Treatment By Living Organism Patents (Class 210/601)
  • Publication number: 20130193066
    Abstract: A method for the cleanup of site/sediments contaminated by heavy metals, or by chlorobenzoate, polychlorobenzoates, monochlorophenol, polychlorophenols, polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) compounds or phosphogypsum, includes treating the contaminated sites/sediments by anaerobic mesophilic bacteria (Mesotoga lineage) belonging to the order of Thermotogales.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicants: Institut National Sciences Appliquees Technologie (Insat), Institut De Recherche Pour Le Developpement (I.R.D)
    Inventors: Bernard Ollivier, Marie-Laure Fardeau, Wajdi Ben Hania, Ramzi Ghodbane, Moktar Hamdi
  • Publication number: 20130196419
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition and method to decrease the amount of particulate material in suspension, both in a liquid or in air, especially in industrial processes that generate suspended particulate material. In particular, the invention is directed to a composition and method to decrease the amount of particulate material in suspension in air or a liquid through agglomeration and subsequent biocementation, by application of an exopolysaccharide (EPS) source that can be direct or through inoculation with microorganisms that produce said EPS. This allows in a first step to settle the particulate material and subsequently the cementation of the material when there are calcium containing compounds in the particulate material that has been settled in the first step, by means of the inoculation of a second class of microorganisms that have ureolytic activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Cultivos Hidrobiologicos y Biotecnologia Aguamarina S.A.
    Inventor: Cultivos Hidrobiologicos y Biotecnologia Aguamarina S.A.
  • Publication number: 20130186822
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and processes employing a low energy forward osmosis membrane water processing system to simultaneously (1) detoxify reverse osmosis (RO) residual (reject) brines from ground water treatment, and (2) expand available industrial and agricultural ground water supplies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: HYDRATION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: HYDRATION SYSTEMS, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130180915
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition for triggering microbiological processes in water, to a kit of parts comprising the components of said composition in distinct form, a method of producing such a composition and the use thereof for microbiologically decomposing water-immiscible substances, in particular crude oil and crude oil-derived substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Lavaris Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Willuweit
  • Publication number: 20130175215
    Abstract: Constructed wetland wastewater treatment equipment under low temperature for continuous operation which includes: three-section substrates filled in a constructed wetland, ventilation pipes being arranged in the substrates, a height of a bed of the constructed wetland being higher than a height of the substrates; a double wall being filled with an organic substance used as a barrier at periphery of the constructed wetland; a water distributing pipe disposed at a top of the three-section substrates and a water collecting pipe disposed at a bottom of the three-section substrates; and a water inlet pipe connected to an upper portion at one end of the three-section substrates and a water outlet pipe connected to a lower portion at the other end of the three-section substrates, a water outlet of the water outlet pipe being higher than the height of the bed of the constructed wetland.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences
    Inventors: Beidou Xi, Lieyu Zhang, Jixi Gao, Jinbiao Wang, Xunfeng Xia, Qigong Xu
  • Patent number: 8480900
    Abstract: A buoyant water heating device that may be used in a natural setting, such as a pond or lake, or in a man-made water-containing apparatus, such as a pool or water-treatment lagoon. The device comprises a water-filled, generally cylindrical anchor member coupled to a hollow, generally annular base member, and may he used alone or in combination with multiple other devices to create a free-floating blanket on the surface of the water. The device absorbs solar energy to heat water external to the device, and also provides a layer of thermal insulation between the water and the air above the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph P. Santamaria, Bruce J. Zarozny, Claude J. Chapdelaine
  • Patent number: 8480971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical pretreatment device, comprising a supporting material 1, m inlet ports 3 as fluid injection ports, n outlet ports 4 as fluid outlet port, m×n hollow filament 5 communicating between the inlet ports and the outlet ports, and n filler cartridges 6 connected to the outlet ports (wherein, m is a natural number; and n is a natural number) that provides an analytical pretreatment device allowing easier automation of the analytical pretreatment step for improvement in operational accuracy and saving in labor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawazoe, Kunihiko Akai, Kiyoshi Yasue
  • Patent number: 8470569
    Abstract: The present invention corresponds to a commercial production process of ferric sulfate whose plant can be installed scaled to the requirements of the process of application of the bio-produced ferric solution based on fayalite slag generated in copper smelting plants. No previous process has established as its method of industrial application the use of these smelter slags in the bio-production of ferric sulfate solutions at concentrations above 20 g/L, including a stage of acid-slag leaching in dynamic heaps with control of generated silica and subsequent precipitation of colloidal silica and other impurities in a stirred reactor in the invented process. The ferrous solution free of colloidal silica and other impurities is subjected to a process of bio-oxidization of the clean ferrous solution by microorganisms adapted to these metallurgical solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Biosigma S.A.
