And Additional Treating Agent Other Than Mere Mechanical Manipulation (e.g., Chemical, Sorption, Etc.) Patents (Class 210/631)
  • Patent number: 7850848
    Abstract: A self-sustaining wastewater treatment facility abates greenhouse gas abatement, captures CO2 and produces biomass to address multiple critical environmental needs. The facility includes an array of rotating media wheels that create an optimum ordered mixing of algae for sustained growth. Biomass harvested from the rotating media wheels may be provided to other processing facilities to produce, for instance, bio-fuels. Waste CO2 from the processing facility may also be returned to the treatment system for enhanced algae growth. Bacteria are provided to form a symbiotic relationship with the algae, fueled by sunlight to effectively remove toxic materials from the wastewater. The multi-functional facility may also be integrated into a regenerative facility in which the biomass obtained from the algal and bacterial colonies is used in a separate facility and byproducts of the operation of the separate facility are used by the multi-functional facility to fuel further algal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher A. Limcaco
  • Patent number: 7842186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating wastewater containing phosphorus and/or nitrogen for removing phosphorus and/or nitrogen from the wastewater, including following steps of: (a) introducing wastewater containing phosphorus and/or nitrogen into a an anaerobic reactor, treating the introduced wastewater with anaerobic microorganisms, to produce biogas from organic matters in the wastewater, and then discharging the treated wastewater saturated with carbon dioxide under carbon dioxide partial pressure of 0.2 to 0.5 atm; and (b) injecting the treated wastewater of step (a) into a carbon dioxide stripping apparatus wherein the wastewater is free-fallen to expose the wastewater to ambient condition with carbon dioxide partial pressure of less than 0.001 atm so that carbon dioxide stripping takes place and increase in pH occurs without addition of alkaline substance, and then providing proper pH of 8.4 to 9.6 to form struvite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Entechs Co.
    Inventors: In Chung, Chi-Don Sung
  • Patent number: 7833418
    Abstract: A mechanical and biological filter system where in use water entering into a housing first contacts the mechanical filter covering access to the biological filter. As the water travels through the mechanical filter before reaching the biological filter, the water has been processed and cleaned by the mechanical filter, preventing the mechanically filtered elements from being disposed on the biological filters, to improve the reliability of the biological filter. The filtering of the water first through the mechanical filter provides for maximum use of the surface area of the biological filter for their intended purposes of fostering beneficial bacteria growth. The two stages of filtered water ultimately exits out of the housing through a housing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Rick C. Warren
  • Patent number: 7833416
    Abstract: A method for removing hydrocarbons from a body of water using an agitating, sucking, microbe and expelling boom is described herein. The method can include attaching the boom to a vessel and disposing the boom in the water. The method can include flowing air into a tubular of the boom to agitate material on the bed. A vacuum pressure can be provided to another tubular of the boom to flow the material to a separator. The separator can separate the hydrocarbons from the material. The method can include flowing microbes and air proximate the bed to remove hydrocarbons and to provide oxygen. The method can include attaching hoses to each tubular and to a distribution manifold, forming an ASME conduit. The ASME conduit can be sunk to the bed while the boom floats at a surface of the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Nicholas John Pozzi, Jon Eliot King
  • Publication number: 20100282672
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a process for exothermal treatment and recovery of masses comprising: urban solid waste (USW—), including differentiated and non-differentiated damp waste and non-differentiated waste of vegetable origin; sludge generated by industrial and non-industrial water treatment; solid, semi-solid, pasty residue and/or sludge residue coming from industrial, agricultural and food-processing operations; soils and inert materials contaminated by organic matrices; solid, semi-solid, pasty residue and/or sludge residue of hydrocarbon compounds, including asphalt and organic-chemical compounds; contaminating animal excrements, such as those of poultry and/or swine. In particular, said process envisages the use of an exothermal reaction produced by mixing the mass to be treated with a mixture of calcium oxides (CaO) and/or calcium hydroxides Ca(OH)2, in the presence of an inert catalyst moistened with water, in the absence of oxygen using the charcoal-pile technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: EB SRL ENVIRONMENTAL BROCKER
    Inventor: Antonino Schillaci
  • Publication number: 20100282674
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Patent number: 7828976
    Abstract: A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: I. Kruger, Inc.
