Recirculating To Prior Step Patents (Class 210/621)
  • Patent number: 11066315
    Abstract: An induced sludge bed anaerobic reactor system that includes at least two stages of bioreactor processing, a first-stage feeding system, a second-stage feeding system, a pH balancing system, an effluent recirculation system, a gas management system, and a controller. In addition, any given stage of reactor processing may be comprised of a plurality of reactors that are configured to operate in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventors: Conly L. Hansen, Leonard Alan Collins, Lared D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 10752531
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out biological purification of wastewater with the aid of activated sludge, in which the wastewater is introduced into an activated sludge tank (B tank) and then, in alternation, into one of a number of sedimentation and recirculation tanks (SU tanks) continuously connected hydraulically to the B tank and in which a number of operating cycles are carried out, including a sludge return phase, a mixing phase, a sedimentation phase and a draw-off phase (S phase, U phase, V phase, and A phase respectively), wherein the method further includes elimination of phosphor by using a tank for biological phosphor elimination (P tank), wherein the P tank is hydraulically connected with the B tank via one or more openings, wherein the wastewater is first introduced into the P tank and then subsequently transferred into the B tank, wherein in the S phase at least part of the thickened activated sludge is introduced from the SU tank into the P tank, and, wherein the volume of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: Kurt Ingerle
  • Patent number: 10478765
    Abstract: A method for in-line control of the integrity of a filtering system implemented during an industrial process including the filtering of a gas through the filtering system, the filtering system including at least one filtering cartridge, the method including at least the following steps: —a measurement step (S1) which involves measuring a pressure difference ?P representative of the pressure loss caused by the filtering system (F1; F2), —a testing step (S2, S3) which involves comparing the measurement (S1) with a predefined high threshold (Sh) and a predefined low threshold (Sb), in such a way as to consider the at least one filtering cartridge to be non-compliant when the pressure difference measured in the measurement step (S1) falls outside a range located between the high threshold (Sh) and the low threshold (Sb).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ROQUETTE FRERES
    Inventor: David Segard
  • Patent number: 10364412
    Abstract: According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for aerobic fermentation of an aqueous sugar solution is provided. The system includes a vessel, at least one air diffuser in fluid communication with an interior of the vessel, and at least one blower that is configured to deliver air to the at least one air diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis, Aiichiro Yoshida, Karen Heinze
  • Patent number: 9764973
    Abstract: A system and method for treating wastewater includes two or more biological reaction zones separated by chamber walls. The system and method for treating wastewater includes static recycle of a mixed liquor from a second biological reaction zone to a first biological reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J Larsen, Mark Pamperin, John Hartwick
  • Patent number: 9102548
    Abstract: The invention relates to a purifier (100) for the purification of a fluid such as wastewater, the purifier comprising:—a reaction vessel (10) for a fluid, the reaction vessel having a reaction chamber (11) and a bottom (12);—a downer (14) having a top end (91) and a bottom end (92), wherein the top end of the downer is connected to a fluid collector (13) to collect fluid from the reaction vessel (10), and the downer is arranged to transport the fluid towards the bottom (12) of the reaction vessel;—a solids separation device (20) arranged to separate solids from liquid, the solids separation device comprising a fluid inlet (72) arranged to introduce fluid into the solids separation device and a liquid discharge (56) arranged to remove separated liquid from the solids separation device; wherein the fluid inlet of the solids separation device (20) is connected to the bottom end (92) of the downer and the solids separation device is located on or near the bottom (12) of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Paques. I.P. B.V.
    Inventor: Rienk Prins
  • Patent number: 8992776
    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: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Randy A. Galgon, Allen Ray Stickney, Richard B. Steinberg
  • Patent number: 8980092
    Abstract: A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste. The method includes mixing enzymes into the fluid waste material, compressing the fluid waste material with the compressor, injecting air into the compressed fluid waste material, and determining whether the fluid waste material is at a desired cleanliness, and if not, recirculating the fluid waste material through the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Kistner, Carolyn R. Kistner
  • Patent number: 8916047
    Abstract: A method for bioremediation of contaminants, comprising contacting a contaminant with composite particles including at least one microbial available nutrient species and at least one fatty acid species, and contacting the contaminant with oxygenated water including greater than about 4 parts per million dissolved oxygen. Water may be oxygenated on-site using various oxygenating devices, such as an aspirator, aerator, impeller and diffuser. Optionally, the oxygenated water may be prepared with wastewater that is being remediated. The method may be used to maintain a dissolved oxygen concentration of greater than a setpoint concentration, such as at least 4 ppm. A preferred oxygenated water stream or source has a dissolved oxygen concentration of greater than 50 ppm. Where the contaminant is in a wastewater, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the remediation zone or the oxygenated water stream may be measured with a dissolved oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Bionutratech, Inc.
