And Regulating Temperature During Biological Step Patents (Class 210/612)
  • Patent number: 11866670
    Abstract: Systems and methods associated with biomass decomposition are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to adjusting a flow rate of a fluid comprising oxygen into a reactor in which biomass is decomposed. The adjustment may be made, at least in part, based upon a measurement of a characteristic of the reactor and/or a characteristic of the biomass. Certain embodiments are related to cooling at least partially decomposed biomass. The biomass may be cooled by flowing a gas over an outlet conduit in which the biomass is cooled, and then directing the gas to a reactor after it has flowed over the outlet conduit. Certain embodiments are related to systems comprising a reactor and an outlet conduit configured such that greater than or equal to 75% of its axially projected cross-sectional area is occupied by a conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kevin S. Kung, Alexander H. Slocum, Santosh Janardhan Shanbhogue, Ahmed Fouad Ghoniem, Robert James Stoner
  • Patent number: 11447836
    Abstract: A process for obtaining aqueous hydrolysates from solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. The process comprises hydrolysing at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 15-40 wt %, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution. The aqueous first hydrolysate is displaced from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid having a density of less than 1000 kg/m3. Thereafter, at least part of the cellulose of the remaining solid material is hydrolysed with a second aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 40-51 wt %, yielding a residue and an aqueous second hydrolysate product solution. This process is carried out in vertical cylindrical reactors, and the displacement fluid is supplied to a reactor in a downward fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Avantium Knowledge Centre B.V.
    Inventors: Martijn Kersbulck, Benjamin McKay, Gerardus Johannes Maria Gruter
  • Patent number: 11446719
    Abstract: Handling of municipal solid waste (MSW) is described. A method for handling MSW in a single waste processing facility includes receiving the MSW at the waste processing facility. The MSW is separated into biomass, recyclables, and plastics. The biomass is processed at the waste processing facility to produce syngas using a gasifier. The plastics are also processed at the waste processing facility to produce naphtha, diesel fuel, and/or lubricants. Waste heat from the processing of the biomass and from the processing of the plastics is captured and used in the generating of electricity at the waste processing facility. Facilities for handling MSW are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: NEXSTATE TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Bert Randall Kirkendoll, David Jedidiah Tuck
  • Patent number: 11365455
    Abstract: A process for obtaining aqueous hydrolysates from solid material containing hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, which process comprises hydrolysing at least part of the hemicellulose of the solid material with a first aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 15-40 wt %, yielding a remaining solid material and an aqueous first hydrolysate product solution. The aqueous first hydrolysate is displaced from the remaining solid material with a non-aqueous displacement fluid. Thereafter, at least part of the cellulose of the remaining solid material is hydrolysed with a second aqueous hydrochloric acid solution at a concentration of 40-51 wt %, yielding a residue and an aqueous second hydrolysate product solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Avantium Knowledge Centre B.V.
    Inventors: Martijn Kersbulck, Benjamin McKay, Gerardus Johannes Maria Gruter
  • Patent number: 11345617
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating residuals or waste streams from a plant, such as a drinking water treatment plant. The method includes the steps of obtaining plant residuals or waste streams from a water treatment plant and irradiating the plant residuals or waste streams using microwave radiation from a microwave source. The method also includes the step of drying the plant residuals or waste streams to a predetermined moisture, volume, or weight content reduction and disposing of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    Inventors: Darren A. Lytle, Mallikarjuna N. Nadagouda
  • Patent number: 10836652
    Abstract: A continuous flow treatment apparatus comprises a heating fluid management portion and a feces treatment portion. The heating fluid management portion is configured to heat heating fluid and provide the heated heating fluid to a heat exchanger. The feces treatment portion comprises the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive feces at a first position of the heat exchanger, indirectly heat the feces via the heated heating fluid as the feces are transported from the first position to a second position of the heat exchanger, and provide the heated feces at the second position. The feces are maintained at a minimum temperature for a predetermined amount of time such that the feces exiting the feces treatment portion have been rendered sanitary for at least one of storage or further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sanivation LLC
    Inventors: Emily Christine Woods, Andrew Merrill Foote
  • Patent number: 10682610
