To Mainstream Oxygenation (e.g., Activated Sludge, Etc.) Patents (Class 210/626)
  • Publication number: 20090078646
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Betty-Ann Curtis, Thomas Kutcher, Marc E. Roehl
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 7481934
    Abstract: A process for treating wastewater through the use of powdered natural ligno-cellulosic materials (PNLM) for (a) physically removing colloidal and suspended volatile solids through adsorption and enhanced floc-formation and settling during pretreatment; (b) adsorbing toxic substances and elements that interfere with biological processes, thus serving to reduce their contact with and exposure to activated sludge organisms effecting wastewater treatment functions; (c) providing fixed surfaces in activated sludge wastewater treatment bioreactors for bacteria and other organisms favoring attached growth in circumstances devoid of such surfaces; (d) reducing production of biological sludge, while also helping to maintain high treatment efficiencies; and (e) following aeration, enhancing the settling characteristics of sludge with respect both to speed of settling and the vertical profile of the settled sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Renewable Fibers, LLC
    Inventor: Paul W. Skillicorn
  • Patent number: 7473364
    Abstract: A method for managing multivalent metal ion concentrations in low-yield wastewater treatment processes. The method includes combining wastewater containing BOD with bacteria-laden sludge in a mainstream reactor to form a mixed liquor, separating the mixed liquor into a clear effluent and an activated sludge stream, returning a first portion of the activated sludge stream to the mainstream reactor, processing a second portion of the activated sludge stream in a sidestream bioreactor, returning at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in the sidestream bioreactor to the mainstream reactor, and adding multivalent metal ions to at least one of the wastewater, the mixed liquor, the activated sludge stream and combinations thereof to reduce the generation of waste activated sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Mohammad M. Abu-Orf
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20080237122
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating water with activated sludge containing micro-organisms. The method comprises the steps of: preparing an environmentally adapted biomass mixture by adapting the activated sludge to a quantity of water having given characteristics in a single reactor under first levels of aeration, whereby the environmentally adapted biomass mixture acquires the capacity to cause concurrent reactions for BOD removal, nitrification and de-nitrification; and treating a portion of water having substantially the same given characteristics with the environmentally adapted biomass mixture capable of causing the concurrent reactions, in the single reactor under a second level of aeration not higher than the first levels of aeration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kishi
  • Publication number: 20080203015
    Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process that includes at least one aeration tank subsystem for receiving a flow a wastewater and for introducing dissolved oxygen to a population of microorganisms to promote growth of biological flocs in a mixed liquor defined by a concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem includes an impregnation tank for mixing the mixed liquor, virgin weighting agent, and recycled weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into biological flocs suspended in the mixed liquor to form weighted biological flocs. A flocculant injection port located downstream from at least one aeration tank for introducing a flocculant to the mixed liquor for enhancing settling and thickening of the weighted biological flocs and for providing agglomeration of non-impregnated biological flocs and/or partially impregnated biological flocs with weighted biological flocs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Peter G. Marston, Steven Woodard, Ionel Wechsler
  • Patent number: 7407582
    Abstract: A method and system for treating water or wastewater to remove both soluble BOD and suspended solids. The method entails directing first and second water or wastewater streams to a treatment system including an activated sludge system and a ballasted flocculation system. The first water or wastewater stream is directed to the activated sludge system which includes at least one reactor and a clarifier. The second water or wastewater stream is directed to a ballasted flocculation system. Mixed liquor or activated sludge is directed from the activated sludge system to a mixing chamber that is located upstream from the ballasted flocculation system. The water or wastewater of the second stream is mixed with the mixed liquor or activated sludge in the mixing chamber. The mixed liquor from the mixing chamber is directed to and through the ballasted flocculation system. In the end, the soluble BOD in the second water or wastewater stream is reduced and suspended solids in the water or wastewater are also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: OTV SA S.A.