    Inventors: Enrique Anselmo Roman Espinoza, Héctor Dario Jordan Gutierrez, Leandro Mauricio Padilla Iglesias, Pedro Antonio Morales Cerda, Ricardo Badilla Ohlbaum
  • Publication number: 20130140230
    Abstract: A method for removing methane from biogas is described. The method includes: (i) receiving biogas including methane and other components into a first tank; (ii) receiving water into the first tank; (iii) contacting the biogas with the water inside the first tank; (iv) dispensing methane gas from an outlet of the first tank; and (v) producing from the tank an effluent stream that includes other components of the biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Christopher OTT
  • Publication number: 20130098836
    Abstract: Wastesolution treatment systems and methods are provided which may remove particulates and hydrocarbons from wastesolution. Embodiments may be used to treat scrubber wastesolution from exhaust gas cleaning (“EGC”) systems. Some embodiments may be used with terrestrial EGC systems and others may be used for maritime ship EGC systems. Certain embodiments remove free phase oil and particulates from the wastesolution. Some embodiments may utilize a fixed film biogenerator cultured with hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms to reduce the concentration of oils in the water. Certain embodiments may utilize a biofilter with granulated activated carbon (“GAC”) to adsorb contaminants in the water. Other embodiments may utilize GAC cultured with hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms to reduce oil concentration in the water. The wastesolution may be recirculated through the system until the measured contaminant concentration drops below a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: EnSolve Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventor: EnSolve Biosystems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130092626
    Abstract: Uses of a method of producing small bubbles of gas in a liquid include gas transfer in airlift bioreactors and anaerobic digesters, and particle separation. The method uses a source of the gas under pressure, a conduit opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator, comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs, each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop. Separation of algae from water involves delivering a laminar flow of microbubbles in the range 10 to 100 ?m diameter. Such bubbles also deliver a laminar flow in bioreactors that delivers enhanced liquid flow despite the small bubbles, which improves mixing and also enhances efficiency of gas exchange and retention of the bubbles in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Perlemax Ltd
    Inventor: Perlemax Ltd
  • Publication number: 20130092629
    Abstract: A liquid waste treatment system is described. The system may include a first treatment conduit, a second treatment conduit, and at least one junction pipe disposed there between. In some instances, the system may include an upper junction pipe and a lower junction pipe disposed between a first and a second treatment conduit. In one or more embodiments, the system may be arranged in a substantially linear arrangement, such as a straight trench arrangement or a serial distribution arrangement. The system may reduce the need for additional treatment conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: PRESBY PATENT TRUST
    Inventor: PRESBY PATENT TRUST
  • Patent number: 8404210
    Abstract: An iron composition having a plurality of elemental components is disclosed. The major component is an iron component of at least about 68% to about 92% iron by weight. Other components by weight include manganese; cerium; carbon; phosphorous; sulfur; aluminum; silicon; chromium; copper; and zinc. Combined with layers of sand, brick chips and/or charcoal, the iron composition can be used to create a water filter for filtering inorganic arsenic species and soluble metal ions out of water. To enhance hydrous ferric oxide complexation and precipitation, the iron composition may be treated with food grade acids or a water mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: George Mason Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Abul Hussam
  • Publication number: 20130062281
    Abstract: Introducing a combination of high surface area growth media and biological reactants into a sewage treatment process with or without additional reaction to improve and increase capacity of a given process. The high surface area media and biological reactants can be dispersed at strategic locations in a new or existing attached growth wastewater treatment plant so as to provide additional sites for biological growth and improved wastewater renovation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: William G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130032533
    Abstract: Integrated membrane treatment systems for treatment of an aqueous solution. In embodiments, components, such as an MBR, are integrated with means to recover energy from the system, for example from an RO concentrate, to operate the other components. In embodiments including biological treatment, RO is integrated with other components, such as an MBR with the ROs ability to remove inorganic nitrogen enabling biological treatment to be performed with only partial nitrification and the MBR operated without active pH control. In embodiments, RO is integrated with a chlorine generator to convert chlorides present in the RO concentrate for an in-situ source of oxidizing biocides for disinfection purposes. Chloramines may be generated in-situ from residual ammonia and chlorides in the RO reject. In embodiments, carrier media is employed in a membrane tank to enhance removal of residual organics by the MBR and to also improve effectiveness of membrane scouring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Libman, Boris Eliosov
