And Anaerobic Treatment Patents (Class 210/630)
  • Patent number: 11795079
    Abstract: The invention provides a dynamic membrane reactor with function of nitrogen and phosphorus removal and an operation method thereof, and comprises a biological treatment system, a dynamic membrane loading system and an automatic system. The operation method comprises the following steps. (1) Before the formation of dynamic membrane, a porous filter for phosphorus removal is used as a cathode, a conductive precision filter screen is used as an anode, and aerobic denitrifying bacteria are inoculated into the dynamic membrane reactor under certain constant current density, hydraulic retention time and flux. (2) After the dynamic membrane is formed, the porous filter for phosphorus removal is used as the anode, the conductive precision filter screen is used as the cathode. And intermittent aeration is started at the anode under certain constant current density. (3) When the transmembrane pressure difference exceeds a certain range, hydraulic backwashing is performed under certain constant current density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG GONSHANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huajun Feng, Meizhen Wang, Haibo Tao, Miao Lv, Yuqi Chen, Yingfeng Xu
  • Patent number: 11505482
    Abstract: Mainstream partial nitritation was studied at 10° C. in a moving bed biofilm reactor treating synthetic wastewater containing both nitrogen (?40 mg L-1) and organic carbon at COD/N ratio ranging from 1.3 to 2.2. Three different control strategies were investigated to achieve partial nitritation. Initially, biofilm age was controlled by incorporating a media replacement strategy. Next, separately from the media replacement, oxygen limited conditions were investigated and finally pH control was incorporated together with oxygen limitation. Successful partial nitritation was achieved only by combining oxygen limitation with pH control. The average NH4-N concentration was equal to 16.0±1.6 mg L-1 and average NO2-N concentration was equal to 15.7±2.4 mg L-1 during steady state partial nitritation. The average residual NO3-N concentration was equal to 2.6±2.2 mg L-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventors: Maciej S. Kowalski, Jan Oleszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11225427
    Abstract: Residuals, such as slag particles, from iron- and/or steel-making, and/or water-leached eluates thereof, are added directly to a conventional or multi-staged anaerobic digester or other sewage sludge or biosolid handling process. The slag particles or other residuals sorb, sequester, immobilize, or otherwise promote the removal of phosphorus and/or sulfur from wastewater, sludge, or biosolids being treated, such that the associated aqueous phase concentrations of phosphorus and sulfur are significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, Phoenix Services LLC
    Inventors: Mark T. Hernandez, Azize Azra Bilgin, Dennis G. Grubb
  • Patent number: 10597313
    Abstract: Chlorination-assisted coagulation processes and systems are disclosed for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous compositions and streams such as produced water generated by petroleum production operations. The chlorination-assisted coagulation process includes converting at least a portion of chloride ions in the aqueous composition to hypochlorite ions or hypochlorous acid by passing an electric current through at least a portion of the aqueous composition under anaerobic conditions, the aqueous composition including the chloride ions, iron (II) compounds, and one or more organic compounds. The chlorination-assisted coagulation process further includes reacting at least a portion of the iron (II) compounds of the aqueous composition with the hypochlorite or hypochlorous acid to produce iron (III) ions, and coagulating the one or more organic compounds with the iron (III) ions to produce a plurality of insoluble solid particles in a treated aqueous composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Guillaume Robert Jean-François Raynel, Regis Didier Alain Vilagines
  • Patent number: 10307714
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for cleaning filters, such as membrane filters. More particularly, a method and system are disclosed for retaining a plurality of small particulates, preferably in the shape of beads, which contact sludge or other despots on the membrane filters to remove unwanted debris that would otherwise form on the cleaning filters. In various embodiments, the plurality of small particulates are retained in a permeable enclosure formed of wedgewire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Meurer Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Floyd Bersell, Charles Lonnie Meurer
  • Patent number: 9039897
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Peter George Stroot
  • Publication number: 20150076060
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater containing TMAH and ammonium nitrogen includes the steps of (a) introducing a first solution which contains ammonium nitrogen but no TMAH into a single reactor with microorganisms comprising nitrifying bacteria and anammox bacteria, and denitrifying the first solution by the microorganisms under a dissolved oxygen concentration ranging from 0.1-0.5 mg/L and a pH value of 7-8; (b) when the denitrification efficiency reaches a steady state, introducing a second solution which contains ammonium nitrogen and TMAH and has a concentration of TMAH lower than 60 mg/L into the reactor; and (c) gradually increasing the concentration of TMAH in the solution to be added into the reactor for several times whenever the denitrification efficiency reaches a steady state. Accordingly, the inhibition of TMAH to the anammox bacteria can be significantly decreased, and both TMAH and the ammonium nitrogen can be treated simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicants: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY, LEADERMAN & ASSOCIATES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Der-Ming LEE, Ming-Kuei CHIANG, Chin-Te CHEN, Keng-Chuan SUNG, Chien-Ju LAN, Jih-Gaw LIN, Ying-Chang LIANG
