Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertically adjustable screened decanter system to replace prior art stationary or pivoting effluent weirs in water clarifiers and settling basins. The screened decanter has no physical weir and relies instead on maintaining a desired flow rate by controllably varying the depth of immersion of a screened box. The decanter is periodically raised into a hood that provides spray cleaning and disinfection of the screened box. The system is capable of removing up to 85% of the BOD in a wastewater stream.

Abstract: A rocker chiller includes a chilling tank and a baffle assembly. The baffle assembly includes a drive shaft, a baffle blade extending along a bottom of the tank and a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate baffle members extending in a radial direction from the drive shaft towards the bottom of the tank. The elongate baffle members contact the drive shaft at spaced-apart locations along the drive shaft and define a plurality of openings therebetween. The elongate baffle members are sized and shaped to push at least a majority of the carcasses laterally through the heat exchanging liquid in a direction generally orthogonal to a lengthwise forward movement of the carcasses from the first end of the tank to the second end of the tank.

Abstract: A screen decanter for decanting liquid from a reservoir, comprising at least one rack comprising screens and baffles forming the sides of a cavity; a frame attached to the screens and baffles and providing a barrier so that liquid cannot pass from outside into the cavity without passing through the screens; a patterned perforated drain pipe inside the cavity and leading to an opening through which liquids may drain out from the cavity. The pattern of the openings counteracts the hydrostatic head within the rack such that flow through the screens is uniform at all depths of immersion in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the screens have a porosity of about 50 micrometers.

Abstract: A screen decanter for decanting liquid from a reservoir, comprising at least one rack comprising screens and baffles forming the sides of a cavity; a frame attached to the screens and baffles and providing a barrier so that liquid cannot pass from outside into the cavity without passing through the screens; a patterned perforated drain pipe inside the cavity and leading to an opening through which liquids may drain out from the cavity. The pattern of the openings counteracts the hydrostatic head within the rack such that flow through the screens is uniform at all depths of immersion in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the screens have a porosity of about 50 micrometers.

Abstract: A method for providing an optimized organic load to a downstream wastewater treatment process includes the steps of: providing a primary wastewater treatment plant including an organic harvester (OH) with an OH effluent output stream with temporal variation in organic content, a sludge filtrate outflow from the primary wastewater treatment plant, a valve controlled by a controller, and a sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the sensor disposed downstream of a combined outflow line to measure an organic content of a combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process; sensing the organic content of the combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process; adjusting the valve controlled by the controller to maintain about a setpoint organic content concentration of the combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process by supplementing the OH effluent output stream with organically rich matter from the sludge filtrate outflow.

Abstract: A system comprising method and apparatus for separating biologically-digestible materials from an influent sewage stream. The system may comprise a primary clarification tank to capture sixty percent or more of the total solids from an influent stream; a sludge classifying press (SCP) to isolate and concentrate biologically digestible materials from sludge formed in the primary clarification tank, releasing valuable organics, such as are found in corn kernels, by fracturing the protective casings; a grit capture mechanism in a chamber within the primary clarification tank and isolated from the bulk of the sludge containing biologically-degradable materials; a grit trap to remove grit from the sludge prior to classifying the sludge with the SCP; apparatus for adding thickener to the sludge after classification and prior to digestion; and automation of one or more elements of the process for separating and digesting the biologically digestible materials in an influent stream.

Abstract: A screen decanter for screening solids from waste water in a waste water treatment system comprising a drain manifold and a plurality of cylindrical cartridges mounted to the drain manifold, each of the cylindrical cartridges having an outer screen defining a cavity. Each of the cartridges includes a drain standpipe disposed within the cavity in communication with the drain manifold. Each drain standpipe includes a plurality of patterned openings arranged in at least one row along the length and partial circumference thereof and preferably comprises three rows of patterned openings, each row being disposed at a 120° rotational angle from the adjacent row of patterned openings. Each drain standpipe is disposed at a 30° rotational angle from its neighbor drain standpipe such that no row of patterned openings in any of said drain standpipes faces directly at any other row of patterned openings in any other drain standpipe.

