizhou Xu, Xiyao Li, Qiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11299411
    Abstract: A bio-enhanced deodorization equipment includes a main body and a filler container in the main body. The filler container includes a wall and at least three perforated separator plates vertically arranged in the filler container. A plurality of spaces are formed by the at least three perforated separator plates, and a microbial filler and a carrier filler are accommodated in the spaces in an alternate manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Green Fields Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dan Wei, Zijun Tian, Huan Lu, Zhonghua Zhang, Tingting Zhao
  • Patent number: 11279639
    Abstract: A system to treat effluent in a septic tank includes filter sections having kerfs. A strainer removes solid debris from the filter for removal without allowing the solid debris to pass. An aerator includes an eight to twelve inch diameter pipe 4 to 6 feet tall matching tank invert height. The aerator has bottom inlet holes, each with an elbow on the outside with a vertical standpipe taking effluent from the clear zone, sending it through the aerator. Air inlet piping is attached to a “T” shaped air diffuser producing bubbles traveling upward through plastic media. Aerator height is field adjusted to approximately 2 inches below static water level. Holes in the upper sidewalls just below the top let air bubbles out sideways. At its top, the aerator has a slotted, sliding, anti-turbulation collar adjusted to be one to two inches above the static water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SCAT Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: John C. Baas, III
  • Patent number: 11242291
    Abstract: A brine waste management method comprising the utilization of brine waste as a growth medium for cultures of genetically modified halophiles acting as bio-refineries creating chemicals of value. Brine waste enters the method (101) to undergo compositional analysis (102), Pretreatment (104), and Inoculation (106). The compositional analysis (102) and the selection (103) of the chemicals of value influences the selection (103) of the halophile species to undergo modification (105), as well as the pretreatment (104) needed to encourage growth-production (107). Growth-production (107) is monitored and assisted until the extraction (108) of the chemicals of value and additional post-extraction (109) handling of excess brine waste exiting the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventor: Steven Andrew Borkowski
  • Patent number: 11136542
    Abstract: A perfusion bioreactor and a method for using the perfusion bioreactor for performing a continuous cell culture are disclosed. The perfusion bioreactor includes an outer vessel having a housing with a gas permeable membrane, an opening and a cavity; an inner vessel within the cavity; and a lid to cover the opening. A porous membrane within the cavity divides the cavity into inner and outer compartments. A fresh media port extends through the outer vessel or the at least one lid to receive a fresh media tube that has an end located in the inner compartment. A spent media port extends through the outer vessel or the at least one lid to receive a spent media tube that has an end located in the outer compartment. A mixer is within the inner compartment, and the porous membrane is attached to an opening within the inner vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Sumitava De, Yulong Hong, Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias, Shawn Michael O'Malley, Aravind Raghavan Rammohan, Po Ki Yuen
  • Patent number: 11104932
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining whether or not all of pythiums contained in a test sample are non-phytopathogenic. The method comprises: (a) putting the test sample on a front surface of a film comprising a through-hole having a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.785 square micrometers and not more than 7.065 square micrometers; (b) leaving the test sample at rest after the step (a); (c) observing a back surface of the film after the step (b); and (d) determining that all of the pythiums contained in the test sample are non-phytopathogenic, if pseudohyphae are not found on the back surface of the film in the step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Uriu
  • Patent number: 11091378
    Abstract: A method of reducing selenium contamination in a waste water stream is described herein. The method includes channeling a flue gas stream through an absorber, contacting the flue gas stream with an aqueous alkaline-based slurry, such that any selenium byproduct in the flue gas stream forms a selenium compound within the aqueous alkaline-based slurry, controlling oxidation of the selenium compound in the aqueous alkaline-based slurry, and adding a precipitation agent to the aqueous alkaline-based slurry to cause the selenium compound within the aqueous alkaline-based slurry to precipitate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Raymond Raulfs Gansley
  • Patent number: 10954147