    Abstract: Apparatus for in-line liquid exchanging a biomolecule-containing liquid is provided. The apparatus comprises a means (3) for mixing at least two liquids comprising a multiple inlet flow-controller (2), the means for mixing also comprising an outlet in fluid connection with a tangential flow filtration device (1) configured in single-pass mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited
    Inventors: Charles Heise, Tibor Nagy
  • Patent number: 10118851
    Abstract: A process for the anaerobic fermentation of biogenic waste materials including the steps that a fermentation material containing the waste materials is mixed with liquid and the fermentation material suspension obtained in this manner is anaerobically fermented in a fermenter and the digest produced in the fermentation of the fermentation material suspension is dewatered of a dewatering device, wherein, with separation of press water, a press cake is obtained that has a dry matter proportion increased with respect to the digest; the press water is subjected to a solids separation, wherein a residual liquid having a dry matter proportion reduced with respect to the press water of at most 15% by weight is obtained and the residual liquid is used at least in part for the mixing according to the fermentation material step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI ZOSEN INOVA AG
    Inventors: Adrian Schatz, René Leisner
  • Patent number: 9573825
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for advanced treatment of bio-treated coking wastewater. It employs polymeric ferric sulfate (PFS) and polyacrylamide (PAM) as the flocculant for the pre-treatment of bio-treated effluent. After the process of precipitation and filtration, the effluent is guided through an adsorption column filled with environmentally-friendly nano-composites whereby the advanced treatment of the bio-treated coking wastewater is achieved. When the absorption process reaches the breakthrough point, the adsorption operation will be stopped and sodium hydroxide solution is used as the desorption reagent for regenerating the nano-composites. The high-concentrated component of the desorption liquid is sent out for incineration or production of coal water slurry, meanwhile the low-concentrated component of the desorption liquid is used to prepare sodium hydroxide solution for the adsorption process of the next batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Bingcai Pan, Wenlan Yang, Lu Lv, Weiming Zhang, Yingnan Jiang
  • Patent number: 9174862
    Abstract: In a sewage treatment plant with a membrane bioreactor (MBR), raw untreated or partially treated wastewater (influent) and/or mixed liquor in the intensified process is superoxygenated. In a preferred form of the process the influent is superoxygenated such that membrane air scouring requirements are reduced. Influent may be fed to a swing zone where denitrification and nitrification occur simultaneously through process control. In one embodiment superoxygenation is conducted in an internal recycle stream of the mixed liquor, with oxygen content supersaturated preferably to over 300 parts per million. Due to the active evolution of oxygen gas from the supersaturated stream, occurring preferably by seeding the supersaturated stream with air bubbles, the supersaturated oxygen can serve the dual purposes of meeting process oxygen demands and providing part of air scouring requirements for the membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Dennis Livingston, James Porteous, Elena Bailey
  • Patent number: 9005443
    Abstract: An anaerobic digestion device includes a digester body configured to receive organic waste and a plurality of plates coupled to one another so as to divide an interior volume of the digester body into a plurality of compartmentalized chambers. The compartmentalized chambers are movable relative to the digester body to advance a slurry of said organic waste along a length of the digester body. A plurality of ports spaced along the digester body and arranged to vent biogas from the digester body. A storage vessel is configured to receive and store biogas received from the digester body via the ports, and a heating system configured to heat the digester body. The heating system is fuelled by the biogas vented from the digester body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald E. Arnoldsen, Jr., Debra A. Arnoldsen
  • Patent number: 8999164
    Abstract: Process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: —feeding said aqueous stream containing the organic by-products of the reaction to a distillation column, obtaining two output streams: —an aqueous stream (i) exiting from the column head, enriched with alcohols having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and other optional volatile compounds; an aqueous stream (ii) exiting from the column bottom, enriched with organic acids having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; —subjecting said aqueous stream (ii) to an anaerobic biological treatment obtaining a purified aqueous stream (iii); wherein said anaerobic biological treatment is carried out with a hydraulic retention time lower than 15 hours, preferably ranging from 4 hours to 10 hours, more preferably ranging from 5 hours to 8 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuliana Franzosi, Pietro Cesti, Roberto Paglino, Lino Carnelli, Roberta Miglio
  • Patent number: 8974669
    Abstract: Novel methods and systems for efficient and economic treatment of wastewater, and other fluidized and solid organic wastes, comprise heating the aerobic digestion process with waste heat given off by the generation of power fueled by the biogas by-product of a co-located anaerobic digestion process. Other power generation processes may be utilized for supplying supplemental waste heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ecocyclet LLC
