In Bed Form Patents (Class 210/617)
  • Patent number: 7794596
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater wherein the wastewater is introduced in prescribed doses of wastewater to a first treatment zone, establishing a negative pressure gradient using mechanical ventilation within said zone causing exhaust air flow to remove gases and promote evaporation in the zone. Excess wastewater passing through the zone is collected and reintroduced. The zone contains particulate material with a large wetted surface area covered in a microbiological slime layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Environmental Solutions Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Robert Maurice Charles Patterson
  • Patent number: 7790035
    Abstract: Described are a tertiary disinfection system and process for treating a liquid effluent from a domestic secondary treatment unit. The liquid effluent has pathogenic micro-organisms, remaining suspended solids and dissolved organic pollutants. The system has an inlet, a subterranean initial treatment zone filled with a filtering material for removing some suspended solids, dissolved organic pollutants and pathogenic micro-organisms. The initial treatment zone allows the liquid effluent to percolate downward. The system also has a subterranean polishing zone extending horizontally outward from the initial treatment zone, and filled with a filtering material having pore sizes allowing upward capillary dispersion of the liquid effluent. The system also has a subterranean aeration zone having an interface with the initial treatment zone and the polishing zone, to provide aeration enabling aerobic accommodation of microflora for disinfection of the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Premier Tech Technologies LTEE
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dautais, Roger Lacasse, Denis Pettigrew, Pierre Talbot
  • Patent number: 7790034
    Abstract: A process has steps of one or more of aerobic treatment to remove COD and nitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to denitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to remove selenium and anaerobic treatment to remove heavy metals and sulphur. The process may be used to treat, for example, FGD blow down water. The process may further include one or more of (a) membrane separation of the waste stream upstream of the anoxic digestion to remove selenium, (b) dilution upstream of the biological treatment step, (c) physical/chemical pretreatment upstream of the biological processes or dilution step to remove TSS and soften the waste stream, or (d) ammonia stripping upstream of the biological treatment steps or dilutions step. These processes may be provided in a variety of suspended growth or fixed film reactors, for example a membrane bioreactor or a fixed film reactor having a GAC bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gerard Peeters, William A. Bonkoski, Pierre Lucien Cote, Hidayat Husain, Timothy Michael Pickett
  • Patent number: 7785469
    Abstract: An aerated biological filtration system (10) for treating waste water includes a treatment vessel (11) of elongated configuration which incorporates a circulating filter bed (23) and a static filter bed (24). The circulating filter bed incorporates a particulate material such as granulated activated carbon having a specific gravity in the range of 1.2 to 1.4 and effective size of 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm. The circulating filter bed is disposed above the static filter bed and an aeration system (27) is disposed between the filter beds. The aeration system is arranged to diffuse air through the circulating bed either continuously or intermittently so as to provide oxygen to micro-organisms attaching to the particulate material and to cause slow circulation of that particulate material. The system has particular application for domestic recycling of grey water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nubian Water Systems Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Gregory W. Maclean
  • Publication number: 20100213122
    Abstract: The present invention relates to wastewater treatment in general and to methods of controlling odors and degrading compounds contained in wastewater in particular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Novozymes Biologicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Tatarko
  • Patent number: 7776217
    Abstract: A bioretention system and method are provided for removing phosphorus, nitrogen and other materials from effluent such as wastewater and stormwater. The system and method can include a filtration media comprising water treatment residuals and other fill such as soil. Plants can be growing in the soil. The system can also include a drainage system to regulate outflow, to function during both low and high throughputs of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: William Lucas
  • Patent number: 7749384
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes: a containment system 208 having at least one sidewall and bottom that are substantially impermeable to a passage of water; a distribution system 124 to introduce an aqueous stream comprising nitrates into the containment system; a de-nitrification system 128 comprising a de-nitrification media, the media being contained within the containment system; a pump to pressurize the stream and cause the stream to pass through the de-nitrification media, thereby converting at least most of the nitrates into nitrogen gas and forming a treated stream; and a collection system 132 to remove the treated stream from the containment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventors: David W. Patton, Gerald Lee Lamb, Jamie Lee Miller
  • Patent number: 7744755
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biological treatment and filtration system equipment that can reliably remove most of materials harmful to the human body and arsenic components not capable of being removed until now, which are contained in the raw water, by a series of purification operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Toyofumi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7744759