    Abstract: There is described a system for the treatment of a wastewater in a pond or lagoon containing a volume of water. The system comprises at least one enclosure comprising growth media and/or substrate therein for growing bacteria and/or biomass. The at least one enclosure is configured in the pond or lagoon to receive a volume of wastewater flowing therethrough from the pond or lagoon over a treatment period, and is configured to treat substantially the entire volume of water flowing through the pond or lagoon over time. A plurality of growth media and/or substrate can be provided in a given enclosure. Different enclosures may comprise different growth media and substrate therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Marisol Labrecque
  • Patent number: 10913671
    Abstract: A microbiological culture apparatus of a wastewater treatment system includes a cage, a spacing device received in the cage, and a plurality of culture woods vertically received in the cage and positioned by the spacing device. The spacing device restricts the culture woods in an upright status and spaces them from each other to form a passageway between each two of the neighboring culture woods. Wastewater flows through the passageways to have low temperature and high dissolved oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kuan Yuan Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuang Yuan Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10682591
    Abstract: A method for forming a filter for passing contaminated water using elements that are made wholly or partly of degradable material. The increased area available for flow is obtained by providing a first media for which the increase in area for passing the contaminated water is desired, adding a second media comprising of a plurality of degradable elements, and allowing the elements of to degrade to bring about an increase in the area available for passing the contaminated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventors: Dipen M Patel, Rupal D Patel
  • Patent number: 10676376
    Abstract: Methods of modification of zero-valent iron (ZVI) to improve its performance in removing contaminants from a discharge stream. In some aspects, the methods include contacting ZVI-impregnated disks with solutions containing metal cations such as Ni2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, or Pd2+. In some aspects, a wastewater stream is treated with a metal cation solution, then passed over ZVI. Compositions for treating wastewater include ZVI that is modified with a metal cation solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ergang, Daniel E. Schwarz, Darlington Mlambo, Bruce A. Keiser, Hung Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 10669176
    Abstract: A system and method of treating wastewater. In one embodiment, the system comprises a biological reactor fluidly connected to a source of wastewater and having a treated wastewater outlet, a fixed film biological reactor connected to the source of wastewater and having a fixed film effluent outlet, and a ballasted system fluidly connected to the fixed film effluent outlet. The ballasted system may comprise a ballast reactor tank configured to provide a ballasted effluent, and a source of ballast material fluidly connected to an inlet of the ballast reactor tank. The system may further comprise a bypass line having an inlet fluidly connected to the source of wastewater, a first outlet fluidly connected to the ballasted system, and a second outlet fluidly connected to the fixed film biological reactor, the bypass line configured to bypass the fixed film biological reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Sergio Andres Pino-Jelcic
  • Patent number: 10526223
    Abstract: A method for producing a microbiologic agent is described. The method includes a step of adding biomass containing a target compound-degrading microorganism and an inorganic microparticle carrier to a medium containing a target compound. The microorganisms included in the biomass are carried on the inorganic microparticles, and the medium is cultured while monitoring an abundance ratio of the target compound-degrading microorganism in microorganisms carried on the inorganic microparticle carrier. After the abundance ratio of the target compound-degrading microorganism reaches a predetermined value, the inorganic microparticle carrier carrying the target compound-degrading microorganism is collected to obtain the microbiologic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakamura, Eiji Nitta, Hiroyuki Asako, Fumiyoshi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10245626
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a treatment system having a barium carbonate (BaCO3) dispersed alkaline substrate (BDAS) for use in the remediation or at least partial remediation of mine drainage (MD) and/or environmental media contaminated with a source of MD. The invention utilizes chemical, biological and combined treatment systems remove high concentrations of sulfates, hardness, heavy metals and N-compounds, that may exist in the MD as well as high concentrations of alkalinity produced during the remediation process. The invention further extends to a process for treating MD and/or environmental media contaminated with MD and to an apparatus for use in this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE
    Inventors: Esta Van Heerden, Julio Hernandez Castillo, Alba Gomez, Rohan Posthumus, Walter George Van Der Hoven
  • Patent number: 10243241
