Patents Examined by Peter Keyworth
  • Patent number: 10941063
    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: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne E. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10934192
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of removing and/or recovering metals from a dilute metal containing solution. In particular, the invention concerns a method for recovering copper from a dilute copper-iron bearing mining water, particularly from a copper-iron bearing mining wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Aalto University Foundation sr
    Inventors: Mari Lundström, Kirsi Yliniemi
  • Patent number: 10927025
    Abstract: A produced water treatment system includes a skim oil unit, a particulate removal unit, a liquid/liquid separation unit, and a flash concentration unit including a burner for providing hot flue gas into a bath vessel. One or more tubes extending into the bath vessel may be fed hot flue gas by the burner and provide a path for the hot flue gas to flow into the bath vessel. The one or more tubes may include a distribution tube comprising a plurality of ports for hot flue gas to exit the flow path into the bath vessel. At least a portion of a flow path for hot flue gas generated by the burner may extend above a waterline of a bath vessel. Portions flanking the portion of the flow path extending above the waterline may be positioned below the waterline to be thereby submerged during operation. The skim oil unit may include a heated dissolved air floatation system. The heat may be provided by the flash concentration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: W-Industries of Louisiana, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Gaspard, Brennon Vinet
  • Patent number: 10918779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to removal of protein bound deleterious substances from an extracorporeal biological fluid by changing the affinity of the substance to the protein. The invention relates to the use of displacer substances for removal of deleterious substances. The present invention also relate to a method of removal, a system, a cleaning fluid comprising the displacer substances for removal of deleterious substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Torbjorn Linden, Husam Mohammed
  • Patent number: 10919790
    Abstract: A method for removing selenium according to the present invention comprises: a valence change step of adding an oxidant to a wastewater from a facility that gasifies a fuel containing selenium in a reducing atmosphere, and oxidizing the selenium to change the valence of the selenium, and a solid-liquid separation step of adding a flocculant to the wastewater, forming a floc containing the selenium for which the valence has been changed in the valence change step, and subjecting the floc to solid-liquid separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Okino, Kazuhide Kamimura, Tetsuya Ito, Morikata Nishida, Hiroyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10919793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering device for a water treatment system comprising a biological treatment device adapted to provide a sludge from wastewater or filtrated wastewater, and/or the biological treatment device being fluidic connectable to or in fluidic connection with the filtering device for receiving filtrated wastewater from the filtering device and for delivering sludge to the filtering device. The filtering device is a cake filtration device comprising a fluid penetrable support structure and the support structure is provided as one or more tubular elements having a filtration cake provided on the inside of the fluid penetrable support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Grundfos Holding A/S
    Inventors: Tom Jæger, Dominik Marek Dominiak, Marcel Gausmann
  • Patent number: 10913670
    Abstract: Processes of consolidating oil sands tailings which includes fines and process water are disclosed. The processes include mixing the oil sands tailings with a highly water soluble salt or an aqueous solution thereof to destabilize and consolidate solids in the tailings, e.g., to destabilize and consolidate fines in the tailings and separating the consolidated solids from the process water. A water soluble polymer flocculant and coarse particles, e.g., sand, can also be used in the treatment of oil sands tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: EXTRAKT PROCESS SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Paul C. Painter, Bruce G. Miller, Aron Lupinsky
  • Patent number: 10905972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separation of oleaginous fluids, aqueous fluids, and solids from drilling or other oilfield emulsions by solvent extraction. A method for separation of oilfield emulsions comprising: providing an oilfield emulsion prepared for use in a wellbore and/or recovered from a wellbore; mixing the oilfield emulsion with at least a solvent to form at least a mixture; and separating the mixture to at least partially recover an oleaginous phase of the oilfield emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Neal Harvey, Cato Russell McDaniel, Katerina V. Newman
  • Patent number: 10900340