    Inventor: David Anthony Del Porto
  • Publication number: 20140339156
    Abstract: A system and method for treatment of ammonia-containing raw water from low-temperature sources is designed to provide optimum treatment conditions, particularly temperature of the raw water in the bioreactor(s) containing nitrifying bacteria. The raw water supply is split into two streams, of which one stream is heated before remixing with the other stream. The split-stream heating is optionally supported by the provision of a retention tank on the heated-water stream. A three-way valve is provided to control compressed air supply to be mixed with the raw water in dependence on water level in the bioreactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Milan ZVERINA
  • Publication number: 20140319053
    Abstract: A method and a substance treatment system for reducing a ratio of Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms relative to the total amount of Glycogen-Accumulating Organisms and Polyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms in a substance. A controller for controlling a waste water treatment system in accordance with the method. Use of the method according to control a waste water treatment system in accordance with the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT
    Inventors: Per Halkjær Nielsen, Jes Vollertsen, Kim Helleshøj Sørensen
  • Patent number: 8864993
    Abstract: A process that utilizes ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (ANAMMOX) bacteria to remove ammonium from a wastewater stream. Sludge separated from the wastewater in a mainstream is processed in a sidestream that includes an anaerobic digester, a dewatering system, and a biofilm reactor. The anaerobic digester produces digested sludge that is dewatered, producing reject water that includes a relatively high ammonium concentration and a relatively low organic carbon concentration and a relatively high temperature. The reject water is treated in a sidestream deammonification biofilm reactor that includes biofilm carriers seeded with AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria that are effective to remove ammonium from the reject water. AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria on the media carriers is utilized to contact the wastewater in the mainstream and to remove ammonium therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Hong W. Zhao, Thomas Welander, Magnus Christensson, Romain Lemaire
  • Publication number: 20140263045
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes gasifying a fuel source using a first oxygen stream supplied from an air separation unit (ASU), discharging a gasifier blowdown from a gasification and scrubbing system configured to gasify the fuel source, generating a grey water from the gasifier blowdown, and biologically treating the grey water in a reactor using a second oxygen stream supplied by the ASU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Anindra Mazumdar, Dinh-Cuong Vuong, James Scott Kain, Paul Roberts Scarboro
  • Publication number: 20140251899
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for taking liquid anaerobic digestion effluent and increasing the solids content by using the effluent and biomass to further digest both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jason Chia Hsing Shih
  • Publication number: 20140251903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improving the results of anaerobic digestion of organic waste especially animal manure such as chicken manure by removing the grit in the waste. by digesting the waste in a slurry at a temperature of 50 degrees C. or more for a period of time sufficient for the grit to settle out of the slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jason Chia Hsing Shih
  • Patent number: 8758615
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing anaerobic digestion of biomaterials using a clarifier, a batch reactor, and/or a digester are disclosed. The clarifier performs pretreatment processing of biomaterial to improve anaerobic digestion. The batch reactor and/or the digester are coupled to the clarifier and are configured to digest the processed biomaterial. A control system for an anaerobic digestion process includes a flow control system, a temperature control system, and a totalization system. The flow control system controls the flow of biomaterial and the delivery of chemical agents to the biomaterial based on conductivity, temperature, pressure, and/or composition of the biomaterial. The temperature control system includes a heat source and heat exchangers that control the temperature of the biomaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Epcot Crenshaw Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Satish Smith
  • Patent number: 8758614
    Abstract: A waste stream having anaerobically biodegradable components is fed to an anaerobic reactor where the components react with microorganisms to biodegrade the components and produce biomass and biogas. Mixing occurs in select portions of the anaerobic reactor, particularly the bottom and top portions of the reactor. Relatively heavy solids settle to the bottom and are mixed with the mixed liquor while relatively light or fine solids float to the top portion of the anaerobic reactor where they are mixed with the mixed liquor. Mixed liquor is pumped from an intermediate portion of the anaerobic reactor to a membrane separation unit where the mixed liquor is separated into a permeate stream and a retentate stream that is concentrated with solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventor: John Ewing