  • Publication number: 20130020254
    Abstract: A ballasted sequencing batch reactor system for treating wastewater including one or more sequencing batch reactors. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix biological flocs and weighting agent to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroduce the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130020256
    Abstract: The instant invention describes a method of treating wastewater generated from structures containing concentrated numbers of individuals prior to the wastewater entering a municipality's sewer system. The method involves delivering bacterial formulation to an area that has access to the main pipes responsible for delivering the structure's wastewater to the municipality's sewer system whereby such bacteria establish a biofilm which treats the wastewater generated by the occupants of the structure as the wastewater is transported to the city's main sewer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: John Williams, Richard Schici, Bulbul Ahmed
  • Publication number: 20130001159
    Abstract: Method for treating wastewater, in particular municipal wastewater, in which the wastewater is initially received in an equalization basin reactor for performing an infiltration and inflow equalization process. The equalization basin reactor has sufficient capacity for the increased inflow of wastewater received under wet weather conditions. However, the increased inflow is not merely stored in the equalization basin reactor for later processing, but the wastewater treatment process continues throughout the wet weather period with the first stage wastewater treatment being performed in the equalization basin reactor, which further provides a substantially constant outflow of partially treated wastewater for subsequent treatment stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: John H. Reid
  • Publication number: 20120325740
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods, apparatuses, and cellular compositions and cellular products for purifying environmental liquids, such as wastewater and brine, using halophilic bacteria that produce, or can be made to produce, siderophore metal chelators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Publication number: 20120312745
    Abstract: A system for mixing and mixing processes and structures are disclosed. In addition a nozzle used for mixing is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ENVIROMIX, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Elliott Locklair, Theodore K. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20120305475
    Abstract: A method of treating waste water is disclosed which comprises placing a porous container such as a mesh bag containing a gelatinous culture of vegetative bacteria into waste water. The gelatinous culture dissolves over time and releases the bacteria contained therein. In some embodiments, the porous container may be reclaimed at any time. Treatment with the method eliminates a substantial portion of organic waste found in waste water and reduces or eliminates the need for used to eliminate organic waste build up in waste water facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: George John Joseph Pearson
  • Publication number: 20120305477
    Abstract: Fluorescence in situ hybridizations were used to identify and determine the abundance of nitrifying bacteria and Anammox bacteria (recycling bacteria) in freshly settled sludge of biological nutrient removal (BNR) secondary clarifiers. An uneven distribution was observed for recycling bacteria in two BNR systems. Settling patterns suggest microcolony formation processes are sensitive to the internal recycle rate, which allow for rapid recycling bacteria microcolony growth by increasing circulation of flocs through the aeration and anoxic basins. Sludge containing high levels of recycling bacteria are selectively collected and separated from the remaining sludge, uncoupling the solids retention time (SRT) of the recycling bacteria from the wasting bacteria. Elevated recycling bacteria SRTs increase concentrations of nitrifying bacteria in the aeration basin and Anammox bacteria in the anoxic basin, improving nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventor: Peter G. Stroot
  • Patent number: 8303849
    Abstract: A method of HCN removal from syngas including treating a hot syngas stream for conversion to chemical products by removing various components from the hot syngas stream by: passing the hot syngas stream to a scrubber; adding aldehyde to a circulating scrubber water; capturing ammonia and HCN in the circulating scrubber water and condensing water from the hot syngas stream into the circulating scrubber water; withdrawing a scrubber waste water effluent from the scrubber comprising absorbed ammonia, ammonium, and absorbed HCN, and glycol nitriles, formed from the reaction of the aldehydes with HCN, from the scrubber; withdrawing a treated syngas stream effluent from the scrubber having a reduced concentration of ammonia and HCN; and, passing at least a portion of the scrubber waste water effluent stream to a biological treatment zone for the removal of ammonia, absorbed HCN, and glycol nitriles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Coskata, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Hickey
  • Patent number: 8298422