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery is provided that includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a microporous polymer separator soaked in an electrolyte solution, the microporous polymer separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a transition metal cation trap which is i) incorporated as a binder in any of the positive electrode or the negative electrode, ii) deposited onto a surface of any of the positive electrode or the negative electrode, iii) incorporated into the microporous polymer separator, iv) deposited onto a surface of the microporous polymer separator, or v) included as an additive in the electrolyte solution. The transition metal cation trap is a siderophore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Timothy J. Fuller, Zicheng Li, Mark W. Verbrugge
  • Patent number: 10125343
    Abstract: A rotational dual chamber bioreactor for cell culture in bi- and multi-layered scaffolds, in the context of tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine strategies is disclosed, which comprises at least two dual culture chambers, a multiposition magnetic stirrer plate, and at least two flow pumps coupled to a monitor device to register biochemical parameters such as pH, pO2, glucose and urea sensors and physical parameters like pressure. A central barrier, with a hole to insert the bilayer scaffold, is used to culture cells with different conditions in each compartment of the chamber, avoiding medium exchange. Each chamber can rotate 180° (horizontal), which is promoted by magnetic stirrers, the multiposition stirrer plate is adapted dimensionally to the culture plate dimensions and also allows 180° vertical rotation. Each dual chamber has detachable caps for the top and the bottom chambers, the top cap to compress the scaffold thereby providing compressive stimulus with torsion simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND CELL BASED TECHNOLOGIES AND THERAPIES—A4TEC
    Inventors: Raphael Faustino Canadas, Joaquim Miguel Antunes De Oliveira, Alexandra Margarida Pinto Marques, Rui Luis Goncalves Dos Reis
  • Patent number: 10100277
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel methods for expansion and passaging of cell aggregates comprising stem cells and/or differentiated cells and comprising the use of closed systems in stirred tank bioreactors. The methods of the invention permit closed system serial passage expansion of pluripotent stem cells and/or progeny thereof with associated pluripotency markers and differentiation potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Kenneth Roger Conway, Xiaohua Zhang
  • Patent number: 10017406
    Abstract: An upflow continuous backwash deep bed sand filter (UCBF) having a recycle line for returning carbonaceous denitrifying bacteria attached to biomass to the influent of the UCBF. The recycle line returns the biomass to the treatment process at a location upstream of the upflow continuous backwash filter. Further, a liquid level control unit is provided that reduces fluctuations and significant drop in the liquid level upstream of the upflow continuous backwash filter, thereby avoiding or minimizing flow turbulences, air induction, and undesirable wastewater aeration resulting in the need to dose excessive carbon source to remove dissolved oxygen in the aerated wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventors: John H. Reid, Wade Tanner
  • Patent number: 10000397
    Abstract: Described herein are attached growth reactor systems which increase nitrifying bacteria biomass through a variety of means during warm weather. As a consequence, the attached growth reactor system contains sufficient nitrifying bacteria biomass to remove ammonia from wastewater in cold to moderate climates. In one example, there are two attached growth reactors into which wastewater is distributed discontinuously. Specifically, wastewater is transferred to the first attached growth reactor for a first period of time and then is transferred to the second attached growth reactor for a second period of time during warm weather which effectively doubles the nitrifying bacteria biomass in the system. During cold weather, approximately half of the wastewater is applied to each reactor simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Hildebrand, Merle Kroeker
  • Patent number: 9944894
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel methods for expansion and passaging of cell aggregates comprising stem cells and/or differentiated cells and comprising the use of closed systems on rocking platform bioreactors. The methods of the invention permit closed system serial passage expansion of pluripotent stem cells and/or progeny thereof with associated pluripotency markers and differentiation potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Kenneth Roger Conway, Evelina Roxana Loghin, Xiaohua Zhang
  • Patent number: 9902636
    Abstract: A method for reducing recalcitrant chemical oxygen demand (COD) of a liquid in a water system is provided. The method comprises pretreating the liquid in a pretreatment unit (12) to remove indigenous bacteria or microbes to a population level below which the indigenous organisms can interfere with the screened and externally introduced microorganisms. The liquid is then provided to a reactor (20) that has a filter bed (22) formed with a carrier material (26). Special microbes are screened and used to colonize the carrier material (26) to remove recalcitrant COD. A biofilm is cultured on the surface of the carrier material (26) to immobilize the screened microbes in the reactor (20). The method further comprises adding a co-substrate as the liquid enters the reactor (20) and percolating the liquid through the filter bed (22) colonized with the screened microbes to degrade at least part of the recalcitrant COD under aerobic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sijing Wang, Lei Wang, Haiwu Zhang, Weiqing Xu, Ying Zhou