Abstract: A method for static mixing in a waste water settling tank to increase the percentage of recovery of entrained solids from the waste water comprising a settling tank having a recirculation ring and a hopper bottom defining a sludge hopper, a fluid deflector centrally disposed within the space contained in the hopper bottom having a flat portion, and an inlet pipe for introduction of waste water containing second entrained solids into the settling tank and having a discharge outlet in proximity to the underside of the deflector dome and a nozzle facing downward. Influent waste water is directed vertically downward toward the flat portion and upward into the center of the fluid deflector which distributes the influent radially into contact, preferably turbulent, with previously introduced waste water containing first entrained solids to cause coalescence of the first and second entrained solids to form larger particles having increased settling velocity.

Abstract: A system for static mixing in a waste water settling tank to increase the percentage of recovery of entrained solids comprising a settling tank having a recirculation ring and a hopper bottom defining a sludge hopper having a flat bottom portion, a fluid deflector assembly centrally disposed within the space contained in the hopper bottom, and an inlet pipe for introduction of waste water containing second entrained solids into the settling tank and having a discharge outlet in proximity to the underside of the fluid deflector assembly and a nozzle facing downward. Influent waste water is directed vertically downward toward the flat portion and upward into the center of the fluid deflector assembly which distributes the influent radially into contact, preferably turbulent, with previously introduced waste water containing first entrained solids to cause coalescence of the first and second entrained solids to form larger particles having increased settling velocity.

Abstract: A system comprising method and apparatus for separating biologically-digestible materials from an influent sewage stream. The system may comprise a primary clarification tank to capture sixty percent or more of the total solids from an influent stream; a sludge classifying press (SCP) to isolate and concentrate biologically digestible materials from sludge formed in the primary clarification tank, releasing valuable organics, such as are found in corn kernels, by fracturing the protective casings; a grit capture mechanism in a chamber within the primary clarification tank and isolated from the bulk of the sludge containing biologically-degradable materials; a grit trap to remove grit from the sludge prior to classifying the sludge with the SCP; apparatus for adding thickener to the sludge after classification and prior to digestion; and automation of one or more elements of the process for separating and digesting the biologically digestible materials in an influent stream.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D and other phenoxy auxin herbicides, but also to aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides. Heretofore, there was no expectation or suggestion that a plant with both of these advantageous properties could be produced by the introduction of a single gene. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention alone or “stacked” together with another herbicide resistance gene, preferably a glyphosate resistance gene, so as to provide broader and more robust weed control, increased treatment flexibility, and improved herbicide resistance management options. More specifically, preferred enzymes and genes for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD (aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase) genes and proteins. No ?-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase enzyme has previously been reported to have the ability to degrade herbicides of different chemical classes and modes of action.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to soybean event pDAB8264.44.06.1 and includes a novel expression cassettes and transgenic inserts comprising multiple traits conferring resistance to glyphosate, aryloxyalkanoate, and glufosinate herbicides. This invention also relates in part to methods of controlling resistant weeds, plant breeding and herbicide tolerant plants. In some embodiments, the event sequence can be “stacked” with other traits, including, for example, other herbicide tolerance gene(s) and/or insect-inhibitory proteins. This invention further relates in part to endpoint TaqMan PCR assays for the detection of Event pDAB8264.44.06.1 in soybeans and related plant material. Some embodiments can perform high throughput zygosity analysis of plant material and other embodiments can be used to uniquely identify the zygosity of and breed soybean lines comprising the event of the subject invention. Kits and conditions useful in conducting these assays are also provided.

Abstract: An enhanced primary treatment (EPT) system includes an EPT settling tank. A sludge drain discharges a sludge including BOD from the EPT settling tank and a clarified effluent discharge recovers decanted fluid from the EPT settling tank. A controller has at least one computer processor. A sludge sensor is communicatively coupled to the controller. The sludge sensor provides a sludge BOD concentration measurement, or a measurement from which the sludge BOD concentration is calculated. A process algorithm controls the sludge valve to control the discharge of the sludge by gravity or by pumping in response to data from the sludge sensor of the sludge BOD concentration. A method of controlling an enhanced primary treatment (EPT) system is also described.

