Patents Examined by Claire Norris
  • Patent number: 10570039
    Abstract: Disclosed are modular microbial fuel cell (MFC) devices, systems and methods for treating wastewater and generating electrical energy through a bioelectrochemical waste-to-energy conversion process. In some aspects, a modular MFC system includes a wastewater pretreatment system to receive and pre-treat raw wastewater for feeding pre-treated wastewater for bioelectrochemical processing; one or more modular MFC devices to bioelectrochemically process the pre-treated wastewater by concurrently generating electrical energy and digesting organic contaminants and particulates in the wastewater to yield treated, cleaner water; and a water collection module to receive the treated water from the one or more modular MFC devices and store the treated water and/or route the treated water from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AQUACYCL LLC
    Inventors: Orianna Bretschger, Sofia Malinova Babanova, Carlo Abraham Angulo Rodriguez, Jaime Octavio GarcĂ­a Cornejo, Pedro Izarael Huerta Virgen, Ryoji Naito
  • Patent number: 10570040
    Abstract: A reactor for treating water, the reactor comprising a buoyant structure for supporting at least one cell for suspension in a body of water in use, wherein each cell is removeably attachable to the buoyant structure and is arranged to house biomedia. A water treatment system comprising the reactor in a body of water. A method of treating water comprising passing water to be treated through the reactor in a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BIONEST TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Etienne Boutet, Serge Baillargeon, Garfield R. Lord
  • Patent number: 10570036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for treatment of wastewaters in a membrane bioreactor comprising a mixture of inorganic coagulants and organic water soluble polymer(s), wherein the inorganic coagulants are selected from iron and/or aluminium containing compounds and the organic water soluble polymers are selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic polymers, polysaccharides and polyphenolic compounds and any combination thereof. The present invention further relates to a method for treating of wastewaters in a membrane bioreactor, and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Mehrdad Hesampour, Fazlollah Azarnoush, Sakari Halttunen
  • Patent number: 10562794
    Abstract: The water purification system for flow-coupled installation with a tap water inflow for producing a relatively purified water outflow includes a purification unit having a tap water inlet port for receiving tap water inflow and a purified water outlet port for dispensing purified water outflow from said purification unit. A particulate catalyst retained within the purification unit is in flow through relation relative to the water inflow and purified water outflow and catalyzes contaminants as the tap water inflow travels through the purification unit. An electrically induced particulate agitator associated translates vibration to the particulate catalyst for substantially preventing channeling therein during relatively slow tap water inflow through the purification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: DS SERVICES OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 10562795
    Abstract: The water purification system for flow-coupled installation with a tap water inflow for producing a relatively purified water outflow includes a purification unit having a tap water inlet port for receiving tap water inflow and a purified water outlet port for dispensing purified water outflow from said purification unit. A particulate catalyst retained within the purification unit is in flow through relation relative to the water inflow and purified water outflow and catalyzes contaminants as the tap water inflow travels through the purification unit. A sound wave particulate agitator associated translates vibration to the particulate catalyst for substantially preventing channeling therein during relatively slow tap water inflow through the purification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: DS SERVICES OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 10562801
    Abstract: A redox water treatment method comprises first determining the composition of water and whether water treatment requires either oxidation or reduction, or both to optimize nitrogen removal by a bioreactor. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is injected into the water to be treated to provide H+, SO2, SO3=, HSO3?, dithionous acid (H2S2O4), and other sulfur intermediate reduction products forming a sulfur dioxide treated water, which behaves either as a reducing agent or an oxidizing agent depending on the strength of the acid concentration, which alters sulfurous acid from a reducing agent to a more powerful oxidizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus George Theodore, Terry R Gong
  • Patent number: 10542732
