Abstract: A biochemical process system and apparatus for removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), volatile inorganic compounds (VICs), heavy metals, and surfactants from contaminated soil, liquid and gas streams, by means of combined washing, pH adjustment, biochemical reaction, gas stripping, scrubbing, adsorption and regeneration is described. This process system involves soil washing with surfactant, soil-water separation, liquid pumping; liquid treatment using an enclosed gas stripping bioreactor and dissolved air flotation technology; gas purification using a foam collector, a wet scrubber and a self-regenerative gas-phase granular activated carbon (GAC) contactor; and recycling of GAC-purified gas for further liquid treatment by gas stripping and biochemical reactions. The process system is extremely cost-effective for removal of both volatile and nonvolatile pollutants from a contaminated site and eliminates the problem of secondary gas contamination caused by conventional air stripping towers.

Abstract: A physical-biochemical process system and apparatus for removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other organics from contaminated groundwater or wastewater is described. This process system involves influent pumping groundwater or wastewater treatment by air stripping, biological oxidation and powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption in an enclosed gas stripping bioreactor, air purification by granular activated carbon contactor, and recycling of GAC-purified air for further groundwater or wastewater treatment. The bioreactor effluent is processed processed by a clarifier, a filter and a disinfection unit. The clarifier sludge is partially recycled to the bioreactor and partially wasted. The process system is cost-effective and eliminates the problem of secondary air contamination caused by conventional gas stripping tower and coventional biological treatment processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air emission control system for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other objectionable contaminants from an emitted gas stream which is generated from a water treatment means. Specifically the improved air emission control system of this invention relates to collecting, dehumidifying, bypassing, diluting, monitoring, purifying recycling and reusing the emitted gas stream, and also relates to feeding an inert gas, upon demand, for reducing oxygen content of said emitted gas stream, in turn, for preventing a gas purification contactor from being ignited and/or exploded due to oxidation of carbonaceous substances inside said gas purification contactor. A complete water treatment and gas emission control system is developed by applying the air emission control system to either single stage water treatment or multiple stage water treatment.

Abstract: A sequencing batch apparatus being manually or automatically operated for treating a contaminated water is described. The present invention specifically relates to the apparatus comprising an inlet pipe, a batch reactor, a chemical feeder means, at least one mixing means, a coarse bubble distribution means, a fine bubble distribution means, a liquid discharge means, and sludge discharge means for required liquid treatment, and further alternatively comprising a gas moving means, a gas pipe, a flow meter, an enclosure and a gas purification means for air emission control upon demand. The present invention further relates to an apparatus system comprising means for recovering precious metal, controlling optimum pH in an acid range, reducing hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium, controlling optimum pH in a base range, oxidizing cyanide, destroying phosphite, separating flocs, exchanging metals, adsorbing contaminants, neutralizing an effluent, and controlling gas emission.

Abstract: A high rate multi-stage bubble separation process is developed for: (a) initially generating coarse gas bubbles with diameters greater than 80 microns in turbulent hydraulic condition to mix an influent water with chemicals, enzymes, microorganisms, or combinations thereof, to produce chemical flocs, biological flocs or both, and to strip volatile contaminants from water; (b) subsequently terminating coarse gas bubbles and generating extremely fine gas bubbles with diameters smaller than 80 microns in laminar hydraulic condition to float suspended, oily and surface-active contaminants together with said chemical flocs and said biological flocs from water, to settle heavy contaminants from water, and to produce a clarified effluent water, a floating scum, and a sludge; (c) terminating the fine gas bubbles and discharging the clarified effluent water; (d) discharging the floating scum and the sludge upon demand; and (e) optionally collecting and treating an emitted gas stream resulting from said coarse gas bubb

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for purifying liquid in a square or rectangular tank involving ultra violet (UV) treatment, oxidation, flotation, filtration, effluent purging and disinfection is described. The liquid to be treated is fed into the mixing chamber of the apparatus in the presence of UV light and an oxident (ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide), and then discharged into the flotation chamber for gas stripping of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and flotation removal of floating substances. The subnatant in flotation chamber flows downward through multiple automatic backwash liquid phase granular activated carbon (GAC) filters for final polishing before being discharged as the liquid effluent or further disinfected. The flotation chamber is hooded for collection of gas stream which is moved by a gas mover and purified by a gas phase granular activated carbon (GAC) filter.

Abstract: A biological treatment system involving the use of a gas dissolving pressure vessel, a pressurized water release assembly, a pretreatment chamber, a bioreactor, an open vessel, a post-treatment unit, a sludge removal unit, and a removable gas collection and purification unit for both wastewater treatment and air emission control is described. Gases are dissolved efficiently in a water inside the pressure vessel under controlled high pressure and high rotating velocity. Chemicals, or microorganisms, or both arm dosed to an influent water producing a pretreated water containing chemical flocs and biological flocs. The bioreactor comprising a hanging biological contactor is adopted when biochemical reaction is intended. A pressurized water containing supersaturated gases is produced in the pressure vessel and than depressurized through the pressurized water release assembly becoming a depressurized water containing micro bubbles.