    Inventors: Kashi Banerjee, Charles D. Blumenschein, John Charles Schrader
  • Patent number: 7828974
    Abstract: The induction of reducing conditions and stimulating anaerobic process through the addition of dried micro-blue green algae (Spirulina, Arthorospira Platensis, Arthrospria Maxima, Aphanizomen flos-aquae, and chlorella) and seaweed (Dulse, Nori, and Kelp) to accomplish accelerated dechlorinization of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and heavy metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Innovative Environmental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Scalzi
  • Publication number: 20100264084
    Abstract: An apparatus for water treatment which comprises a means of removing ingredients contained in water and a means of adsorbing ions with a porous molding as an adsorbent, wherein the porous molding comprises fibrils comprising an organic polymer resin and an inorganic ion adsorbent. The fibrils form interconnecting pores open to the outer surface and have voids in inner parts thereof, at least part of the voids being open to the surface of the fibrils. The inorganic ion adsorbent has been deposited on the outer surface of the fibrils and on the surface of the voids in the fibrils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Midorikawa, Akihiro Omori, Tadashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7811455
    Abstract: A method for the removal and sequestration of ammonia nitrogen from anaerobic fermentation effluent while producing a higher BTU biogas. The method includes the steps of removing the slurry from the digester, stripping the ammonia from the slurry or portion thereof with a high BTU biogas, blending the stripped ammonia with the digesters biogas to remove the carbon dioxide and precipitate ammonium bicarbonate/carbonate as a solid while producing a high Btu biogas, a portion of which is used to strip the ammonia and CO2 from the slurry. The process removes ammonia nitrogen from the digester effluent while producing a high Btu biogas and a solid ammonium bicarbonate/carbonate product. Ammonia stripping is accomplished with a recycled stripping gas deficient in CO2 and ammonia that is capable of removing the CO2 and ammonia from solution by virtue of the lower partial pressures of CO2 and ammonia in the stripping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Dennis A. Burke
  • Patent number: 7799222
    Abstract: The invention relates to using alcalophilic sulphate-reducing bacteria selected from at least one species of a Desulfohalobiaceae or Desulfonatronum species family or from species whose gene encoding for ribosomal PARN 16S has a homology equal to or greater than 97% with a corresponding gene of any species of the Desulfohalobiaceae or Desulfonatronum species family for producing a hydrogen sulphide substantially soluble in an aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD)
    Inventors: Bernard Marcel Noël Ollivier, Yannick Aman Baptiste Combet-Blanc, Marie-Laure Fardeau, Bruno Chardin
  • Patent number: 7799223
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an improved system and method for treating wastewater or other liquid. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a control program for operating the system and method. In one embodiment, the treatment process utilizes a biological nutrient removal activated sludge process utilizing a continuously sequencing reactor (CSR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Schreiber, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian F. Carolan, William F. Foreman, III, John K. Shepherd, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100224557
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method for operating a bioreactor and filtration system. The method adds excess iron to the bioreactor to improve the overall operation and efficiency of the bioreactor/filtration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Anticline Disposal, LLC
    Inventor: Lee L. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20100227381
    Abstract: A method for in-situ reduction of contaminants in soil that uses chemical oxidation and biodegradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: VERUTEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: George E. Hoag, John Collins
  • Patent number: 7790033
    Abstract: A method and system for removing pollutants from water are provided. The system includes at least one settling basin having shallow and deep areas. Coagulants can be added to bring pollutants down to the bottom surface of the basin. During dry periods, the deep areas retain a level of water therein, and the flocs that have settled on the bottom of the shallow areas will dry out, and can be tilled into the soil until re-flooding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas A. DeBusk
  • Patent number: 7790034
