Patents Examined by Peter Keyworth
  • Patent number: 10671097
    Abstract: A flocculation control system that floats particles that attach to nano and/or micro bubbles out of a liquid includes at least one sensing system, at least one processing system, and at least one fluid additive control system. The at least one sensing system is configured to reproduce one or more nano-bubbles with one or more particles suspended in a fluid. The at least one processing system is configured to measure, using outputs of the at least one sensing system, incident angles between the one or more nano-bubbles and the one or more particles suspended in the fluid. And the at least one fluid additive control system is configured to adjust, based on at least the incident angles, an amount of a surfactant being added to the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexe Bojovschi, Rajib Chakravorty, Sridhar Kannam, Xi Liang
  • Patent number: 10611652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for recovering a large and dry precipitated solid inorganic final product (3D), consisting of phosphorus, nitrogen and an element X selected from the alkaline-earth metals, from a first fluid (1) consisting of at least one divalent cation X2+ mixed with a second fluid (2) containing phosphorus and nitrogen, said device including at least one first reactor (19) which is intended for a primary crystallization reaction, has any shape, and is connected to a second spiral-shaped reactor (20) for secondary crystallization/deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Emmanuel Trouve
  • Patent number: 10604431
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for reducing fouling caused by process water present within a water recycling loop of a pyrolysis plant. The process water includes water, a pygas, and in some cases pygas byproducts. Fouling is caused by phase separation and accumulation of materials from the process water on equipment surfaces. The method includes applying a total of about 5 ppm to 500 ppm of one or more antifouling polymers to the process water to form a treated process water. The one or more antifouling polymers are selected from the group consisting of copolymers of unsaturated fatty acids, primary diamines, and acrylic acid; copolymers of methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride with acrylic acid and/or acrylamide; copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol; and blends of two or more thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Leen, Fabrice Cuoq, Anthoni van Zijl, Jerome Vachon, Russell P. Watson, Theodore C. Arnst, Javier Florencio, Bhaskar R. Aluri
  • Patent number: 10584044
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing iron from waste water employ one or more oxidizers, one or more treatment tanks having one or more self-generating and self-sustaining active sludge layers, and one or more spray-atomizing devices. A mixture of flowback fracturing water, or produced water, and the one or more oxidizers is spray-atomized by the spray-atomizing device inside the one or more treatment tanks. The atomized mixture settles in the one or more treatment tanks resulting in one or more self-generating and self-sustaining active sludge layers and one or more treated solutions. Additional mixtures of the flowback fracturing water, or produced water, and the one or more oxidizers may be continually spray-atomized into the one or more treatment tanks and filtered by the one or more sludge layer(s) so as to remove precipitated iron species from accumulated distillates and produce additional treated solutions for collection in one or more finish tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Amperage Energy Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Allen Randal
  • Patent number: 10568298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting agricultural manure in a confined animal feeding operation includes a separator which receives heavy manure removing particulate from suspension to produce light manure. Heavy manure is collected to a volume of heavy manure sufficient to substantially fill the first tank. Within the first tank, particulate migrates, due to the influence of gravity to form a layer containing manure comprising a lesser density of particulate than is present in the volume of heavy manure. Additional heavy manure buoys the layer such that the upper surface exceeds a height of a weir. The weir is situated in a channel communicating between the first tank and a second tank configured to receive light manure from the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Dari-Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: David DeWaard
  • Patent number: 10556826
    Abstract: Methods for regenerating poisoned salt bath comprising providing a salt bath comprising at least one of KNO3 and NaNO3, providing an ion-exchangeable substrate comprising lithium cations, contacting at least a portion of the ion-exchangeable substrate with the salt bath, whereby lithium cations in the salt bath diffuse from the ion-exchangeable substrate and are dissolved in the salt bath, and selectively precipitating dissolved lithium cations from the salt bath using phosphate salt. The methods further include preventing or reducing the formation of surface defects in the ion-exchangeable substrate by preventing or reducing the formation of crystals on the surface of the ion-exchangeable substrate upon removal from the salt bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Jaymin Amin, Xiaoju Guo, Todd LeRoy Heck, Hongmei Hu, Yuhui Jin, Pascale Oram, Ljerka Ukrainczyk
  • Patent number: 10550026
