Utilizing Activated Carbon Patents (Class 210/694)
  • Publication number: 20110287144
    Abstract: A method of recovering palatable potable storable water from a process for concentrating an extracted juice, the method including the steps of: providing the extracted juice; concentrating the extracted juice to form a concentrated juice stream and a concentrator waste stream, wherein the concentrator waste stream is not palatable, potable or storable; and purifying the concentrator waste stream to provide palatable potable storable water including the step of passing the concentrator waste stream through activated carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Ambrosios KAMBOURIS
  • Patent number: 8057676
    Abstract: Drainage water containing an organofluorine compound is introduced into a raw tank (1) and then filtered through a filtration device (4). Next, a microorganism, a micro-nanobubbling auxiliary agent and a nutrient are added thereto in a first transit tank (5) while micro-nanobubbles are generated thereinto by a micro-nanobubbling machine (7), thereby giving treated water. This treated water is then fed into an active carbon column (14) and then the above-described organofluorine compound contained in the treated water is decomposed by the microorganism as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Sakata, Kazumi Chuhjoh, Masaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8021556
    Abstract: A method is provided for clarifying wastewater containing contaminants including soluble organic compounds and insoluble organic compounds. The wastewater is treated with a paculant admixture including a cationic coagulant polymer and powdered activated carbon. The cationic coagulant polymer is polydiallydimethylammonium chloride, poly quaternary amine, and/or a starch-based organic polymer. After an at least 2 second delay, a flocculent is added to the wastewater to achieve (i) microcoagulation of the cationic coagulant polymer with the contaminants to form coagulated particles having an effective mass and cationic charge to react with an anionic flocculent to be added thereafter, and (ii) absorption of the soluble organic compounds on the powdered activated carbon. The anionic flocculent as added and reacted with the coagulated particles to form a sludge, containing agglomerated particles including the coagulated particles and powdered activated carbon, of sufficient size for mechanical removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventors: Stuart G. Davis, Robert A. Davis
  • Patent number: 7998710
    Abstract: In the invention, highly pure crystals of difructose dianhydride III (di-D-fructofuranose-1,2?:2,3?-dianhydride; hereinafter referred to as DFA III) are produced by adding 5% or less of powdered active carbon to a DFA III containing purified solution containing DFA III of 90% or more purity at a concentration of R-Bx 10-60, preferably 40-55, and after stirring, applying the mixture to solid-liquid separation (filtration with diatomaceous, filtration through a membrane filter, ultrafiltration, or continuous centrifugal separation) and concentrating the separated liquid part, followed by immediate crystallization. In the process of the invention, DFA III crystals can be produced efficiently and industrially, and the resulting crystals can be used for various purposes in pharmaceuticals or food and drink since they have no smell. This is characteristics of the invention different from the prior art products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Beet Sugar Mfg., Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Kikuchi, Hiroaki Sakurai, Norimitsu Takagi, Tsutomu Aritsuka, Yoshihiro Senba, Fusao Tomita, Kozo Asano
  • Patent number: 7988854
    Abstract: A dialysate regeneration chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the dialysate regeneration chamber may include a toxin trap configured to selectively trap toxins and repel select cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Chemica Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takuji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7981298
    Abstract: A method and system for removing from an aqueous system which is contaminated therewith: (1) mercury present as colloids, ions and/or organically bound compounds, and (2) hydrocarbons solubilized, dispersed, and/or emulsified in the said system. Pursuant to the invention the aqueous system to be treated (such as “produced water”) is passed successively through three filtration stages. The first filtration stage is provided with absorption media which effects reduction/removal of dispersed organically bound mercury species and of the dispersed and partially dissolved hydrocarbon phases, as well as of some colloidal mercury and other dissolved metallic species. The second filtration stage utilizes a salt modified reticulated granular filtration media for reduction/removal of slightly dissolved hydrocarbon phases, mercury in colloidal and ionic form and other dissolved metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Hal Alper
  • Patent number: 7981297
    Abstract: A method for removing helminth egg and other suspended solids from a wastewater stream includes directing the wastewater to a ballasted flocculation system and adding a coagulation agent, flocculation agent and a ballast into the wastewater. Sludge is settled from the wastewater in a settling tank at a rate of at least 10 meters per hour. The method further includes removing helminth egg by filtering the effluent through a fine screen having a mesh diameter of approximately 5 micrometers to approximately 25 micrometers. After passing through the fine screen, the filtered effluent has less than one helminth egg per liter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: OTV SA
