Of Separated Liquid Patents (Class 210/622)
  • Patent number: 10919792
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for water and wastewater treatment. The system comprises a fixed film biological process and a ballasted flocculation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Antonneau, Timothy Lindemann, Todd Schwingle, Michael Casey Whittier, Steven E. Woodard
  • Patent number: 9315402
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for treating wastewater. The system includes a bioreactor which defines a basin for receiving wastewater to be treated; a membrane module in fluid communication with the bioreactor; and a dissolution tank. The tank includes a pressure vessel that contains a portion of the wastewater to be treated and provides a regulated, pressurized gas head space above the wastewater. The tank also includes at least one liquid spray nozzle that permits passage of the wastewater into the gas head space of the pressure vessel and an outlet for discharging the wastewater having a desired gas concentration from the pressure vessel. The system also includes a pumping mechanism for supplying the wastewater to the spray nozzle of the tank such that fluid droplets are formed in the gas head space and the gas contained within the pressurized head space is dissolved into the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, BlueInGreen, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Osborn, Clay R. Thompson, Marty D. Matlock
  • Patent number: 8932466
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sludge treatment, comprising the following steps: (1) mixing a sludge feed from a sewage biotreatment process with a first mixed liquor to obtain a second mixed liquor; (2) subjecting the second mixed liquor to an oxygen-supplying process to obtain a third mixed liquor; (3) subjecting the third mixed liquor to an anoxic process to obtain a fourth mixed liquor; (4) separating the fourth mixed liquor to obtain a supernatant liquid and a first concentrated mixed liquor; (5) discharging the supernatant liquid, and returning at least a part of the first concentrated mixed liquor as the first mixed liquor to the step (1), wherein the amount of sludge of the first concentrated mixed liquor that does not return to the step (1) is less than the amount of sludge of the sludge feed. The present invention further relates to the use of the method for sludge treatment in sewage treatment. The method for sludge treatment can achieve a long term stable run without sludge discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Jinmin Li, Liankui Zhou, Dayong Li
  • Patent number: 8894856
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, George W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8894854
    Abstract: A digester with separate stages for hydrolysis and methanogenesis is disclosed. The digester includes a leachate bay reactor, which may be configured as modular, multi-bay units. Waste material is added to the leachate bay reactor. A leachate storage tank is fluidically connected to the leachate bay reactor, which facilitates hydrolysis. Leachate from the leachate storage tank is recirculated through the leachate bay reactor. A high rate methanogenic reactor is fluidically connected to the leachate storage tank to cycle the leachate in a fixed film environment for biogas production from solubilized organic matter. The reactor may be operated in an anaerobic digestion mode, or a dual aerobic-anaerobic digestion mode. The reactor may also include a struvite system having a crystallizer unit and a separation unit to reduce ammonium and phosphate accumulation during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Lucas Hans Loetscher, Sybil Sharvelle
  • Patent number: 8894855
    Abstract: A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system and an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, George W. Smith, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Patent number: 8883009
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of water comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing the water in laminar flow; and (b) providing bubblefree aeration to the water. The present invention introduces aerobic treatment into wastewater settlement without any hindrance to the settlement process. The present invention is useable for any settlement step or stage, without limitation, the commonest being primary settlement or final settling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Queen's University of Belfast
    Inventors: Elaine Groom, Simon Murray, Joel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8840789
    Abstract: A local sewage processing unit is provided that receives sewage from a local source of sewage, extracts water from the received sewage that is suitable for re-use and includes a pump that is configured to pump sewage from a receiving section of the local sewage processing unit into a pressure sewer network, as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mono Pumps Limited
    Inventors: Alan Creffield, Andrew Moore, Stephen Watt
  • Patent number: 8808544
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating wastewater including a dissolved air flotation operation performed upon a portion of a mixed liquor output from a contact tank prior to the mixed liquor entering a biological treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George W. Smith, Wenjun Liu, Michael L. Doyle, Colin M. McKean
