Patents Assigned to United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPA
  • Nitrogen sparging assisted anoxic biological water treatment system
    Patent number: 11802067
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for nitrogen gas sparging assisted biological treatment of water. In one example, a denitrification system may include a media-packed column or bed through which nitrogen gas is sparged to remove dissolved oxygen from water. In some examples, an external carbon source and electron donor may be added to the media-packed column or bed to facilitate biological removal of the nitrate and/or other contaminants from the water. In this way, by relying on the sparged nitrogen gas to remove the dissolved oxygen, less of the external carbon source and electron donor may be employed as compared to denitrification systems not assisted by nitrogen gas sparging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE U.S. EPA
    Inventors: Asher Keithley, Daniel Williams, Nicholas Dugan, Darren Lytle
  • Synthesis of metallic materials imbedded in activated carbon to degrade chlorinated and fluorinated organic pollutants
    Patent number: 11701642
    Abstract: Catalyst materials comprising iron and palladium are described. Also described are methods for preparing such materials. In addition, methods for remediating materials such as sediments and groundwater using the catalyst materials are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPA, Waashington DC
    Inventors: Souhail Al-Abed, John McKernan, Slawomir Lomnicki
  • Using 4-acetoxyphenol as a substrate for modular hydrolase biosensors
    Patent number: 11422106
    Abstract: Biosensors utilizing 4-acetoxyphenol are described. The biosensors typically include 4-acetoxyphenol in a substrate and utilize one or more enzymes to detect the presence of pollutant agents. Also described are related methods using the biosensors to detect the presence of pollutant agents in water such as As(III).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPA
    Inventors: Tao Li, Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
  • Method for sequestering ions in an environmental matrix
    Patent number: 11414334
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating a contaminated environmental medium. In one example, the treatment includes adding a salt to the contaminated environmental medium to form a slurry. The slurry is heated to irreversibly precipitate a jarosite-group mineral incorporating contaminant cations and contaminant anions into its structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPA
    Inventors: Kirk Gerald Scheckel, Ranju R. Karna, Charles R. Partridge, Karen D. Bradham, David James Thomas, Matthew R. Noerpel, Jennifer Lynn Goetz, Todd Peter Luxton