    Abstract: A process has steps of one or more of aerobic treatment to remove COD and nitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to denitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to remove selenium and anaerobic treatment to remove heavy metals and sulphur. The process may be used to treat, for example, FGD blow down water. The process may further include one or more of (a) membrane separation of the waste stream upstream of the anoxic digestion to remove selenium, (b) dilution upstream of the biological treatment step, (c) physical/chemical pretreatment upstream of the biological processes or dilution step to remove TSS and soften the waste stream, or (d) ammonia stripping upstream of the biological treatment steps or dilutions step. These processes may be provided in a variety of suspended growth or fixed film reactors, for example a membrane bioreactor or a fixed film reactor having a GAC bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gerard Peeters, William A. Bonkoski, Pierre Lucien Cote, Hidayat Husain, Timothy Michael Pickett
  • Publication number: 20100213122
    Abstract: The present invention relates to wastewater treatment in general and to methods of controlling odors and degrading compounds contained in wastewater in particular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Novozymes Biologicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Tatarko
  • Patent number: 7780859
    Abstract: The invention provides the use of a water-soluble biocide as an uncoupling agent at an effective amount to control bacterial biomass in an aqueous system. The invention also provides a method for controlling the growth of bacterial biomass in an aqueous system. The method comprises adding to, or contacting with, the aqueous system an effective amount of an uncoupling agent which is a water-soluble biocide. In a preferred embodiment the method comprises contacting an effective amount of an uncoupling agent which is a water-soluble biocide directly with the bacterial biomass in an aqueous system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Rhodia Operations
    Inventors: Yvette Pescher, Robert Eric Talbot, Luc Olivier Louvel, Agnes Pilas-Begue, Laetitia Catinon, Gilles Michael Moreau
  • Publication number: 20100200501
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making and using and compositions of metal nanoparticles formed by green chemistry synthetic techniques. For example, the present invention relates to metal nanoparticles formed with solutions of plant extracts and use of these metal nanoparticles in removing contaminants from soil and groundwater and other contaminated sites. In some embodiments, the invention comprises methods of making and using compositions of metal nanoparticles formed using green chemistry techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: VERUTEK TECHNOLOGIES ,INC.
    Inventors: George E. Hoag, John B. Collins, Rajender S. Varma, Mallikarjuna N. Nadagouda
  • Patent number: 7758752
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a composite material which can rapidly and effectively remove algae and transform them into submerged macrophytes. The composite material is a mixture of two functional materials: one can grow into submerged macrophytes, and the other is clays or modified local soil particles which can flocculate algae, inhibit phosphorus release from sediments and act as the carrier of the above-mentioned seeds, earthnuts, buds, and roots of submerged macrophytes. In addition, the present invention proposes a physical-chemical-ecological combined method for improving water quality and enhancing the ecological restoration of eutrophic lakes using the above-mentioned material. By spraying the composite material to the lake surface, the new method can remove algae and turbidity through flocculation and complete the planting process simultaneously so that HABs and eutrophication are effectively controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Gang Pan, Binghui Tian, Hao Chen, Mulan Zhang, Xianzheng Yuan
  • Publication number: 20100176055
    Abstract: In a method for removing sulphate and heavy metals from waste water: a) in a first treatment step (I) hydrogen sulphide is guided through the waste water, heavy metals that are present in the waste water are precipitated as sulphide, and are removed from the waste water, b) in a second treatment step (II), calcium sulphate is precipitated from the waste water by adding a precipitation auxiliary agent, c) the calcium sulphate is removed in the second treatment step (II) and one part thereof is guided to a third treatment step (III) in which sulphate is converted into hydrogen sulphide with the aid of sulphate-reducing bacteria, d) hydrogen sulphide formed in the third treatment step (III) is guided back to the first treatment step (I).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Riebensahm
  • Patent number: 7754081
    Abstract: A method of wastewater treatment that reduced equipment cost and running cost and realizes high efficiency implementation and further tank miniaturization, and that reduces excess sludge withdrawal. There is provided a method of wastewater treatment with excess sludge withdrawal reduced, characterized in that there are installed an aeration tank wherein wastewater is brought into contact with carrier particles under aerobic conditions, a total oxidization tank and a sedimentation tank, and that operation is made while maintaining the BOD sludge load in the total oxidization tank at 0.08 kg-BOD/Kg-MLSS*day or smaller, and that a coagulant is charged in the complete oxidization tank in order to improve the setting in the sedimentation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Baba, Hiroaki Fujii, Hidehiko Okabe, Goro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100163482