    Abstract: A method for treating ammonia-containing water containing ammonia, metal ions that form a complex with ammonia, and a reducing substance includes a first step of oxidizing the reducing substance by adding hydrogen peroxide to the ammonia-containing water; a second step of aerating the resultant water treated in the first step to remove the ammonia; a third step of forming an insoluble solid at a pH of 7 to 12 by adding at least one compound selected from the group consisting of iron salts, aluminum salts, calcium salts, and calcium hydroxide to the water treated in the second step; and a fourth step of separating the insoluble solid formed in the third step by solid-liquid separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Shuhei Izawa
  • Patent number: 10543461
    Abstract: Provided is a cartridge-type hollow fiber membrane module including a hollow fiber membrane unit module with a free end and a cartridge frame and a submerged water treatment apparatus including an air diffuser apparatus capable of intermittent and continuous aeration disposed below the hollow fiber membrane module, wherein the cartridge-type membrane module with the free end using the coarse bubble generating air diffuser apparatus capable of intermittent/continuous aeration in conjunction with an air accumulation pipe may control aeration/non-aeration cycles through adjustment of the volume of an air chamber and an amount of inflow air and carry out continuous aeration based on changes in raw water load and a concentration of solids in a membrane separation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Econity Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinho Kim, Minsoo Park, Kongsuen Hong, Namseok Gil, Hanhyoung Cho, Byungho Choi
  • Patent number: 10508045
    Abstract: Process and device for converting hydrocarbons or fatty substances that are in substantially liquid form to solid form, especially for the environmental remediation of surfaces or sites polluted by these hydrocarbons or fatty substances, characterized in that the material to be converted to solid form is brought into contact with a composition heated to the liquid state, comprising, at least in the majority proportion, tallow, and optionally a fluidizing agent, thus obtaining a solid complex material, that is easy to collect, and that can be reprocessed in order to recover the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CALUDE SARL
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Chiaramello, Claude Bertrand
  • Patent number: 10501355
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for treating and recycling organic wastewater, comprising: 1) pretreating the organic wastewater; 2) subjecting an effluent obtained after pretreatment in step 1 to a heterogeneous Fenton reaction with Hangjin clay-supported nano-Fe3O4 as a catalyst, separating the catalyst from a reaction solution after completion of the reaction, and subjecting the reaction solution to a reaction to remove COD; 3) subjecting an effluent obtained in step 2 to an anaerobic ammonia oxidation reaction to denitrify by ammonia nitrogen reacting with nitrite nitrogen; 4) subjecting an effluent obtained in step 3 to an aerobic microbial decomposition and ultrafiltration membrane separation to remove COD and ammonia nitrogen; 5) filtering an effluent obtained in step 4 to remove large particles; 6) supplying an effluent obtained in step 5 to an RO system, and using an effluent from the RO system as circulating cooling water, and subjecting concentrated water from the RO system to a softening
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: CHINESE RESEARCH ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Shouliang Huo, Jingtian Zhang, Beidou Xi, Li Zhang, Chunzi Ma, Zhuoshi He, Qiuling Dang, Hong Yu
  • Patent number: 10494280
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating a Bayer process waste comprising a slurry containing bauxite residue and dissolved aluminum. The process comprises supplying the waste to a settling area to cause the bauxite residue to settle out of the slurry, thereby producing a supernatant liquor. The process further comprises neutralizing the supernatant liquor with a solution containing magnesium and calcium to produce a neutralized slurry containing precipitated hydrotalcites and thickening the neutralized slurry to produce a clarified effluent and a compacted slurry containing the precipitated hydrotalcites, part of said compacted slurry being recirculated to the supernatant liquor to be neutralized and/or directly to the neutralizing step. The clarified effluent and the compacted slurry are disposed of separately. Also disclosed is a plant for treating a Bayer process waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: John Victor Anderson, Jean-Marc Rousseaux, Guy Peloquin, Ben O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10479715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for treating high sulphate waters. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved process by which ettringite is used to treat high sulphate waste waters by controlled precipitation of sulphate and metal ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Richard George Paxton
  • Patent number: 10472265
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method may include treating water comprising sulfur based contaminants. The method may include contacting a portion of water comprising a quantity of hydrogen sulfide with a first oxidant. The method may include producing sulfur solids as a result of contacting the hydrogen sulfide in the portion of water with the first oxidant. In some embodiments, the method may include separating the sulfur solids from the water. The first oxidant may include hydrogen peroxide. In some embodiments, oxidation of contaminated fluids may be accelerated by adding an acid in combination with a second oxidant to the contaminated fluids. In some embodiments, oxidation of contaminated fluids may be accelerated by adjusting a pH of the contaminated fluids after addition of an oxidant to the contaminated fluids. In some embodiments, the pH may be adjusted to less than 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne E. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10472263