    Abstract: A downflow sand filter used for treating wastewater which has degraded in function from its original design is at least in part rejuvenated by flowing air downwardly through the bed during time when flow of wastewater is ceased. The low velocity air flow helps dewater the bed and leads to the removal of accumulated organic material which has clogged the pores of the bed. In accord with different embodiments, air flow is alternated with water flow in particular ways, for instance, so the water flow is sufficient to create ponding or is sufficient to maintain moisture content within the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: David A. Potts
  • Patent number: 7736513
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Jingxu Zhu, George Nakhla, Yubo Cui
  • Patent number: 7727395
    Abstract: A method for processing brewery waste that includes receiving spent grain, low strength wastewater and high strength wastewater. The spent grain, low strength wastewater and high strength wastewater is processed with a plug flow anaerobic digester to produce a first output. A portion of the first output is processed with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket digester to produce a second output. A portion of the second output is processed with a fixed-film anaerobic digester to produce a third output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: PurposeEnergy, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Fitch, David M. O'Keefe, David C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 7727396
    Abstract: An upflow anaerobic reactor includes an effluent outlet configured to direct effluent out of the reactor and a fluid-filled gas trap configured to prevent loss of biogas from the vessel. An auger assembly is operably coupled to the effluent outlet to prevent clogging of the effluent outlet by solid matter that tends to collect in the effluent outlet. The auger assembly includes at least one helical screw conveyor that rotates so as to remove solid material that collects in the effluent outlet. auger assembly can be operated on a continuous or semi-continuous basis so as to allow for continuous operation of the reactor. The auger assembly can be operated on a continuous or semi-continuous basis so as to allow for continuous operation of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Conly L. Hansen, Carl S. Hansen, Edward D. Watts, Kevin D. Pack, Jacob Shaun Dustin, John C. Milligan
  • Patent number: 7727398
    Abstract: Colored wastewater from industries, agriculture and the like is discolored by adjusting pH of the wastewater and filtering the wastewater through a mixture of acid-treated sawdust produced from sawdust which has been disposed of after being used for fungi production and charcoal thereby to remove a color component fraction from the wastewater and through a filter material, for example acid-treated rice husk charcoal, in which autochthonous microorganisms are embedded thereby to absorb color components remaining in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Seisuke Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7708886
    Abstract: Method and apparatus in which a biomass is carried on a substrate that is fluidised. The fluidised substrate has a layer of distributor particles below it, through which the fluidizing medium passes prior to contact with the fluidised substrate and biomass associated therewith. The effect of the distributor layer is that the particles damp out excessive turbulence in the fluidizing medium, thus preventing undue turbulence of the medium within the fluidised layer. The particles may be recycled through the distributor layer to strip excess biofilm from the substrate particles prior to returning the substrate particles to the fluidised bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Bioprocess Development Limited
    Inventor: Michael John Dempsey
  • Patent number: 7708887
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for combination membrane/biolytic filtration. In one embodiment a filtration system is operated under suction. The arrangement includes a feed tan (5) having a smaller filtrate vessel (6) positioned therein. The region within, the feed tank (5) not occupied by the filtrate vessel (6) is partially filled with layers of decomposing and decomposed solid organic waste material to form an aerobic filter bed (7) of the type used in biolytic filtration as described above. A further module vessel (8) is mounted within the filtrate vessel (6) to form a membrane chamber (9) containing a membrane filtration module (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Warren Thomas Johnson, Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Dean Osman Cameron
  • Patent number: 7691269
    Abstract: A method and system for retrofitting an existing water treatment system having one or more biological reactor systems and one or more gravity clarifiers. To retrofit the existing water treatment system, the one or more gravity clarifiers of the existing water treatment system are converted to one or more biological reactors. In addition, one or more high rate clarifiers (HRCs) are added to the existing water treatment system. In some cases one or more high rate clarifiers are added downstream of the converted biological reactors, in other cases one or more HRCs is added upstream of the biological reactors, and in other cases a number of HRCs are added, upstream and downstream with respect to the biological reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Steven L. Cort
  • Publication number: 20100059438
