Abstract: A process is provided for the biological digestion of animal carcasses. First, the carcass is cut into smaller pieces with equipment that masticates, grinds or comminutes in the presence of water to create a solid-liquid mixture. The next steps include treating the solid-liquid mixture with a special blend or combination of bacteria that have been specifically cultured to digest the carcass; the mixture is subsequently aerated to form a stabilized biomass. The stabilized biomass is aerated in an open basin to further digest and liquefy the carcass, water, bacteria mixture. From the open basin, the primarily liquid waste stream is passed to a clarifying tank where the suspended solids are precipitated as sludge, thus clarifying the liquid. Sludge is removed from the clarifying chamber and the clarified liquid is either discharged or recirculated for further use in this novel process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 1999
Date of Patent:
February 26, 2002
Assignee:
AJT & Associates, Inc.
Inventors:
Alfredo J. Teran, Richard G. Wood, W. Todd Willoughby
Abstract: An apparatus and method for the purification of contaminated water whereby the contamination level of the wastewater is automatically monitored and treatment self-adjusted and continued until the desired level of purification is reached. Specifically, if upon treatment a pre-set purification level is not obtained a water recycle control means completely precludes the uptake of additional contaminated water and recycles wastewater within the apparatus until the desired level of purification is obtained.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 1998
Date of Patent:
July 18, 2000
Assignee:
AJT & Associates, Inc.
Inventors:
Alfredo J. Teran, John R. Derrick, Jr., Nidal A. Samad, W. Todd Willoughby, Igor A. Vassiliev, Louis V. Mangiacapra, Carlos V. Diaz
Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating and reusing the wastewater discharged from agricultural animal farms. The apparatus and method of the present invention is designed to be a zero discharge system in which no wastewater will be discharged or spray irrigated. The wastewater effluent is first passed through a mechanical screen were bulk solids are separated and partially de-watered. The screened effluent is then directed to a primary plastic-lined earthen lagoon where it undergoes aerobic digestion utilizing specially selected bacteria. After treatment in the primary lagoon, the wastewater effluent is used to wash the floors of the hog houses or undergoes a purification phase including solids separation/denitrification, filtration and sterilization. The solids separation/denitrification phase (clarification) preferably takes place in an anoxic environment in preferably above-ground tanks where suspended solids removal will occur as well as denitrification for nitrate reduction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 6, 1998
Date of Patent:
March 21, 2000
Assignee:
AJT & Associates, Inc.
Inventors:
Alfredo J. Teran, John R. Derrick, Jr., Nidal A. Samad, W. Todd Willoughby, Richard G. Wood
Abstract: An efficient, economical, portable, movable, and compact apparatus and method for treating a fluid with ozone comprising multiple pressurized contact columns which are arranged in a hybrid parallel and series column configuration, which utilizes a unique control system and piping arrangement to improve the efficiency of the mass transfer of ozone into the water and increase its solubility by increasing the contact time between the water phase and the gas phase.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 1997
Date of Patent:
July 28, 1998
Assignee:
AJT & Associates, Inc.
Inventors:
Alfredo J. Teran, John R. Derrick, Jr., Nidal A. Samad, Igor A. Vassiliev, Carlos V. Diaz, W. Todd Willoughby, Louis V. Mangicapra