  • Patent number: 8753876
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering thermal energy from boiler stack exhaust gases and using the thermal energy in biomaterial processing. The apparatus and method include means to improve the boiler's operation and reduce emission of certain regulated compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Andrew K. Schwartz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8741142
    Abstract: A multistage anaerobic digester for treatment of wastewater including complex organic polymers, includes a hydrolysis stage converting the complex organic polymers received at an inlet to solubilized monomers at an outlet; an acidogenesis stage, coupled to the outlet of the hydrolysis stage, converting the solubilized monomers into intermediate products at an outlet of the acidogenesis stage; an acetogenesis stage, coupled to the outlet of the acidogenesis stage, converting the intermediate products into simple molecules at an outlet of the acetogenesis stage; and a methanogenesis stage, coupled to the outlet of the acidogenesis stage, converting the simple molecules to an end product, the end product including a quantity of methane and a quantity of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Filtration Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin Wayne Cook
  • Patent number: 8715501
    Abstract: A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ecologico-Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Hiatt, Mohammed Memon, Jacob J. L. Dickinson, James DeWitt Stein, Gary L. Ailes
  • Patent number: 8691094
    Abstract: A method and system for treating domestic sewage and organic garbage are provided. The method comprises the steps of: multi-phase separation, retting, generating sewage gas, and optional biological denitrification and dephosphorization, which can convert the domestic sewage and organic garbage into clear water, sewage gas, organic manure and sludge. The system comprises a multi-phase separation device, a retting device, a sewage gas generating device and a biological denitrification and dephosphorization device, which can treat the domestic sewage and organic garbage effectively and environmental friendly to achieve a reduction in pollution emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Huge Asia Limited
    Inventor: Ming Lu
  • Publication number: 20140083939
    Abstract: Methods for producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass and, in particular, methods for controlling steam explosion pretreatment operations are disclosed. In some particular embodiments, the total solids content of biomass entering a pretreatment digester is calculated to provide operational data and feedback control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: ABENGOA BIOENERGY NEW TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Quang A. Nguyen, Weidong He, Leroy D. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20140076801
    Abstract: A method of separating litter from liquid manure includes feeding liquid manure to a separator and squeezing particulate material from the liquid manure with the separator at a separating rate. The method also includes feeding the material to a litter reclamation plant, heating the particulate material within the litter reclamation plant from an entry temperature to a target temperature, and maintaining the particulate material above the target temperature for a duration of time. The method further includes measuring the entry temperature for a predetermined measuring interval and adjusting the separating rate if the entry temperature increases or decreases within the measuring interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Otto Roiss
  • Publication number: 20140042087
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method of degrading organic contaminants in contaminated soil, sediment or wastewater, the method being carried out by treating the contaminated soil, sediment or wastewater with thermophilic bacterium capable of degrading the organic contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: THERMOCYCLOMICS, LLC
    Inventor: Thermocyclomics, LLC
  • Publication number: 20140021131
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds, an anoxic zone having denitrifying bacteria, and an aerobic zone having nitrifying bacteria. The anoxic zone is coupled to the aerobic zone, and wastewater flows from the anoxic to the aerobic zone or vice versa. A fluidized bed heat exchanger configured to accept heat from a heat engine and to transfer the heat from the heat engine to the wastewater is positioned in the aerobic zone or the anoxic zone. The fluidized bed heat exchanger includes particulate media, and fluidization of the particulate media scrubs bacterial growth from portions of the fluidized bed heat exchanger. Treating wastewater can include flowing wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds into a biological reactor having an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone, and heating the wastewater with heat from a heat engine to facilitate denitrification reactions in the anoxic zone and nitrification reactions in the aerobic zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Alexander Fassbender
  • Publication number: 20130295650