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertical-horizontal filter unit for the biological purification of polluted water, comprising an upper zone of a soil patch planted with plants, having inlets for the polluted water, and arranged underneath a sand layer with a lower filter zone made of gravel and at least one removal point for the purified water, wherein between the upper and lower filter zones a barrier layer with openings is arranged and the filter unit is sealed against the soil on the sides and at the bottom. The openings in the barrier layer are arranged along the edge and/or the barrier layer does not reach the edge of the patch completely. The invention is characterized in that the upper zone acts as an aerobically cleaning zone and the lower zone as an anaerobically cleaning zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Joachim Böttcher
  • Patent number: 7670489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying effluents in an anaerobic reactor (1) in which the micro-organisms are held by supports, the supports forming a bed which is fixed in a part (4, 5) of the reactor. The inventive method is characterized in that it includes a step wherein the reactor is backwashed once it has been at least partially clogged, by temporarily suspending the supports. Advantageously, the method includes an initial step for starting the reactor, during which the load of the reactor is increased with a short and constant hydraulic residence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Institut National de le Recherche Agronomique
    Inventors: Michel Torrijos, Rene Moletta, Joseph V. Thanikal, Nicolas Bernet
  • Patent number: 7658851
    Abstract: A device and method for growing aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria such as Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Starkeya novella and various autotrophic sulfur metabolizing bacteria, along with methods for releasing these bacteria into suspended growth or fixed film wastewater treatment zones such as soil or media, for the purposes of bioremediation and the removal of nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Pseudonym Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Nelson, Robert Rawson
  • Publication number: 20100006500
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system comprising one apparatus (1) for de-nitrification and effluent solids removal, another apparatus (2) for biological main treatment, and a further apparatus (3) for solids removal (5), each apparatus including a volume (40) in which each process is performed, a media-retaining sieve (6) at the volume (40) and arranged to retain buoyant media particles (4) in the volume (40), and a gas sparging device (8), (9) which is located in a lower end region of the volume (40) and which is controllable by way of valves (11) and (15). The three volumes (40) are substantially (10) identical to, or multiples of, each other, the three sieves (6) are substantially identical to each other, and the three sparging devices (8), (9) are substantially identical to each other. The gas is sparged into the main treatment bed at a lower flow rate for wastewater aeration but intermittently at a higher flow rate to disrupt and clean the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Alan David Cantwell, Paul Antony Zuber
  • Patent number: 7632408
    Abstract: A passive drain field assembly reduces nitrogen in wastewater by facilitating nitrification and denitrification. A first chamber receives effluent into a multi-pipe bundle. An air vent is provided that extends from the atmosphere into the first chamber. A second chamber receives effluent from the first chamber, and contains a medium, beneath which is positioned a drainage pipe for releasing treated effluent into the soil therebeneath. A berm creates a retention area in the second chamber that is lined with a water-impermeable liner. In use, ammonia present in the effluent is converted to nitrate in the presence of the oxygen admitted by the air vent in the first chamber. The liquid retained upstream of the berm and above the liner undergoes anaerobic reactions. The remaining liquid proceeds to a place in the second chamber from which the drainage pipe can be entered, from which the treated wastewater can enter the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Plastic Tubing Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Everson
  • Publication number: 20090294356
    Abstract: A compact high efficiency combined biological and physical unsaturated wastewater treatment filter configured for periodic backwashing is disclosed. The filter utilizes packed media and removes pollutants and pathogens from wastewater and other dirty water sources. The filter comprises a periodic backwashing means to less the chance that biofilm growth will clog the media pores. However, such backwashing still leaves sufficient biofilm attached to the media to maintain a very high level of treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the filter utilizes high frequency dosing to cause pore saturation at or near the surface during dosing and shortly thereafter in order to maximize distribution uniformity and to induce downward airflow into the media. The system provides a number of unexpected benefits; including allowing a very low distribution pressure and providing high oxygen transfer at low energy utilization into the filter media for aerobic biodegradation of pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A. Beggs
  • Publication number: 20090230057
    Abstract: Described are a tertiary disinfection system and process for treating a liquid effluent from a domestic secondary treatment unit. The liquid effluent has pathogenic micro-organisms, remaining suspended solids and dissolved organic pollutants. The system has an inlet, a subterranean initial treatment zone filled with a filtering material for removing some suspended solids, dissolved organic pollutants and pathogenic micro-organisms. The initial treatment zone allows the liquid effluent to percolate downward. The system also has a subterranean polishing zone extending horizontally outward from the initial treatment zone, and filled with a filtering material having pore sizes allowing upward capillary dispersion of the liquid effluent. The system also has a subterranean aeration zone having an interface with the initial treatment zone and the polishing zone, to provide aeration enabling aerobic accommodation of microflora for disinfection of the effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: PREMIER TECH TECHNOLOGIES LTEE