    Abstract: A method for the treatment of effluents containing nitrogen in the form of ammonium, in which: a volume of effluent is introduced into the batch reactor in successive volume fractions, each volume fraction being treated during a subcycle, each subcycle including a phase of feeding with a volume fraction and, in an alternating manner, two treatment stages, i.e. an aerated first stage, during which complete or partial oxidation of the ammonium takes place to give nitrites, followed by a nonaerated second stage, during which the nitrites produced and the ammonium are converted to nitrogen gas. During the aerated first stage, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the batch reactor is maintained between 0.1 mgO2/l and 0.6 mgO2/l; the N—NO2:N—NH4 ratio is adjusted to be between 0.9 and 1.5 at the beginning of the nonaerated stage; and the nonaerated phase is carried out by deammonification, without the provision of carbon-based substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Degremont
    Inventor: Adriana Gonzalez Ospina
  • Patent number: 8298814
    Abstract: A method for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds is disclosed that involves dissolving ozone in a bipolar solvent comprising a non-polar solvent in which is of sufficiently non-polar character to solubilized the polycyclic aromatic compounds, and a polar-water-compatible solvent which is fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form a single phase with the non-polar solvent. The bipolar solvent with dissolved ozone is contacted with the polycyclic aromatic compounds to solubilize the polycyclic aromatic compounds and react the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds with the ozone to degrade the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds to oxygenated intermediates. The bipolar solvent is then mixed with sufficient water to form separate non-polar and polar phases, the non-polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the oxygenated intermediates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: University of Utah
    Inventors: P. K. Andy Hong, David A. Wavrek, Jiun-Chi Chao, Yu Zeng
  • Patent number: 8282826
    Abstract: A waste treatment method includes the concentration of selected strains of bacteria in a selected medium in the presence of nutrients and water, under aerobic conditions. This concentrated batch is discharged for downstream applications in wastewater remediation. A cultivation chamber having inlet ports and a circular vent port allows for adequate air introduction and heat release. Aeration is achieved by recirculation of the fluid medium from the top of the apparatus through a pipe that runs the length of the inner wall and is specially configured at the top to minimize cell damage. Fluid can be routed tangentially in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The conical bottom has an orifice allowing for recirculation of the fluid medium tangentially to the sidewalls. Upon completion of the batch cultivation, the medium and bacteria are discharged for downstream applications in wastewater remediation of paper mill, chemical plant, oil refinery, and other industrial effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Environmental Business Specialists, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Harvey Foster, Kenneth Wayne Smith, Bronwyn Duos, Elizabeth Claire Guidotti
  • Publication number: 20120241374
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of treating waste water produced during the nitration of compounds, which includes an appropriate pretreatment process and a vacuum evaporation process, so that acidic or alkaline aqueous waste water which is difficult to treat via conventional processes can be easily treated without performing microorganism treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Huchems Fine Chemical Corp.
    Inventors: Chong Pil Bae, Chang Gag Park, Dong Ha Kim, Soon Gi kim
  • Patent number: 8263385
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterial strain which is able to degrade or mineralize s-triazine compounds, such as simazine, which corresponds to Pseudomonas sp. strain MHP41, deposited under the accession number NRRL B-30908. The present invention provides a product for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with s-triazine, where the product includes a bacterial inoculum of Pseudomonas sp. strain MHP41. The present invention further provides a method for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with s-triazines, which uses this product for the bioremediation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Universidad Technica Fedrico Santa Maria
    Inventors: Marcela Hernández, Verónica Morgante, Patricio Villalobos, Cecilia Flores, Myriam González, Michael Seeger
  • Patent number: 8257461
    Abstract: A method of producing fertilizer out of sludge, in which method sludge is heated with superheated steam for achieving hygienization to destroy pathogenic microorganisms. In the method, the sludge is heated to a temperature of 60 to 100° C. with superheated steam having a temperature of 200 to 600° C. to activate increasing of the amount of soluble carbon in the sludge and to restart biodegradation of the sludge by using non-pathogenic microorganisms still remaining in the sludge after the heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Savaterra Oy
    Inventor: Olli Aho
  • Publication number: 20120211416
    Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process including at least one biological reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is coupled to the biological reactor for mixing biological flocs and weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroducing the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Woodard, Peter G. Marston, Ionel Wechsler
  • Publication number: 20120196350