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method of degrading organic contaminants in contaminated soil, sediment or wastewater, the method being carried out by treating the contaminated soil, sediment or wastewater with thermophilic bacterium capable of degrading the organic contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin O'Driscoll, Raymond Sambrotto, Robert DiFilippo, Paul Piccillo
  • Patent number: 8568591
    Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support an environmentally-friendly, “green” thermophilic anaerobic digestion system. The system includes a thermophilic anaerobic digester as well as various independent modular anaerobic units to generate bio-methane from certain organic energy sources, including but not limited to, among other things, green municipal waste, restaurant and organic waste and effluents from industries such as breweries, grocery stores, food processing plants, granaries, wineries, pulp and paper mills, ethanol and biodiesel plants, fat and animal rendering, agricultural field crops, organic sludge accumulation within lagoons and waterways, marine organic matter and animal manure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Knoop
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8557117
    Abstract: A system of treating high nitrogen content waste water is disclosed, where the system includes a precipitation and conditioning subsystem, an ammonia stripper subsystem, and a denitrification subsystem. The system is adapted to reduce nitrogen contamination to level below about 10 ppm and in certain embodiments below 3 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan Operating L.P. “C”
    Inventors: Randy A. Galgon, Allen Ray Stickney, Richard B. Steinberg
  • Publication number: 20130264283
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anaerobic reactor (10) for the treatment of industrial and other wastewaters at psychrophilic temperatures, the reactor comprising a mixing chamber (12) in which is located, during use, a granular sludge fluidised bed, the reactor further comprising a biofilm chamber (16) fed from the mixing chamber and housing a biofilm colonised pumice-based carrier material, and a separation chamber (18) in fluid communication with the biofilm chamber and in which treated effluent and biogas produced within the reactor are separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: National University of Ireland, Galway
    Inventors: Vincent O'Flaherty, Dermot Hughes
  • Patent number: 8529771
    Abstract: A process for working up alkaline process wastewater from the nitration of aromatic compounds to mono-, di- and trinitroaromatics, said alkaline process wastewater having a pH of 7.5 to 13, comprising the steps of a) acidifying the alkaline process wastewater by adding concentrated sulfuric acid which originates from the workup of the aqueous, sulfuric acid-containing phase obtained in the nitration to a pH below 5, which forms a mixture A consisting of organic phase which separates out and acidic aqueous phase, b) contacting the mixture A with fresh sewage sludge, and c) removing the sewage sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ruediger Fritz, Renate Hempel, Michael Zoellinger, Anne-Kathrin Merten, Doris Zschieschang, Ina Homann, Annett Gersdorf, Holger Allardt, Reiner Reetz, Elvira Flegel
  • Patent number: 8524084
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds, an anoxic zone having denitrifying bacteria, and an aerobic zone having nitrifying bacteria. The anoxic zone is coupled to the aerobic zone, and wastewater flows from the anoxic to the aerobic zone or vice versa. A fluidized bed heat exchanger configured to accept heat from a heat engine and to transfer the heat from the heat engine to the wastewater is positioned in the aerobic zone or the anoxic zone. The fluidized bed heat exchanger includes particulate media, and fluidization of the particulate media scrubs bacterial growth from portions of the fluidized bed heat exchanger. Treating wastewater can include flowing wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds into a biological reactor having an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone, and heating the wastewater with heat from a heat engine to facilitate denitrification reactions in the anoxic zone and nitrification reactions in the aerobic zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Alexander Fassbender
  • Patent number: 8480901
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and products for biomass digestion, which includes the production of biogas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified Class A Biosolids, and pathogen reduced organic liquid fertilizer. Through the digestion of waste materials using sequential phases in an efficient digestion process, enhanced biomass conversion efficiency and improved output of products (in quantity and/or quality) are obtained with a significant reduction in dwell time in each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Landmark Structures I, LP
    Inventor: Detlev K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8465645
    Abstract: A renewable energy microgeneration system is disclosed. The system comprises one or more portable containers that include a plurality of small holding tanks that are configured to perform at least one of pasteurization and thermophilic anaerobic digestion on waste, a large holding tank that is configured to perform mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the waste after at least one of pasteurization and thermophilic anaerobic digestion is performed, and a de-watering unit that is configured to dry what remains of the waste after mesophilic anaerobic digestion is performed. The system further comprises a controller for automatically moving the waste between the plurality of small holding tanks, the large holding tank, and the de-watering unit as required to facilitate mesophilic anaerobic digestion in the large holding tank. Further, the portable containers are configured to be transported to a site and placed in fluid communication with each other at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: SEaB Energy Holdings Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicolas W. Sassow