  • Patent number: 8758619
    Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm apparatus has a plurality of hollow fiber gas permeable membranes in a tank containing water to be treated. A biofilm supported on the membranes occupies between about 40% and 80% of the volume of water to be treated in a reactor. Wastewater treatment processes are described. A process to denitrify water or treat oxidized contaminants comprises introducing hydrogen into an inner volume of the membranes to grow autotrophic organisms in the biofilm near the membrane and heterotrophic organism near the water. Another process is operated as a biomass concentration of at least 10 g/L and up to about 40 g/L to maintain a biofilm having a surface area of over 1000 square meters per cubic meter of tank volume. A hybrid process has suspended biomass and a membrane supported biofilm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Rocco Mazzaferro, Minggang Liu, Richard Wong, Heather Lossing, Fengshen Fan, Youngseck Hong, Reid Bayly
  • Patent number: 8721887
    Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing biological wastewater treatment processes to remove nutrients from wastewater containing reduced sulfide compounds may include treating the wastewater in an anaerobic zone, an anoxic zone, and an aerobic zone. The wastewater is first treated in the anaerobic zone to uptake residual biodegradable organic material using specialized bacteria known as phosphorus accumulating organisms (“PAOs”) and glycogen accumulating organisms (“GAOs”). After treatment in the anaerobic zone, the wastewater is treated in an anoxic zone to convert nitrates to nitrogen gas and sulfur to sulfates. Following treatment in the anoxic zone, the wastewater is treated in the aerobic zone to oxidize ammonia to nitrate and to complete removal of phosphorus. After treatment in the aerobic zone, the wastewater may be treated in other zones, or may be delivered to a liquid-solids treatment stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen T. Daigger, Julian Sandino, Steven J. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8685247
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: John Edward Olson
  • Patent number: 8663562
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for spectral analysis of immiscible phases are disclosed. A flow cell for online absorption measurements of immiscible process phases can comprise: a body containing an inlet window and an outlet window in operable communication with a measurement instrument; and a series of partitions that divide the inside of the flow cell into three (3) or more vessels that have an inlet and an outlet, wherein the vessels are connected in series with one another. Optionally, the first vessel is equipped with a porous membrane to facilitate the separation of immiscible process phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Erik Nelson, Arkady Samuilovich Dykman, Andrey Vladimirovich Zinenkov, Alexey Leonidovich Moskvin, Lubov Borisovna Drozdova
  • Patent number: 8628666
    Abstract: Treatment systems are described which uncouple the solids retention time (SRT) of the recycling bacteria from the wasting bacteria. Elevated recycling bacteria SRTs increase concentrations of nitrifying bacteria in the aeration basin and Anammox bacteria in the anoxic basin, improving nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. Fluorescence in situ hybridizations were used to identify and determine the abundance of nitrifying bacteria and Anammox bacteria (recycling bacteria) in freshly settled sludge of biological nutrient removal (BNR) secondary clarifiers. An uneven distribution was observed for recycling bacteria in two BNR systems. Settling patterns suggest microcolony formation processes are sensitive to the internal recycle rate, which allow for rapid recycling bacteria microcolony growth by increasing circulation of flocs through the aeration and anoxic basins. Uncoupling the SRT enhances aeration and/or anoxic basin utilization and reduces the overall hydraulic residence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Peter G. Stroot
  • Patent number: 8623213
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward J. Jordan, Joseph E. Zuback, George W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130319940
    Abstract: In a wastewater treatment system, feed water is processed by anaerobic digestion, preferably in an anaerobic moving bed bioreactor (AnMBBR). Effluent from the AnMBBR passes through one or more solid-liquid separation units. A solids portions is treated by hydrolysis or suspended growth anaerobic digestion. A liquid portion of the hydrolysis or suspended growth anaerobic digestion effluent is returned to the AnMBBR or blended with effluent from the AnMBBR. The AnMBBR effluent may be treated with an aerobic moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) before the one or more solid-liquid separation steps. Membrane filtration may provide a first solid-liquid separation step. A thickened waste stream may be withdrawn from a recirculation loop flowing from the first solid-liquid separation unit to the MBBR. Optionally, a solids portion separated from the feed water upstream of the AnMBBR may also be treated by hydrolysis or suspended growth anaerobic digestion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ANAERGIA INC.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos JOSSE, Michael David THEODOULOU, Sasha ROLLINGS-SCATTERGOOD