  • 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: 8916046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling oxygen supply in a tank (2) for biologically treating wastewater by alternating aeration including consecutive cycles, wherein each cycle comprises a first aeration phase and a second anoxic phase for reducing nitrites and nitrates formed during the preceding aeration phase, the tank is provided with sensors for measuring ammonia nitrogen (4b) and for measuring nitrate (4c) and optionally for measuring oxygen (4a) that is dissolved in the tank liquor or in the liquor thereof exiting the tank, a method according to which the oxygen supply is controlled in the aeration phase when the reduction speed of the nitrate measurement is less than a bottom threshold and the cutoff of the oxygen supply is also controlled in the aeration phase when at least one of the following triggering events occurs: the reduction speed in the measurement of ammonia nitrogen becomes lower than a bottom threshold; the total sum of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate measurements becomes higher
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Degremont
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Hazard, Patrick Descamps
  • Patent number: 8911628
    Abstract: A method for the biological purification of ammonium-containing wastewater. The wastewater is purified in an aeration tank in which a low oxygen concentration of less than 1.0 mg/l is set so as to first convert, using aerobically oxidizing bacteria, ammonium contained in the wastewater to nitrite and then to convert, using anaerobically oxidizing bacteria, ammonium and nitrite to elemental nitrogen. At least a part of surplus sludge formed in the aeration tank is separated into a heavy sludge phase and a light sludge phase. The light sludge phase is fed as surplus sludge to a sludge digestion. Sludge water that is separated off from the sludge in a sludge dewatering is fed to a deammonifying tank. Nitrogen compounds in the sludge water are converted, by deammonification in the deammonifying tank, to elemental nitrogen. Surplus sludge formed in the deammonifying tank is fed to the aeration tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Demon GmbH
    Inventor: Geert Nyhuis
  • Patent number: 8911627
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for biomass digestion and products formed thereof. The products include one or more biogases, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified Class A Biosolids, and pathogen reduced organic liquid fertilizer. Through the digestion of waste materials using sequential phases in an efficient digestion process, enhanced biomass conversion efficiency and improved output of products (in quantity and/or quality) are obtained with a significant reduction in dwell time in each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Landmark IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Detlev K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8845900
    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: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Daniel R. Miklos
  • Publication number: 20140263048
    Abstract: A process approach allows economical self-sustained operation of single vessel biotreatment systems for municipal wastewater treatment. The daytime solar powered treatment process is changed during darkness periods to operate the biotreatment system without electric grid powering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kaspar A. Kasparian, Eric H. Verret
  • Patent number: 8821727
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes one or more aeration tanks for receiving wastewater, a controller for controlling the amount of air delivered to each of the one or more aeration tanks by a blower assembly, and a sensor assembly for periodically measuring values corresponding to the amount of dissolved oxygen in at least one of the one or more aeration tanks. When the sensor assembly measures values that are less than a low setpoint value, the controller causes the blower assembly to incrementally deliver more air until the sensor assembly measures values that are not less than the low setpoint value. When the sensor assembly measures values that exceed the low setpoint value, the controller causes the blower assembly to incrementally deliver less air until either the sensor assembly measures values that are not greater than the low setpoint value, or the blower assembly reaches a preselected low operating threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aero-Mod Incorporated
    Inventors: John Maurice McNellis, Brian Scott Thiemann, Robin Dale Mahan, Jeri Louis Meyer, Todd Lee Steinbach
  • Patent number: 8808543
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: John H. Reid
  • Publication number: 20140217019
    Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods of biological and chemical treatment of wastewater comprising organic nitrogen compounds. Systems may include: an aerobic reactor, a first separation module for separating liquid and solid components of the wastewater; an oxidation module for removing organic materials from the wastewater; and a post-anoxic reactor for denitrifying at least a portion of the wastewater. Systems may include a second separation module and various feedback recycle lines between the components. Methods may include: degrading by the aerobic reactor more than 95% of organic compounds to ammonia, oxidizing by the oxidation module at least a portion of the ammonia to nitrates, and degrading by the post-anoxic reactor at least a portion of the nitrates to nitrogen gas and water. Systems and methods may reduce total organic carbon of the wastewater by more than 90%, and total nitrogen of the wastewater by more than 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Infilco Degremont, Inc.