    Abstract: A water treatment system for a water reservoir comprises a collection box; a rotary drum filter arranged to receive gravity flow from the collection box through a receiving line; a primary bio-filter; a secondary bio-filter; one or more connecting lines originating at the rotary drum filter and comprising at least a first outlet line connected to the primary bio-filter and a second outlet line connected to the secondary bio-filter, the second outlet line comprising a pump; and a return line originating at the primary bio-filter and terminating at the water reservoir. The collection box has a bottom and sides defining an interior volume, and comprises a first water intake having a first riser; a second water intake having a second riser; and a third water intake having a third riser, each riser being disposed inside the interior volume and extend upwardly from the bottom of the collection box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Koi Acres LLC
    Inventor: Mike Swanson
  • Patent number: 10538444
    Abstract: A method is presented for biological removal of contaminants like sulfide from ground waters and industrial waters. A fixed film compartmentalized bioreactor or bioreactors are used to convert sulfide to elemental sulfur and the subsequent conversion of the elemental sulfur to sulfates. The present invention uses a packed bed bioreactor configuration that uses packing material to maximize the concentration of sulfide oxidizing bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: F. Stephen Lupton, Rachel E. Hanson, William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10532940
    Abstract: Aeration discs used in water treatment and methods of using same are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, an aeration disc may comprise projections and depressions located on at least one of its surfaces. The aeration discs may be incorporated into aeration devices and water treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George W. Smith, Mark F. Pamperin, Charles S. Applegate, Christopher K. Waul, Marc E. Roehl, Michael L. Doyle
  • Patent number: 10533170
    Abstract: A magnetic particle manipulation method for magnetic particle comprises the steps of; subjecting magnetic particles and a magnetic solid having a larger particle diameter than said magnetic particles to existing together in a liquid layer, and moving said magnetic solid and said magnetic particles in said liquid layer by a magnetic field manipulation. According to one aspect of the present invention; a manipulation method for magnetic particles comprising the steps of; moving magnetic particles in a first liquid layer into a gelled medium layer by a magnetic field manipulation in a device, wherein gelled medium layers and liquid layers are in-place alternately in a container, moving said magnetic particles present in the gelled medium into a second liquid layer by the magnetic field manipulation; and moving said magnetic particles along with said magnetic solid in the second liquid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ohashi, Yukio Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10526222
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solid filtering wastewater treatment device (100) comprising a first stage (101) with a freely drained fixed culture arranged directly above a second fixed water saturated culture stage (105), and a force aeration system (110) extending under the second stage. The invention also relates to a wastewater treatment method, as well as a process for sludge mineralization, implementing such a purification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: SYNTEA, NATURALLY WALLACE CONSULTING LLC, RIETLAND BVBA
    Inventors: Stephane Troesch, Esser Dirk, Scott Wallace, Dion Van Oirschot
  • Patent number: 10519055
    Abstract: Aerobic wastewater treatment systems may include a treatment tank having a tank interior. An aeration chamber may be provided in the tank interior. A wastewater inlet conduit may be disposed in fluid communication with the aeration chamber. An air inlet conduit may be disposed in fluid communication with the aeration chamber. A diffuser may be provided in the aeration chamber. The diffuser may be disposed in pneumatic communication with the air inlet conduit. A clarifier in the tank interior may include a vertical outside clarifier wall portion. An inside clarifier wall portion may be disposed at an acute angle to the outside clarifier wall portion. A clarifier interior may be formed by and between the outside clarifier wall portion and the inside clarifier wall portion. A clarifier inlet may establish fluid communication between the aeration chamber and the clarifier interior. An effluent outlet conduit may be disposed in fluid communication with the clarifier interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventor: George E. Johnson, III
  • Patent number: 10501350
    Abstract: A bio media to remove at least nitrates from collected stormwater is disclosed including natural components to at least facilitate beneficial levels of denitrification and adsorption to remove nitrates and other contaminants passing into the media. Another bio media, systems and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ECOSENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Randall N. Burden
  • Patent number: 10501357
    Abstract: A mobile wastewater treatment system wherein a mobile carrier has mounted thereon a wastewater treatment plant. The wastewater treatment plant has a flow equalization tank, an aeration tank, a clarifying tank, a disinfection stage, and a pumping tank. The mobile carrier can be a trailer, a skid, a shipping container, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry L. McKinney
  • Patent number: 10501955