    Inventor: Jyh-Wei Sun
  • Patent number: 7404897
    Abstract: An efficient system and process for removing nitrogen from wastewater while enriching seed sludge in the mainstream treatment process. Bioaugmentation of seed autotrophic organisms facilitate the nitrification reactions by enhancing the rates of reaction advantageously within a smaller volume or within a shorter activated sludge solids retention time. Likewise, bioaugmentation of seed denitrification organisms will also enhance rate of reaction within a smaller volume or shorter activated sludge solids retention time. Separate treatment of high ammonia digester reject water is an efficient method to treat nitrogen in recycle streams as well as to enrich the seed nitrifying and denitrifying cultures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: D.C. Water & Sewer Authority
    Inventors: Walter F. Bailey, Jr., Sudhir N. Murthy, Leonard Benson, Timothy Constantine, Glen T. Daigger, Thomas E. Sadick, Dimitrios Katehis
  • Publication number: 20080105614
    Abstract: A system and method for the ozone treatment of wastewater is disclosed. The disclosed wastewater treatment system includes a high selectivity reactor coupled to an activated sludge treatment basin. The high selectivity reactor is adapted to receive a stream containing sludge diverted directly or indirectly from the activated sludge treatment basin. The disclosed wastewater treatment system and method is adapted to inject a chemical agent, such as ozone-enriched gas, into the diverted stream for treatment within the high selectivity reactor for purposes of sludge reduction, foam control, or bulking control. The treated stream is then returned to the activated sludge treatment basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Malcolm Ezekiel Fabiyi, Richard Novak
  • Publication number: 20080078719
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of wastewater is disclosed. The disclosed wastewater treatment system includes a high selectivity reactor coupled to a wastewater treatment reactor, such as an activated sludge treatment basin, membrane bioreactor or sequencing batch reactor. The high selectivity reactor is adapted to receive a liquid stream containing biosolids diverted directly or indirectly from the wastewater treatment reactor. The wastewater treatment system also includes a chemical injection subsystem operatively coupled to the high selectivity reactor and adapted to inject a chemical, such as ozone-enriched gas, into the diverted liquid stream to effect highly selective treatment of the diverted stream. The treated liquid stream is subsequently sent via a return line to the continuously stirred tank reactor or other discharge point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Malcolm Ezekiel Fabiyi, Richard Novak
  • Patent number: 7344643
    Abstract: Contaminated wastewaters comprising biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorus are treated by an activated sludge process. The process utilizes an activated sludge tank, a solid-liquid separator, and a bioreactor to significantly reduce, or eliminate, waste activated sludge (WAS) within a sludge stream. A sidestream reactor is employed downstream from the bioreactor to remove soluble phosphates left in the sludge stream by the low WAS process. Within the sidestream reactor, a source of multivalent metal ions is added to a slightly alkaline sludge stream to precipitate the phosphates. The solid phosphates have a specific gravity higher than that of the organic matter in the sludge stream and may be separated from the sludge stream based upon differential settling velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. Elefritz, Jr., Dennis J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7323108
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment process is provided that entails both a biological or activated sludge process and a ballasted flocculation process. A first stream of wastewater is directed to a biological system for biologically treating the wastewater. The biological treatment process produces a first effluent and a first sludge. In cases where the biological system is an activated sludge process, the first sludge is recycled. A second stream of wastewater is directed to a ballasted flocculation system. The second stream of wastewater can be a stream independent of the first stream of wastewater or can be derived from the wastewater passing through the biological system. Sludge in the form of activated sludge or mixed liquor from the biological system is mixed with a second stream of wastewater in the ballasted flocculation system for the purpose of biologically treating the second stream of wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: I. Kruger, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Garbett, Michael Leon Gutshall, Barry Wayne Hendley, Branden Edmond Hudson
  • Patent number: 7309435
    Abstract: Processes for the treatment of organic waste are disclosed comprising digesting organic waste under anaerobic conditions so as to convert at least a portion of the organic waste and produce a clear decant and a mixture of biomass and unconverted organic compounds, returning at least a portion of the mixture of biomass and unconverted organic compounds to the digesting step so as to control the system net growth rate therein, partially oxidizing at least a portion of the mixture of biomass and unconverted organic compounds to produce a conditioned effluent therein, and returning the conditioned effluent to the digesting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Alan F. Rozich