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a chemical balancing system for a pool that includes a salt chlorine generator system. The salt chlorine generator system produces chlorine through an electrolytic process at a salt chlorine generator cell in communication with a flow of water from the pool. A pH monitoring and balancing unit is coupled to the salt chlorine generator system. A power cord connects a power supply to the salt chlorine generator. A controller is in communication with both the salt chlorine generator system and the pH monitoring and balancing unit. The controller is configured to estimate a current pH value of the pool, determine how much pH balancing solution is required to re-balance the pool to a desired pH level, and dispense pH balancing solution until the pH level in the pool reaches the desired pH level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Johnson, Kevin Doyle, Keith Schulte
  • Patent number: 10450208
    Abstract: Various illustrative embodiments of a process for enhanced flocculation and clarification of produced water from oil and gas wells using nanoparticles are provided herein. Certain nanoparticles can increase the settling rate of solids in produced water when used alone or combined with certain conventional flocculents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Oleksandr Kuznetsov, Radhika Suresh, Valery Khabashesku
  • Patent number: 10442715
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chromium-containing water treatment method that allows treatment of water that contains chromium (chromium-containing water) at low cost. A chromium-containing water treatment method according to the present invention comprises: a reduction step in which chromium-containing water 11 and a liquid 12 containing 5-50 ppm of hydrogen sulfide are mixed, and the mixture is adjusted to pH 3.5 or lower and ORP 200-400 mV by adding an acid 13 thereto, so as to reduce chromium contained in the water; and a precipitation separation step in which a neutralizing agent is added to a solution 11? obtained via the reduction step so as to adjust the solution 11? to pH 8-9, thereby precipitating and separating, as a hydroxide, the reduced chromium contained in the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mitsui, Osamu Nakai, Keisuke Shibayama, Sho Shirai
  • Patent number: 10436686
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating biological particles from the liquid containing same for purification, analysis and optionally diagnostic purposes. The inventive method comprises at least one step involving vertical filtration through a filter having a porosity that is adapted to the type of biological particles to be separated, such that said particles are retained by the filter. The invention is characterised in that: (i) the method involves the use of a filter comprising at least one basic filtration zone, whereby each basic filtration zone has a limited surface area; and (ii) the surface area of each basic filtration zone and the number of basic filtration zones are selected as a function of the type of liquid to be filtered, the type of biological particles to be separated and the volume of liquid to be filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE (INSERM), ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE-HOPITAUX DE PARIS, UNIVERSITE RENE DESCARTES-PARIS V
    Inventor: Patrizia Paterlini-Brechot
  • Patent number: 10427963
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition and adherence of scale to metallic and other surfaces in the equipment, vessels and/or piping of facilities for the handling of oil and gas produced fluid is disclosed. An effective scale inhibiting amount of alginate is added to a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. The alginate effectively cross-links with a scale-forming divalent cation, e.g., calcium, forming an alginate gel for subsequent separation and removal from the produced fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Charlesworth, Christopher John Kalli, David Glynn Thomas, Wei Shi, Brendan Francis Graham, Zachary Mark Aman, Eric Freemantle May
  • Patent number: 10414673
    Abstract: A method for testing an underwater filtration system as well as the underwater testing device which enables the operation of filtration systems in aquatic conditions. The testing method includes introducing a flow of water into the underwater testing device via a water inlet, said underwater testing device including at least one filter, bringing said flow in the underwater testing device up to said filter, obtaining a filtrate downstream of said filter and discharging said filtrate into the environment via a discharge pipe. The underwater testing device is placed underwater at a depth of at least 500 meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: TOTAL SA, SAIPEM S.A., VEOLIA EAU—COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES EAUX, VWS WESTGARTH LTD.
    Inventors: Pierre Pedenaud, Samuel Heng, Didier Bigeonneau, Stéphane Anres, Raymond Hallot, Michel Baylot, Mourad Ben Boudinar, Graeme Skivington
  • Patent number: 10392276
    Abstract: The present invention provides a TiO2-based coagulant and use thereof. The TiO2-based coagulant is obtained by the following steps: uniformly mixing acetylacetone and ethanol and dropwise adding titanium tetrachloride to obtain a solution A; mixing deionized water and ethanol to obtain a solution B; dropwise adding solution B to solution A; stirring to obtain a sol, and then aging the sol to constant weight to obtain the TiO2-based coagulant. The TiO2-based coagulant can be used for treating waste water and algae-laden water. The TiO2-based coagulant exhibits good coagulation effects and high stability, solves the problem of too low effluent pH caused by strong inorganic titanate acidity and is favorable to the subsequent treatment of waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shujuan Zhang, Xiaomeng Wang, Minghui Li, Xiaojie Song, Bingdang Wu