Patents by Inventor Phillip Barak

Phillip Barak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10125428
    Abstract: Electrodialysis stacks comprising a series of electrodialysis cells and anaerobic digestion systems incorporating the electrodialysis stacks are provided. Also provided are methods of using the electrodialysis stacks and systems to recover nitrogen, in the form of ammonia, from separated anaerobic digestate. The electrodialysis stacks use monovalent-selective cation exchange membranes to concentrate ammonium ions and other monovalent ions in a concentrate stream, while discriminating against multivalent cations, which, as a result, are retained in a diluate stream. The electrodialysis stacks may use monovalent-selective anion exchange membranes to discriminate against multivalent anions, which, as a result, are selectively retained in a diluate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nutrient Recovery & Upcycling, LLC
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Patent number: 9561973
    Abstract: Provided are methods for recovering phosphate from wastewater by treating the wastewater with calcium containing compounds to raise its pH to near neutral values in order to precipitate calcium phosphate compounds, such as brushite, from the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nutrient Recovery & UpCycling, LLC
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Publication number: 20150308001
    Abstract: Electrodialysis stacks comprising a series of electrodialysis cells and anaerobic digestion systems incorporating the electrodialysis stacks are provided. Also provided are methods of using the electrodialysis stacks and systems to recover nitrogen, in the form of ammonia, from separated anaerobic digestate. The electrodialysis stacks use monovalent-selective cation exchange membranes to concentrate ammonium ions and other monovalent ions in a concentrate stream, while discriminating against multivalent cations, which, as a result, are retained in a diluate stream. The electrodialysis stacks may use monovalent-selective anion exchange membranes to discriminate against multivalent anions, which, as a result, are selectively retained in a diluate stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Publication number: 20150001159
    Abstract: Provided are methods for recovering phosphate from wastewater by treating the wastewater with calcium containing compounds to raise its pH to near neutral values in order to precipitate calcium phosphate compounds, such as brushite, from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Patent number: 8864992
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Publication number: 20130299420
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Patent number: 8568590
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Publication number: 20100282674
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Publication number: 20050023220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing phosphorus from phosphorus containing waste. In one embodiment, the method is preferably carried out by contacting the phosphorus containing waste with a non-cellular membrane and precipitating phosphorus from the waste as struvite. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of removing phosphorus from phosphorus containing sewage comprising filtrates and biosolids. The removal of phosphorus as struvite occurs in two stages as primary and secondary removal. In the primary removal process, the sewage from a dewatering unit is contacted with a first polymeric membrane reactor and the phosphorus is removed as primary struvite. Subsequently Mg is added so as promote struvite formation and the secondary removal process of struvite. In the secondary removal process, the sewage from GBT Filtrate well or Centrifuge Liquor well is contacted with a second monomolecular membrane and the phosphorus is removed as secondary struvite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Phillip Barak, Menachem Tabanpour, Mauricio Avila-Segura, Juliane Meyer