    Inventors: SUNIL MEHTA, NABIN CHOWDHURY, RICHARD UBALDI, BARBARA SCHILLING, ANTONIO LAU, BRUNO HEINIGER
  • Patent number: 8764986
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for removal of undesirable substances from a body of liquid. The system can include an aeration structure having a continuously inclined surface configured to provide an interaction of air bubbles against substantially an entire length of the continuously inclined surface while the air bubbles are moving toward a top of the body of liquid. The continuously inclined surface can be substantially submerged in the body of liquid. A bio-film of diverse bacteria colonies is disposed on the continuously inclined surface, and a high surface area-to-volume structure is located in proximity to the aeration structure, upon which a bio-film of bacteria colonies can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kraig Johnson, Lawrence D. Reaveley, Fred Jaeger, Hua Xu, Joyce A. Okey
  • Patent number: 8758620
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system is provided having a reactor, first and second bio media and an aeration system. The first bio medium is located proximate an inlet end of the reactor and extends vertically between a top water level and the reactor's floor. The second bio medium is located proximate an outlet end of the reactor and extends vertically between a bottom water level and the reactor's floor. The media are adapted for retaining solids within the reactor as clarified water is withdrawn after treatment. The first bio media is further adapted to act as a baffle thereby causing wastewater to flow generally uniformly into a primary reactor zone. The aeration system includes a plurality of diffusers, some of which may be located adjacent or underneath the bio media and are adapted for promoting the shaking the bio media when activated in order dislodge excessive biomass therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Environmental Dynamics International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Tharp, Randall C. Chann
  • Patent number: 8741143
    Abstract: A process for treating a water stream containing dissolved organic carbon and dissolved salts comprises subjecting the water stream to reverse osmosis after a pre-treatment step to reduce the amount of dissolved organic carbon directed in water to the reverse osmosis treatment step. The preferred pre-treatment step is a membrane treatment step such as nanofiltration. The process enables treatment of complex effluents including mixtures of domestic and industrial effluents. Treated water may be recycled and a treatment plant (100) employing the process forms another aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Central Gippsland Region Water Corporation
    Inventors: David Evans, Andrew Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 8721886
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for river water purification using a treatment soil layer and a permeable filtering medium layer. The river water purification apparatus includes a treatment soil layer and a permeable filtering medium layer which are sequentially and alternately stacked. The treatment soil layer includes a plurality of unit soil layers which are arranged at intervals. A reservoir part which stores a predetermined amount of river water and supplies the river water to an inside of the unit soil layer is provided in an upper end part of the unit soil layer. The permeable filtering medium layer has a higher hydraulic conductivity than that of the treatment soil layer. The river water purification apparatus increases a treatment flux of river water regardless of a coefficient of water permeability of soil and effectively removes nitrogen, phosphorus and nutrient salts by stably forming an anaerobic condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kyu Hong Ahn, Kyung Guen Song, Kang Woo Cho, Dong-Won Ki, Jin Woo Cho, Se Yeon Won, Hae Seok Oh, Ki Pal Kim
  • Patent number: 8715501
    Abstract: A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ecologico-Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Hiatt, Mohammed Memon, Jacob J. L. Dickinson, James DeWitt Stein, Gary L. Ailes
  • Publication number: 20140116937
    Abstract: A sludge treatment apparatus includes an aeration tank serving to degrade microorganisms other than Bacillus sp. in sludge to produce organic matter to thereby activate Bacillus sp.; a poor aeration tank serving to reduce the activity of microorganisms in the sludge; a spore-forming tank operated under oxygen-free conditions and serving to induce the degradation and death of microorganisms remaining in the sludge while inducing the formation of spores of Bacillus sp.; a Bacillus sp.-activating reactor provided in an internal return line extending from the spore-forming tank to the aeration tank and serving to supply minerals to the sludge returned from the spore-forming tank to activate spore-type Bacillus sp.; and a sedimentation tank serving to induce the gravity sedimentation of the sludge discharged from the spore-forming tank to separate the discharged sludge into a supernatant and a concentrated sludge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yong Su Choi, Kyo Bum Kim, Jae Shik Chung, Yong Bae Park, Kyu Won Seo