    Abstract: The bacterium that can perform complete dechlorination of trichloroethene, and the bacteria consortium containing the bacterium are provided, and the method to dechlorinate soils or ground water contaminated with trichloroethene using the bacterium is also provide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicants: National University Corporation Tokyo University of University of Agriculture and Technology, PAGE SCIENCE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masafumi YOHDA, Mizuki KITAJIMA, Noriyoshi TAMURA, Megumi IWAMOTO, Tomomi FUKUDA
  • Publication number: 20120178147
    Abstract: The invention relates to a consortium of microorganisms that can be used to dehalogenate a chemical composition. Methods of use of the same for biomass production and for use of the same in bioremediation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents for and on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Rolf U. Halden, Anca G. Delgado, Michal Ziv-El
  • Publication number: 20120175301
    Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of treating a source water, comprising: providing a source water containing an amount of silicon-containing molecules; and exposing the source water to a plurality of organisms, whereby the amount is reduced after the exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Andy Komor, Keisuke Ikehata
  • Publication number: 20120168372
    Abstract: Petroleum reservoir souring caused by microbially induced production of hydrogen sulphide and other sulphur compounds and the attendant corrosion are remediated by isolating bacteriophage specific for the problematic bacteria (target bacteria) and adding an effective amount of such bacteriophage to water introduced into or resident in the reservoir to kill at least some of the target bacteria. Suitable virulent bacteriophage may be indigenous in the water or located in surrounding areas or taken from a known banked stock. Means of concentrating solutions of bacteriophage are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Douglas Baldwin, Neil S. Summer
  • Patent number: 8211692
    Abstract: The bioconversion of gas feedstreams to liquid products by direct contact with a layer of microorganism obtains enhanced productivity through the regular cycling of liquid across a substrate that supports a biolayer of microorganisms while separating the gas and liquid phases. Such processes produce liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components by contacting CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a highly porous side of an asymmetric membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with microorganisms contained within bio-pores of the membrane. A periodic laving of liquid from the liquid contact side to and away from the microorganisms can increase nutrient flow to the microorganisms while enhancing the recovery of liquid products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Coskata, Inc.
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Shih-Perng Tsai, Jian Xu, Seong-Hoon Yoon
  • Publication number: 20120145627
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, preferably to also produce a useful biogas, is described. The waste may have a total solids (TS) concentration of 6% or less while a digester is operated at a higher solids concentration, for example with a feed TS concentration of 8-12%. One or more separation stages downstream of the digester separate active bacteria and undigested orga?ics from the digestate, and return separated matter to the digester. Optionally, a feed thickening apparatus and step may be provided upstream of the digester. The upstream thickener and recycle form the downstream separation stages are operated such that the TS of the combined inputs to the digester is within a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ANAERGIA INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Benedek
  • Publication number: 20120141382
    Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid aptamers that recognize and bind the complement protein C3 or its biologically active proteolytic products and methods of their use. Particularly preferred are bi-functional aptamer construct that binding specifically with C3b or iC3b, and another target protein. Use of these molecular constructs for commandeering the opsonization process is also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Research Foundation of State University of New York at Albany
    Inventors: Hua Shi, Albert J.T. Millis, Kimi Nishikawa, Prabhat Kumar Mallik
  • Patent number: 8192970
    Abstract: The method for treating microcystin-containing water which detoxifies microcystin in the microcystin-containing water, the method comprises the step of: bringing the microcystin-containing water into contact with a Sphingomonas bacterium to degrade biologically the microcystin in the microcystin-containing water, wherein: the Sphingomonas bacterium is a strain FERM P-19480 which is deposited as strain MDB1 with International Patent Organism Depositary, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Sumino, Takako Ogasawara, Ho-Dong Park
  • Patent number: 8187862
    Abstract: A method and composition for bioremediation of environmental material. In one embodiment, material to be bioremediated is debris is obtained from a metropolitan street cleaning operation. An environmentally safe all natural non-pathogenic microbial composition is used under conditions sufficient to bioremediate the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: CL Solutions
    Inventors: Michael T. Saul, Efrain Torres, Peter A. Vandenbergh
  • Publication number: 20120125837