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dautais, Roger Lacasse, Denis Pettigrew, Pierre Talbot
  • Publication number: 20090211970
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the anaerobic purification of waste water using a sludge bed system, which process comprises feeding waste water and recycle water to the lower part of an upflow reactor containing mainly granular biomass thus producing biogas in the treatment passing the resulting gas/liquid/solid mixture upward and separating the gas and solid from the liquid in a three phase separator and thereby generating an anaerobic effluent that is withdrawn from the top of the separator, the improvement comprising withdrawing the recycle water separately from the effluent, after the separation of the gas from the liquid, either from the three phase separator or from the top of the reactor outside the three phase separator, and to an upflow reactor suitable for this process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Abraham Izaak Versprille, Hendrik Richard Paul La Vos
  • Patent number: 7575686
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method to reduce perchlorate in wastewater utilizing perchlorate-reducing bacteria, sulfur as an electron donor and mollusk shells as alkalinity agent. Embodiments of the invention include a perchlorate-reduction system comprising a bioreactor unit having perchlorate-reducing media comprising elemental sulfur, oyster shells and a microbial community, and can further include an optional pretreatment unit, wastewater-catchment and/or post-treatment components. Embodiments of the method include multiple steps utilizing the system and additional process steps that achieve enhanced perchlorate reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Sukalyan Sengupta, Sarina Ergas, Klaus Nüsslein, Ashish Sahu
  • Patent number: 7575683
    Abstract: The present invention includes a portable Sub-Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands system for removing pollutants from a body of water. The portable wetlands system includes a sealed container having pipes for the inflow and outlet of the water. The system also includes a high surface area substrate located in a lower portion of the container and a heavier substrate and at least one emergent aquatic plant located in an upper portion of the container. The container of the system may be mounted on a trailer and the entire system may be light enough to be capable of being towed by a normal mid-sized pickup truck. The present invention also contemplates a method for removing pollutants from water using such a portable wetlands system. The water to be treated is flowed through the portable wetlands system in order to remove pollutants. The present invention further contemplates a method for constructing such a portable wetlands system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventors: Frederick J. Kauppi, James H. Welsh, Stephen R. Lyon
  • Patent number: 7550087
    Abstract: A process has steps of one or more of aerobic treatment to remove COD and nitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to denitrify a waste stream, anoxic treatment to remove selenium and anaerobic treatment to remove heavy metals and sulphur. The process may be used to treat, for example, FGD blow down water. The process may further include one or more of (a) membrane separation of the waste stream upstream of the anoxic digestion to remove selenium, (b) dilution upstream of the biological treatment step, (c) physical/chemical pretreatment upstream of the biological processes or dilution step to remove TSS and soften the waste stream, or (d) ammonia stripping upstream of the biological treatment steps or dilutions step. These processes may be provided in a variety of suspended growth or fixed film reactors, for example a membrane bioreactor or a fixed film reactor having a GAC bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gerard Peeters, William A. Bonkoski, Pierre Lucien Cote, Hidayat Husain
  • Patent number: 7547394
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system using aerobic granules has a large number of sequencing batch reactor tanks with high volumetric exchange rate, a variable cycle length and constant batch volume. The batch reactors are operated for C, N removal and P is removed chemically, optionally under BioP enhanced conditions. SS are removed in a downstream separation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
    Inventor: Pierre Lucien Cote
  • Patent number: 7540960
    Abstract: A system for treating liquids by forming bacteria flora using earthworm humus is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system includes a containment tank for receiving a contaminated liquid distributed through an opening into the tank, the containment tank further including a layer of earthworm humus through which the liquid is filtered, a medium layer for bacteria inoculation below the earthworm humus layer in the containment tank, and an inert layer below the medium layer proximate to the base of the containment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Alex Manuel Villagra Fuentes
  • Patent number: 7537690
    Abstract: A treatment apparatus of waste water containing oil and fat for grease trap mounted on a grease trap and for decomposing and treating, with an immobilized enzyme, waste oil and fat waste in waste water containing oil and fat within the grease trap, comprising a support plate mounted on the grease trap, an immobilized enzyme holders containing an immobilized enzyme E and through which the waste water containing oil and fat can freely pass, and an agitating means for agitating the waste water containing oil and fat, wherein the immobilized enzyme holders and the agitating means are installed on the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Amano Enzyme Inc.