    Inventor: Sandra L. Hruza
  • Publication number: 20140217018
    Abstract: A biological reactor which is intermittently aerated to create an environment that alternates from aerobic to anoxic. A programmable logic controller controls the amount and timing of air flow to the biological reactor linking aeration to incoming load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Keith Dobie, Philip B. Pedros, Andrew R. McBrearty
  • Patent number: 8784095
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are disclosed for generating oxygenated fuel. In one aspect, a method of producing an oxygenated fuel from biomass waste for use in a combustion system includes dissociating the biomass waste to produce one or more carbon donors. The biomass waste produced carbon donors are reacted with an oxygen donor to produce the oxygenated fuel comprising oxygenated carbon. Reacting the carbon donors with the oxygen donors includes applying waste heat recovered from an external heat source to the reaction of carbon donors and oxygen donor. The oxygenated fuel is combusted in the combustion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8728318
    Abstract: A three phase separator or settling device (2) or a digester (1) including the settling device. The settling device can receive a fluid containing liquid, gas and particulate material. The settling device includes a settling chamber to be filled with this fluid. The device can also include a liquid-discharge (5) for discharging liquid from the settling chamber and fitted close to the liquid level (30), a fluid inlet (6) for supplying the fluid into the settling chamber (3), a particulate material separation device (7) and a sludge outlet (8). A flow of fluid is provided into and out of the settling device and settling chamber. The inlet includes a gas separation device (4) for separating gas from the fluid including channels, the inlet positioned close to the fluid level. The inlet and transition (75) into the settling chamber is arranged to create a pre-separated flow pattern including a generally laminar liquid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Paques I.P.B.V.
    Inventors: Sjoerd Hubertus Jozef Vellinga, Antonius Johannes Jorna
  • Publication number: 20140021130
    Abstract: A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system, an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system, and an aerobic treatment tank that partially reduces oxygen demand of a portion of the sludge from the sorption tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, Marc Roehl
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8486266
    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 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: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Environmental Business Specialists, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Harvey Foster, Kenneth Wayne Smith, Bronwyn Duos, Elizabeth Claire Guidotti
  • Patent number: 8449773
    Abstract: A process for converting organic waste materials into usable products and products thereof is disclosed. According to the process, organic waste materials are contacted with an oxidant to form a product and then an amount of the oxidant is removed from the product to form a reactor-ready feedstock. The oxidant is removed by various means, including washing, photolysis, catalytic means, oxidation of the oxidant, reduction of the oxidant, and heat. The reactor-ready feedstock may then be introduced into a reactor, such as a digester or incubator, and the reactor-ready feedstock is converted by microorganisms into biofuel or other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Jaron C. Hansen, Lee D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8431024
    Abstract: A method for enhancing biotransformation of groundwater contaminants is provided. The method comprises steps of providing an injection column at an upstream of a contaminated source for injecting a compost solid; providing a recirculation device at a downstream of the contaminated source; forming a compost liquid by mixing surface water or groundwater from the recirculation device with the compost solid, and the groundwater bringing the compost liquid to the contaminated source at the downstream; and producing a reaction at the contaminated source and the downstream. Also, the groundwater contaminants can be adsorbed and biodegraded in the injection column at the upstream by the recirculation of the recirculation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Ming Chi University of Technology
    Inventor: Lo Tsui
  • Patent number: 8372274
    Abstract: The wastewater treatment system provides multiple techniques for decontaminating wastewater contained within a single system, thus optimizing the decontamination of the wastewater. In one embodiment, the wastewater treatment system includes a steel-reinforced plastic tank having first and second partition walls dividing the tank into first, second and third chambers. The first chamber includes at least one first effluent filter and further contains anaerobic bacteria for removal of organic waste material from the wastewater received therein. The first chamber is configured for at least partial removal of particulate and organic matter from the wastewater. The second chamber includes an air diffuser and further contains aerobic bacteria for further removal of organic waste material from the wastewater received therein. The third chamber includes a sludge pump assembly and at least one second effluent filter. Resultant purified water is selectively discharged from the third chamber through an outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel M. Early, Scott F. Easter
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8318016