  • Patent number: 8394271
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the anaerobic digestion of high-solids waste material. The apparatus includes a closed container having a relatively circular outer wall. The closed container has a first passage having an inlet in which the waste material flows in a first direction, a second passage in which the waste material flows in a second direction, and a divider having an end. The divider separates the first passage from the second passage, such that the waste material flows around the end of the divider when flowing from the first passage to the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: DVO, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Dvorak
  • Publication number: 20120318735
    Abstract: A process for the thermophilic aerobic treatment of concentrated organic waste water includes the following stages: subjecting the waste water to a fluidized-bed thermophilic aerobic biological treatment, inside a closed reactor, provided with a thermostat control system and a hydraulic recirculation system; subjecting the water to an ultrafiltration treatment; and discharging treated waste water, wherein pure oxygen O2 is insufflated inside the reactor; lime Ca(OH)2 is available during the fluidized-bed thermophilic aerobic biological treatment, whereby the lime forms by reacting with carbon dioxide generated by the degradation of the organic substrate in the biological process, a natural inert supporting medium consisting of microparticles of calcium carbonate, and the microparticles enable the development thereon of an adherent aerobic bacterial flora. A plant that implements the process of thermophilic aerobic treatment of concentrated organic waste water is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: IDROCLEAN SPA
    Inventors: Giorgio Bertanza, Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Pier Francesco Ravasio, Alberto Sancandi
  • Patent number: 8308946
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing anaerobic digestion of biomaterials using a clarifier, a batch reactor, and/or a digester are disclosed. The clarifier performs pretreatment processing of biomaterial to improve anaerobic digestion. The batch reactor and/or the digester are coupled to the clarifier and are configured to digest the processed biomaterial. A control system for an anaerobic digestion process includes a flow control system, a temperature control system, and a totalization system. The flow control system controls the flow of biomaterial and the delivery of chemical agents to the biomaterial based on conductivity, temperature, pressure, and/or composition of the biomaterial. The temperature control system includes a heat source and heat exchangers that control the temperature of the biomaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Epcot Crenshaw Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Satish Smith
  • Patent number: 8298424
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an anaerobic digester configured to include input reactors into which livestock wastewater or food waste (hereinafter, ‘inflow’) is introduced; regions of an anaerobic digestion reactor designed for the inflow passing through an input reactor to perform methane fermentation to produce and transfer biogas simultaneously into the next region; an inlet pipe into which sludge liquid is drawn; an inlet pipe into which activated liquid is drawn; a biogas capturing device; a first heat exchange tube to allow the sludge liquid to perform heat exchange with a new inflow; regions of a subsequent treatment reactor to allow the sludge liquid whose heat exchange is completed to be introduced and to treat gas odor components generated from the sludge liquid; and a liquid-composting reactor in which the emitted sludge whose odor components have been removed is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Sang Bum Lee, Ke Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8221626
    Abstract: A renewable energy microgeneration system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: SEaB Energy Holdings Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicolas W. Sassow
  • Publication number: 20120152831
    Abstract: A method for cleaning waste water is provided whereby the waste water is led through a throughput tank having filler materials to which aerobic microorganisms are adhered and wherein the throughput tank is ventilated with an oxygen containing gas. As filler materials, materials are used which have a specific weight approximately equal to the specific weight of the waste water whereby the filler materials are suspended in the waste water. The inflow of the waste water into the throughput tank and the ventilation of the throughput tank is affected from bottom of the throughput tank and in such a gas amount that the waste water and the filler bodies suspended therein are mixed and the microorganisms on the filler bodies are supplied with sufficient oxygen. The device has a throughput tank with a tank bottom, a tank wall, wherein the inflow connecting pipe and the ventilation arrangement are arranged on the tank bottom and the outflow connecting pipe is arranged at the upper area of the throughput tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Holger Blum