    Inventors: Philippe Sauvignet, Claus Poulsen Dahl
  • Patent number: 7967988
    Abstract: A method and a apparatus for treating a liquid volume containing latex waste, the method comprising providing a treatment apparatus comprising at least a first vessel, and a filtration system in liquid communication with the first vessel; delivering a portion of the liquid containing waste latex to the first vessel; adding a first reagent to the portion of liquid containing waste latex to cause the formation of waste latex flocs of a first size; adding a second reagent to the portion of liquid containing waste latex to cause growth of the waste latex flocs of the first size into separable waste latex flocs; separating the separable waste latex flocs within the filtration system into a waste latex sludge and a first filtrate; and dewatering the waste latex sludge to produce a waste latex solid and a second filtrate. The filtrates may be reusable in a latex manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Innovative Environmental Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Miller
  • Patent number: 7927492
    Abstract: Provided is a filter assembly for a bioremediating catch basin. The filter assembly comprises a container having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a carrier substance, such as a foam, which carries a microorganism capable of digesting hydrocarbons; and optionally an adsorbent material. The filter assembly also optionally has structures for overflow conditions which allow the exit of water, but not floating contaminants from the catch basin. Also provided is a replaceable cartridge for the filter assembly. Also provided is a method for bioremediation of polluted water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventors: William E Baird, William I. Young
  • Patent number: 7914683
    Abstract: Hydrogen generator coupled to or integrated with a fuel cell for portable power applications. Hydrogen is produced via thermocatalytic decomposition (cracking, pyrolysis) of hydrocarbon fuels in oxidant-free environment. The apparatus can utilize a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, propane, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, crude oil (including sulfurous fuels). The hydrogen-rich gas produced is free of carbon oxides or other reactive impurities, so it could be directly fed to any type of a fuel cell. The catalysts for hydrogen production in the apparatus are carbon-based or metal-based materials and doped, if necessary, with a sulfur-capturing agent. Additionally disclosed are two novel processes for the production of two types of carbon filaments, and a novel filamentous carbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Nazim Muradov
  • Patent number: 7914684
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating mixed waste by pyrolysis. Organic mass is carbonized by heating to carbon in a pyrolysis reactor (3) in an oxygen-free environment. Pyrolysis gases are distilled for oil and the gases are used for energy production. Solid matter resulting from pyrolysis is sieved for separating inorganic coarse particles from a carbon fraction. The carbon fraction is milled in two operations, first with a roller mill (8) and then with a jet mill (10), a removal of metal being performed between the operations. The pulverized carbon fraction is classified by means of ionizing particle separators (11, 12, 13). The multi-stage particle separation is followed by discharging clean air and recovering fine carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: BCDE Group Waste Management Ltd Oy
    Inventor: Hannu L. Suominen
  • Patent number: 7875185
    Abstract: A process for the removal of residual sulfur compounds from a liquid caustic stream is disclosed. One embodiment of my invention adsorbs disulfides from a caustic stream using an activated carbon adsorbent while another combines both oxidation and adsorption in single step to remove residual sulfur compounds from a rich caustic stream using metal phthalocyanine supported on a solid adsorbent. This process is especially useful as a polishing step in a caustic regeneration process flow scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventor: Tiejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7854848
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods that can be used to receive a volume of potable water from a source and to treat the volume of water so as to improve the perceived or actual aesthetic quality of the water, and to thereafter contain the treated water such that it can be used or consumed. In general, the apparatus comprises a container capable of receiving a volume of water, and a capture element within the container that is capable of removing at least a portion of such substances in the water as may be perceived as impacting water quality. The capture element comprises sorbent media that is capable of removing at least some portion of such undesirable substances, and that may comprise, for example, activated carbon and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Judd D. Olson, Robert J. Reuter, Mark R. Stouffer, Benjamin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 7850859
    Abstract: A method of treating low-pressure untreated drinking water includes providing a low-pressure water filter device, running low-pressure untreated drinking water from a source of low-pressure untreated drinking water through a low-pressure water filter of the low-pressure water filter device, removing bacteria and viruses from the low pressure untreated drinking water at a level of Filter Bacteria Log Removal of greater than about 2 logs and a Filter Viruses Log Removal of greater than about 1 log, and filling a storage housing with treated drinking water at greater than about 5 mL/min. The low-pressure water filter device may include a connector for connecting to an untreated drinking water source, a low-pressure water filter comprising mesoporous activated carbon particles and a storage housing. The average fluid contact time with the low-pressure water filter may be greater than about 2 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John D. Tanner, David James Emmons, Richard P. Riedel, Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias
  • Publication number: 20100219372
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for reducing organic content of brine comprising subjecting a brine solution to at least two purification treatments selected from electrochemical treatment, chlorinolysis, or other chemical oxidation treatment, carbon adsorption, extraction, biological treatment and chrystallizing treatment; wherein the organic content of purified brine is sufficiently low to enable sense of the purified brine in an industrial process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Bruce Hook, Dan Tirtowidjojo, Frank Koester, Sunil K. Chaudhary, Anil Mehta, Jean Chauvel, JR., Chris Christenson, Timothy Frank, Celio Lume Pereira, Steve Gluck, Glenn Lord, David West, Christine Lundstroem, Annett Horn, Istvan Lengyel
  • Patent number: 7749394
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing potable water that includes providing a filter, passing water through the filter, and removing bacteria and viruses from the water with the filter. The filter comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter material disposed within the housing, the filter material formed at least in part from a plurality of filter particles consisting of mesoporous activated carbon wherein at least a portion of the plurality of filter particles is at least partially coated with silver or a silver-containing material. A sum of mesopore and macropore volumes of the filter particles may be between about 0.2 mL/g and about 2 mL/g, wherein mesopore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter between 2 nm and 50 nm, and macropore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter greater than 50 nm, a total pore volume of the filter particles is greater than about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias, David William Bjorkquist, Piyush Narendra Zaveri, Matthew Morgan Woolley
  • Publication number: 20100155335
    Abstract: The present invention provides magnetically responsive activated carbon, and a method of forming magnetically responsive activated carbon. The method of forming magnetically responsive activated carbon typically includes providing activated carbon in a solution containing ions of ferrite forming elements, wherein at least one of the ferrite forming elements has an oxidation state of +3 and at least a second of the ferrite forming elements has an oxidation state of +2, and increasing pH of the solution to precipitate particles of ferrite that bond to the activated carbon, wherein the activated carbon having the ferrite particles bonded thereto have a positive magnetic susceptibility. The present invention also provides a method of filtering waste water using magnetic activated carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Patricia Taboada-Serrano, Constantino Tsouris, Cristian I. Contescu, Joanna McFarlane
  • Patent number: 7740766
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing potable water that includes providing a filter, passing water through the filter, and removing bacteria and viruses from the water with the filter. The filter comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter material disposed within the housing, the filter material formed at least in part from a plurality of mesoporous wood activated carbon filter particles and particles selected from the group consisting of mesoporous wood activated carbon filter particles coated entirely with a cationic polymer, mesoporous wood activated carbon filter particles partially coated with a cationic polymer, and mixtures thereof. A sum of mesopore and macropore volumes of the filter particles may be between about 0.2 mL/g and about 2 mL/g, wherein mesopore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter between 2 nm and 50 nm, and macropore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter greater than 50 nm, a total pore volume of the filter particles is greater than about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias, David William Bjorkquist, Piyush Narendra Zaveri, Matthew Morgan Woolley
  • Patent number: 7727398
    Abstract: Colored wastewater from industries, agriculture and the like is discolored by adjusting pH of the wastewater and filtering the wastewater through a mixture of acid-treated sawdust produced from sawdust which has been disposed of after being used for fungi production and charcoal thereby to remove a color component fraction from the wastewater and through a filter material, for example acid-treated rice husk charcoal, in which autochthonous microorganisms are embedded thereby to absorb color components remaining in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Seisuke Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7713422
    Abstract: Lignin and alkali are efficiently sorted out of alkaline black liquor discharged from the paper manufacturing/pulp and paper manufacturing industries and the treated water is made as purified water. Acid is added to the black liquor and its pH is adjusted to 2.5 to 3.5. An aggregating agent is added to have lignin contained in the black liquor settled and the black liquor is separated into lignin and clean water. Ozone gas, preferably in the micro bubble state, is given to the clean water for contact reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: K.I. System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Kitagawa, Akira Ako
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100086987
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of water, wherein a surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate is brought into contact with the water to be purified, the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate being the reaction product of a natural calcium carbonate with an acid and carbon dioxide, which is formed in situ by the acid treatment and/or supplied externally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Patrick A.C. Gane, Joachim Schölkopf, Daniel Gantenbein, Daniel E. Gerard
  • Patent number: 7691271
    Abstract: A compact hydrogen generator is coupled to or integrated with a fuel cell for portable power applications. Hydrogen is produced via thermocatalytic decomposition (cracking, pyrolysis) of hydrocarbon fuels in oxidant-free environment. The apparatus can utilize a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, propane, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, crude oil (including sulfurous fuels). The hydrogen-rich gas produced is free of carbon oxides or other reactive impurities, so it could be directly fed to any type of a fuel cell. The catalysts for hydrogen production in the apparatus are carbon-based or metal-based materials and doped, if necessary, with a sulfur-capturing agent. Additionally disclosed are two novel processes for the production of two types of carbon filaments, and a novel filamentous carbon product. The hydrogen generator can be conveniently integrated with high temperature fuel cells to produce an efficient and self-contained source of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Nazim Muradov
  • Patent number: 7686961
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the treatment of waste water, particularly for the treatment and/or reduction of floating pollutants in storm water waste streams. The apparatus of the invention achieves a high containment level of floating pollutants compared to conventional oil/gas traps available for catch basin use. In a preferred embodiment, the device of the invention is a catch basin trap that arrests the flow of pollutants, particularly floating pollutants. The trap is designed and installed in such a manner that a sealed system is created, ensuring that all fluid flow (e.g., storm water discharge) must pass through the trap and cannot bypass the trap due to unreliable trap attachment mechanisms or unsealed joints. Containment of floating pollutants is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Michael J. Glynne
  • Patent number: 7686960
    Abstract: A multi-stage process for removing dissolved contaminants and suspended solids from water employing a magnetic separation technique. The process includes two tanks and magnetic seed. In the first tank, water is clarified by magnetic technologies and in the second tank dissolved solutes are sorbed on magnetic seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventor: Steven L. Cort
  • Publication number: 20100065503
    Abstract: Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods that can be used to receive a volume of potable water from a source and to treat the volume of water so as to improve the perceived or actual aesthetic quality of the water, and to thereafter contain the treated water such that it can be used or consumed. In general, the apparatus comprises a container capable of receiving a volume of water, and a capture element within the container that is capable of removing at least a portion of such substances in the water as may be perceived as impacting water quality. The capture element comprises sorbent media that is capable of removing at least some portion of such undesirable substances, and that may comprise, for example, activated carbon and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Judd D. Olson, Robert J. Reuter, Mark R. Stouffer, Benjamin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 7678278
    Abstract: A process for treating water is provided where the water is mixed with an inorganic reagent powder such as powder activated carbon. Organics and micropollutants are absorbed by the reagent powder. After the reagent powder has been mixed with the water, the water is directed to a setting tank and sludge from the water settles to produce a clarified effluent. Forming a part of the sludge is the reagent powder previously added. Sludge is collected and directed to a separator that separates the reagent powder from the sludge. Separated reagent powder is recycled and mixed with the water being treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: OTV S.A. SA
    Inventors: Patrick Binot, Abdelkader Gaid, Pascal Roche
  • Publication number: 20100059708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the removal of endocrine disrupting compounds from an aqueous medium by adding surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate or an aqueous suspension comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate and having a pH greater than 6.0 measured at 20° C., to the medium, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a reaction product of natural calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more acids, the use of the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate for the removal of endocrine disrupting compounds, as well as to a combination of a surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate and activated carbon for the removal of endocrine disrupting compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Patrick A.C. Gane, Joachim Schölkopf, Daniel Gantenbein, Daniel E. Gerard
  • Patent number: 7674384
    Abstract: A method of reclaiming a well completion brine solution by using an organic chelant that is capable of discriminating between (i) iron and non-zinc heavy metals; and (ii) calcium and zinc. The chelant contains a functional group selected from the group —CO2H or —PO(R21)R20 or a salt or ester thereof, —C(O)—, —OE, —SE, —N?C(R2)R3, EO—N?C(R2)R3, —N(R2)R3, and —N(C(O)R1)R2 group optionally substituted with a —COOH or —PO(R21)R20 or a salt or ester thereof, —SE or —OE group, wherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from E or forms, with nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen or sulfur, a heterocyclic ring; E is R1 or —H; R1 is a C1-C30 alkyl or aralkyl group or a derivative thereof and R20 and R21 are independently selected from —OH, —OR1 and R1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Javora, Qi Qu
  • Patent number: 7666306
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adsorbent comprising calcined coke with a BET surface area of 20 m2/g or less which is obtained by calcining a particular carbonaceous material at 1000 to 1500° C. and which is preferably obtained by calcining coal coke, petroleum coke or charcoal coke at 1000 to 1500° C. The adsorbent of the present invention exhibits adequate adsorbent ability with respect to an oil component in oil-containing wastewater even when the oil-containing wastewater is an emulsion or contains a low concentration of the oil component, and also stably maintains the adsorbent ability over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Petroleum Refining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Fukuda, Sadao Hayata, Takashi Oyama, Akira Ino
  • Patent number: 7655145
    Abstract: Method and system for processing of a liquid (“contaminant liquid”) containing water and containing urine and/or other contaminants in a two step process. Urine, or a contaminated liquid similar to and/or containing urine and thus having a relatively high salt and urea content is passed through an activated carbon filter to provide a resulting liquid, to remove most of the organic molecules. The resulting liquid is passed through a semipermeable membrane from a membrane first side to a membrane second side, where a fortified drink having a lower water concentration (higher osmotic potential) than the resulting liquid is positioned. Osmotic pressure differential causes the water, but not most of the remaining inorganic (salts) contaminant(s) to pass through the membrane to the fortified drink. Optionally, the resulting liquid is allowed to precipitate additional organic molecules before passage through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: United States Government as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Sherwin J. Gormly, Michael T. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20100006507
    Abstract: A method of treating low-pressure untreated drinking water includes providing a low-pressure water filter device, running low-pressure untreated drinking water from a source of low-pressure untreated drinking water through a low-pressure water filter of the low-pressure water filter device, removing bacteria and viruses from the low pressure untreated drinking water at a level of Filter Bacteria Log Removal of greater than about 2 logs and a Filter Viruses Log Removal of greater than about 1 log, and filling a storage housing with treated drinking water at greater than about 5 mL/min. The low-pressure water filter device may include a connector for connecting to an untreated drinking water source, a low-pressure water filter comprising mesoporous activated carbon particles and a storage housing. The average fluid contact time with the low-pressure water filter may be greater than about 2 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: PUR WATER PURIFICATION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Tanner, David James Emmons, Richard P. Riedel, Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias
  • Publication number: 20100000947
    Abstract: The present invention provides a treatment method by which a fluorinated surfactant such as PFOA can be removed from water very efficiently. The treatment method includes a step (1) of contacting a water to be treated containing 100 to 10000 ppb of a fluorinated surfactant with an activated carbon and a step (2) of obtaining a treated water containing not more than 3.0 ppb of the fluorinated surfactant. The activated carbon comprises the particles capable of passing through a 75-?m filter of not smaller than 90% by mass of the total particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Michinobu KOIZUMI, Yasuhide Senba, Hideya Saitou
  • Patent number: 7638057
    Abstract: A process for treating water containing dissolved organics, for example, oil sands process-affected water, using petroleum coke is provided, comprising: removing petroleum coke from a coking operation; forming a petroleum coke/water slurry by adding the water to be treated to the petroleum coke; and mixing the slurry for a sufficient time in a carbon adsorption reactor to allow the petroleum coke to adsorb a substantial portion of the dissolved organics from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Warren Zubot, Michael Mackinnon, Keng Chung