  • Publication number: 20130334133
    Abstract: The invention discloses systems and methods for producing a gas stream containing ozone and a “carrier” or sweep gas that has an oxygen concentration that is below a predetermined percentage for treatment of organic waste feed stocks in an anaerobic digester. In one embodiment, ozone and unreacted oxygen from an ozone generator are delivered to a pressure swing adsorption cycle, wherein the ozone is adsorbed onto a sieve and the excess oxygen is removed from the cycle. The sweep gas, which has a limited oxygen concentration, is then used to desorb the ozone from the pressure swing adsorption cycle and deliver the ozone to an anaerobic digester, where the ozone is used to treat the feed stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Annemarie Ott Weist, Vipul P. Dholakia, Neil Hannay
  • Patent number: 8574885
    Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated bacterium strain Candidatus Brocadia caroliniensis, having Accession Deposit Number NRRL B-50286. The strain is capable of oxidizing ammonium and releasing di-nitrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Matias B. Vanotti, Ariel A. Szogi, Michael J. Rothrock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8524084
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds, an anoxic zone having denitrifying bacteria, and an aerobic zone having nitrifying bacteria. The anoxic zone is coupled to the aerobic zone, and wastewater flows from the anoxic to the aerobic zone or vice versa. A fluidized bed heat exchanger configured to accept heat from a heat engine and to transfer the heat from the heat engine to the wastewater is positioned in the aerobic zone or the anoxic zone. The fluidized bed heat exchanger includes particulate media, and fluidization of the particulate media scrubs bacterial growth from portions of the fluidized bed heat exchanger. Treating wastewater can include flowing wastewater having nitrogen-containing compounds into a biological reactor having an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone, and heating the wastewater with heat from a heat engine to facilitate denitrification reactions in the anoxic zone and nitrification reactions in the aerobic zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Alexander Fassbender
  • Publication number: 20130213883
    Abstract: Low strength wastewater such as municipal sewage is treated using an anaerobic digester. In some examples, a wastewater stream is separated into a solids rich portion and a solids lean portion. The solids lean portion is treated, for example to remove nitrogen. The solids rich portion is treated in an anaerobic digester, preferably with influent or recuperative thickening. In another example, the wastewater stream is fed to an anaerobic digester and solid-liquid separation stages downstream of the di-gester return active bacteria and undigested organics to the digester. Both cases may use a process train comprising treatment in an anoxic tank followed by a nitritation tank with a portion of the effluent from the nitritation tank recirculated to the anoxic tank to provide nitritation and denitritation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: ANAERGIA INC.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Josse, Andrew Benedek, Diana Mourato-Benedek
  • Patent number: 8506810
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for low-emission storage of biodegradable materials by means of aeration, without aerobic conditions materializing in the material, permits a more consistent feed of the downstream stages in the process. Aeration inhibits methanogenesis and the risk potential of an explosive gas mixture forming in the storage vessel or in the components of the system exhausting waste gas. Closed loop control of the aeration adapts the rate of aeration to the biological activity in the stored material and minimizes air input so as to minimize the loss of methanogenesis potential by aerobic conversion of the matter whilst minimizing the energy required for aeration. The process is characterized in that controlling the aeration in the storage vessel inhibits relevant methanogenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: BTA International GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Kuebler, Roland Carra, Margarita Nimmrichter
  • Publication number: 20130199997
    Abstract: A method of biologically treating wastewater and removing contaminants from the wastewater is disclosed. In the course of treating the wastewater, biomass is produced. In addition to removing contaminants from the wastewater, the process or method of the present invention entails enhancing the PHA accumulation potential of the biomass. Disclosed are a number of processes that are employed in a biological wastewater treatment system for enhancing PHA accumulation potential. For example, enhanced PHA accumulation potential is realized by exposing the biomass to feast and famine conditions and, after exposing the biomass to famine conditions, stimulating the biomass into a period of feast by exposing the biomass to feast conditions for a selected period of time by applying an average peak stimulating RBCOD feeding rate of greater than 5 mg-COD\L\MIN in combination with an average peak specific RBCOD feeding rate greater than 0.5 mg-COD\g-VSS\MIN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT
    Inventors: Alan Gideon Werker, Simon Olof Harald Bengtsson, Elise Marie Blanchet, Maria das Dores Tavares Gurgo e Cirne, Carl Anton Börje Karlsson, Fernando Morgan-Sagastume
  • Patent number: 8496827
    Abstract: A method of treating a mixture of microorganisms with readily biodegradable carbon compounds (RBCs) in the form of one or more volatile fatty acids (VFAs), by first inducing the mixture microorganisms to release phosphorus and magnesium which is then tapped o as the mixture is thickened, to produce a phosphorus/magnesium-nch liquid and a phosphorus/magnesium-reduced treated mixture This treated mixture is placed in an anaerobic digester where ammonia is formed, but combines very little with phosphorus or magnesium Next the high-ammonia mixture is dewatered to produce an ammonia-rich liquid, which is combined with the phosphorus and magnesium-rich liquid and reacted to form struvite In one preferred embodiment, VFAs are formed in situ via an upstream unified fermentation and thickening (UFAT) process and added to the waste sidestream to strip phosphorus and magnesium found therein In another preferred embodiment a usable struvite product is harvested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Clean Water Services
    Inventor: Robert James Baur
  • Patent number: 8480901
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and products for biomass digestion, which includes the production of biogas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified Class A Biosolids, and pathogen reduced organic liquid fertilizer. Through the digestion of waste materials using sequential phases in an efficient digestion process, enhanced biomass conversion efficiency and improved output of products (in quantity and/or quality) are obtained with a significant reduction in dwell time in each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Landmark Structures I, LP
    Inventor: Detlev K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8469916
    Abstract: Certain examples describe systems and methods for increasing plasma extracted from donor blood. An example method includes receiving blood extracted from a donor connected to a blood collection machine. The example method includes filtering the blood using a filtration device to remove at least a portion of plasma included in the blood to separate the plasma removed from remaining blood. The example method includes routing the plasma removed for collection. The example method includes re-filtering the remaining blood using a or the filtration device to remove additional plasma from the remaining blood. The example method includes routing the additional plasma removed for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wegener, Daniel R. Boggs, Kyungyoon Min, Prakash Mathew, Marc N. Weasler, Benjamin E. E. Kusters
  • Publication number: 20130140231
    Abstract: Method and system for treating wastewater includes treating sludge with ozone in a plug-flow type reactor to cause lysis of biosolids in the sludge. The ozonated sludge may be provided to an anaerobic or anoxic section of the wastewater treatment system to aid the denitrification processes occurring in the anaerobic or anoxic section of the wastewater treatment system or to other sections of the wastewater treatment system such as a fermenter, an aerobic digester, or an anaerobic digester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Richard A. Novak, Malcom E. Fabiyi
  • Patent number: 8454830
    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: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Miklos
  • Patent number: 8444854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of organic liquid and solid waste, comprising a first stage of treatment of the liquid content fraction of the waste by methanization, a second stage of treatment in a thermophilic or mesophilic aerobic phase of the semi-solid content fraction of the waste and a third stage in which said treated liquid and solid content portions are mixed in order to form a substrate, which is further treated by mesophilic or thermophilic aerobic phase treatment, resulting into compost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Societe Civile DLMR
    Inventors: Beatrice De Lippe, Fritz Ranke, Dominique Martin
  • Patent number: 8435409
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating highly contaminated wastewater using waste activated sludge as an adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Mitchell, Daniel J. Wagner, Kojo Arthur-Mensah
  • Publication number: 20130092629
    Abstract: A liquid waste treatment system is described. The system may include a first treatment conduit, a second treatment conduit, and at least one junction pipe disposed there between. In some instances, the system may include an upper junction pipe and a lower junction pipe disposed between a first and a second treatment conduit. In one or more embodiments, the system may be arranged in a substantially linear arrangement, such as a straight trench arrangement or a serial distribution arrangement. The system may reduce the need for additional treatment conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: PRESBY PATENT TRUST
