Patents Assigned to BioTrol, Inc.
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Patent number: 5518668Abstract: An air stripper assembly includes a housing having at least one sieve tray operatively positioned therein. Each sieve tray is selectively removable from the housing. If more than one sieve tray is positioned within the housing, each is removable without a need to change orientation of any other sieve tray positioned within the housing. Thus, an operator can easily clean and maintain a selected sieve tray, without disassembling the entire assembly or affecting the location of other sieve trays.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1994Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: Biotrol, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Chresand, James J. Higgins, Robert E. Clifford, III
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Patent number: 5441887Abstract: A method is disclosed for degradation of a halogenated hydrocarbon compound such as trichloroethylene (TCE) which utilizes a soluble methane monooxygenase or a bacterium comprising the monooxygenase. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is a soluble methane monooxygenase-producing bacterium which when cultivated by continuous culturing comprising exposing the bacterium to a continuous-flow gas mixture of air and methane in a ratio of about 25:1-1:20, respectively. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is capable of degrading TCE at rates from about 500-10,000 micromoles per hour per gram cells. The present method is useful to degrade halogenated hydrocarbon compounds such as TCE at initial concentrations up to 10,000 micromoles/l.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: August 15, 1995Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, BioTrol, Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Hanson, John D. Lipscomb, Brian G. Fox
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Patent number: 5196339Abstract: A method is disclosed for degradation of a halogenated hydrocarbon compound such as trichloroethylene (TCE) which utilizes a soluble methane monooxygenase or a bacterium comprising the monooxygenase. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is a soluble methane monooxygenase-producing bacterium which when cultivated by continuous culturing comprising exposing the bacterium to a continuous-flow gas mixture of air and methane in a ratio of about 25:1-1:20, respectively. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is capable of degrading TCE at rates from about 500-10,000 micromoles per hour per gram cells. The present method is useful to degrade halogenated hydrocarbon compounds such as TCE at initial concentrations up to 10,000 micromoles/l.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1991Date of Patent: March 23, 1993Assignee: BioTrol, Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Hanson, John D. Lipscomb
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Patent number: 5115986Abstract: A process for the purification of soil contaminated with organic material is provided. The preferred process generally involves superposed attrition and classification processes, which lead to removal and concentration of highly contaminated fractions. The process may also include a step of flotation whereby hydrophobic materials in the soil are released to an interface with air bubbles, and are floated to the top of a flotation cell. In preferred processes according to the present invention, soil to be treated is extracted from a contaminated site, and is broken into relatively small particles. These particles are preferably treated in attrition and classification steps, to remove fine, slow settling contaminated materials such as wood and fine soil materials. The resulting isolated coarser materials are then treated by flotation for a final polishing step.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1989Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Assignee: BioTrol, IncInventors: George F. Bateson, Dennis D. Chilcote, Michael M. Martinson, Steven B. Valine, Adolfo R. Zambrano
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Patent number: 5062958Abstract: An arrangement for operation to reduce organic contaminant concentration in water passing therethrough as provided. The arrangement includes at least one reactor comprising a plurality of treatment chambers oriented in series, each chamber including an upstream downcomer portion and a downstream column portion separated by a wall member. Fluid flow is provided between a downcomer portion and the column portion. Means are provided such that water can flow through any associated chamber by introduction into an upper portion of the downcomer portion of the chamber, with passage downwardly to a feed space and a bottom portion of the column portion of the chamber and upwardly through the column portion. The water then flows outwardly from the chamber, into a next downstream chamber if one is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1990Date of Patent: November 5, 1991Assignee: BioTrol, Inc.Inventors: George F. Bateson, Thomas J. Chresand, Joel D. Moore, Terrence L. Nayes
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Patent number: 5024949Abstract: A bacterium of the genus Pseudomonas which utilizes a branched chain alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon as its sole carbon and energy source and which is capable of substantially complete degradation of trichlorethylene (TCE) at a rate of up to about 32 nmol hr.sup.-1 mg cells.sup.-1 based upon the dry weight of the cells, and methods utilizing the bacterium for the detoxification of TCE-contaminated material.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1989Date of Patent: June 18, 1991Assignee: BioTrol, Inc.Inventors: George D. Hegeman, David G. Nickens
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Patent number: 4925552Abstract: An arrangement for operation to reduce organic contaminant concentration in water passing therethrough as provided. The arrangement includes at least one reactor comprising a plurality of treatment chambers oriented in series, each chamber including an upstream downcomer portion and a downstream column portion separated by a wall member. Fluid flow is provided between a downcomer portion and the column portion. Means are provided such that water can flow through any associated chamber by introduction into an upper portion of the downcomer portion of the chamber, with passage downwardly to a feed space and a bottom portion of the column portion of the chamber and upwardly through the column portion. The water then flows outwardly from the chamber, into a next downstream chamber if one is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1988Date of Patent: May 15, 1990Assignee: BioTrol, Inc.Inventors: George F. Bateson, Thomas J. Chresand, Joel D. Moore, Terrence L. Nayes
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Patent number: 4923125Abstract: A process for the purification of soil contaminated with organic material is provided. The preferred process generally involves superposed attrition and classification processes, which lead to removal and concentration of highly contaminated fractions. The process may also include a step of flotation whereby hydrophobic materials in the soil are released to an interface with air bubbles, and are floated to the top of a flotation cell. In preferred processes according to the present invention, soil to be treated is extracted from a contaminated site, and is broken into relatively small particles. These particles are preferably treated in attrition and classification steps, to remove fine, slow settling, contaminated materials such as wood and fine soil materials. The resulting isolated coarser materials are then treated by flotation for a final polishing step.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1989Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Assignee: BioTrol, Inc.Inventors: George F. Bateson, Dennis D. Chilcote, Michael M. Martinson, Steven B. Valine, Adolfo R. Zambrano