    Abstract: An orbital wastewater treatment system includes a tank assembly, at least one impeller, a flow-diversion mechanism, an actuator, optionally at least one sensor disposed in the tank assembly, and a control unit. The tank assembly has an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone and passages between the two zones. The impeller is disposed in the tank assembly for aeration and for moving mixed liquor under process about the tank assembly. The flow-diversion mechanism is disposed at at least one of the passages between the aerobic and the anoxic zone. The actuator is operatively connected to the gate for regulating the flow state or configuration thereof in response to a signal generated by the control unit at least partially pursuant to a predetermined schedule and/or at least partially in accordance with input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Leland, Frederick M. Riser, Peter W. Reko
  • Patent number: 8262911
    Abstract: A method for treatment of sludge with a facultative-organism-adapted membrane bioreactor by providing a sludge treatment system comprising a facultative digestion tank, a membrane module, an aeration system, a sludge pump, and a drainage pump, pumping sludge into the facultative digestion tank via the sludge pump and allowing for digestion, synchronously aerating and scouring the membrane module by the aeration system, pumping the sludge by the drainage pump and filtrating by the membrane module so that sludge and water are separated, and draining the water via the drainage pump. The method can digest sludge completely in the digestion tank, and solves problems existing in conventional sludge treatment methods such as large investment and high transportation cost, even achieves a subject of zero discharge of sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Jiangxi JDL Environmental Protection Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhimin Liao, Jianzhong Xiong, Shengyun Yang, Jialin Zhou, Xingfu Jiang, Lingyun He, Qihu He, Dejin Ju, Aiguo Wan, Zhihua Yuan, Jiejun Cao, Kun Tao
  • Patent number: 8173020
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for water treatment are described, particularly for the simultaneous removal of nitrate, perchlorate, and other organic contaminates from contaminated water using a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: APTwater, Inc.
    Inventor: Reid H. Bowman
  • 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: 8070949
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for improving the treatment of wastewater in a dispersal drainage trench by facilitating the direct aeration of wastewater passing through a drainage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ezflow, L.P.
    Inventors: Theophilus B Terry, III, Jeffrey G. Karl
  • Patent number: 8057674
    Abstract: An orbital wastewater treatment system includes a tank assembly, at least one impeller, a flow-diversion mechanism, an actuator, optionally at least one sensor disposed in the tank assembly, and a control unit. The tank assembly has an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone and passages between the two zones. The impeller is disposed in the tank assembly for aeration and for moving mixed liquor under process about the tank assembly. The flow-diversion mechanism is disposed at least one of the passages between the aerobic and the anoxic zone. The actuator is operatively connected to the gate for regulating the flow state or configuration thereof in response to a signal generated by the control unit at least partially pursuant to a predetermined schedule and/or at least partially in accordance with input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.{dot over (a)}r.l.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Leland, Frederick M. Riser, Peter W. Reko
  • Patent number: 8057673
    Abstract: Treatment system for wastewater containing ammonium is provided. The treatment system of the present invention includes an ammonia oxidation reactor and a membrane reactor disposed on the back of the ammonia oxidation reactor. The ammonia oxidation reactor includes biological carriers for carrying the ammonium oxidation bacteria and nitrite oxidation bacteria, a pH level controller for increasing the pH level to above 7.5, and a DO (dissolved oxygen) controller for reducing the DO content to less than 1.0 mg/L. The membrane reactor composed of a membrane and an aerator is used to separate the solids and liquids of the effluent of the ammonia oxidation reactor. In addition, a method for treating wastewater containing ammonium is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Kuan-Foo Chang, Sheng-Hsin Chang, Shwu-Huey Perng
  • Patent number: 8052874
    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: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Dennis Livingston, James Porteous, Elena Bailey
  • Patent number: 7993522
    Abstract: Wastewaters are treated by an activated sludge process that includes combining wastewater with bacteria-laden sludge in an activated sludge tank to form a mixed liquor, separating the mixed liquor into a clear effluent and activated sludge stream, pretreating at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in a conditioning tank, transferring at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in the conditioning tank to an interchange bioreactor operating in batch or continuous flow mode, processing the activated sludge stream within the interchange bioreactor by selecting desired growth conditions to cultivate at least one type of bacteria in the activated sludge stream, and returning at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in the bioreactor to the activated sludge tank. The process may further include a sidestream reactor to remove phosphates from the activated sludge stream leaving the interchange bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Betty-Ann Curtis, Thomas Kutcher, Marc E. Roehl