    Inventor: PRESBY PATENT TRUST
  • Patent number: 8409303
    Abstract: In the processes for treating municipal sewage and storm water containing biosolids to discharge standards, biosolids, even after dewatering, contain typically about 80% water bound in the dead cells of the biosolids, which gives biosolids a negative heating value. It can be incinerated only at the expense of purchased fuel. Biosolids are heated to a temperature at which their cell structure is destroyed and, preferably, at which carbon dioxide is split off to lower the oxygen content of the biosolids. The resulting char is not hydrophilic, and it can be efficiently dewatered and/or dried and is a viable renewable fuel. This renewable fuel can be supplemented by also charging conventional biomass (yard and crop waste, etc.) in the same or in parallel facilities. Similarly, non-renewable hydrophilic fuels can be so processed in conjunction with the processing of biosolids to further augment the energy supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SGC Advisors, LLC
    Inventors: Norman L. Dickinson, Kevin M. Bolin, Edward Overstreet, Brian Dooley
  • Patent number: 8398855
    Abstract: A waste treatment process comprised of an ammonification system to convert soluble organic nitrogen into ammonia nitrogen, followed by a physico-chemical process to remove a substantial amount of the ammonia as a recovered ammonium sulfate fertilizer or ammonium hydroxide (“aqua ammonia”), and followed by an ammonia oxidation process to oxidize the remaining ammonia from the physico-chemical process. The process reduces ammonia and carbonaceous organic matter to less than 10 mg/l and recovers ammonia in the form of either ammonium sulfate or ammonium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Philip Bruno Pedros, Mark Mathew Simon, Stephen Howard Brown
  • Patent number: 8394272
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method that uses heterothrophic ammonia oxidation bacteria (HAOB) to remove carbon and nitrogen pollutants in wastewater. The method includes the cultivation of the heterotropic bacteria in an activated sludge environment and the removal of carbon and nitrogen from the wastewater. According to the physiological characteristics of HAOB and the principles of combined oxidation of carbon and nitrogen, the method is able to achieve simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen under the condition that the cells do not grow. The process is able to be carried out in the temperature range of 6-40° C. No excess sludge is produced in the process. The invention is able to control the process and product composition of anaerobic ammonia oxidation through the control of organic carbon source, and is able to realize zero-accumulation of NO3?N in the nitrification process. The invention can fully utilize existing activated sludge systems to remove carbon and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Guanghao Peng
  • Patent number: 8388845
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a wastewater treatment method for treating wastewater containing ammonium nitrogen, including the steps of: oxidizing the ammonium nitrogen in the wastewater to nitrite with nitrifying bacteria in a treatment tank in which the nitrifying bacteria and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria having a half-saturation constant of 6.1 mgN/L or more with respect to nitrite coexist; and denitrifying the nitrite formed through the oxidation of the ammonium nitrogen, with the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in the treatment tank, while using the ammonium nitrogen contained in the wastewater as a hydrogen donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuichi Isaka, Yuya Kimura, Tatsuo Sumino
  • Patent number: 8372283
    Abstract: A sulfurous acid/alkalinization pre-treatment method for wastewaters to condition and remove a number of chemicals/pharmaceuticals and heavy metals before the recovered treated influent undergoes further biological reduction via anaerobic and aerobic digestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus G. Theodore
  • 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: 8303817
    Abstract: A nitrification carrier having made nitrifying bacteria dominant therein and a denitrification carrier having made anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria dominant therein are mixed in a treatment tank. Both of a nitrification reaction with the nitrification carrier and a denitrification reaction with denitrification carrier are allowed to proceed in the treatment tank to decompose ammonium nitrogen in wastewater to nitrogen gas. The ratio of the bacterial loads of the nitrifying bacteria and the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria can be easily controlled by immobilizing the nitrifying bacteria and the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria on different carriers from each other (nitrification carrier and denitrification carrier) and by controlling the volume ratio (ratio of the feeding amounts) of the nitrification carrier and the denitrification carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuichi Isaka, Yuya Kimura, Tatsuo Sumino