    Abstract: An underwater station that may include a filter manipulator that is arranged to input, without human intervention, a filter into a pool cleaning robot that is located in a filter replacement position and to assist, without human intervention, in positioning the filter at a filtering position in which the filter is at least partially disposed within a fluid path formed between a first fluid opening and a second fluid opening of the housing thereby allowing the filter to apply a filtering operation on fluid that passes through the fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MAYTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Shay Witelson
  • Patent number: 10501352
    Abstract: A method is presented for biological removal of contaminants like sulfide from ground waters and industrial waters. A portion of the bioreactor effluent water is recycled to the bioreactor and the sulfide oxidizing bacteria by biological oxidation oxidizes sulfides in the water to produce soluble sulfates. The present invention uses a packed bed bioreactor configuration that uses packing material to maximize the concentration of sulfide oxidizing bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: F. Stephen Lupton, William Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10500545
    Abstract: A siphon-type air diffusion device for intermittently performing aeration, comprising: at least two siphon-type air diffusion pipes; and an air supply member that supplies air to the siphon-type air diffusion pipes, wherein the siphon-type air diffusion pipe includes a siphon chamber which includes a first siphon chamber and a second siphon chamber on the downstream side of the first siphon chamber, a communication portion which communicates the first siphon chamber and the second siphon chamber with each other, an air diffusion hole which is provided on the downstream side of the siphon chamber, a path which extends from the siphon chamber to the air diffusion hole, and a treatment water inlet which is provided on the upstream side of the siphon chamber, wherein the air supply member includes a distribution pipe which extends in an arrangement direction of the siphon-type air diffusion pipe, and an introduction portion which is branched from the distribution pipe and includes at least one air supply port sup
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yunje Lee, Makoto Ideguchi
  • Patent number: 10494278
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for harmless treatment of cyanophytes and suspended solids accumulated in lakeside wetlands, comprising the following steps: first, adding a flocculant to a water body to be treated, so as to allow the flocculation of cyanophytes to accumulate in the surface layer of the water body, and settling the formed cyanophycean floc to the surface layer of sediments; second, adding a floc stabilizer to perform accumulation and compaction of the cyanophycean floc and stabilized treatment of the floc in the surface layer; finally, conducting further reoxygenation treatment on the bottom water body. The method of the invention can realize efficient and ecologically safe flocculation of accumulated cyanophytes at low cost and control odor compounds such as sulfides decomposed from flocculated cyanophytes, so as to provide a new method for harmless treatment of excess cyanophycean accumulation in eutrophic lakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: NANJING INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHY & LIMNOLOGY. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Xiaozhi Gu, Cheng Liu, Kaining Chen, Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 10494279
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the biological cleaning of wastewater in an activated-sludge plant including at least one activated-sludge tank, the method including: contacting, in the plant, the wastewater with activated sludge in the activated-sludge tank so as to clean the wastewater; and after the cleaning of the wastewater, separating, in the plant, the suspended activated sludge from the cleaned wastewater by sedimentation in a secondary clarification tank downstream of the activated-sludge tank or in the activated-sludge tank. The activated sludge suspended in the wastewater is admixed with growth bodies in the activated-sludge tank in order to contact the growth bodies with the microorganisms present in the activated sludge and to bring about formation of a biofilm of microorganisms on the growth bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ESSDE GMBH
    Inventor: Geert Nyhuis
  • Patent number: 10494272
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-regenerating biofilter. The biofilter tank receives untreated water through an intake inlet, filters it through a filtration mass and expels purified water through an output outlet. The filtration mass includes gravel and activated carbon layers separated by a mesh screen. A compressed air line is located below the mesh screen. Periodically, the biofilter self-cleans by opening a flush valve that expels a flush water stream carrying debris. The biofilter self-regenerates by periodically stopping filtration for a time, allowing biological matter left on the activated carbon to degrade into biomass. Periodically, the biofilter removes and flushes out biomass by application of water or a combination of air and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Martin Page, Andrew J. Nelson, Benjamin C. Masters