    Inventor: Takaichi Oya
  • Publication number: 20090127190
    Abstract: A water treatment process comprising: (a) providing bioactive material in waste water, the bioactive material containing microorganisms capable of removing one or more impurities from the waste water, wherein at least 40% by volume of said bioactive material in said waste water is in granular form; and (b) passing a portion of the waste water through a membrane separator, whereby the membrane separator prevents the bioactive material from passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: GLOWTECH BIO PTE LTD
    Inventors: Tze Guan Ong, Stephen Tiong Lee Tay, Joo Hwa Tay
  • Patent number: 7527728
    Abstract: The invention is a biomass carrier used in the biological purification of waste water. The design of the biomass carrier is characterized by a surface morphology designed to produce a specific pattern of variations in bio-film thickness, resulting in optimized bio-film conditions for simultaneous nitrification-de-nitrification and biodegradation of trace organic contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: David Jackson
  • Patent number: 7520990
    Abstract: An anaerobic wastewater treatment system includes a recycle tank, a bioreactor tank and a bioselector for recapturing anaerobic microbial consortia particles escaping from the bioreactor tank and returning them to the bioreactor tank. The bioreactor tank receives recycled wastewater feed from a recycle tank and discharges via an overflow outlet treated wastewater and microbial consortia particles to a bioselector. The bioselector is adapted to separate entrained microbial consortia particles and return a feed to the bioreactor tank which including some of the treated wastewater received from the bioreactor tank and the microbial consortia particles received from the bioreactor tank. The bioselector provides a recycle feed to the recycle tank. Overflow from the bioselector provides an effluent of treated wastewater leaving the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: ICM, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Ruocco, Scott Dennis Kohl
  • Patent number: 7520991
    Abstract: A biological removal method of phosphorus and nitrogen includes supplying a mixture gas into a gas holder. Inflow water and return water are supplied into the gas holder to make the mixture gas dissolved in the inflow water and the return water. The return water was provided from a granulation biological reaction tank. The inflow water and the return water including the dissolved mixture gas are transported to the granulation biological reaction tank. A nitrogen-based component is removed from the inflow water and the return water using methan-oxidizing bacteria granulated in the granulation biological reaction tank. Treated water without the nitrogen-based component is transported to an anoxic tank for treatment, and discharged from the anoxic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignees: Korea Institute of Construction Technology, Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Soo Kim, Hee-Ja Lee, I-Tae Kim, Kwang-Ho Ahn, Chai-Sung Gee, Sung-Youn Kim, Ji-Seon Yoo, Eui-Sin Lee, Sung-Pok Paik, Chul-Ki Oh, Kwang-Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7507342
    Abstract: Introducing a combination of suspended attached growth Medias and biological reactants into a sewage treatment process with or without additional reaction to improve and increase capacity of a given process. Media and biological reactants can be disposed in a perforated container or flexible container that can be submerged in a sequencing bed reactor or the aeration and/or mixing tanks of an activated sludge sewage treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Inventor: William G. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090071900
    Abstract: A constant velocity serpentine anoxic reactor incorporates a multiple cell vertical serpentine path, as well as a horizontal serpentine path, through the anoxic chamber. A fixed film media is mounted within each cell of the anoxic chamber to provide a structure on which the bacteria can grow to sustain the biological reaction, which convert nitrates into nitrogen gas. The fixed film media can be a cross-flow media and can optionally include a web of textile material integrated within the fixed film media to enhance bacterial growth within the fixed film media or optionally the anoxic vertical serpentine configuration could be applied to an activated sludge operation. A nitrate recycle pump recycles about 75% of the effluent from the aerobic chamber back into the anoxic chamber to provide a nitrate source for the digestion of the BOD within the influent wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Brentwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Kulick, III, Curtis S. McDowell
  • Patent number: 7501060
    Abstract: A wastewater treating system includes: a vessel defining a vessel space therein, the vessel space being partitioned into an activated sludge zone that is adapted to receive waste water and a body of an activated sludge therein, and a coarse filtering zone that is disposed downstream of and that is in fluid communication with the activated sludge zone for receiving bio-treated wastewater from the activated sludge zone; and a bed of biomass carriers colonized with microorganisms and disposed in the coarse filtering zone for further bio-treating the bio-treated wastewater from the activated sludge zone and for separating coarse suspended solids from the bio-treated wastewater in the coarse filtering zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Kang Na Hsiung Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen-Jung Hu, Hsi-Yu Chen, Wen-Chun Hwang