  • Patent number: 8298422
    Abstract: A method for the treatment of effluents containing nitrogen in the form of ammonium, in which: a volume of effluent is introduced into the batch reactor in successive volume fractions, each volume fraction being treated during a subcycle, each subcycle including a phase of feeding with a volume fraction and, in an alternating manner, two treatment stages, i.e. an aerated first stage, during which complete or partial oxidation of the ammonium takes place to give nitrites, followed by a nonaerated second stage, during which the nitrites produced and the ammonium are converted to nitrogen gas. During the aerated first stage, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the batch reactor is maintained between 0.1 mgO2/l and 0.6 mgO2/l; the N—NO2:N—NH4 ratio is adjusted to be between 0.9 and 1.5 at the beginning of the nonaerated stage; and the nonaerated phase is carried out by deammonification, without the provision of carbon-based substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Degremont
    Inventor: Adriana Gonzalez Ospina
  • Patent number: 8287734
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel process and method for treating nitrogen that is contained in an organic waste stream using aeration at a preferred predetermined mass loading in an aerobic volume followed by treatment in an anoxic/anaerobic volume. The present invention also includes the solid humus material produced from the treatment of an organic waste stream aeration at a predetermined loading in an aerobic volume followed by treatment in an anoxic/anaerobic volume and the removal of said humus solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Bion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jere Northrop, James W. Morris
  • 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: 8246829
    Abstract: A modularizable system for residential water treatment having a low energy requirement to process water for reuse at the residence which results in a reduction in the amount of fossil fuels required to power large water processing stations and transfer water from water plants to individual residences is disclosed. The system increases availability of water at the residential level in areas where water is a limited or limiting resource (e.g., in arid climates). Furthermore, the amount of water a residence uses in a given cycle is more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Patrick T. O'Regan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8246831
    Abstract: A method and system for filtering water in aquarium tanks comprising: a macerating/comminuting chamber with a continuously self-cleaning screen covering the discharge outlet that only allows, optimally sized, easily digestible, organic material to pass out of the macerating/comminuting chamber and into an, optionally self-cleaning, media containing denitrifying microbes. There are three different embodiments that use the method of the current invention. These comprise: a reverse flow under-gravel filter apparatus with the macerating/comminuting chamber and filter screen on the discharge side of the pump, a reverse flow under-gravel filter apparatus with the macerating/comminuting chamber and filter screen on the inlet side of the pump, and an external box filter apparatus with the macerating/comminuting chamber on the discharge side of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Martin Allen McFarland
  • Patent number: 8246830
    Abstract: Provided is a biological nitrogen removal method which includes, causing to flow a support having, on the surface portion thereof, a two-layered microbial film which holes, in the outer layer, nitrite type nitrifying bacteria or aerobic bacteria and nitrite type nitrifying bacteria as a dominant species and, in the inner layer, anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria as a dominant species while being surrounded with the nitrite type nitrifying bacteria; and thereby carrying out denitrification of the water to be treated by making use of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation reaction. In the biological nitrogen removal method, a feed rate of the support (total surface area of the support per unit capacity of the reaction tank) is adjusted so that an amount of nitrous acid produced by the nitrite type nitrification reaction through the action of the nitrite type nitrifying bacteria reaches a level to inhibit a nitrate type nitrification reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Metawater Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeki Takeda
  • Patent number: RE45478
    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, or for solids minimization purposes 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 added back 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 improve nitrification/denitrification efficiency, or to disfavor filamentous biology such as Norcardia sp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Daniel R. Miklos