  • Patent number: 7258791
    Abstract: The pH value of excess sludge taken out from a biological oxidation tank (2) is adjusted to 8 to 14, and the pH-adjusted sludge is injected into a solubilizing device (3). The sludge taken out from the solubilizing device (3) is heated to 110° C. to 350° C. at a pressure higher than saturated steam pressure to solubilize the sludge to a state readily degradable by microorganisms. The solubilized sludge is returned to a biological oxidizing tank (2), and the pH value of the sludge in the biological oxidizing tank (2) to 5 to 9. The use of the above method of treating excess sludge and an apparatus therefore enables substantially reducing the volume of excess sludge with economic advantage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Shigeki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7001520
    Abstract: A method of treating of municipal sludge, paper-pulp sludge, animal and plant waste, and the like, whereby the treatment thereof via electroporation causes the breakdown of waste activated sludge, which is then recycled back to a bioreactor, or to one or more additional bioreactors such as aerobic, facultative, anoxic, or strictly anaerobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Opencel LLC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Held, Satya P. Chauhan
  • Patent number: 6958121
    Abstract: A digester is provided for aerobically and microbially digesting a batch of bodily waste material, such as an aqueous slurry of pig manure. The digester comprises side-by-side digestion and separation compartments, separated by a partition wall. A first slanted pipe extends through the wall and has its inlet at the lower end of the separation compartment. Pressurized air is injected into the inlet so that slurry from the separation compartment is drawn into the bore of the first pipe, is mixed and aerated therein and is ejected into the slurry in the digestion compartment as a powerful jet. The jet establishes a vertical circulation in the digestion compartment. Slurry, containing undigestible solids, drains through a second pipe from the central core of the circular flow into the separation compartment. Here the aerated non-digestible solids tend to float and can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Al Leskow
  • Patent number: 6916422
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for regulating a wastewater or sludge treating plant. Ponds and cells provided with aerating means are used for eliminating carbonaceous, nitrogenous, and phosphate pollutants. The invention is characterized in that an automaton uses periods during which the plant is underloaded to impose on it abnormal operating conditions. The automaton analyses the response of the plant to the abnormal operating conditions to simulate and optimize the plant operating parameters for heavy-load periods, by automatically adjusting the parameters of the automaton logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Ondeo Services
    Inventors: Patrice Chatelier, Gilles Carrand, Jean-Marc Audic
  • Patent number: 6872312
    Abstract: An activated sludge process for the clarification of wastewater comprising introducing the wastewater into a reactor where microorganisms consume organic material in the wastewater to form a mixed liquor comprising water, the microorganisms and an activated sludge; separating clarified water from the mixed liquor by filtration through a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane; separating the activated sludge from the mixed liquor; adding to the activated sludge at least one high molecular weight water soluble polymer to form a mixture of water and coagulated and flocculated solids; dewatering the coagulated and flocculated solids to form a mixture of dewatered solids and filtrate water; and recycling the filtrate water into the mixed liquor and a method of controlling polymer dosage, preferably using fluorescence emission spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Jitendra T. Shah, Kristine S. Salmen, John H. Collins
  • Patent number: 6863818
    Abstract: An apparatus using activated sludge for the removal of biological nutrients from a wastewater includes a bioreactor for containing a mixture of wastewater under treatment and activated sludge. The bioreactor is divided into a plurality of serially connected treatment zones and includes a wastewater inlet, a downstream aerobic zone and an upstream aerobic zone between the wastewater inlet and the downstream aerobic zone, the upstream and downstream aerobic zones being separated by an anoxic zone. A method for removal of nutrients from a wastewater includes providing a wastewater to an inlet of a serial, multi-zone, activated sludge bioreactor containing an activated sludge. The bioreactor has a downstream aerobic zone from which water is removed and an upstream aerobic zone between the wastewater inlet and the downstream aerobic zone, the upstream and downstream aerobic zones being separated by an anoxic zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen T. Daigger, Albert M. Wollmann, Sudhir N. Murthy, Edwin J. Fleischer, Thomas A. Broderick
  • Patent number: 6830690