    Abstract: A system for treating ammonia-based wastewater is provided. The system includes a first reactor, including: denitrification bacteria for denitrification; a second reactor disposed on the back of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor includes an aerator and aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, and has an HRT of less than 6 hours; a third reactor disposed on the back of the first reactor, wherein the third reactor contains nitrification bacteria carried on the carriers for improving nitrification; and a solid-liquid-separating reactor disposed on the back of the third for separating the solids and liquids in the effluent of the third reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kuan-Foo Chang, Sheng-Hsin Chang, Shwu-Huey Perng, Wang-Kuan Chang, Huey-Song You, Shan-Shan Chou
  • Patent number: 7744755
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biological treatment and filtration system equipment that can reliably remove most of materials harmful to the human body and arsenic components not capable of being removed until now, which are contained in the raw water, by a series of purification operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Toyofumi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7740762
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing the pathogen content of sewage sludge comprising (a) adding to the sludge an effective amount of a phosphorous-containing compound and (b) keeping the phosphorous-containing compound in contact with the sludge for a sufficient time to reduce the amount of pathogens present in the sludge by an amount equivalent to a logarithmic reduction of 2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Rhodia UK Limited
    Inventors: Stephanie Edmunds, Paul Douglas Gilbert, Robert Eric Talbot
  • Patent number: 7736509
    Abstract: An aquaculture or wastewater effluent water quality device to improve water quality and food supply in an aquaculture pond or body of water by incubating beneficial microbes in a temperature controlled environment and systematically releasing them to the surrounding water, allowing the beneficial microbes to perform sanitation functions and to help such systems or water bodies overcome the natural production of harmful microbial species without substantially heating or cooling the entire system any more than is required by the present state of the system or body of water or the inhabitants thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Alan Kruse
  • Publication number: 20100133180
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of anaerobic treatment which makes it possible to prevent disintegration of granular sludge and perform high-load high-velocity anaerobic treatment stably even in the case where treatment is performed under conditions where the granular sludge is easily disintegrated. In a reaction tank 20 which retains the granular sludge, nitric acid or nitrous acid is adjusted so that they have a certain concentration range. For example, nitric acid is added to the liquid to be treated by connecting the nitric acid addition path 12 to a midway point of the path of the liquid to be treated 31 which introduces the liquid to be treated to the reaction tank 20, and nitric acid is mixed with the liquid to be treated. By introducing nitric acids within the reaction tank 20, denitrifying bacteria etc. can multiply, and disintegration of the granules is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokutomi, Motoyuki Yoda
  • Patent number: 7727398
    Abstract: Colored wastewater from industries, agriculture and the like is discolored by adjusting pH of the wastewater and filtering the wastewater through a mixture of acid-treated sawdust produced from sawdust which has been disposed of after being used for fungi production and charcoal thereby to remove a color component fraction from the wastewater and through a filter material, for example acid-treated rice husk charcoal, in which autochthonous microorganisms are embedded thereby to absorb color components remaining in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Seisuke Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20100126932
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for treatment of contaminated liquid are provided including an integrated ultra-filtration and clarification apparatus, and an optional integrated electrocoagulation capability. The integrated apparatus comprises an outer tank, an inner casing, and a plurality of ultra-filtration filters contained within the inner casing. Clarification of liquid occurs in the gap between the casing and tank. Solid matter settles, and aggregates in the bottom portion of the tank. The accumulated solid material acts as a secondary filter by pre-filtering the liquid prior to contact with the ultra-filtration filters. Clarified liquid is retained in a chamber of the casing, and the clarified liquid is drawn through the ultra-filtration filters as initiated by a source of vacuum communicating with the ultra-filtration filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Scott W. Powell