  • Patent number: 8202721
    Abstract: A waste material processing system includes a closed container for holding waste material having a first passage in which the waste material flows in a first direction, the first passage having first and second ends, the first end including an inlet for waste material, a second passage in which the waste material flows in a direction opposite the first direction, the second passage having first and second ends, the second end including an outlet. The first passage is separated from the second passage by a divider, the second end of the first passage being adjacent the first end of the second passage, and the first end of the first passage being adjacent the second end of the second passage. A heating device is positioned in the first passage and/or the second passage to heat the waste material with a gas and to induce the waste material to move in a corkscrew-like fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: DVO, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 8197689
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds, an anoxic zone having denitrifying bacteria, and an aerobic zone having nitrifying bacteria. The anoxic zone is coupled to the aerobic zone, and wastewater flows from the anoxic zone to the aerobic zone or vice versa. The wastewater treatment system is configured to accept heat from a heat engine to heat the wastewater. Treating wastewater can include flowing wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds into a biological reactor having an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone, and heating the wastewater with heat from a heat engine to facilitate denitrification reactions in the anoxic zone and to facilitate nitrification reactions in the aerobic zone. In some cases, the wastewater is heated with a three phase fluidized bed heat exchanger having porous particulates in contact with heat exchange tubes, with bacteria coupled to an interior of the porous particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander Fassbender
  • Patent number: 8182688
    Abstract: A biogas generator employs an anaerobic digestion process to convert organic waste material within a sealed reservoir to a biogas. A solar thermal panel connected to the reservoir heats a fluid traveling through a conduit, which is connected to a heat exchanger within the reservoir. The heated fluid travels through the heat exchanger and heats the waste material to facilitate the anaerobic digestion process. Solar cells produce electricity to operate one or more pumps that pump the heated fluid through the conduit, and pump the waste material and the generated biogas, into and out of the reservoir. A rotating lid structure has elongated agitators which extend into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons
  • Patent number: 8137955
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for heat treatment of a biomass includes allowing biomass in a pretreatment reactor to undergo a pre-treatment reaction process. The pre-treatment reaction process yields pretreated biomass along with soluble components. A first liquid having a first temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the first temperature to a second temperature. At least a portion of the soluble components are captured in the first liquid, and the at least a portion of the soluble components in the first liquid and the first liquid are removed from the pretreatment reactor. A second liquid having a third temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the third temperature to a fourth temperature, the fourth temperature being less than second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda
  • Patent number: 8123944
    Abstract: In the field of water treatment, this invention relates to economical methods, processes and apparatus for preparing Class A bio-solids wherein: dewatering costs and energy costs are efficient, the solids product has reduced ammonia and sulfide odor, and the concentration of solids in the aqueous solids may vary from approximately 3 to approximately 90 percent. This invention presents mesMophilic and thermophilic digestion in concert, wherein mesophilic digestion incorporates strains of Thiobacillus with nitrifiers to remove sulfide(s) and ammonia from bio-solids. Chemical dewatering of thermophilic digested bio-solids is accomplished incorporating a cationic, quatemized or an anionic polyacrylamide with at least one selected from a list consisting of: an aluminum salt, an iron salt, an amine comprising a quatemized nitrogen moiety and any combination therein. A quatemized polyacrylamide is presented alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ClearValue Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Haase, Eileen Taylor
  • Patent number: 8110108
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for treating wastewater. The system includes a microorganism clad structure positioned in a body of wastewater such that the microorganism clad structure is at least partially submerged in the body of wastewater. The apparatus also includes an aeration device, such as a propeller-type, surface mounted aeration device, supplying a horizontal flow of oxygenated water to the microorganisms attached to the microorganism clad structure such that the microorganisms may carry out a biological process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Aeration Industries International LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Durda, G. Shawn Brown, Cory Mortenson