    Abstract: A process for treating organically contaminated waste water is provided comprising an initial treatment step whereby microorganisms are replicated and either attach to support media or remain suspended in the waste water. The microorganisms reduce the incoming biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level by consuming the organic contaminants. At least a part of the suspended portion of microorganisms are subsequently removed from the initially treated waste water, and the waste water under goes a further treatment step to further reduce the level of organic contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Schmid
  • Patent number: 6824685
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment process involves solids-liquid separation after biological treatment, in which solids-liquid separation of activated sludge can be more efficiently performed. A mixture of wastewater and activated sludge obtained after biologically treating raw wastewater is introduced into a solids-liquid separation tank containing a water-permeable filter immersed therein and a dynamic filter layer of sludge is formed on the surface of the water-permeable filter to give a filtrate from the water-permeable filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Yosei Katsu, Toshihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6824684
    Abstract: According to this wastewater treatment apparatus, wastewater can be treated by novel action by a foaming tank 7 in comparison with a treatment method solely using a biological treatment tank 1 constituting an aeration tank. That is, wastewater can be treated by action achieved by combining (1) action solely of a biological treatment tank 1 and (2) action of a foaming tank 7. Specific action in this foaming tank 7 includes supply of dissolved oxygen to wastewater and oxidation by bubbled air (micro air) under a favorable condition with a shallow water depth. According to this wastewater treatment apparatus, energy to be consumed can be saved and toxic chemical substances such as dimethylformamide as a toxic chemical substance can be completely decomposed by unlimited microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazumi Chujo
  • Publication number: 20040226881
    Abstract: A photographic waste liquid treatment method comprises an electrolytic oxidation treatment for photographic waste liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Miyazaki, Kazuhiko Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20040226882
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a lagoon based advanced treatment system or upgrading an existing lagoon system for advanced treatment of wastewater. The lagoon is provided with a baffle to create a complete mix zone in which an aeration system and bioconcentration modules are installed. Biological solids are concentrated in the modules and drop through their open bottoms where the solids are recirculated and mixed by the aeration system. Once a biomass equilibrium is reached in the complete mix zone, excess solids are passed into the rest of the lagoon for standard treatment there. The complete mix zone is operated as a low rate activated sludge process with a detention time much less than for the rest of the lagoon, maintaining sufficient heat and sludge aging to effect complete biological nitrification and/or denitrification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Charles E. Tharp, Randall C. Chann
  • Publication number: 20040173526
    Abstract: A digester is provided for aerobically and microbially digesting a batch of bodily waste material, such as an aqueous slurry of pig manure. The digester comprises side-by-side digestion and separation compartments, separated by a partition wall. A first slanted pipe extends through the wall and has its inlet at the lower end of the separation compartment. Pressurized air is injected into the inlet so that slurry from the separation compartment is drawn into the bore of the first pipe, is mixed and aerated therein and is ejected into the slurry in the digestion compartment as a powerful jet. The jet establishes a vertical circulation in the digestion compartment. Slurry, containing undigestible solids, drains through a second pipe from the central core of the circular flow into the separation compartment. Here the aerated non-digestible solids tend to float and can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Al Leskow
  • Publication number: 20040149653
    Abstract: The inventions separate the activated sludge, biochemical reaction stages of the batch treatment process of a sequencing batch reactor from the clarification and sedimentation stages by separating the locations where each process takes place. The separation may be accomplished in a variety of ways including constructing separate basins for each process, installing baffles or other partitions in a single vessel to isolate the areas where each process takes place, or other methods of process separation as are known in the art. In each process, treatment occurs through the performance of a series of operations. The operations are repeated for each batch of wastewater processed by the SBR. In a conventional SBR process, the cycle of operations for clarification and sedimentation are dependent on a preceding biochemical reaction step. However, in the present invention the clarification and sedimentation operations are independent of the biochemical reaction operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Lloyd W. Johnson, Kenneth A. Mikkelson, Dennis M. Gleason, Edward W. Lang
  • Patent number: 6770200