  • Patent number: 7718065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane bioreactor process combined with an advanced biological sludge digestion process that provides significant improvements in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. The offline treatment vessel is used to solubilize the organic material by operating in a very low oxygen environment. Digested process fluid is transferred back to the membrane bioreactor. The processes and apparatus substantially reduce the production of waste sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Edward John Jordan
  • Patent number: 7718063
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of depollution by phytoremediation intended for treating wastewater, polluted air or soil comprising a first step of introducing the pollutants in solid, liquid or gaseous form in a planted filter bed, and characterized in that it also comprises a step of irrigation of said planted filter bed so as to define aerobic or anaerobic periods, and to a device for carrying out that method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Phytorestore
    Inventor: Thierry Jacquet
  • Patent number: 7708884
    Abstract: A process for the stabilization and disinfection of sludge wherein a) raw sludge having a dry matter content of from 3 to 7% by weight is fed continuously or quasi-continuously into a first stage, where it remains for an average retention time of three to ten days under aerobic-thermophilic conditions to obtain a partially stabilized sludge; and b) the partially stabilized sludge is fed into a second stage in which disinfection of the partially stabilized sludge is effected at temperatures of at least 50° C., wherein prior to discharging, there is no charging until the partially stabilized sludge has been disinfected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventors: Leonhard Fuchs, Martin Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7708887
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for combination membrane/biolytic filtration. In one embodiment a filtration system is operated under suction. The arrangement includes a feed tan (5) having a smaller filtrate vessel (6) positioned therein. The region within, the feed tank (5) not occupied by the filtrate vessel (6) is partially filled with layers of decomposing and decomposed solid organic waste material to form an aerobic filter bed (7) of the type used in biolytic filtration as described above. A further module vessel (8) is mounted within the filtrate vessel (6) to form a membrane chamber (9) containing a membrane filtration module (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Warren Thomas Johnson, Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Dean Osman Cameron
  • Publication number: 20100093063
    Abstract: The induction of reducing conditions and stimulating anaerobic process through the addition of dried micro-blue green algae (Spirulina, Arthorospira Platensis, Arthrospria Maxima, Aphanizomen flos-aquae, and chlorella) and seaweed (Dulse, Nori, and Kelp) to accomplish accelerated dechlorinization of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and heavy metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Scalzi
  • Publication number: 20100089828
    Abstract: A method of assisting the removal of phosphorous from wastewater in a wastewater treatment system comprising a membrane bioreactor having at least one membrane (6), the method comprising forming a mixture of a gas and liquid medium; adding a coagulant to the mixture; applying the mixture and added coagulant to a surface of the membrane (6) and filtering a permeate through a wall of the membrane (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Darren Dale, Paul M. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7695623
    Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process that includes at least one aeration tank subsystem for receiving a flow a wastewater and for introducing dissolved oxygen to a population of microorganisms to promote growth of biological flocs in a mixed liquor defined by a concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem includes an impregnation tank for mixing the mixed liquor, virgin weighting agent, and recycled weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into biological flocs suspended in the mixed liquor to form weighted biological flocs. A flocculant injection port located downstream from at least one aeration tank for introducing a flocculant to the mixed liquor for enhancing settling and thickening of the weighted biological flocs and for providing agglomeration of non-impregnated biological flocs and/or partially impregnated biological flocs with weighted biological flocs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Cambridge Water Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Woodard, Peter G. Marston, Ionel Wechsler
  • Patent number: 7691269
    Abstract: A method and system for retrofitting an existing water treatment system having one or more biological reactor systems and one or more gravity clarifiers. To retrofit the existing water treatment system, the one or more gravity clarifiers of the existing water treatment system are converted to one or more biological reactors. In addition, one or more high rate clarifiers (HRCs) are added to the existing water treatment system. In some cases one or more high rate clarifiers are added downstream of the converted biological reactors, in other cases one or more HRCs is added upstream of the biological reactors, and in other cases a number of HRCs are added, upstream and downstream with respect to the biological reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Steven L. Cort
