Abstract: A method for the treatment of municipal wastewater by an activated sludge process that uses an overflow weir to extract waste flows from the surface of aeration basins, which is especially useful for continuous-flow treatment systems. A downward opening overflow weir is precisely controlled to remove a surface wasting flow from the aeration basin with the weir automatically moved up and down to accurately and precisely maintain a desired depth of flow over the weir, preferably with a microprocessor-based controller executing a control algorithm based on variable inputs to provides for accurate and precise control of the depth of surface wasting flow over the weir, without excessive oscillation of the overflow weir's movement and the resultant excessive oscillation in the depth of flow over the weir.

Abstract: An efficient and low-cost process for gravity thickening and fermentation of waste activated sludge withdrawn from the surface of an activated sludge aeration basin for use with treatment systems designed for “enhanced biological phosphorus removal” (EBPR). One or more reactor tanks are used for the process with the steps of: A fill cycle, in which the waste mixed liquor flows into the tank, followed by a settle cycle, in which the mixed liquor is allowed to settle for a period of time, followed by a decant cycle, in which the clear liquid is withdrawn. The withdrawal of a volume of the settling mixed liquor for discharge is then followed by a ferment period for the remaining settled mixed liquor solids and a transfer of the fermented mixed liquor solids back to the activated sludge liquid stream process.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment method applicable to new or existing compartmented plug flow activated sludge process treatment tanks or alternatively sequencing batch reactors, which will improve the performance and efficiency in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater to remove phosphorus and nitrogen in optimizing surface wasting process steps in a densified activated sludge treatment process. The method optimizes operation of the wastewater treatment system by operating a surface wasting weir in a selector stage of the system's treatment tanks, and controlling a depth of flow and a volume of an activated sludge passing over the weir crest from the selector stage, followed by mixing the contents and controlling the intensity of mixing with pulsing operations, to establish a mixing regime and enhance development of a multiple of aerobic granular sludge microbial community assemblies in the activated sludge.

Abstract: A system for processing municipal and industrial wastewater utilizing activated sludge treatment, particularly configured to employ enhanced biological phosphorus removal, along with nitrification and denitrification, and utilizing compartmentalized activated sludge process treatment tanks in a continuous flow activated sludge process. The processing system improves the performance and efficiency in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater to remove phosphorus and nitrogen, and can be incorporated into existing or new “activated sludge wastewater” (ASW) treatment systems.

Abstract: A method for processing of municipal and industrial wastewater in waste activated sludge treatment (WAS) as configured to achieve enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR), and include design elements that promote the development of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) with excellent settling properties, and may be incorporated into existing or new wastewater treatment systems. A WAS with polyphosphate accumulating organisms are transferred into a batch flow tank to release a soluble phosphorus under anaerobic conditions to promotes fermentation. The polyphosphate accumulating organisms within the WAS are transferred to a reactor vessel to release the soluble phosphorus and then to form a liquid supernatant and a settled WAS solids.

Abstract: An activated sludge process for the treatment of municipal wastewater, particularly applicable to oxidation ditch activated sludge treatment systems which utilize a conventional race track or continuous loop reactor basin configuration. The process removes phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system, with an anoxic cycle followed by an aerobic cycle, and followed by a surface wasting cycle until a low flow diurnal period is reached in a diurnal or twenty-four hour period. Automated microprocessor control system using “oxidation-reduction potential” (ORP) and “dissolved oxygen” (DO) as process variable inputs automate aerated and anoxic cycles to optimize phosphorus and nitrogen removal using the available carbon in the influent wastewater resulting in an energy efficient dynamic dissolved oxygen control during the aerated periods.

Abstract: An efficient and low-cost process for gravity thickening and fermentation of waste activated sludge withdrawn from the surface of an activated sludge aeration basin for use with treatment systems designed for “enhanced biological phosphorus removal” (EBPR). One or more reactor tanks are used for the process with the steps of: A fill cycle, in which the waste mixed liquor flows into the tank, followed by a settle cycle, in which the mixed liquor is allowed to settle for a period of time, followed by a decant cycle, in which the clear liquid is withdrawn. The withdrawal of a volume of the settling mixed liquor for discharge is then followed by a ferment period for the remaining settled mixed liquor solids and a transfer of the fermented mixed liquor solids back to the activated sludge liquid stream process.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of municipal wastewater by an activated sludge process that uses an overflow weir to extract waste flows from the surface of aeration basins, which is especially useful for continuous-flow treatment systems. A downward opening overflow weir is precisely controlled to remove a surface wasting flow from the aeration basin with the weir automatically moved up and down to accurately and precisely maintain a desired depth of flow over the weir, preferably with a microprocessor-based controller executing a control algorithm based on variable inputs to provides for accurate and precise control of the depth of surface wasting flow over the weir, without excessive oscillation of the overflow weir’s movement and the resultant excessive oscillation in the depth of flow over the weir.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment method applicable to new or existing enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) treatment process designs which utilize the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process activated sludge process treatment tanks. The method improves the performance and efficiency in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater to remove phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). The method includes ceasing reaction cycles when a derivative of rate of change of the input flow volume of the air stream into the tank needed to maintain a low-range of dissolved oxygen (DO), in which an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) setpoint reaches a derivative value indicating that conversion of the ammonia nitrogen in the influent wastewater content to a nitrite or to a nitrate is complete.