Abstract: A method for providing an optimized organic load to a downstream wastewater treatment process includes the steps of: providing a primary wastewater treatment plant including an organic harvester (OH) with an OH effluent output stream with temporal variation in organic content, a sludge filtrate outflow from the primary wastewater treatment plant, a valve controlled by a controller, and a sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the sensor disposed downstream of a combined outflow line to measure an organic content of a combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process; sensing the organic content of the combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process; adjusting the valve controlled by the controller to maintain about a setpoint organic content concentration of the combined outflow to the downstream wastewater treatment process by supplementing the OH effluent output stream with organically rich matter from the sludge filtrate outflow.

Abstract: A rocker chiller includes a tank having a bottom wall and a dasher assembly, which includes an axle extending in a lengthwise direction and a dasher blade extending adjacent the bottom wall. The dasher blade is mechanically coupled to the axle by a plurality of support arms extending in a radial direction between the axle and the dasher blade. A carcass deflector is provided, which is attached to the axle so that each back-and-forth oscillation of the axle and dasher blade during operation of the rocker chiller causes a back-and-forth oscillation of the carcass deflector in unison with the back-and-forth oscillation of the axle and dasher blade. The carcass deflector is spaced longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the axle and has a carcass deflection region therein that extends above a top surface of the axle and in a plane that is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the axle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of food process waste water, comprising a tank for receiving a food process waste water influent via an influent pump and discharging a treated food process waste water effluent via an effluent pump; a floating decanter disposed in the tank and operationally connected to the effluent pump; a valved outlet formed in the bottom of the tank; an upper level float switch operationally connected to the floating decanter and to the effluent pump; a lower level float switch operationally connected to the floating decanter and to the effluent pump; and a timer operationally connected to the floating decanter and the effluent pump. pH, BOD, and TSS may be adjusted. Solids are settled from the waste water and drawn off through the tank bottom after a supernatant is drawn off through the floating decanter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of food process waste water, comprising a tank for receiving a food process waste water influent via an influent pump and discharging a treated food process waste water effluent via an effluent pump; a screen decanter disposed in the tank;, the screen having a porosity of about 50 micrometers; and a timer operationally connected to the floating decanter and the effluent pump. Solids are settled from the waste water and drawn off through the tank bottom after a supernatant fluid is drawn off through the floating decanter. The supernatant fluid is passed through a filtration and membrane water purification apparatus to generate purified water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of food process waste water, comprising a tank for receiving a food process waste water influent via an influent pump and discharging a treated food process waste water effluent via an effluent pump; a screen decanter disposed in the tank; the screen having a porosity of about 50 micrometers; and a timer operationally connected to the floating decanter and the effluent pump. Solids are settled from the waste water and drawn off through the tank bottom after a supernatant fluid is drawn off through the floating decanter. The supernatant fluid is passed through a filtration and membrane water purification apparatus to generate purified water.

Abstract: Provided are constructs and methods for expressing multiple genes in plant cells and/or plant tissues. The constructs provided comprise at least one bidirectional promoter link to multiple gene expression cassettes. In some embodiments, the constructs and methods provided employ a bidirectional promoter based on a minimal core promoter element from a Zea mays Ubiquitin-1 gene, or a functional equivalent thereof. In some embodiments, the constructs and methods provided allow expression of genes between three and twenty.

Abstract: An adaptive waste water treatment plant includes an influent intake configured to receive an influent flow from a waste water influent stream. A first settling tank is in a controllable fluid communication with the influent intake. The first settling tank includes a first decanter in fluid communication with a first effluent discharge pipe. A first effluent discharge valve is communicatively coupled to a controller. A first flow meter is in communication with the controller and adapted to measure a rate of flow through the first effluent discharge pipe. A second settling tank is similarly configured. The controller is configured to control the controllable fluid communication between the influent intake and the first settling tank and the controllable fluid communication between the influent intake the second settling tank in response to a change in a rate of influent flow.