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a lagoon based advanced treatment system or upgrading an existing lagoon system for advanced treatment of wastewater. The lagoon is provided with a baffle to create a complete mix zone in which an aeration system and bioconcentration modules are installed. Biological solids are concentrated in the modules and drop through their open bottoms where the solids are recirculated and mixed by the aeration system. Once a biomass equilibrium is reached in the complete mix zone, excess solids are passed into the rest of the lagoon for standard treatment there. The complete mix zone is operated as a low rate activated sludge process with a detention time much less than for the rest of the lagoon, maintaining sufficient heat and sludge aging to effect complete biological nitrification and/or denitrification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Environmental Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Tharp, Randall C. Chann
  • Patent number: 6733672
    Abstract: A system and method for treatment of soot-laden waste water is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of separating the soot from the waste water initially in a clarifier. The concentrated soot is then treated with an activated sludge mixture in a digester with a very long average hydraulic retention time to effectively digest the materials found in the concentrated soot. Soot-free waste water is treated via standard aerobic, and anoxic reactor basins and a clarifier with activated sludge recirculation. The system effectively removes soot from soot-laden waste water in a cost effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Hiatt, James R. Brocato, Olaf McDavid, Murthy S. Duvvuri, Donald O. Lierman, Uwe Wegmann, Peter Paessler
  • Patent number: 6723244
    Abstract: A new process configuration, which is based on nitrifier bioaugmentation, achieves essentially complete nitrification at low solids retention times (SRTs) on a year round basis for plants that have a minimum of two activated sludge treatment trains. The process utilizes a membrane bioreactor as a second stage activated sludge system for one of the existing activated sludge systems, which is operated under non-nitrifying conditions. The membrane bioreactor is used to achieve essentially complete nitrification of ammonia derived from influent wastewater and an anaerobic digester recycle stream. The mixed liquor of the membrane bioreactor is comprised of an enriched culture of nitrifying bacteria. To allow the other treatment train(s) to nitrify, the waste sludge from the membrane bioreactor is directed to “donated” to the other “receiver” train(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Allan Constantine
  • Patent number: 6712970
    Abstract: In the liquid side of sewage treatment process, a combination aerobic/anoxic stage is closely monitored such that phosphorus can be removed as well as nitrogen. As in a known process, the aerobic/anoxic stage is monitored as to a coenzyme of the active bacteria. When the bacteria of flocs within this stage show a switch to anaerobic condition via such coenzyme, the low dissolved oxygen level in the stage is maintained for a preselected period of time or to a preselected extent of the anaerobic condition, before oxygen is added. This somewhat brief anaerobic condition within the flocs is sufficient to release significant amounts of phosphorus into the liquid. When aeration then is increased, enhanced biological phosphorus uptake is effected. A small aerobic stage is included after the aerobic/anoxic stage to ensure maximum phosphorus uptake, and in one embodiment this stage includes a membrane separator, allowing downstream secondary clarification to be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Enviroquip, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiren K. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 6709594
    Abstract: A method of treating of municipal sludge, paper-pulp sludge, animal and plant waste, and the like, whereby the treatment thereof via electroporation causes the breakdown of waste activated sludge, which is then recycled back to a bioreactor, or to one or more additional bioreactors such as aerobic, facultative, anoxic, or strictly anaerobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: DH20, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Held, Satya P. Chauhan
  • Publication number: 20040050779
    Abstract: A process for treating organically contaminated waste water is provided comprising an initial treatment step whereby microorganisms are replicated and either attach to support media or remain suspended in the waste water. The microorganisms reduce the incoming biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level by consuming the organic contaminants. At least a part of the suspended portion of microorganisms are subsequently removed from the initially treated waste water, and the waste water under goes a further treatment step to further reduce the level of organic contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Schmid
  • Patent number: 6706185