  • Patent number: 9751786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixed bed for aerobic or anaerobic wastewater purification, comprising an upper frame having support elements fixed to opposite side rails and/or intermediate rails for attaching textile, foldable, non-degradable supports for microorganism, a lower frame having support elements for fixing the textile supports to the lower frame, and means connecting the frames at a corner region. The invention is a fixed bed where all parts of the fixed bed can be assembled to form a relatively small packaging unit that already contains the inserted textiles. Frames are provided with spacers at least in the corner regions, the height of which spacers corresponds to the material height of the folded supports between two frames and the supports are fixed by means of the supports members to the side rails and/or intermediate rails of the frames in a preassembly step before folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: B+M TEXTIL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Edgar Schoberth
  • Patent number: 9681644
    Abstract: A process includes microbially degrading harvested polyculture plant material to form a concentrated microbial biomass and providing the concentrated microbial biomass to an intermediary animal for consumption. The process may also be directed to producing a product animal which includes providing a growth area having an outlet for waste and providing a harvested plant material collection area having an outlet for degradation products. The process may also include providing a microbial growth system for producing a bacterial biomass and directing at least some waste from the outlet of the product animal growth area to the harvested plant material collection area. The process may also include directing at least some degradation products to the microbial growth system, directing some of the microbial biomass produced in the microbial growth system to an intermediary animal for consumption, and directing the intermediary animal to a product animal growth area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Timberfish, LLC
    Inventor: Jere Northrop
  • Patent number: 9433903
    Abstract: A gas sparger for a filtering membrane system produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a relatively continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for can comprise a plurality of smaller units or areas. The supply of gas to the sparger may vary in flow rate over larger periods of time in response to changes in conditions in the membrane system to change the time between consecutive bursts of bubbles. A gas supply pipe may have two or more outlets at different elevations in communication with each of two or more units or areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ZENON TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ronald Cumin, Henry Behmann, Youngseck Hong, Reid Bayly, Zhaoyang Wan, Joseph Breitner
  • Patent number: 9193614
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sealed pressurized enclosure containing a sludge digester designed to receive wastewater from commercial establishments for the purpose of removing fats, oils and greases using the high velocity impact provided by the sludge digester. Air containing ozone is pumped through the sludge digester causing a flow of material so that the stream of material is directed onto a series of stationary concentric ridges wherein the solids in the liquid material are forcefully impacted against the stationary concentric ridges so as to break the solid particles up into smaller particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas R. McGuffin
  • Patent number: 9162909
    Abstract: Numerous different types of waste compositions generally in an aqueous environment are bio-remediated under aerobic conditions utilizing highly diverse and multiple microorganisms within a reactor. The process is carried out with the microorganisms attached or bound by a variety of different surface characteristics to packing substrates, located within the reactor, having high surface areas and high porosity in the form of small micropores. Multiple different types of substrates are generally utilized that efficiently dissolve air into the water, as well as to maximize the concentration and diversity of types of microorganisms. Reactors are utilized that desirably have tubes therein containing the multiple types of packings and microorganisms and contain at least one perforated chimney through which air can flow and optimize dissolving oxygen into the aqueous environment of the various bio-remediation stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: IMET CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mehmet A. Gencer, Kaan Gencer, Paul M. Zakriski
  • Patent number: 9138695
    Abstract: An apparatus for making high-oxygenated water includes an oxygen supply, an exchange tank, and a pressure tank. The oxygen supply respectively supplies pure oxygen to the exchange tank and the pressure tank. The pure oxygen is dissolved in water in the exchange tank in a normal pressure environment to obtain oxygenated water. A slow-down unit is provided in the exchange tank to extend the time of the pure oxygen staying in the exchange to raise the dissolved oxygen of the oxygenated water. Next, the oxygenated water is drained to the pressure tank, and then the pure oxygen is dissolved in the oxygenated water in the exchange tank in a high pressure environment to obtain high-oxygenated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Chien-An Chen