  • 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: 20130256220
    Abstract: Contaminated brownfields are successfully and efficiently remediated by the sequential synchronized treatment of the native groundwater in the contaminated site, both mechanically and biologically, in a closed-loop system. The mechanical treatment comprises a high-intensity air sparger, and the biological treatment comprises a bacterial incubator initially filled with untreated (dirty) groundwater, the bacterial growth preferably being facilitated by a sample of the native bacteria in the site and/or is supplied with non-native bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: R. Keith Barker, Fred C. Hough, JR., David S.T. Pearl
  • Patent number: 8545700
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for the optimization of the soluble CO2 concentration in the aeration basin of an activated sludge system, which significantly improves the specific growth rate of the nitrifying bacteria. The result is a reduction in capital and energy costs for municipalities. The rate of nitrification is a product of the nitrifying bacteria biomass concentration and the specific growth rate of the bacteria. In the activated sludge system, the biomass concentration is maintained at high concentrations by reducing the wasting rate. The specific growth rate is a function of the ammonium concentration and the environmental conditions. Here, the inventors show that growth of nitrifying bacteria is inhibited when the soluble CO2 concentration is elevated beyond certain parameters. Elevated soluble CO2 concentration also reduces the pH, which also impacts the rate of growth of nitrifying bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Peter George Stroot, Raymond Anthony Morris
  • 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: 20130020257
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a short cut or shortened method for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater by pairing an aerobic fixed-film biological reactor with an anoxic fixed-film biological reactor under unique operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SEVERN TRENT WATER PURIFICATION, INC.
    Inventor: Donald McCarty
  • Patent number: 8273247
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning of wastewater comprising a submerged membrane biological reactor system (MBR) and a submerged membrane module (MBD) wherein the MBR is in fluid communication with the MBD for feeding excess sludge from the MBR to the MBD and wherein the MBR comprises an outlet which releases permeate passed through the membrane of the MBR and the MBD is in fluid communication with the MBR for feeding permeate passed through the membrane of the MBD back into the MBR and comprises an outlet for releasing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignees: Nanyang Technological University, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Darren Delai Sun, Choon Teck Hay, Swee Loong Khor, James O. Leckie
  • Patent number: 8273246
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: 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: 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: 8192625
    Abstract: A jet aeration apparatus for aerating a membrane bioreactor has a jet aerator and an air supply pipe. The jet aerator is disposed in the membrane bioreactor and includes a water inlet, a pump disposed below a liquid surface of the membrane bioreactor, an air inlet pipe whose air inlet is disposed above the liquid surface of the membrane bioreactor, and a jet pipe having a jet nozzle. The air supply pipe includes a connector; and the connector of the air supply pipe is connected to the jet nozzle of the jet pipe of the jet aerator. A method of using the jet aeration apparatus is also provided. The jet aeration apparatus is easy to install, quiet in operation, and features a high degree of integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 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: 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: 8002986
    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 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Miklos
  • 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: 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: 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: 7875181
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Glowtec Bio Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Tze Guan Ong, Stephen Tiong Lee Tay, Lim Teow Heng, legal representative, Joo Hwa Tay
  • Patent number: 7854840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decomposing biogenic material, wherein a percolator is charged with biogenic material, a percolation liquid is separated by sieving and re-sprayed again onto the biogenic material, excess percolation liquid is pumped into a buffer from where it is transported into a biogas reactor and fermented to form biogas. The method is characterized in that the purified percolation liquid is transferred as waste water to a storage buffer container from where it can be retransferred to the percolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Brandenburgische Technische Universitaet Cottbus
