Patents Examined by Claire Norris
  • Patent number: 11547955
    Abstract: A purification system for separating a molecule of interest from a solution is provided and generally includes a plurality of resin processing sections, wherein each of the resin processing sections is controllably separated from each other via a configurable valve, wherein the configurable valve is configured to introduce or evacuate a fluid/resin into/out of a proximately located processing section, a plurality of inlets configured to introduce fluid and/or resin into one or more of the plurality of resin processing sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Justin Allison, David Struzik
  • Patent number: 11549716
    Abstract: A method of conditioning wastewater includes flowing wastewater into and through a first fluid tube and flowing a heat transfer fluid into and through a second fluid tube. The heat transfer fluid entering the second fluid tube has a different temperature than the wastewater entering the first fluid tube. The first fluid tube and said second fluid tube are positioned within a first casing that is surrounded by insulation. The first casing and the insulation are positioned within a second casing. The wastewater in said first fluid tube and said heat transfer fluid in said second fluid tube are arranged to allow heat transfer between the wastewater in said first fluid tube and the heat transfer fluid in said second fluid tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Robert W. Jacobi
  • Patent number: 11541439
    Abstract: A permeable reactive barrier having two or more layers of a geotextile fabric inoculated with a bioremediation microbe is provided. The permeable reactive barrier further includes two or more layers of coarse-grained geological material separating the two or more layers of geotextile fabric such that any pair of adjacent layers of geotextile fabric is separated by a layer of coarse-grained geological material. The permeable reactive barrier includes a perforated metal casing surrounding and containing the layers of coarse-grained geological materials and geotextile fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
    Inventors: Cevat Yaman, Ayse Burcu Yaman
  • Patent number: 11541399
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Bryan A. Chin, Shin Horikawa, Steve R. Best, I-Hsuan Chen, Zhongyang Cheng, Songtao Du
  • Patent number: 11535545
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and process for the anaerobic and aerobic treatment of landfill wastewater, including landfill condensate, landfill leachate and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: McFadden Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Frank McFadden
  • Patent number: 11524913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-processing system configured to produce purified waste water. The system comprises an inlet for waste water, one or more biological water-treatment units, and an outlet for purified water. The one or more biological water-treatment units are fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet. Each of the one or more biological water-treatment units comprises: an inlet for receiving water to be treated, a reactor, an outlet for treated water, and ventilation means configured to provide ventilation to the reactor. The reactor is divided into two or more compartments by one or more screens. Each compartment is in fluid communication with the ventilation means, and comprises a biofilm on one or more surfaces. The reactor is configured to expose at least a portion of the waste water to the biofilm in the presence of air supplied by the ventilation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ecotricity Group Limited
    Inventor: Peter Kaye
  • Patent number: 11524901
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for efficiently separating magnesium and lithium from salt lake brine, and simultaneously preparing high-purity magnesium oxide and battery-grade lithium carbonate. The detailed processing steps are as follows: (1) adding urea into the brine to dissolve, (2) placing the solution into the reactor for hydrothermal reaction, the magnesium ion will precipitate and enter the solid phase; (3) filtering and drying the production to get the magnesium carbonate solid, while the lithium ion remains in the liquid phase; (4) after directly concentration and precipitation, the battery-grade lithium carbonate can be obtained, while the calcination of solid-phase product results in the high-purity magnesium oxide. In this method, urea is used as the precipitant to separate magnesium and lithium in salt lake without introducing any new metal ion, and the brine solution is not diluted. The solid product is white and fluffy powder, which is easy to filter and separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xu Xiang, Xue Duan
  • Patent number: 11518698
    Abstract: [Problem] A microorganism immobilized carrier is provided that is easy for microorganisms to adhere to, and is able to reduce the manufacturing cost of the microorganism immobilized carrier and the running cost of an apparatus that uses the microorganism immobilized carrier. [Solution] A microorganism immobilized carrier is characterized by including a carbon component and a resin, having a zeta potential of from ?25 mV to 0 mV, and containing microorganisms adhered to a surface thereof and/or an interior thereof. The microorganisms are preferably nitrifying bacteria. The carbon component preferably has a particle size of from 1 ?m to 1000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO TANSO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Zenki, Tetsuro Tojo, Masatoshi Takeshita, Tomoya Nakazono, Ai Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11504649