  • Publication number: 20150122731
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a wastewater treatment system may reduce contaminants in water. A system may include one or more bioreactors which include a substrate that supports a biofilm The bacteria used to form the biofilm may be selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. Various components of the wastewater treatment system may be optimized to improve the efficiency and energy consumption of the wastewater system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: R. Gavin Jones, Kenneth Wilson, Sabin Holland, Michael D. Rainone
  • Patent number: 9011679
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating water comprises a conduit assembly for receiving waste water from a downstream inlet and for providing treated water out of an upstream outlet. The conduit assembly comprises a plurality of substantially vertical conduits in fluid communication providing for water to flow in an alternating downward and upward pathway therein. A medium for providing bacterial growth being is mounted within the conduit assembly. The medium comprises a plurality of substrate surfaces stacked along the vertical length of at least one conduit. Each substrate surface extends along the width of the conduit and provides for bacterial growth thereon. The apparatus includes a housing defining at least one chamber for receiving the conduit assembly therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Martin Groleau
  • Publication number: 20150101981
    Abstract: An assembly for treating wastewater may include a vessel having an inlet configured to direct wastewater into the vessel and an outlet configured to direct treated water out of the vessel. The inlet and the outlet are generally disposed at opposite ends of the longitudinal dimension of the vessel such that the wastewater generally flows in the longitudinal direction. The assembly includes at least one panel removably inserted into the vessel. The at least one panel extends substantially across a width dimension of the vessel, wherein the width dimension is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension. The panel includes a biofilm-coated matrix that permits the flow of wastewater through the panel. The vessel and panel are sized and arranged such that the wastewater is exposed to the biofilm-coated matrix for a time sufficient to remove a desired metal from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Colin LENNOX
  • Patent number: 8999164
    Abstract: Process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: —feeding said aqueous stream containing the organic by-products of the reaction to a distillation column, obtaining two output streams: —an aqueous stream (i) exiting from the column head, enriched with alcohols having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and other optional volatile compounds; an aqueous stream (ii) exiting from the column bottom, enriched with organic acids having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; —subjecting said aqueous stream (ii) to an anaerobic biological treatment obtaining a purified aqueous stream (iii); wherein said anaerobic biological treatment is carried out with a hydraulic retention time lower than 15 hours, preferably ranging from 4 hours to 10 hours, more preferably ranging from 5 hours to 8 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuliana Franzosi, Pietro Cesti, Roberto Paglino, Lino Carnelli, Roberta Miglio
  • Patent number: 8999170
    Abstract: A biological wastewater treatment system includes an equalization tank for sending a defined first portion of the wastewater to a submerged membrane filter. When the quantity of the received wastewater exceeds the defined first portion, a second portion of wastewater, formed from the wastewater that exceeds the defined first portion, is sent to a filtration process. The filtration process includes adding a flocculating agent to the second portion entering filtration, filtering the second portion, thereby producing retentive waste including flocculated material, and then sending the retentive waste to the submerged membrane filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.å.r.l.
    Inventor: Dennis Livingston
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8980089
    Abstract: The present application relates to a high-rate anaerobic pool bioreactor (“BLAAT”) as an improved processing unit for treating biodegradable wastewater, which allows the conversion of a low-performance rate traditional system, such as the anaerobic pool, into an efficient, compact system that enables clean energy to be recovered in the from of biogas. The application also describes a process for the anaerobic treatment of wastewater that uses said bioreactor, which optimizes the processes of mixing and contact between the biomass and the substrate and presents a novel process for separating out the biomass by means of improved sedimentation in horizontal laminar flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Universidad del Valle
    Inventor: Miguel Ricardo Pena Varon