  • Patent number: 7691267
    Abstract: A bioreactor is for processing a fluid stream. The bioreactor may include a bioreaction chamber for receiving the fluid stream therethrough, a pair of spaced apart gas header assemblies within the bioreaction chamber for coupling to first and second gases, a first plurality of hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) extending between the pair of gas header assemblies for introducing the first gas into the fluid stream within the bioreaction chamber, and a second plurality of HFMs extending between the pair of gas header assemblies for introducing the second gas into the fluid stream within the bioreaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Dynamac Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. Smith, Tony Rector, Jay L. Garland
  • Patent number: 7686960
    Abstract: A multi-stage process for removing dissolved contaminants and suspended solids from water employing a magnetic separation technique. The process includes two tanks and magnetic seed. In the first tank, water is clarified by magnetic technologies and in the second tank dissolved solutes are sorbed on magnetic seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Steven L. Cort
  • Patent number: 7674379
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment systems and processes for removal of solids, pathogens, nitrogen, and phosphorus from municipal and agricultural wastewater include the simultaneous separation of solids and phosphorus from wastewater and industrial effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Matias B. Vanotti, Ariel A. Szogi, Lewis M. Fetterman
  • Publication number: 20100051542
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system and method comprises a treatment chamber having a filtration membrane spanning an effluent outlet of the chamber and a pair of electrodes in the treatment chamber so as to be in communication with the wastewater. An electrical potential difference is applied between the electrodes such that one of the electrodes functions as an anode and one of the electrodes functions as a cathode. A flow of fluid is induced out of the treatment chamber through the filtration membrane to the effluent outlet. Accordingly the treatment chamber is arranged to biologically treat the wastewater, electrochemically treat the wastewater and mechanically filter the wastewater through the filtration membrane commonly therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Maria Elektorowicz, Jan Oleszkiewicz, Khalid Bani-Melhem
  • Publication number: 20100044307
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for anaerobic treatment of material having a solids concentration greater than 15% in a digester in the form of a sealed tank (1) equipped with means (2) for supplying material to be treated and means (3) for discharging digested material and also vertical homogenization means (6) in the form of injectors for injecting a gaseous fluid into the bottom (7) of the tank (1). Through distribution in the tank (1) of the material supply means (2) relative to the discharge means (3) and using vertical homogenization means (6) that guarantee the homogeneity of the material treated by vertical sectors (8) in the tank, conferred on the material in the tank (1) is a forced unidirectional circulation that is uniform throughout the entire cross section of this tank, and along one substantially horizontal component, between said supply means (2) and said discharge means (3). The invention also relates to an installation for implementing such a process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: VALORGA INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Lotti, Helene Fruteau de Laclos, Claude Saint-Joly
  • Publication number: 20100044306
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating slurries of organic solids is disclosed. A slurry of organic solids is admixed with hydrogen peroxide, followed by exposure to microwave irradiation resulting in the heating of the mixture and enhanced hydrolysis of the organic solids. The treated slurry of organic solids can then be further treated in a variety of downstream processes, including solid separation, digestion and fermentation. The supernatant portion of the treated slurry of organic solids can be a source from which to recover compounds such as nutrients (for example nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, calcium) or industrial organic compounds (such as acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid), or as a source of readily biodegradable organic compounds for supplementing a biological wastewater treatment process, digester or fermenter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Kwang Victor Lo, Ping Liao, Wayne Wong, Weigang Miles Yi, Weng I Chan, Frederic A. Koch, Donald S. Mavinic
  • Publication number: 20100044304
    Abstract: [Problems] To provide a method of treating an organic substance-containing waste liquid, and a treatment apparatus therefor, and an additive for treating an organic substance-containing waste liquid, and a bacterium for degrading an organic substance component or the like in the waste liquid, capable of accomplishing at least one of treatment of the organic substance-containing waste liquid with a high efficiency and a high treatment rate, without substantially generating a foul odor, and obtainment of water quality that is suitable for releasing to sewage, a public water area, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryozo Irie, Michio Tabata, Yoshihisa Hibi
  • Patent number: 7662275
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of providing water management and utilization during the process of dewatering and retorting of oil shale. More specifically, the process described relates to co-producing potable and non-potable water, for various uses, during the extraction of petroleum from shale oil deposits. Generally, the process allows the production of multiple streams of waters or varying salinity and pressures at least one of which is of high enough pressure for reinsertion into geological formations or reservoirs, and another which may supply a potable water source. In one embodiment, the high pressure required for reinserting the non-potable water into geological formation or reservoirs may be utilized for producing the potable water supply. In another embodiment, the non-potable water supply may also be used for entraining and sequestering undesired emissions, such as CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventor: John R. Dorgan
  • Patent number: 7662288
    Abstract: In a water treatment system, micro-nano bubbles are used in a production device and a detoxification device as one example of the upstream treatment devices which perform specified treatment with use of water. The micro-nano bubbles are used again in the waste water treatment by a waste water pretreatment device and a waste water treatment device in the subsequent step. Since the micro-nano bubbles are reused, the efficiency of the micro-nano bubbles can be enhanced. Moreover, according to the waste water pretreatment device, treatment water is pretreated with the microorganisms activated by micro-nano bubbles and propagating in a polyvinylidene chloride filler material and then it is introduced into the waste water treatment device in the subsequent step. Thereby it is possible to reduce the waste water treatment load in the waste water treatment device in the subsequent step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Sakata, Kazumi Chuhjoh
  • Publication number: 20100025326
    Abstract: A method of supporting denitrification includes receiving biological material at a pulsed electric field station and applying a pulsed electric field to the biological material within a treatment zone in the pulse electric field station to generate treated biological material. The method also includes transporting at least a portion of the treated biological material to an anoxic bioreactor in substitution, at least in part, for an external source of electron donor. A system for supporting denitrification is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: OpenCEL LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. Gallagher, James Banaszak
  • Patent number: 7655144
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for treating wastewater by processes which include aeration. The system includes an influent conduit for delivery of wastewater to be processed and a treatment tank for processing of the wastewater. Also included is an air conduit for providing compressed air for aeration of the wastewater and a particle size regulation device disposed between the conduit and the tank, wherein the particle size regulation device regulates a size of particles present in the wastewater to provide particle size regulated wastewater. The system also includes at least one aeration jet having a nozzle diameter sized to allow the particle size regulated wastewater to pass through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Jordan, James E. Augustyn
  • Patent number: 7651614
    Abstract: Systems and methods to treat wastewater are described herein. A wastewater treatment system may include a primary treatment system, a secondary treatment system, a disinfection treatment system, a solids treatment system, one or more fluid treatment systems, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: VRTX Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Kelsey, Qiwei Wang
  • Patent number: 7645385
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing nitrogen-concentrated effluents by ammonia oxidation into nitrites followed by nitrite denitritation in a gaseous nitrogen in a sequential biological reactor (1) consisting in pouring a processable effluent volume in to the reactor by successive volume fractions, in dividing the entire processing cycle into successive sub cycles, wherein each sub-cycle comprises a feeding phase, an aeration phase for nitrification and an anoxia phase along which a carbon-containing source is introduced into the reactor for converting nitrites into nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Suez Environment, Degremont
    Inventors: Samuel Martin, Adriana Gonzalez Ospina