  • Publication number: 20090039017
    Abstract: There is disclosed a packing for a bioreactor in a small sewage treatment works for the degradation of organic and/or inorganic pollutants in effluent water. Said packing comprises an enlarged surface, achieved by the use of a special paper. Said paper is folded and arranged in concentric rings around an active charcoal filter. The paper itself has a layered embodiment made from, for instance, a silicone, a cellulose and an aluminum layer. A microbial mixture is then introduced into the cellulose layer, in particular with a proportion of photo-synthetically acting and a proportion of light-emitting microorganisms, permitting a degradation of the organic/inorganic pollutants in the effluent water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Heinrich Uphoff
  • Patent number: 7488413
    Abstract: A waste water treatment plant includes a treatment chamber or reactor (26) containing a plurality of buoyant sludge carriers (38). In the base of the treatment chamber (26) is a biofilm collection chamber (40). Arranged coaxially within the chamber (26) is a hollow shaft (30) with an air injection device (32) arranged at the foot thereof. In use waste water is introduced into the treatment chamber through an inlet (28) and is caused to circulate around the treatment chamber through the pumping action of the shaft (30) and air injector. Treated water passes through the biofilm collection chamber (40) to an outer settlement chamber (42) having an outlet (44) for treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Bioshaft Water Technology, Inc
    Inventor: Hassan Hans Badreddine
  • Patent number: 7485228
    Abstract: A reactor (10) for anaerobic waste water treatment is designed as a loop-type column reactor comprising a central flow channel (20). In the annular space (40) between the central flow channel (20) and the reactor wall, there are positioned carrier elements (50) for immobilizing microorganisms, with flow passages being provided between adjacent carrier elements (50). The lower portion of the reactor (30), below the carrier elements, is designed as a space intended to receive waste water having microorganisms floating therein during operation of the reactor (10). During operation, there are provided both floating microorganisms and microorganisms that are immobilized on the carrier elements. The waste water to be treated flows centrally downward and up again along the carrier elements (40), with the flow being generated in part by the gas development of the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignees: Atz-Evns, Herding GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Herding, Urs Herding, Kurt Palz, Rainer Thurauf, Stephan Prechtl, Rainer Scholz, Ralf Schneider, Johann Winter, Rolf Jung
  • Patent number: 7485232
    Abstract: In a water treatment apparatus, microorganisms propagating on wood charcoal are activated by micro-nano bubbles contained in treatment water. Water treatment is carried out with the activated microorganisms propagated on the wood charcoal. Thereby, a stable treatment is achieved. Organic matters adsorbed by the wood charcoal are decomposed by the activated microorganisms propagated on the wood charcoal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Sakata, Kazumi Chuhjoh
  • Publication number: 20090014383
    Abstract: This on/off-site WATER RECLAMATION SYSTEM is disclosed suitable for domestic or other sewage. After separation of the settleable solids, the effluent is passed into a basin holding particles of a media through (around) which the effluent travels. The media beds substantial reduce the amount of the suspended solids (SS) and BOD (biological oxygen demand) and FC (fecal coliform) by bacterial action and oxygenation as well as substantially reducing the nitrate (N) level and provide a high oxygen content filtrate discharge. The filtrate is collected and dispersed over the surface of the same media bed for travel there through a second or more times. The effluent carries oxygen from the air into the media. The media retains the effluent until the surface tension is overcome by gravity and discharged from the system. This on/off-site WATER RECLAMATION SYSTEM produces a quality discharge to meet the requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Roger J. Owley
  • Patent number: 7468134
    Abstract: A system is described for collecting, filtering and removing dirt, debris, detritus, active organic materials, chemicals and toxins from water in fish ponds and general aqua-culture applications. This system includes a filter tank with supporting base containing biological filtration media, a multi-port valve, a strainer, a diffuser head, and a quick drain assembly. The filter tank is fabricated using transparent material allowing for visual inspection of the mechanical and biological activities inside the filter tank. The strainer and diffuser head are slotted so as to capture debris, retain filter media, and maintain unrestricted water flow. The quick drain is a vertical tube covered by drainage slots. The top end of the tube is capped. The bottom end of the tube extends through the filter tank wall to the exterior where a drain valve is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Hung Hoang