    Inventors: Guenter Busch, Marko Sieber
  • Publication number: 20100300966
    Abstract: Systems and methods to treat wastewater are described herein. A wastewater treatment system may include a primary treatment system, a secondary treatment system, a disinfection treatment system, a solids treatment system, one or more fluid treatment systems, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Robert L. Kelsey, Qiwei Wang
  • Patent number: 7820048
    Abstract: A method and system for treating organically contaminated waste water for reuse, by: introducing the waste water into a sedimentation tank to remove a significant portion of the organic contaminants; circulating the waste water from the sedimentation tank to an anoxic mixing chamber for denitrifying the waste water; circulating the waste water from the anoxic mixing chamber to a rotary biological contactor to nitrify the waste water by aeration, and to assimilate organic materials therein by bringing the waste water into contact with a biological medium, to thereby output nitrified waste water; and recirculating a portion of the nitrified waste water outputted from the rotary biological contactor back to the anoxic mixing chamber to enhance the nitrifying and denitrifying of the waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Roni Weissman
  • Publication number: 20100264083
    Abstract: In an activated sludge process for treating wastewater, waste activated sludge is directed to a digester and subjected to sequential aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic treatment. Internal recycling of sludge may be carried out. The oxidation reduction potential during the anoxic and anaerobic cycles is carefully managed so that there is a significant reduction in the quantity of sludge that must be disposed of.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Mark G. Biesinger
  • Patent number: 7790032
    Abstract: Waste treatment systems and methods of using them to treat septage, domestic sludge or both are disclosed. Certain examples provided herein relate to waste treatment systems that include a plurality of stages, such as, for example, a plurality of ecosystems, configured to treat domestic sludge, septage or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Bioregen Systems LLC
    Inventor: Michael H. Ogden
  • Patent number: 7695624
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for treating wastewater. In one process, wastewater is directed into a treatment tank and biologically treated. The biologically treated wastewater is directed as mixed liquor from the treatment tank to a bottom portion of a downstream filtration tank having at least one submerged membrane module that extends across substantially the entire cross sectional area of the filtration tank mixed liquor is directed from the bottom of the filtration tank upwardly into the membrane module such that substantially all of the mixed liquor received in the bottom of the filtration tank flows through the membrane module. As the mixed liquor flows vertically through the membrane module, the method includes inducing at least some of the mixed liquor through walls of one or more membrane filters that form a part of the membrane module, producing a permeate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: OTV SA
    Inventors: Martin Brockmann, Heribert Moeslang, Dietmar Schnuell, Hong Zhao, David Thaure, Pierre Girodet
  • Publication number: 20100084337
    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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Miklos
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20090095674
    Abstract: A method of biological treatment of organic wastewater includes a biological treatment step for introducing organic wastewater to a biological treatment tank and biologically treating the organic wastewater; and a solid-liquid separation step for separating biologically treated liquid in the biological treatment tank into sludge and treated water. The method further includes a sludge treatment step for introducing a portion of the sludge in the biological treatment tank and/or at least a portion of the sludge separated in the solid-liquid separation step into a sludge treatment tank having a submerged filter element with a pore diameter of 5 to 100 ?m in the tank and subjecting the sludge to aerobic biological treatment; and a permeated liquid-returning step for returning the liquid permeated through the submerged filter element to the biological treatment tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeki Fujishima
  • 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: 7510655
    Abstract: A process for treating BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus containing wastewater, wherein the process includes the steps of providing wastewater influent into an anoxic zone having activated sludge and mixing the wastewater influent with the activated sludge in the anoxic zone to form a mixed liquor. The process further includes providing the mixed liquor into one more further treatment zones and transferring a portion of the mixed liquor from the further treatment zone to a membrane filter wherein a filtrate is separated from sludge. The process also includes selectively recycling at least a portion of the sludge to the anoxic zone as recycled activated sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Barnes