    Abstract: A method of processing thin stillage in an ethanol refining operation is provided. The method comprises treating thin stillage upstream of a concentration or evaporation step with an aid comprising a sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, an ethoxylated sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, or a combination thereof, thereby forming treated thin stillage. The aid may include at least one of sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Collins, David W. Scheimann, Jason S. Van't Hul, Philip M. Eastin
  • Patent number: 11498884
    Abstract: A system for recovering fat, oil and grease (FOG) from wastewater has multiple annular flotation zones in a concentric configuration surrounding a central column to create progressively increasing surface areas for FOG and solid particles flotation. Each flotation zone may be equipped with an independent pressurized micro air and/or ozone bubbles distribution system. The FOG is recovered in the first flotation zone without chemical additions. Coagulant and flocculant may be added in the second flotation zone to maximize removals of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and colloidal particulates and produce clear effluent. Magnesium chloride is added in the third flotation zone to remove phosphorus and to form struvite particulates that can be used as fertilizer. Since both organic loading and solid loading in the treated effluent are significantly reduced, poultry processing plants can more easily meet wastewater treatment plant discharge limits and avoid surcharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Besser Tech Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William Michael Fields, Yuanchun Xu, Guichun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11485659
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and processes for treating a Waste Stream comprising biosolids, the Waste Stream provided at varying flow rates and solids concentrations so as to achieve an SOUR of 1.5 mg O2/g/hr or less and an ORP of at least +300 mV. The system includes a biosolids manipulation device to adjust the volume of suspended solids as a percent of the total volume of the Waste Stream to five (5) percent or less; a chemical oxidant feed device to dose the Waste Stream with an oxidant such as chlorine dioxide, ozone, or similar oxidant, and a treatment vessel associated with said chemical oxidant feed device through which said Waste Stream flows, wherein said chemical oxidant feed device and said treatment device are configured so as to achieve a dose rate between 25 and 200 parts per million of the Waste Stream and substantially complete mixing of the oxidant within 30 seconds of dose delivery in the treatment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BCR ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frederick P. Mussari
  • Patent number: 11485655
    Abstract: A water treatment control system includes an aerobic tank in which aerobic treatment is carried out, an aerobic tank aeration device that aerates to-be-treated water in the aerobic tank, a membrane filtration tank including a separation membrane that filters the to-be-treated water treated in the aerobic tank, a membrane filtration tank measurement instrument that measures the ammonia concentration of the to-be-treated water in the membrane filtration tank, as a membrane filtration tank ammonia concentration measurement value, and an aerobic tank aeration air volume calculation device that sets the aerobic tank aeration air volume of the aerobic tank aeration device on the basis of the membrane filtration tank ammonia concentration measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Suda, Nozomu Yasunaga, Eiji Imamura, Yoshifumi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11479489
    Abstract: A ground water contamination remediation process includes the steps of identifying a source and location of land-based ground water contamination and excavating the soil above and within the location of the contamination to create a void. The width and depth of the void is increased to a predetermined size until the contaminated ground water is exposed creating a man-made treatment lake by allowing the contaminated ground water to partially fill the void. In one embodiment, the water in the treatment lake is aerated to reduce the amounts of hydrogen sulfide, methane, and biodegradable compounds in the contaminated water. In another embodiment, an adsorbent material is added to the treatment lake so to isolate per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The adsorbent material is applied to or mixed into PFAS contaminated water, PFAS is adsorbed, and the solid adsorbent materials settle to the bottom of the lake for subsequent management or removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Pure Muskegon Development Company, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel G. Greene, David C. Bos, James Reminga, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11471791