Abstract: An improved filtration system involving the use of ultraviolet irradiation, ozonation, chlorination, reactive filtration media, chemical treatment, compressed air aeration, air emission control, and central flow control is described. The process system and apparatus of the present invention mainly include a liquid pump, an ultraviolet pretreatment means, a central flow control, an air emission control means, a reactive pressure filter, a process tank, at least one chemical feeder means, an ultraviolet post-treatment means, and an aeration means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage, single reactor, purification system for disinfecting, washing, and concentrating solid wastes, which include contaminated soil, highly concentrated biosolids, spent animal bedding, and spent diapers, etc.A solid waste is fed into the reactor of this invented apparatus. At least one disinfecting and chemical agent (including cationic surface active agent known as quaternary ammonium compound) is fed together with water (as needed) into this reactor to disinfect and process said solid waste with the assistance of a mechanical mixing means inside said reactor. A disinfecting gas is fed to the same reactor as needed. After the period of feeding, disinfecting, processing, and mixing is over, the process water is drained. The disinfected and processed wet solid waste is discharged to an expulsion chamber means which removes residual water and compacts the disinfected and processed solid waste.

Abstract: An improved cross-flow granular filtration system involving the use of ultraviolet, ozonation, chlorination, reactive granular filtration media, chemical regeneration, and central flow control is described. The process system and apparatus includes a liquid pump, a central flow control, a cross-flow reactive pressure filter, a process tank and at least one chemical feeder. The filter media are of reactive and granular type, including diatomaceous earth, granular activated carbon, granular metal medium, greensand, neutralizing sand, activated alumina, ion exchange resins, polymeric adsorbents, coal, porous plastic medium, porous stainless steel medium, porous ceramic medium, bacteriostatic filter medium, or combinations thereof. Alternatively a downflow or upflow filter is substituted for the crossflow reactive pressure filter. The process tank contains and handles regeneration chemicals or filter aids for the reactive filter media.

Abstract: Small quantities of one or more liquids having a low boiling point dispersed with a large quantity of one or more immiscible liquids having a higher boiling point are separated in a rapid and efficient manner. A non-reactive gas (nitrogen, helium, air, or combinations thereof) is heated by recycled energy and make-up energy to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below that of at least one other liquid. The heated gas is combined with the unheated or preheated liquid-liquid mixture to be separated, and the liquid-gas blend is mixed, heated and distributed by an improved heat exchanger having thermal conductive gas tubing, metal wools and fins) and nebulizer, forming a mist inside a vessel containing a pool liquid of at least one liquid having a boiling point higher than that of at least one other liquid, which pool liquid has been heated with at least a heat pump means to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below the pool liquid's own boiling point.

Abstract: An improved gas dissolving and releasing liquid treatment system involving the use of multi-stages gas dissolving pressure vessel and the use of a pressurized water release assembly and an open vessel is described. The gas dissolving and releasing liquid treatment system includes a liquid pressure pump, a pressure vessel, a gas injector, an inlet nozzle assembly, a gas compressor, gas regulators, gas flow meters, pressure gauges, a safety valve, a bleed-off point, feeders, pumps, a pressurized water release unit, a liquid flow meter, an open vessel, sludge removal means, and air emission control means. More than one gases introduced at different inlets are dissolved simultaneously and efficiently in the pressure vessel under controlled high pressure and high rotating velocity. The improved liquid treatment system is compact, simple and cost-effective, and is applied to ozonation, chlorination, recarbonation, oxygenation, bio-oxidation, nitrogenation, aeration, and flotation processes.

Abstract: Small quantities of one or more liquids having a high boiling point dispersed with a large quantity of one or more immiscible liquids having a lower boiling point are separated in a rapid and efficient manner. A non-reactive compressed gas is heated by recycled energy and make-up energy to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below that of at least one other liquid. The heated gas is combined with the unheated liquid mixture to be separated, and the liquid-gas blend is mixed, heated and distributed by an improved nebulizer, forming a mist inside a vessel containing a pool liquid of at least one liquid having a boiling point higher than that of at least one other liquid, which pool liquid has been heated to a temperature above the boiling point of at least one liquid but below its own boiling point. The liquid having high-boiling-point in the mist settles by gravity and merges with the pool liquid.

Abstract: A process system for removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated groundwater is described. This process system involves groundwater pumping, groundwater treatment by air stripping in an enclosed sparging aeration chamber, air purification by granular activated carbon contactor, and recycling of GAC-purified air for further groundwater treatment by air stripping. The process system is cost-effective and eliminates the problem of secondary air contamination caused by conventional air stripping process.

Abstract: A process system and apparatus for removal of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), volatile inorganic compounds (VICs) and surfactants from a contaminated liquid stream, more particularly groundwater, by a combination of pH adjustment, chemical reaction, ultraviolet reaction, gas stripping, scrubbing, adsorption and regeneration is described. This process system involves liquid pumping; liquid treatment in an enclosed dispersed gas stripping chamber; gas purification by a foam collector, a wet scrubber and a self-generative gas-phase granular activated carbon (GAC) contactor; and recycling of GAC-purified gas for further liquid treatment by dispersed gas stripping. The process system is extremely cost-effective for removal of VOCs, VICs, and surfactants, and eliminates the problem of secondary gas contamination caused by conventional air stripping towers.

Abstract: An improved gas dissolving and releasing system involving the use of multistages of porous gas dissolving media at the center and near the wall of a pressure vessel is described. The gas dissolving system includes a liquid pressure pump, a pressure vessel with tangential inlet and outlet, a gas injector, an inlet nozzle assembly, a center gas dissolving tube, one or more wall-mounted gas dissolving plate assembly, a gas compressor, gas regulators, gas flow meter(s), pressure gauge(s), safety valve(s), sight tube(s), a bleed-off point, a pressurized water release unit, and a liquid flow meter. The liquid flow pattern inside of the pressure vessel is controlled to be of either swirling upflow, swirling downflow or swirling horizontal flow at a rotation speed of over 2,500 rpm. A set of special nozzles with different orifices is designated for precise liquid flow control and liquid rotation speed control.