  • Patent number: 7988857
    Abstract: A method for treating mixed wastewater from pharmaceutical chemical industry parks including introducing mixed wastewater into a regulation tank for regulation of water flow and water quality, and then into a hydrolysis tank having a hanged filler and employing upflow water distribution, into an anaerobic tank employing upflow water distribution, into a moving bed biofilm reactor having a suspended filler and an aeration device at the bottom thereof, into a biological aerated filter including a ceramic filler, and finally treating using coagulating precipitation process. The final effluent has less than 100 mg/L COD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Nanjing University
    Inventors: Hongqiang Ren, Lei Ge, Feifei Wang, Lili Ding
  • Publication number: 20110132836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and processes of wastewater treatment and, in particular, to systems and methods of treating wastewater utilizing biological treatments utilizing two mixed liquor recycle streams for nutrient removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: John Edward Olson
  • Patent number: 7931807
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for water treatment are described, particularly for the simultaneous removal of nitrate, perchlorate, and other organic contaminates from contaminated water using a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Reid Bowman
  • Patent number: 7922907
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminant from feedwater by forming a dispersion comprising bubbles of a treatment gas in a continuous phase comprising feedwater, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of less than about 5 ?m and wherein the treatment gas is selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, and chlorine. A method for removing contaminants from a feedwater by subjecting a fluid mixture comprising feedwater and a treatment gas to a shear rate greater than 20,000 s?1 in a high shear device to produce a dispersion of treatment gas in a continuous phase of the feedwater. A system for treating feedwater to remove contaminants therefrom is also presented, the system comprising at least one high shear mixing device comprising at least one generator comprising a rotor and a stator separated by a shear gap; and a pump configured for delivering feedwater and treatment gas to the high shear mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Ebrahim Bagherzadeh, Rayford G. Anthony, Aziz Hassan, Gregory G. Borsinger
  • Patent number: 7879240
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aerating a liquid, particularly for aerating water in a wastewater treatment process, by: introducing the liquid into a primary pressurizable aeration tank; pumping liquid from the primary pressurizable aeration tank into a secondary pressurizable aeration chamber via a feed path; aerating the liquid in the secondary pressurizable aeration chamber; and recirculating aerated liquid from the secondary pressurizable aeration chamber back to the primary pressurizable aeration tank via a return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Jeremy Weissman
  • Patent number: 7879238
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating an aqueous nitrogeneous liquor by performing ammonia oxidation and denitrification using a biosludge containing anammox bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The process and apparatus can obtain treated liquor of a high water quality at a high treating efficiency and a high yield of ammonium nitrogen removal with easy control of supply rate of oxygen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Tokutomi
  • Patent number: 7854842
    Abstract: Waste-treatment processes are enhanced through generation and introduction of specific biological populations customized to perform or favor specific tasks either during the main process, for the formation or precipitation of certain biological nutrients, or to accomplish solids formation reduction in a post-treatment process. These bacteria may be grown from specialized mixes of activated sludge and waste influent by exposing these materials to controlled environments (e.g., in an off-line treatment area). They may then be returned to the main process to perform certain tasks such as converting particulate cBOD into soluble cBOD for utilization, to reduce high solids yield organisms by supplementing the population characteristics with low yield organism characteristics, to provide biological nutrients or oxygenation assistance, to improve nitrification/denitrification efficiency, or to disfavor filamentous biology such as Norcardia sp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Miklos
  • Patent number: 7850850
    Abstract: Waste-treatment processes are enhanced through generation and introduction of specific biological populations customized to perform or favor specific tasks either during the main process, for the formation or precipitation of certain biological nutrients, or to accomplish solids formation reduction in a post-treatment process. These bacteria may be grown from specialized mixes of activated sludge and waste influent by exposing these materials to controlled environments (e.g., in an off-line treatment area). They may then be returned to the main process to perform certain tasks such as converting particulate cBOD into soluble cBOD for utilization, to reduce high solids yield organisms by supplementing the population with low yield organisms, to provide biological nutrients or oxygenation assistance, to improve nitrification/denitrification efficiency, or to disfavor filamentous biology such as Norcardia sp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Miklos