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the biological removal of phosphorus, in which raw water is introduced into the anaerobic tank 11, together with returned sludge from the sludge return pipe 14. Some of the water in the anaerobic tank 11 is sent to the solid/liquid separating device 16 and the rest is sent to the aerobic tank 12. Some of the water which contains the released phosphorus in the anaerobic tank 11 is sent via the pipe 15 to the second solid/liquid separating device 16, and subjected to a solid/liquid separation treatment. The separated water fraction is sent to the phosphorus-removing apparatus 17 and the phosphorus is removed. Some of the solid fraction is introduced into the anaerobic tank 11. The remainder is sent from the pipe 19 to the solubilizing tank 20 and subjected to a solubilizing treatment, and then it is returned to the anaerobic tank 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Rajeev Goel, Hidenari Yasui
  • Publication number: 20040045901
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a lagoon based advanced treatment system or upgrading an existing lagoon system for advanced treatment of wastewater. The lagoon is provided with a baffle to create a complete mix zone in which an aeration system and bioconcentration modules are installed. Biological solids are concentrated in the modules and drop through their open bottoms where the solids are recirculated and mixed by the aeration system. Once a biomass equilibrium is reached in the complete mix zone, excess solids are passed into the rest of the lagoon for standard treatment there. The complete mix zone is operated as a low rate activated sludge process with a detention time much less than for the rest of the lagoon, maintaining sufficient heat and sludge aging to effect complete biological nitrification and/or denitrification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Charles E. Tharp, Randall C. Chann
  • Publication number: 20040016698
    Abstract: An enhanced activated sludge wastewater treatment method increases volumetric pollutant loading, hydraulic loading capacity and nutrient removal efficiency at a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. The method describes the control of return activated sludge rates, and the operation of partitioned aeration and reaeration zones according to measured properties of the mixed liquor to achieve the claimed benefits. Operating an existing treatment plant according to the enhanced treatment method provides a more consistent treatment process that is resistant to shock loading and increases plant capacity without the need for costly construction and operation of additional reactors and clarifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventor: Michael T. Unger
  • Publication number: 20030234218
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling treatment of the sewage/waste water. The method includes measuring attributes of inflow water flowing into a sewage/waste water treatment plant, attributes of an internal condition of a reaction tank having a first story and a second story, and fluid present values (PVs) of efficiency attributes of outflow water. The method also includes collecting data of the measured fluid PVs and operation-processing the data to convert the data into physical quantity data. The method also includes obtaining each optimum set point (SP) of each dissolved oxygen (DO) and solids retention time (SRT) of the first story and the second story of an exhalation tank by comparing PVs of the measured attributes using a neural network control program with a back-propagation algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: H2L Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ik-Bae Yang
  • Patent number: 6652752
    Abstract: A method for the biodegradation on an oil-based sludge comprising a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method comprises forming an aqueous solution in a reactor of an oil-in-water emulsion of the oil-based sludge, bacterial culture and nutrients for the bacterial culture, the bacterial culture having the ability to grow on petroleum hydrocarbons as sole carbon source and having been isolated from a hydrocarbon contaminated soil or hydrocarbon-containing sludge or other environments rich in hydrocarbon degrading bacteria, maintainingthe aqueous solution under aerobic conditions in the reactor at a temperature of at least 10° C. for a period of time sufficient to reduce the amount of hydrocarbon by at least 25%, and discharging aqueous solution having a reduced amount of hydrocarbons from the reactor. The method may be used on sludge containing aromatics, resins and asphaltenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventors: Owen P. Ward, Ajay Singh
  • Patent number: 6620323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for biological wastewater purification. According to the invention an activation tank (10) is provided in which, with feed of a catalyst, wastewater constituents are degraded by degradation means (11), for example microorganisms, suspended in the wastewater. In the activation tank (10) is disposed at least one lamellae pack (50) in or on which the degradation means (11) suspended in the wastewater are separated out by sedimentation to fall as thickened sedimentation means sludge (11′) to the bottom region (15) of the activation tank (10). In the said bottom region (15) of the activation tank (10) is provided forced recirculation (20, 22) of the degradation means, which takes up the thickened degradation means sludge (11′) and recirculates it as suspended degradation means (11) back to the activation tank (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Axel Johnson Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hother, Gerhard Probst, Klaus Rocznik, Bernd Striegel