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for anaerobic digestion of organic waste, comprises a reaction chamber (12) and a gas pressure regulator (14). The reaction chamber (12) comprises a first cell (20) and a second cell (22) linked by a passageway (24) for flow of organic waste slurry from a lower or bottom region of one cell to a lower or bottom region of another cell. The second cell is configured to retain gas under pressure in order to displace organic waste slurry through the passageway (24) from the second cell (22) to the first cell (20) in order to build a head of organic waste slurry in the first cell (20). The gas pressure regulator (14) is configured to release pressurized gas from the second cell in order to discharge the head of organic waste slurry from the first cell (20) back to the second cell (22) and agitate organic waste slurry in the reaction chamber (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: BIO GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: John Anderson James Mullett
  • Patent number: 8182556
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Haliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8173419
    Abstract: Equipment for treating wastewater by anaerobic ammonium oxidation includes an anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel to receive water to be treated containing ammonium and nitrite and to denitrify ammonium and nitrite in the water by anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria, forming denitrified treated water, an acclimatization vessel downstream from the anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel to receive the denitrified treated water from the anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel, the acclimization vessel containing an immobilizing material that collects the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria in the denitrified treated water as immobilized microorganisms attached to the immobilizing material, wherein the acclimatization vessel has a structure such that the immobilizing material is prevented from flowing out of the acclimatization vessel, and a pipe connecting the acclimatization vessel to the anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuichi Isaka, Tatsuo Sumino
  • Publication number: 20120097606
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating wastewater containing ammonia nitrogen, in which an entire nitrification reaction to convert ammonia nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen via nitrite nitrogen is promoted by allowing nitrifying bacteria to perform the nitrification reaction in the presence of an intermicrobial signaling molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Inaba, Youhei Hashimoto, Nobuhiko Nomura, Masanori Toyofuku
  • Publication number: 20120100598
    Abstract: Different bioremediation agents' effectiveness against concentrations of diesel fuel in soil were tested. The purpose of this experiment is to find a quick, clean, and cost-effective alternative to current remediation techniques using new bioremediation techniques. Analysis indicated that the use of a mixture of Linoleic acid and R. rhodochrous generated the greatest, quickest, and longest lasting degradation rate. The mixture provided a 51.23% drop in PAH and data suggests that it will to remediate after the end of the 4th week. In second place came the Linoleic acid with an immediate drop of 36.61% before leveling out in the 2nd week. The bacteria (R. rhodochrous) started slow but moved into a greater rate every week bringing it to an overall 46.65% change. The hypothesis that the mixture of the R. rhodochrous and Linoleic acid would yield the greatest PAH degradation was supported by the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Morgan Walker Sinko
  • Publication number: 20120085701
    Abstract: A process for treating a water stream containing dissolved organic carbon and dissolved salts comprises subjecting the water stream to reverse osmosis after a pre-treatment step to reduce the amount of dissolved organic carbon directed in water to the reverse osmosis treatment step. The preferred pre-treatment step is a membrane treatment step such as nanofiltration. The process enables treatment of complex effluents including mixtures of domestic and industrial effluents. Treated water may be recycled and a treatment plant (100) employing the process forms another aspect of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: David Evans, Andrew Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 8152870
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8147700
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system and method comprises a treatment chamber having a filtration membrane spanning an effluent outlet of the chamber and a pair of electrodes in the treatment chamber so as to be in communication with the wastewater. An electrical potential difference is applied between the electrodes such that one of the electrodes functions as an anode and one of the electrodes functions as a cathode. A flow of fluid is induced out of the treatment chamber through the filtration membrane to the effluent outlet. Accordingly the treatment chamber is arranged to biologically treat the wastewater, electrochemically treat the wastewater and mechanically filter the wastewater through the filtration membrane commonly therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventors: Maria Elektorowicz, Jan Oleszkiewcz, Khalid Bani-Melhem
  • Publication number: 20120067815
    Abstract: A bioartificial kidney equivalent and a process for producing the bioartificial kidney equivalent. The hybrid bioartificial kidney comprises human proximal and distal renal tubule cells grown on particular synthetic membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
    Inventors: David Luttropp, Bernd Krause, Markus Neubauer, Reinhold Deppisch, Doris Deppisch, Andrea Schnell, Helmut Geiger, Juergen Bereiter-Hahn, Patrick Baer
  • Patent number: 8137556
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8137555
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale