Utilizing Aluminum, Calcium, Or Iron Containing Agent Patents (Class 210/667)
  • Patent number: 7901582
    Abstract: A phosphorus recovery method and a phosphorus recovery system which can make equipment size small, and can be added easily also to an existing wastewater treatment facility, and can recover phosphorus by low cost, are provided. A phosphorus compound adsorption material includes a nitrogen containing compound which has an amino group at an end of molecular structure, a carrier supporting the nitrogen containing compound, and zinc ion or iron ion fixed to the nitrogen containing compound. After passing water to be treated containing phosphorus to an adsorption tower filled up with this phosphorus compound adsorption material to make phosphorus stick to the phosphorus compound adsorption material, a drug solution for desorption is supplied to the adsorption tower, and phosphorus is desorbed in liquid and is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidetake Shiire, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Tokusuke Hayami, Tatsuoki Kono, Akiko Suzuki, Shinetsu Fujieda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7892435
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that promote the remediation of contaminated materials that are produced during industrial processes. These systems and methods include heating a material, transferring heat from the material to an industrial process. During this transfer, contaminants may be introduced into the material. These methods may remove the contaminant by treating the material with a surface modified nanoceramic through nanofiltration and/or active sites adsorption/reaction. The surface modified nanoceramic may remove at least part of the contaminant in the material. No cooling required prior to removing the contaminant from the material, which can lead to great energy saving and pollution reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Pan, Weijun-William Wang, Linan Zhao, Hongda Li
  • Publication number: 20110036772
    Abstract: A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: I. KRUGER INC.
    Inventors: Kashi Banerjee, Charles D. Blumenschein, John Charles Schrader
  • Publication number: 20110023715
    Abstract: A method or process for treating wastewater containing high organics, silica, boron, hardness, and suspended and dissolved solids. The method includes degasifying the wastewater for the removal of dissolved gases and thereafter chemically softening the wastewater. After the chemical softening step, the wastewater is directed through a media filter or membrane which removes additional solids and precipitants. Thereafter the wastewater is directed through a sodium ion exchange that further softens the wastewater. The effluent from the ion exchange is directed through a cartridge filter and the effluent from the cartridge filter is directed through one or more reverse osmosis units. At a selected phase of the process, prior to the wastewater reaching the reverse osmosis unit or units, the pH of the wastewater is raised and maintained such that the pH of the wastewater reaching a reverse osmosis unit is at a pH greater than 10.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT
    Inventor: LNSP Nagghappan
  • Patent number: 7850854
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adsorbing perchlorate in a fluid and successively destroying it. Perchlorate in the fluid is removed by adsorption on an adsorbent in a column. The adsorbent is then regenerated by desorbing perchlorate, and the perchlorate in the regenerant is then chemically destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: PURE O TECH, Inc.
    Inventors: Mirat D. Gurol, Vladimir Zlotopolski
  • Patent number: 7815804
    Abstract: A method or process for treating wastewater containing high organics, silica, boron, hardness, and suspended and dissolved solids. The method includes degasifying the wastewater for the removal of dissolved gases and thereafter chemically softening the wastewater. After the chemical softening step, the wastewater is directed through a media filter or membrane which removes additional solids and precipitants. Thereafter the wastewater is directed through a sodium ion exchange that further softens the wastewater. The effluent from the ion exchange is directed through a cartridge filter and the effluent from the cartridge filter is directed through one or more reverse osmosis units. At a selected phase of the process, prior to the wastewater reaching the reverse osmosis unit or units, the pH of the wastewater is raised and maintained such that the pH of the wastewater reaching a reverse osmosis unit is at a pH greater than 10.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: OTV SA S.A.
    Inventor: LNSP Nagghappan
  • Patent number: 7785474
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for contacting liquid with an ion exchange resin comprising introducing liquid into a process tank containing ion exchange resin at an inlet (2) and removing liquid that has been contacted with resin from the process tank at an outlet, the outlet being located above the inlet (2), the process tank including a resin containment region (7, 9) disposed between the inlet (2) and the outlet to impede the upward flow of the resin as it becomes entrained in the liquid flowing from the inlet to the outlet, and a contactor region for promoting contact between the resin and the liquid located below the containment region (7, 9), said containment region (7, 9) containing an array of settling members through which the liquid and resin upflow and which impede the flow of the resin to a sufficient extent that it is substantially contained within or below the containment region (7, 9). Apparatus for performing this method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Orica Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory Mark Vero, Colin Bruce Ritchie, Abigail Holmquist
  • Publication number: 20100133195
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing the amount of organic components in water, wherein a surface-reacted naturalcalcium carbonate and a hydrophobic adsorbent, selected from the group consisting of talc, hydrophobised calcium carbonate, hydrophobised bentonite, hydrophobised kaolinite, hydrophobised glass, or any mixture thereof, are brought into contact with the water to be purified, the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate being the reaction product of a naturalcalcium carbonate with an acid and carbon dioxide, which is formed in situ by the acid treatment and/or supplied externally, and the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate being prepared as an aqueous suspension having a pH of greater than 6.0, measured at 20° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Patrick A. C. Gane, Joachim Schólkopf, Daniel Gantenbein
  • Patent number: 7713416
    Abstract: A process for transforming sludge into NPK type granulated fertilizer in which the energy consume is reduced a 90% thanks to the addition of a special filtration step in which the water content is reduced a 50% and the remaining water is evaporated by the exothermic reaction occurring in the process. Additionally, the process of the present invention includes mechanisms that allow some of the by products generated by some of the reactions, to adsorb crystallization water and reduce the humidity of the mass without using external energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Chemical Biosolids Inc.
    Inventor: José Cabello-Fuentes
  • Patent number: 7713419
    Abstract: A method and construction for treatment of sludge from waterworks and wastewater treatment plants is disclosed. The method for treatment of sludge from waterwork or wastewater treatment plant, comprising precipitated inorganic chemical coagulants and precipitated organic substances, comprises adding an acid to the sludge in such a way that a first sludge mixture with low pH is received. The first sludge mixture includes the inorganic chemical coagulants in solution and the organic substances. The sludge mixture is pumped, via heat exchangers to a pressure tank. An obtained first concentrate is fed to at least one membrane filtration process in which a second concentrate and a first permeate are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Feralco AB
    Inventor: Hans David Ulmert
  • Patent number: 7713423
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a reactive filtration method includes continuously regenerating a reactive filter media while simultaneously filtering contaminants from fluid flowing through the filter media. In one embodiment, regenerating the reactive filter media comprises mixing metal granules with the filter media and agitating the mixture. In another embodiment, regenerating the reactive filter media comprises introducing a metal in the fluid flowing through the filter media and agitating the filter media. In one embodiment, a method for removing phosphorus, arsenic or a heavy metal from water includes introducing a metal salt reagent into the water at a molar ratio of 5:1 to 200:1 to the phosphorous or the arsenic in the water and passing the water through a bed of moving sand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Moller, Kevin Marshall Brackney, Roger Alan Korus, Gerald Michael Keller, Jr., Brian Keith Hart, Remembrance Louisa Newcombe
  • Patent number: 7704399
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of water for human consumption using a naturally occurring inorganic catalyst working within a pH range between 3 and 13, combining the inorganic catalyst at 3 parts per million to an oxidant, primarily hydrogen peroxide and a metal salt used as a coagulant and a primary catalyst, resulting in an efficient and economical phasic water purification and filtration system and process. The inorganic catalyst is a zeolite a synthetic zeolite or preferably chabazite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Randy Gene Condit
  • Patent number: 7667061
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of preparing compositions enriched in compounds containing carbon chains of varying degrees of unsaturation using argentation chromatography. The present method utilizes an argentized cationic resin or a conditioned argentized alumina to separate compounds containing saturated or mono-unsaturated carbon chains from compounds having polyunsaturated carbon chains present in a starting composition. The invention is particularly useful for preparing a composition enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters from mixtures of fatty acid esters in a starting composition derived from vegetable oils. The present invention is also directed to a method of preparing a conditioned argentized alumina adsorbent having increased selectivity for compounds containing one or more polyunsaturated carbon chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Binder, Doug Geier, Ahmad K. Hilaly, Robert Duane Sandage, John G. Soper
  • Publication number: 20100025333
    Abstract: Conditioning processes and equipment for removing hardness from water circulated in a system. A sidestream is routed to a reactor and back. A buffer is added to the circulated water, in some embodiments in a sidestream exiting the reaction chamber, forming soluble metal complexes with metal ions of the type that cause scaling. A conditioner is added to the sidestream water which breaks the soluble metal ion-buffer complexes and precipitates and accumulates the released metal ion as a solid for accumulation and disposal. In some embodiments a polymer is added, a corrosion inhibitor blend is added and/or pre-mixed with the buffer, and a chlorine generator removes sodium chloride from the buffered sidestream, and makes chlorine gas, hydrogen gas, and sodium hydroxide for use in the process or for disposal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Samuel Rupert Owens
  • Publication number: 20090288738
    Abstract: A method for recovering demineralized water from zirconium-containing rinse water having a pH lower than 6.0, wherein a) the rinse water has added to it an aqueous solution of Ca(OH)2 containing no more than 0.1 wt% undissolved Ca(OH)2, in a quantity such that the pH of the rinse water rises to a value in the range from 6.2 to 8.0, b) a precipitate that forms is separated from the rinse water, and c) the rinse water from which the precipitate was removed in step b) is subjected to an ion exchange method or to reverse osmosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Jan-Willem Brouwer, Jens Krömer
  • Patent number: 7601264
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide waste abatement apparatuses and methods for treating waste solutions derived from depleted or used plating solutions, such as from an electroless deposition process or an electrochemical plating process. The waste abatement systems and processes may be used to treat the waste solutions by lowering the concentration of, if not completely removing, metal ions or reducing agents that are dissolved within the waste solution. In one embodiment of a demetallization process, a waste solution may be exposed to a heating element (e.g., copper coil) contained within an immersion tank. In another embodiment, the waste solution may be exposed to a catalyst having high surface area (e.g., steel wool or other metallic wool) within an immersion tank. In another embodiment, the waste solution may be flowed through a removable, catalytic conduit (e.g., copper tubing) having an internal catalytic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh H. Golden, Timothy Weidman, Peter Porshnev, Kalyan Sista, Nikhil Krishnan
  • Patent number: 7540965
    Abstract: A process for removing DOC (dissolved organic carbon) from a concentrated salt solution containing DOC by contacting the salt solution with a coagulant/flocculant such that the DOC becomes insoluble and removing the insoluble DOC from the salt solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Orica Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Arup K. Sengupta, Ping Li, Brendan J. Murray, Stuart D. Harrison, Gregory M. Vero
  • Patent number: 7491336
    Abstract: In a process for treating effluent water, a stream of effluent water is fed to a porous ceramic media filled reactor. Organic and inorganic impurities are absorbed and/or oxidized from the effluent water into the media and/or off-gases. The remainder of the effluent water stream is dispensed from the reactor in an outlet stream suitable for direct discharge to the sea or for recycling without incurring the disadvantages of generating a solid sludge. The reactor includes a chamber containing activated media, such as pellets of porous ceramic material. The pellets are stored in a vertical stacks of sub chambers defined by horizontal perforated trays and/or in a horizontal chains of sub chambers defined by vertical perforated baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Markham, Harmon L. Kirkpatrick, Rick Guercio, Douglas E. Mast, Stanley C. Gustas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080314830
    Abstract: A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: I. KRUGER INC.
    Inventors: Kashi Banerjee, Charles D. Blumenschein, John Charles Schrader
  • Patent number: 7459086
    Abstract: A method for treating water to produce potable water is described herein. The inventive method enables the efficient removal of iron, manganese, and arsenic without the addition of powerful oxidants and without requiring a complex procedure for preparing the filtering material. The described method treats the water by passing the water through at least one bed of filter material, where the filter material comprises an association of manganese dioxide grains and at least one iron-based divided material in the hydroxide, oxide, or metallic state. The association may comprise a mixture of the iron-based divided material and the manganese dioxide grains. Alternatively, the association may comprise a superposition of layers of the iron-based divided material and the manganese dioxide grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: OTV SA S.A.
    Inventor: Abdelkader Gaid
  • Patent number: 7445718
    Abstract: A method of removing arsenic and heavy metals from water using metal salt hydroxidegels is provided. The arsenic present in water is adsorbed onto the hydroxide-gels which can effectively be filtered through a diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration bed. The combination of DE mixed hydroxide-gels is also effective in removing arsenic from water and heavy metals from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: The Board of Regents of the Nevada Systems of Higher Education on behalf of the University of Nevada, Reno, EP Minerals, LLC
    Inventors: Manoranjan Misra, Peter Lenz
  • Patent number: 7429330
    Abstract: A method and recyclable magnetic adsorbent are provided for removing contaminants from a fluid stream that has by-products. The method includes providing an adsorbent material that has incorporated at least one ferromagnetic material. Contacting the ferromagnetic adsorbent material to at least a portion of contaminated stream to adsorb the contaminant. The contaminated adsorbent is then separated from the by-products using a magnetic separation process. The adsorbent is recovered from the solid by-products and reusable in the present method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation
    Inventors: Toan Phan Vo, K. Raman Venkatesh
  • Publication number: 20080217234
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device for treating fluorine-containing water in which for-treatment water can be treated so as to set a fluorine concentration to a drainage standard or less without adding a reagent such as a pH adjuster to change a pH of the for-treatment water if possible. A treatment device includes a first treatment means for adding, to fluorine-containing for-treatment water, a reactive compound which reacts with fluorine to form a fluoride and which does not apply an OH group, so that a suspension is formed; a second treatment means for separating the suspension obtained by the first treatment means into a solid and a liquid; and a third treatment means for bringing a permeation liquid separated by the second treatment means into contact with a fluoride ion adsorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuteru Sumida, Yasuyuki Kuwaki, Hiroyuki Umezawa
  • Patent number: 7374687
    Abstract: A decolorization treatment method in which not only can a liquid that has been obtained by treating raw water that is stock-raising treatment water in a purifier tank be decolorized swiftly with simple equipment, but moreover the treatment water can be purified to an extent that reuse as a washing liquid or the like is possible. The method of decolorizing stock-raising treatment water comprises adding ferric polysulfate and a nonionic or anionic organic coagulant to a filtrate that has been obtained by treating raw water that is stock-raising treatment water in a purifier tank, and agitating the obtained product to bring about reaction and thus separate into solid and liquid components, and removing the solid component. Preferably, a two-stage reaction is carried out in which the ferric polysulfate is added and agitation is carried out to bring about reaction, and then the nonionic or anionic organic coagulant is added thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: IK Shoji Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7326346
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sorbent comprising a disordered polyvalent metal oxide on the surface of an inert substrate. The substrate can be a layered silicate, such as vermiculite, an aluminosilicate such as montmorillonite, or a nonlayered silicate such as a zeolite. The sorbent removes ionic contaminants, such as arsenic, from process streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: ADA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Stanley Lovell, Thomas E. Broderick, Craig S. Turchi, Amanda K. Kimball
  • Patent number: 7300589
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Patent number: 7141173
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for enhancing the metal contaminant sorption capacity of mineral compounds within a groundwater-bearing formation by manipulating the pH and the surface acidity of the mineral compounds. The process is useful in removing metal contaminants from groundwater within a groundwater-bearing formation, providing a backstop treatment for groundwater after previous water treatment, and for protection of water sources, for example well-head protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Craig M. Bethke
  • Patent number: 7083964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying at least one enzyme obtained in an excess fermentation of Clostridium histolyticum. It is provided for that the enzymes of the excess fermentation are separated by a multistage chromatography method by exclusively using chromatography materials on styrene/divinyl-benzene base and/or on base of in particular ceramic hydroxylapatite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Kurfürst, Stefan Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 7077963
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising bauxite refinery residues that have been reacted with sufficient calcium and magnesium ions that they have a reaction pH of less than 10.5, and one or more water treating additives. The invention also provides processes for treatment of water containing dissolved inorganic substances involving stepwise treatment of the water in which the reacted bauxite refinery residues are added after the addition of a pH-raising additive. The invention also provides processes for treatment of water containing dissolved inorganic substances in which the reacted bauxite refinery residues are added stepwise, with one or more water treating additives also being added in at least one of the steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nauveau Technology Investments
    Inventors: David M McConchie, Malcolm William Clark, Fiona Gaye Davies-McConchie
  • Patent number: 7063804
    Abstract: Compositions including alum and a smectite mineral material for the clarification of bodies of water by removal of dissolved solids, dissolved organic materials and other anions such as fluoride and chloride as well as the removal of total phosphorus from such bodies of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Landis, Steven Reed Gray
  • Patent number: 7033507
    Abstract: A method for removing metal contaminants from acidic mine wastewater using lignin derivatives, such as lignosulfonates and kraft lignin, an alkali coagulant, such as a lime compound, and an alkaline composition for increasing the pH. The lignin derivatives are dispersed in the wastewater and the coagulant is added, increasing the pH to about 4.5–8.5 and causing the formation of a floc. The alkaline composition is then added to bring the pH to about 9 to 10, causing the further formation of a floc. Optionally, air oxidation is carried out, reducing the pH to about 8.1–8.6. Optionally, a ferric or ferrous salt may also be added. The flocs comprise metal-lignin colloids, metal hydroxides and metal salts. The flocs coagulate to form a sludge. Optionally, fly ash or diatomaceous earth may be added to increase the density and stability of the sludge. The sludge that is formed contains the metals and is separated from the treated water by filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Noram Engineering and Constructors Ltd.
    Inventor: J. Ming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 7008543
    Abstract: A method of oxidation or pathogen inactivation in water supplies using the combination of treatments of chlorine dioxide and ozone in the sequential steps prior to filtration and distribution. Results indicate that the addition of chlorine dioxide before prezonation reduces the bromate formation and chlorine dioxide can be substituted for preoxidation with ozone, while maintaining the enhanced filtration effects observed from the presence of a preoxidant. A majority of the chlorite formed from reactions of chlorine dioxide with constituents in raw water are converted to chlorate by the following ozonation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Contra Costa Water District
    Inventors: Dale Darrow Newkirk, Xuejun Zhou, Jeffrey John Neemann
  • Patent number: 6960303
    Abstract: Compositions including pellets of alum, a smectite mineral material and optionally sodium or calcium carbonate that can be delivered to a phosphate impoundment located at the bottom of a body of water at the bottom. The pellets of alum, smectite mineral material and optionally sodium or calcium carbonate are dropped through the body of water so that the alum is released when the pellet reaches the bottom of the impoundment thereby treating the phosphates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Landis, Danny Oaks, Ricky P. Rothermel, Robert A. Harvey, Steven Reed Gray
  • Patent number: 6916426
    Abstract: A method of treating an animal waste slurry so as to efficiently extract nutrients, and which can be performed in a zero-discharge system, comprises flocculating the slurry, processing, e.g. filtering, the flocculated slurry to separate liquid from solid material, drying the solid material, processing the liquid to extract ammonium, phosphorous and potassium from the slurry, all within 24 hours, and preferably on average within 12 hours, of production of the waste material by animals. Since the urates of potassium and ammonium in the slurry take a few hours to break down, they remain in crystalline form and therefore a larger portion of the total amount of potassium and ammonium in the slurry can be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: ATD Waste Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Van Slyke, Hubert Timmenga, Steve Helle, Paul Watkinson, Xiaotao Bi
  • Patent number: 6893570
    Abstract: The slag-only Vertical Flow Pond, which we have developed, is a passive treatment component capable of removing large concentrations of metals, especially manganese, from water to extremely low concentrations while neutralizing acidity and producing alkalinity. An improvement to this design is the Hybrid Flow Pond (HFP), which is a passive treatment system component that consists of an open, pond-like structure utilizing a horizontal operational flow path (or a vertical flow path if desired) with a vertical flush flow path. By creating flushing flow paths generally perpendicular to operational flow paths, the development of preferential flow paths that encourage short circuiting can be prevented. Additional head can be generated prior to flushing by adjusting the water level in the pond. Although any treatment media can be used with this system, the use of basic steel slag is particularly useful in the removal of metals, especially manganese from aqueous solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventors: Gene T. Hilton, Jr., Timothy P. Danehy, Margaret Hensley Dunn, Clifford F. Denholm, IV, Shaun L. Busler
  • Patent number: 6881346
    Abstract: Compositions including alum, a smectite material and optionally one or more of a buffer and an algaecide coating or additives for the clarification of bodies of water by removal of dissolved solids, dissolved organic materials and other anions such as fluoride and chloride as well as the removal of total phosphorus from such bodies of water. The compositions are designed to be delivered to concentrated or impounded phosphorus located at the bottom of various bodies of water and may be produced in various physical forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Landis, Steven R. Gray
  • Patent number: 6863825
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Patent number: 6849186
    Abstract: Buoyant, sphere-like materials on the order of about 10 to about 300 microns and surrounded, at least in part, by (1) a variable blend of a ferromagnetic and paramagnetic material and (2) an absorbing or adsorbing material are effective vehicles for isolating targeted materials. By virtue of its relatively low density, the composite material is capable of remaining sufficiently suspended in solution for a suitable amount of time. In addition, the blend of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials allows for the isolation of a composite material from an environment such as a solution, yet discourages substantial self-attachment of the composite materials in solution, when subject to a magnetic field. Accordingly, multiple embodiments of composite materials having these and other properties are disclosed, as well as methods for making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Phillips Plastic Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Johnson, Majid Entezarian
  • Patent number: 6846416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating a chromate waste liquid containing an organic acid component. This process includes (a) adding a chromium precipitation accelerating agent containing at least one of a calcium component and a magnesium component, to the chromate waste liquid; and (b) adjusting the chromate waste liquid to having a first pH of 9 or higher, thereby precipitating a chromium component from the chromate waste liquid and thereby reducing a concentration of a dissolved chromium component of the chromate waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nasu, Wataru Matsutani
  • Patent number: 6821434
    Abstract: Systems for removing arsenic from water by addition of inexpensive and commonly available magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, or calcium hydroxide to the water. The hydroxide has a strong chemical affinity for arsenic and rapidly adsorbs arsenic, even in the presence of carbonate in the water. Simple and commercially available mechanical systems for removal of magnesium hydroxide particles with adsorbed arsenic from drinking water can be used, including filtration, dissolved air flotation, vortex separation, or centrifugal separation. A system for continuous removal of arsenic from water is provided. Also provided is a system for concentrating arsenic in a water sample to facilitate quantification of arsenic, by means of magnesium or calcium hydroxide adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Moore, D. Richard Anderson
  • Patent number: 6767468
    Abstract: A process for removing uranium/vanadium-based contaminants from groundwater using a primary in-ground treatment media and a pretreatment media that chemically adjusts the groundwater contaminant to provide for optimum treatment by the primary treatment media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Donald R. Metzler, Stanley Morrison
  • Patent number: 6755973
    Abstract: A process and system for removing animal processing contaminants and fats, oils, and greases from large volume quantities of waste water. In the process, a waste water stream containing the contaminants is treated with a chemical oxidant, polymer compound and coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 50 microns. Treated waste water is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the contaminant particle from the waste water. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size in the range of 0.5 micron to 10 microns may be used. The treated waste water flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from at least 200 gallons per square foot of membrane per day (“GFD”) to in excess of 750 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Water Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Donald Allen
  • Patent number: 6669848
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for treating commercial grade preservatives to remove the off-flavor and/or off-odor from the preservatives. The processes involve preparing a solution by dissolving the preservative in a suitable solvent, such as water or methanol or mixtures thereof. The preservative solution is then passed through a filter to separate and remove organic acid impurities from the preservative. The undesirable tastes and odors, principally caused by the organic acid impurities, are retained in the filter while the preservative passes through the filter. In one embodiment, the filter is a bed of anion exchange resin that reacts with and removes the organic acid impurities. In another embodiment, the filter contains a metal cation that converts the organic acid impurities into insoluble salts which remain in the filter. The solvent can be removed by evaporation after the preservative solution is passed through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Tillin, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale F. Kuhn, Bruce E. Plashko
  • Patent number: 6656587
    Abstract: Buoyant, sphere-like materials on the order of about 10 to about 300 microns and surrounded, at least in part, by (1) a variable blend of a ferromagnetic and paramagnetic material and (2) an absorbing or adsorbing material are effective vehicles for isolating targeted materials. By virtue of its relatively low density, the composite material is capable of remaining sufficiently suspended in solution for a suitable amount of time. In addition, the blend of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials allows for the isolation of a composite material from an environment such as a solution, yet discourages substantial self-attachment of the composite materials in solution, when subject to a magnetic field. Accordingly, multiple embodiments of composite materials having these and other properties are disclosed, as well as methods for making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Phillips Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Johnson, Majid Entezarian
  • Patent number: 6653396
    Abstract: Zeolites of type A wherein all the cationic sites of which occupied by sodium, calcium and/or magnesium, potassium and hydronium cations, which exhibit the advantage of having a water adsorption capacity≧23%, which do not adsorb and therefore cannot desorb nitrogen, and which, incorporated in polyurethane (PU) resins, make it possible to increase the potlife of the PU formulations in which they are incorporated. Such zeolites are prepared by a process comprising bringing into contact an aqueous suspension of zeolite 3A, 4A or 5A, an aqueous solution of calcium or potassium salt(s) or solutions of calcium and potassium salt(s), and an acid solution, simultaneously or otherwise and in any order; and in then filtering off and washing the solid obtained, and then drying and activating the zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: CECA S.A.
    Inventors: Serge Nicolas, Paul-Guillaume Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6589427
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for treating an effluent comprising a mixture of spent wash and black liquor, said process comprising mixing the effluent with a flocculating agent consisting of a mixture of salts of Group III and transition metals, mixture of natural earth's along with an oxide of alkaline earth metal followed by treating with a combination of ion exchange resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Pramod Prabhakar Moghe, Vinita Vinay Panchanadikar, Ashwini Vinayak Pol, Ajit Ramesh Joshi, Prakash Kondiba Bahirat, Priyadarshini Kudlu, Shekhar Prakash Bahirat
  • Patent number: 6565753
    Abstract: In the purification of deicing fluid for recovery of glycol, initially solid particles are separated, then dissolved organic compounds and positive and negative ions are separated by an ion exchange in an ion exchanger, and finally water is separated by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: De-Icing, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Holmgren, Peter Mattsson
  • Patent number: 6551514
    Abstract: Methods for rendering a cyanide or cyanide-containing compound substantially insoluble in an aqueous solution or suspension of cyanide-containing materials comprising: mixing a reagent comprising a thiosulfate salt with said solution or suspension; and adding to said material a complexing agent selected from the group consisting of divalent copper salts, divalent iron salts, divalent cobalt salts, activated carbon and mixtures of the foregoing are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada
    Inventors: Manoranjan Misra, Gautam Priyadarshan, Birendra Kumar Jena
  • Patent number: 6461535
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing arsenic from ground water to be processed and used in remote dwellings. The process includes (a) contacting a clay, a coagulant, and an oxidizer with water containing arsenic to form a coagulated colloidal mixture; (b) adsorbing the arsenic onto the coagulated colloidal mixture; and (c) separating the water from the coagulated colloidal mixture. The invention also provides a composition ready for use in removing arsenic from ground water to be used in remote areas. The composition includes an activated clay, a coagulant, and an oxidizer in predetermined proportions for efficient removal of arsenic from ground water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Pan American Health Organization
    Inventor: María Luisa Castro de Esparza
  • Patent number: 6375850
    Abstract: A method for removing accumulated metals from a cleaning solution is provided. After removal of the metals, the cleaning solution can be discharged or recycled. The process manipulates the pH levels of the solution as a means of precipitating solids. Preferably a dual phase separation at two different pH levels is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: United States Enrichment Corp.
    Inventor: Lewis E. Deacon