  • Publication number: 20030164329
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for treating wastewater having bio-solids therein. The system includes a tank, a wastewater inlet line, an effluent discharge outlet line, and an aeration source. The tank has an upper aeration chamber and a lower clarification chamber separated by a common inclined partition having an opening defined therein. The inclined partition opens into the lower clarification chamber near a bottom of the tank which allows fluid communication between the upper aeration chamber and the lower clarification chamber. The bottom of the tank has a bio-sludge outlet for removal of settled bio-solids. The wastewater inlet line opens into the aeration chamber and an intake end of the effluent discharge outlet line is positioned within the clarification chamber. The aeration source is positioned within the aeration chamber to supply air to the wastewater within the aeration chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Nils Young
  • Publication number: 20030164331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of biological treatment of wastewater by means of activated sludge, wherein the wastewater is introduced first into an acrated activated sludge tank (B tank) and then by turns into one of several sedimentation and recirculation tanks (SU tanks), which are permanently linked with said B tank and in which a separation of activated sludge and clear water occurs, and after separation activated sludge is returned to the B tank and clear waters is drawn off; several times a day, in the SU tanks an operating cycle proceeds comprising a stirring phase (R phase), a pre-settling phase (V phase) and a discharge phase (A phase). In the R phase the activated sludge is remixed with the water, in the V phase the activated sludge settles down and in the A phase clear water is drawn off (single basin technique).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Kurt Ingerle
  • Patent number: 6613229
    Abstract: A waste treatment method and apparatus including a denitrification chamber for denitrifying waste, an aeration basin for aerating the waste, and a clarifying device in which sludge particles separate out of the waste, leaving discharge and reusable sludge. Sludge from the clarifying device is sent back to the denitrification chamber or aeration basin or both. Sludge on the aeration basin floor is sent back to the denitrification chamber. Preferably, the method and apparatus facilitate both activated sludge and fixed film processes. Most preferably, the clarifying device comprises a constant flow backwash filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Wastewater Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 6602417
    Abstract: A process is described for the biological treatment of waste water containing a specific component such as ammonia, wherein the waste water together with surplus sludge from an activated sludge reactor is treated in a bioaugmentation reactor, applying a hydraulic retention time in the continuously or discontinuously operated reactor which is shorter than the sludge retention time by retaining part of the sludge in the reactor and continuing the use of the separated part in the reactor. The non-retained part of the sludge, together with the effluent of the bioaugmentation reactor, is added to the activated sludge reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: DHV Water B.V.
    Inventor: Arnold Gerrit Zilverentant
  • Patent number: 6596171
    Abstract: An enhanced activated sludge wastewater treatment method increases volumetric pollutant loading, hydraulic loading capacity and nutrient removal efficiency at a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant. The method describes the control of return activated sludge rates, and the operation of partitioned aeration and reaeration zones according to measured properties of the mixed liquor to achieve the claimed benefits. Operating an existing treatment plant according to the enhanced treatment method provides a more consistent treatment process that is resistant to shock loading and increases plant capacity without the need for costly construction and operation of additional reactors and clarifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Michael T. Unger
  • Patent number: 6585895
    Abstract: There is provided a process for treating industrial wastewater that substantially eliminates the generation of excess solids in the system requiring mechanical removal. The wastewater undergoes an equalization step wherein hydraulic flow is smoothed and the pH of the wastewater is adjusted to near neutral pH conditions. The equalized wastewater is then transferred to aeration tanks where the organic process wastes are absorbed, metabolized, or otherwise biodegraded by the microorganisms in the mixed liquor in the aeration tanks. After the aeration step, the wastewater is separated by gravity in a clarifying step to separate the wastewater into a liquid phase and a semi-solid phase. The clarified liquid phase is withdrawn from the clarifier and discharged, while the semi-solid phase is transferred either directly back to the aeration/biological treatment step, as recycle-activated sludge, or into a bioreactor as waste-activated sludge. In the bioreactor the semi-solid phase is subjected to active aeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Rhodia Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Smith, Howard E. C. Brown