  • Patent number: 7820047
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system has two separate but interlinked tanks containing four different zones, namely aerobic, microaerophilic, anoxic and anaerobic, for the biological treatment of the wastewater, as well as two clarification zones and a filtration unit for separation of solids from liquid. The first tank contains the aerobic, microaerophilic and anoxic zone as well as a clarification zone, while the second dank includes the anaerobic zone, a solid-liquid separation zone and a filtration unit. The aerobic zone is an airlift reactor that contains air diffusers at the bottom of the zone to introduce air into the zone. The air bubbles mix the liquid and its content of microorganisms, and provide oxygen for the aerobic biological processes that take place in this zone. Aeration also produces circulation of liquid between the aerobic zone and its adjacent microaerophilic and anoxic zones that are located at the sides and under the aerobic zone, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: BioCAST Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Laleh Yerushalmi, Michael J. Ogilvie
  • Publication number: 20100163482
    Abstract: A system for treating ammonia-based wastewater is provided. The system includes a first reactor, including: denitrification bacteria for denitrification; a second reactor disposed on the back of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor includes an aerator and aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, and has an HRT of less than 6 hours; a third reactor disposed on the back of the first reactor, wherein the third reactor contains nitrification bacteria carried on the carriers for improving nitrification; and a solid-liquid-separating reactor disposed on the back of the third for separating the solids and liquids in the effluent of the third reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kuan-Foo Chang, Sheng-Hsin Chang, Shwu-Huey Perng, Wang-Kuan Chang, Huey-Song You, Shan-Shan Chou
  • Patent number: 7699986
    Abstract: An activated sludge wastewater treatment method is provided. The disclosed method includes: receiving a stream of wastewater into a mixed liquor in an uncovered activated sludge basin; introducing high purity oxygen to the mixed liquor in the activated sludge basin to produce euoxic conditions (i.e. a dissolved oxygen level in the range of between about 5 mg to 15 mg) in the activated sludge basin; passing a portion of the mixed liquor in the activated sludge basin through a clarifier to separate activated sludge and produce an effluent stream and an activated sludge stream; and recycling a portion of the activated sludge stream to the activated sludge basin to produce a mixed liquor having a solids loading of between about 3000 mg and about 10000 mg of suspended solids per liter of mixed liquor and a solids retention time of between about 7 days and 40 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Novak, Malcolm Fabiyi, Amitabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 7628919
    Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for treating the waste water contaminated with methanol and boron in addition to other contaminants. The systems and methods allow specifically for the removal of the methanol and boron without the addition of significant chemicals to raise the pH. The water is treated by removing the methanol via biological digestion in a bioreactor, separating a majority of the contaminants from the water by reverse osmosis and removing the boron that passes through the reverse osmosis system with a boron-removing ion exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Anticline Disposal, LLC
    Inventors: Lee L. Shafer, John W. James, Richard D. Rath, Jesse Eubank
  • Patent number: 7618537
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for water treatment are described, particularly for the simultaneous removal of nitrate, perchlorate, and other organic contaminates from contaminated water using a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Reid Bowman
  • Patent number: 7560027
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for treating organic wastewater and sludge which remarkably reduce the generated amount of sludge at a much lower running cost, and which reduce the size and the capacity of the solubilization tank. The method and apparatus for treating sludge employs a biological treatment system, wherein a biological treatment of wastewater is carried out, and a solid-liquid separation unit for separating a solid from a liquid in the wastewater after the biological treatment, to obtain a treated wastewater and a sludge. The apparatus has a means for obtaining a withdrawn sludge from a part of the sludge and an alkali-treatment tank, wherein an alkali-treatment of the withdrawn sludge is carried out. The apparatus also has a biological solubilization tank which solubilizes the sludge after the alkali-treatment under an anaerobic, anoxic or microaerophilic condition, and a means for recycling the solubilized sludge to the biological treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: JFE Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoshi Yamaguchi, Kunio Miyazawa, Yasuki Yao, Toshiaki Tsubone, Jun Miyata, Yoshinori Yomura
  • Patent number: 7527736
    Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for reclaiming water contaminated with the expected range of contaminants typically associated with produced water in order to produce a treated water having a quality adequate for reuse as a fracturing water. The system includes anaerobically digesting the contaminated water, followed by aerating the water to enhance biological digestion. After aeration, the water is separated using a flotation operation that effectively removes the spent friction reducing agents and allows the treated water to be reclaimed and reused as fracturing water, even though it retains levels of contaminants, including boron and methanol, that would prevent its discharge to the environment under existing standards. The treated water has had a sufficient amount of the gellation-inhibiting contaminants, such as acrylamide friction reducing compounds, removed to allow the treated water to be an economically viable fracturing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Anticline Disposal, LLC
    Inventors: Lee L. Shafer, John W. James, Richard D. Rath, Jesse Eubank
  • Patent number: 7513997
    Abstract: A recirculating wastewater evapotranspiration and disinfection system is disclosed in which wastewater is collected, stored, aerated. and circulated through an unsaturated and optionally heated planter/filter bed containing soil microorganisms and living plants in which aerated wastewater is circulated and recirculated through the system until all of the wastewater and its constituents are utilized by any of evaporation, transpiration, gasification and living plant production and their by-products, or otherwise disinfected for reuse, while energy is gratuitously recovered in the process for productive use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: David Anthony Del Porto
  • Patent number: 7510656
    Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for reclaiming water contaminated with the expected range of contaminants typically associated with produced water, including water contaminated with slick water, methanol and boron. The system includes anaerobically digesting the contaminated water, followed by aerating the water to enhance biological digestion. After aeration, the water is separated using a flotation operation that effectively removes the spent friction reducing agents and allows the treated water to be reclaimed and reused as fracturing water, even though it retains levels of contaminants, including boron and methanol, that would prevent its discharge to the environment under existing standards. The treated water may further be treated by removing the methanol via biological digestion in a bioreactor, separating a majority of the contaminants from the water by reverse osmosis and removing the boron that passes through the reverse osmosis system with a boron-removing ion exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Anticline Disposal, LLC
    Inventors: Lee L. Shafer, John W. James, Richard D. Rath, Jesse Eubank
  • Patent number: 7481935
    Abstract: The present invention describes improved methods and systems for treating waste water and solid waste, which may include the addition of catholyte and anolyte. The methods and systems of the present invention may be used to treat waste water and solid waste from animal farms, such as for example, hog farms, dairy farms, and cattle and sheep ranches. The methods and systems of the present invention may also be used to treat waste water from other sources, such as human waste or farm runoff from irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Laurent Olivier
  • Patent number: 7462285
    Abstract: The invention described herein provides a novel means to biologically denitrify nitrogenous compounds in wastewater using a simultaneous reaction under aerobic conditions. To conduct this reaction it is necessary to culture both autotrophic ammonia oxidizing bacteria as well as facultative heterotrophic bacteria such that the facultative heterotrophs can denitrify the oxidized ammonia compounds produced by the autotrophic bacteria as they are produced. The device described herein, along with methods of operating such a device, provides a means to facilitate the above reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel E. Wickham
  • Patent number: 7452469
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for purifying sewage and wastewater, including a general automatic impurity treating apparatus; a equalization tank; a distribution tank; a microbe contact tank provided with a rotary activated bacillus contactor comprising a reticular rotator comprising a flat fan-shaped body composed of a synthetic fiber, a first solidification portion 28 formed of Saran latex, which is placed on the body, a spacer insert hole, formed between the body and the first solidification portion and bored such that the hole is integrated with the body and the first solidification portion, and a second solidification portion, formed of Saran latex, which is provided in the spacer insert hole; a measuring tank; a bioreaction tank; a settling tank; a sludge thickener; an aerated liquid circulation pump connected to the bioreaction tank and circulating part of the sewage and wastewater discharged into the settling tank to the distribution tank and the measuring tank; and a sludge returning pump connecte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventor: Kyung Jin Kim
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080251453
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aerating a liquid, particularly for aerating water in a wastewater treatment process, by: introducing the liquid into a primary pressurizable aeration tank; pumping liquid from the primary pressurizable aeration tank into a secondary pressurizable aeration chamber via a feed path; aerating the liquid in the secondary pressurizable aeration chamber; and recirculating aerated liquid from the secondary pressurizable aeration chamber back to the primary pressurizable aeration tank via a return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Jeremy Weissman