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for treatment of a mixture from a production well, said mixture comprising a first aqueous liquid and a second oily liquid, the treatment system comprising an extraction tube installed in said well and capable of conducting said mixture from the bottom of said well, a separator capable of separating the first liquid from the second liquid in said mixture, a first end of said tube being connected to the separator, a first injection means capable of injecting a first product into said tube, said first product being capable of improving the flocculation and coalescence of the second fluid in the mixture. Any diameter of the tube between said first end of the tube and a second end of said tube lies in an interval of 10% around a predetermined diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Pierre Lemetayer, Emmanuel Toguem N'Guete
  • Patent number: 10898830
    Abstract: A settler for decanting mineral slurries includes a tank having a side wall, a bottom and a top, an outlet for a thickened slurry at the bottom of the tank, a first overflow outlet for withdrawing an overflow stream of a clarified liquid, a slurry inlet means for introducing fresh slurry into the tank, the slurry inlet means having a slurry opening through which fresh slurry joins a body of slurry in the tank, and a stirrer having a vertical axis around which the stirrer rotates or reciprocates, in said settler the slurry opening is displaced laterally relative to said vertical axis of the stirrer and said slurry inlet means comprises mixing means. A separation installation includes the above settler and a method for separating a clarified liquid from a thickened slurry of a mineral slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Michael Reid, Guy Peloquin, Matthieu St-Laurent, Philippe Racine
  • Patent number: 10898835
    Abstract: A sub-component of a replaceable filter element that is interfacably sealing a standpipe includes an end cap, said second end cap defining a first central opening; a central tube extending from the first central opening of the second end cap, wherein the central tube defines an inner surface, an outer surface and a top surface, wherein the top surface defines a second central opening, wherein the central tube includes an actuator excluding keys, free ends, or projections; and a standpipe seal disposed proximate the top surface of the central tube, wherein the standpipe seal defines a third central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL Filtration Technology Group Inc.
    Inventors: Willie L. Stamey, Jr., Mark A. Roll, Robert H. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10888823
    Abstract: A semipermeable asymmetric hollow fiber membrane is provided, based on a hydrophobic polymer, such as polyethersulfone or polysulfone, and on a hydrophilic polymer, such as PVP. The PVP polymer comprises a high molecular weight component and a low molecular weight component. The membrane has a significantly improved permeability and selectivity, based on its structure, composition, and the method of manufacture of the membrane A process for manufacturing such a membrane by a solvent phase inversion spinning process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
    Inventors: Reinhold Buck, Jenny Deibert, Arnd Wochner
  • Patent number: 10888801
    Abstract: A separation tank for separating a contaminant from a multiple-phase fluid stream has a vessel formed by a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall. The vessel has a plurality of nested and fluidly connected chambers therein. A fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the outermost chamber of the vessel for introducing the multiple-phase fluid stream thereinto. A fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the innermost chamber of the vessel for discharging a contaminant-removed fluid stream out of the vessel. At least one chamber of the vessel has one or more gas inlets at a lower portion thereof for injecting gas bubbles into the chamber for facilitating contaminant removal. In operation, the fluid stream travels from the fluid inlet through the plurality of chambers to the fluid outlet along an elongated helical spiral flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Todd William Kirk, Daniel Clifford Whitney
  • Patent number: 10889512
    Abstract: The invention concerns the treatment of mine tailings in the form of aqueous effluents comprising solid particles. With the method of the invention it is possible to separate all or part of the water from an aqueous effluent comprising solid particles. This method comprises (a) adding at least one sulfonated dispersing agent to the effluent, then (b) adding at least one agent to flocculate the solid particles. The invention also relates to a composition comprising an aqueous effluent comprising dispersed, flocculated solid particles. Preferably it relates to a composition comprising an aqueous effluent comprising solid particles, at least one sulfonated dispersing agent and at least one agent to flocculate solid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: S.P.C.M. SA
    Inventors: Cédrick Favero, Morgan Tizzotti
  • Patent number: 10882057