  • Patent number: 7462284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach for nitrate removal from a marine recirculating system (10) wherein high concentrations of sulfate found in seawater is used in combination with sludge (20) collected from fish growing tanks (12) to promote dissimilatory sulfate reduction to hydrogen sulfide. The sulfide is used as an electron source to promote autotrophic denitrification in an up-flow fix bed bioreactor (16), followed by nitrification in a nitrification unit (14). By utilizing the symbiotic relationship between the sulfate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing bacterial community, nitrate accumulation is controlled in the recirculating water of the system thereby reducing water exchange in the marine recirculating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
    Inventors: Harold J. Schreier, Yossi Tal
  • Publication number: 20080290025
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for combination membrane/biolytic filtration. In one embodiment a filtration system is operated under suction. The arrangement includes a feed tan (5) having a smaller filtrate vessel (6) positioned therein. The region within, the feed tank (5) not occupied by the filtrate vessel (6) is partially filled with layers of decomposing and decomposed solid organic waste material to form an aerobic filter bed (7) of the type used in biolytic filtration as described above. A further module vessel (8) is mounted within the filtrate vessel (6) to form a membrane chamber (9) containing a membrane filtration module (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Warren Thomas Johnson, Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Dean Osman Cameron
  • Patent number: 7452468
    Abstract: Introducing a combination of suspended attached growth Medias and biological reactants into a sewage treatment process with or without additional reaction to improve and increase capacity of a given process. Media and biological reactants can be disposed in a perforated container or flexible container that can be submerged in a sequencing bed reactor or the aeration and/or mixing tanks of an activated sludge sewage treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventor: William G. Smith
  • Patent number: 7445715
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system including a biological reactor is disclosed. At least one controlled-reaction-volume module is provided to the biological reactor. The at least one controlled-reaction-volume module includes a fixed-film media for supporting a biological growth. At least one mixer, such as, for example, a high momentum mixer, for communicate a fluid to the at least one controlled-reaction-volume module so that wastewater and the biological growth communicate to thereby treat the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Entex Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Pehrson, Wayne J. Flournoy, Sarah B. Hubbell
  • Patent number: 7439054
    Abstract: A 10,000 gallon sequencing batch reactor tank for the on-site bio-degradation of oily sludge. Bacteria already present in and adapted to oily sludge degrade the hydrocarbons found in oily sludge within two weeks from 20,000 ppm to less than 100 ppm. A degradation cycle requires 5 days. After five days a recirculation pump and aeration system are turned off and solids are allowed to settle to the bottom of the tank. An ultrafiltration unit connected to the tank requires approximately 16 hours to process the contents of the reactor tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerardo F. Maga, Frederick E. Goetz
  • Patent number: 7425268
    Abstract: In an aspect of the invention, a device for purifying water in a water water garden or fish pond comprises a filter medium configured to clean the water flowing through the device, and a housing configured to contain the filter media. The housing includes a wall configured to whirl the water flowing through the device to remove suspended particulates from the flow. Liquid flows into the housing, is turned by the wall to whirl the water about an axis, and exposed to elements held by the filter medium for cleaning the liquid. The liquid then flows out of the housing. Cleaning the medium is performed by opening a drain port and adding water to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Inventor: John A. Russell
  • Patent number: 7407580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wastewater treating system and method for removing pollutants of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, comprising: a first reactor contains methanogenic bacteria, PAO and denitrifying bacteria for eliminating the organic carbon in denitrification by denitrifying bacteria, adsorbing partial organic carbon and releasing phosphate by PAO and; metabolizing organic carbon to form methane gas by methanogenic bacteria; a second reactor disposed at the rearward of first reactor, second reactor treats the effluent from first reactor by denitrifying bacteria and PAO, denitrifying bacteria is able to denitrifying the nitrate and PAO is able to process the phosphorous releasing; a third reactor disposed rearward of second reactor, which comprises PAO, heterotrophic bacteria and nitrifying bacteria, wherein PAO is applied for phosphorous accumulating process, the heterotrophic bacteria is applied for carbon removal process, the nitrifying bacteria is applied for nitrifying process; and a membra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Huey-Song You, Kuan-Foo Chang, Sheng-Shin Chang, Shwu-Huey Perng, Shu-Kang Hsu