    Abstract: A process is provided for separating hydrophobic material from a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic material using peptide-based amphiphilic organogelators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Raman Ravishankar, Chinthalapati Sivakesava Raju, Jitalaxmi Bharali, Sheshachala Srinivasa Narasimha, Peddy Venkat Chalapathi Rao, Nettem Venkateswarlu Choudary
  • Patent number: 11472726
    Abstract: Methods of treating wastewater with a sequencing batch reactor are disclosed. The methods include determining an anticipated flow rate of the wastewater and independently operating one or more reactor in a continuous flow mode responsive to the anticipated flow rate. Sequencing batch reactor systems are also disclosed. The systems include a plurality of reactors operating in parallel, a loading subsystem, a measuring subsystem, and a controller. The controller can be configured to independently operate each of the reactors in a batch flow mode or in a continuous flow mode responsive to the anticipated flow rate. Methods of retrofitting existing sequencing batch reactor systems and methods of facilitating treatment of wastewater with sequencing batch reactor systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Norcross, Nicholas A. Barczewski, Patrick T. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11459252
    Abstract: An aerobic biological treatment apparatus includes a reaction tank (tank body), a water permeation plate horizontally installed in a lower part of the reaction tank, a large-diameter particle layer formed on an upper side of the water permeation plate, a small-diameter particle layer formed on an upper side of the large-diameter particle layer, an oxygen dissolution membrane module disposed on an upper side of the small-diameter particle layer, a receiving chamber formed on a lower side of the water permeation plate, a raw water dispersion pipe supplying raw water into the receiving chamber, a diffuser pipe installed to perform gas diffusion in the receiving chamber and the like. A condensed water drainage pipe branches from an exhaust pipe from the oxygen dissolution membrane module, and a valve is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsurou Fukase, Hideki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11459251
    Abstract: In the field of wastewater or effluent treatment, a method for treating wastewater includes a first step of treating carbon contained in the wastewater by means of oxygen, a second step of treating the nitrogen contained in the treated water at the end of the first step, a third step of determining a ratio between a concentration of carbon and a concentration of nitrogen in the water at the end of the first step, a fourth step of controlling the supply of oxygen necessary for the first step as a function of a difference between the determination carried out in the third step and a strictly positive setpoint of concentration ratio. A device implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SUEZ GROUPE
    Inventors: Irène Mozo, Marc Caligaris
  • Patent number: 11453606
    Abstract: A process for purification of waste from zootechnical sources or from small agri-food companies is provided. A plant for carrying out the wastewater treatment process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: CAMPAGNA & PARTNERS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Diego Binaghi, Marco Baldi
  • Patent number: 11447401
    Abstract: Separation columns and methods for PFAS removal from water resources. Each column comprises perforated trays, level-controlled gates and air spargers placed on the top of each tray. Air bubbles of optimum size injected on the surface of each tray rise to the top of each tray, separating PFAS, thus creating a PFAS-enriched foam at the top. The amount of air or other gas injected at each stage of the column is optimally determined to increase the gas-water contact time and decrease enriched foam production. The foam is collected from the surface and undergoes a simple low-pressure evaporation process to break the bubbles. Multi-stage air injection using a sparger or distributer to inject air or other gas bubbles in each tray produces higher turbulence on each tray and more fresh and small bubbles of controlled size along the column height, thus enhancing contaminant removal and reducing operating costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Zahra Abbasian Chaleshtari, Reza Foudazi
  • Patent number: 11440828
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating sludge containing phosphorus, ammonia and magnesium and enhancing the dewaterability of the sludge. The sludge is directed into a biological fermenter operated under anaerobic conditions. By controlling the temperature of the sludge in the fermenter or the hydraulic retention time of the sludge in the fermenter, phosphorus, ammonia and magnesium is released from the solids in the sludge into a liquid forming a part of the sludge. Sludge from the fermenter is subjected to a solids-liquid separation process that produces a concentrated sludge and a liquid. The concentrated sludge or separated solids is directed to a thermal hydrolysis reactor that thermally hydrolyzes the concentrated sludge. After thermally hydrolyzing the concentrated sludge, the concentrated sludge is directed to an anaerobic digester that anaerobically digests the concentrated sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Hong W. Zhao, Sudhakar Viswanathan, Luther G. Wood, Brad Mrdjenovich, Richard W. DiMassimo, James McQuarrie