Abstract: An activated sludge process for the treatment of municipal wastewater, particularly applicable to oxidation ditch activated sludge treatment systems which utilize a conventional race track or continuous loop reactor basin configuration. The process removes phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system, with an anoxic cycle followed by an aerobic cycle, and followed by a surface wasting cycle until a low flow diurnal period is reached in a diurnal or twenty-four hour period. Automated microprocessor control system using “oxidation-reduction potential” (ORP) and “dissolved oxygen” (DO) as process variable inputs automate aerated and anoxic cycles to optimize phosphorus and nitrogen removal using the available carbon in the influent wastewater resulting in an energy efficient dynamic dissolved oxygen control during the aerated periods.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment method applicable to new or existing enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) treatment process designs which utilize the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process activated sludge process treatment tanks. The method improves the performance and efficiency in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater to remove phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). The method includes ceasing reaction cycles when a derivative of rate of change of the input flow volume of the air stream into the tank needed to maintain a low-range of dissolved oxygen (DO), in which an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) setpoint reaches a derivative value indicating that conversion of the ammonia nitrogen in the influent wastewater content to a nitrite or to a nitrate is complete.

Abstract: A method is provided for assigning a grade to a liquid hydrocarbon fuel is relation to the potential for a water or water-based phase to form in the fuel. The method comprises sensing the electrical resistance of the fuel, sensing the capacitance of the fuel, determining the amount of water or water-soluble compounds in the fuel based on the electrical resistance of the fuel, identifying which water or water-soluble compounds are present based on the capacitance of the fuel, sensing the temperature of the fuel, and calculating the potential for a water or water-soluble phase to form in the fuel during transportation or storage.

Abstract: A method and system for asserting control over and protecting the privacy of individuals' personal and transactional information, to prevent unauthorized use thereof, and permit limited use thereof, with compensation, to the extent permitted the individual. Privacy notices are given in printed and electronic form to other parties involved in the individuals' transactions. The individuals' own data are collected and maintained in a privacy trust database. On a voluntary basis, abstracted, anonymous profile information can be made available to advertisers, in exchange for compensation to the individuals. One use is in a content broadcasting system, where receipt of profile based viewer-specific commercial messages provide financial compensation for the cost of user-selected content received by the individual.

Abstract: A method for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system is provided consisting of one or more anaerobic zones followed by two or more activated sludge reactors operating in parallel each having independent aeration/mixing means, whereby the utilization of the influent organic carbon under anoxic conditions; and thereby, the selection of denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DNPAOs) over non-denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), is maximized in order to further maximize the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen in the wastewater treatment system.

Abstract: A method and system for asserting control over and protecting the privacy of individuals' personal and transactional information, to prevent unauthorized use thereof, and permit limited use thereof, with compensation, to the extent permitted the individual. Privacy notices are given in printed and electronic form to other parties involved in the individuals' transactions. The individuals' own data are collected and maintained in a privacy trust database. On a voluntary basis, abstracted, anonymous profile information can be made available to advertisers, in exchange for compensation to the individuals. One use is in a content broadcasting system, where receipt of profile based viewer-specific commercial messages provide financial compensation for the cost of user-selected content received by the individual.

Abstract: A method for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system is provided consisting of one or more anaerobic zones followed by two or more activated sludge reactors operating in parallel each having independent aeration/mixing means, whereby the utilization of the influent organic carbon under anoxic conditions; and thereby, the selection of denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DNPAOs) over non-denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), is maximized in order to further maximize the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen in the wastewater treatment system.

Abstract: A method for delivery of targeted commercial messages. The method comprises assembling a plurality of potential purchaser profiles in an electronic file for presentation to at least one potential advertiser of goods or services applicable to a substantial portion of the plurality of potential purchasers, developing commercial message selection criteria for selecting from the potential purchasers those suited to receive a specified commercial message contained in a set of commercial messages, applying the commercial message selection criteria to the purchaser profiles to identify the potential purchasers suited to receive specified commercial messages, and presenting over a data network to a potential purchaser identified as suited, the specified commercial messages.

Abstract: A method for delivery of targeted commercial messages. The method comprises assembling a plurality of potential purchaser profiles in an electronic file for presentation to at least one potential advertiser of goods or services applicable to a substantial portion of the plurality of potential purchasers, developing commercial message selection criteria for selecting from the potential purchasers those suited to receive a specified commercial message contained in a set of commercial messages, applying the commercial message selection criteria to the purchaser profiles to identify the potential purchasers suited to receive specified commercial messages, and presenting over a data network to a potential purchaser identified as suited, the specified commercial messages.

Abstract: A method and system for asserting control over and protecting the privacy of individuals' personal and transactional information, to prevent unauthorized use thereof, and permit limited use thereof, with compensation, to the extent permitted the individual. Privacy notices are given in printed and electronic form to other parties involved in the individuals' transactions. The individuals' own data are collected and maintained in a privacy trust database. On a voluntary basis, abstracted, anonymous profile information can be made available to advertisers, in exchange for compensation to the individuals. One use is in a content broadcasting system, where receipt of profile based viewer-specific commercial messages provide financial compensation for the cost of user-selected content received by the individual.

Abstract: A method and system for asserting control over and protecting the privacy of individuals' personal and transactional information, to prevent unauthorized use thereof, and permit limited use thereof, with compensation, to the extent permitted the individual. Privacy notices are given in printed and electronic form to other parties involved in the individuals' transactions. The individuals' own data are collected and maintained in a privacy trust database. On a voluntary basis, abstracted, anonymous profile information can be made available to advertisers, in exchange for compensation to the individuals. One use is in a content broadcasting system, where receipt of profile based viewer-specific commercial messages provide financial compensation for the cost of user-selected content received by the individual.