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrophobic particles from a slurry comprised of water, the hydrophobic particles, and a hydrophilic component. Slurry is exposed to a gas stream to permit bubbles to adhere to the hydrophobic particles. The slurry generally flows vertically through a vessel at a velocity that maintains gas hold-up at least between 30 and 70% to maintain a bubbly flow without a slurry froth interface so that a portion of the water of the slurry, together with entrained gas bubbles attached to hydrophobic particles, flows out of the vessel with a portion of the water of the slurry and the hydrophilic component remaining in the vessel. Water from the slurry and gas bubbles attached to hydrophobic particles flowing through the vessel is discharged and collected for processing. A portion of the hydrophilic component is extracted as tailings for disposal or subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: 2678380 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Kosick, Glenn Dobby, Catherine McInnes
  • Patent number: 10882771
    Abstract: A polyhydroxypolycarboxylic acid and a water soluble phosphino polycarboxylate may be added to an aqueous system, such as a cooling water system, in order to inhibit corrosion as well as the deposition of corrosion within the system. The water soluble phosphino polycarboxylate may be derived from a phosphinyl unsaturated monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer. The aqueous system may be a cooling water system such as a cooling tower, a closed cooling water system, an air-conditioning water systems, a wastewater treatment system as well as a deionized water production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Mary Jane Legaspi Felipe, David N. Fulmer, Bing Bing Guo, Khac Truc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10875795
    Abstract: The present disclosure is in the field of chemical sciences. The present disclosure relates to a process for removal of anion from aqueous solution. The process involves removal of sulphate ion from aqueous solution using cation and organic solvent that enables precipitation of the sulphate ion from the aqueous solution. The process is simple, efficient, cost-effective, ecofriendly, enables recovery of sulphate ions, calcium ions as calcium sulphate with high purity and also enables the recovery of organic solvent in the range of about 88% to about 99%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Chintansinh Dharmendrasinh Chudasama, Sumeet Kumar Sharma, Kalpana Gopalakrishnan, Nagesh Sharma, Raksh Vir Jasra
  • Patent number: 10875796
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of neutralizing acid drainage from particulate mining waste, comprising consolidating the particulate mining waste to form a consolidated waste solid; adding a hydrophobizing material into the consolidated waste solid, and incorporating into the consolidated waste solid a controlled release base formulation, wherein the controlled release base formulation comprises a particulate base and a controlled release system, and wherein the controlled release base formulation responds to a decrease in pH from acid drainage to release the particulate base, thereby neutralizing the acid drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Soane Mining, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Soane, James Nathan Ashcraft, Allison Greene
  • Patent number: 10864463
    Abstract: A deep cone thickener with an underflow concentration rapid auto-adjustment pertains to the technical field of mining tailing disposal. The thickener includes a shell body, a dilution flocculation system, a shearing dewatering system, an underflow circulatory system, and an auto-control system. The shell body includes a thickener pool wall, a cone body, and a collection cylinder. The dilution flocculation system includes a feed pipe, a flocculant charging pipe, and a central feed well. The shearing dewatering system includes a drive motor, a drive shaft, and a rake. The underflow circulatory system includes discharging valves, underflow pumps, circulatory pipes, and a concentration meter. The auto-control system includes a PLC control system. During the underground paste filling, the dilution flocculation system and shearing dewatering system can form a paste slurry. When there is no need for underground backfill, the underflow circulatory system is used to lower the underflow concentration rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING
    Inventors: Aixiang Wu, Shaoyong Wang, Zhuen Ruan, Shenghua Yin, Hongjiang Wang, Yiming Wang, Jiandong Wang
  • Patent number: 10858273
    Abstract: A method and system of treatment of agricultural and industrial wastewaters that contain high concentrations of suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds is disclosed. The method and system includes pre-treating the wastewater, controlling the amount of coagulants used, and controlling the mean velocity used for mixing, surface loading rate, and solids loading rate. The method and system functions as a sedimentation unit and gas flotation unit (solid/liquid separator). The pH of the effluent wastewater is stabilized within the separator by ensuring that there is sufficient alkalinity to buffer the wastewater. Sufficient gas is produced in the coagulation reactions to float and concentrate the solids, which results in as high as 99 percent reduction in suspended solids, a 96 percent reduction of the phosphorus concentration, and a 50 percent reduction of the nitrogen concentration in the effluent from the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FARM PILOT PROJECT COORDINATION, INC.
    Inventors: Robert P. Carnahan, Christopher C. Tubbs, Nidal Samad