  • Patent number: 7628923
    Abstract: Treatment of un-wetted or low moisture activated carbon with a suitable quantity of carbon dioxide provides a material which, on contact with water, controls pH in treatment water. Use of this treated activated carbon in a water treatment system provides water having an essentially neutral pH which is immediately potable thereby eliminating the necessity to drain and dispose of any soak water. The contact pH of the treated carbon remains within the potable pH range for treatment of more than 100 bed volumes. Additionally, the modified carbon may minimize metal leaching from contaminants in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Ryan, Harry Sharrock
  • Publication number: 20090294370
    Abstract: A filter system for filtering water and/or wastewater including a sludge blanket clarifier for removing at least some impurities from influent. The sludge blanket clarifier includes a clarifier compartment in which a sludge blanket is to be formed to remove at least some impurities from influent directed into the clarifier compartment and through the sludge blanket. The clarifier compartment has at least one vertical sidewall extending from a bottom of the clarifier compartment to a top of the clarifier compartment. The clarifier compartment has a cross-sectional area that varies over at least a portion of a height of the clarifier compartment such that the velocity of influent just prior to entry into the sludge blanket is less than the velocity of influent just after entering the clarifier compartment. The sludge blanket clarifier preferably has one or more flocculator modules disposed in the clarifier compartment to aid in flocculation and distribution of influent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison, Karl Michael Kyriss
  • Publication number: 20090230061
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing potable water that includes providing a filter, passing water through the filter, and removing bacteria and viruses from the water with the filter. The filter comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter material disposed within the housing, the filter material formed at least in part from a plurality of filter particles consisting of mesoporous activated carbon. A sum of mesopore and macropore volumes of the filter particles may be between about 0.2 mL/g and about 2 mL/g, wherein mesopore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter between 2 nm and 50 nm, and macropore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter greater than 50 nm, a total pore volume of the filter particles is greater than about 0.4 mL/g and less than about 3 mL/g, and a ratio of the sum of the mesopore and macropore volumes to the total pore volume of the filter particles is greater than about 0.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias, David William Bjorkquist, Piyush Narendra Zaveri, Matthew Morgan Wolley
  • Publication number: 20090218291
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing potable water that includes providing a filter, passing water through the filter, and removing bacteria and viruses from the water with the filter. The filter comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter material disposed within the housing, the filter material formed at least in part from a plurality of mesoporous wood activated carbon filter particles and particles selected from the group consisting of mesoporous wood activated carbon filter particles coated entirely with a cationic polymer, mesoporous wood activated carbon filter particles partially coated with a cationic polymer, and mixtures thereof. A sum of mesopore and macropore volumes of the filter particles may be between about 0.2 mL/g and about 2 mL/g, wherein mesopore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter between 2 nm and 50 nm, and macropore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter greater than 50 nm, a total pore volume of the filter particles is greater than about 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias, David William Bjorkquist, Piyush Narendra Zaveri, Matthew Morgan Woolley
  • Publication number: 20090218292
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing portable water that includes providing a filter, passing water through the filter, and removing bacteria and viruses from the water with the filter. The filter comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter material disposed within the housing, the filter material formed at least in part from a plurality of filter particles consisting of mesoporous activated carbon wherein at least a portion of the plurality of filter particles is at least partially coated with silver or a silver-containing material. A sum of mesopore and macropore volumes of the filter particles may be between about 0.2 mL/g and about 2 mL/g, wherein mesopore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter between 2 nm and 50 nm, and macropore means an intra-particle pore having a diameter greater than 50 nm, a total pore volume of the filter particles is greater than about 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Donovan Mitchell, Dimitris Ioannis Collias, David William Bjorkquist, Piyush Narendra Zaveri, Matthew Morgan Woolley
  • Patent number: 7575689
    Abstract: A process for removing naphthenic acids from an aqueous stream using a composition comprising calcium and activated carbon, and optionally a process for removing naphthenic acid and selenium compounds from an aqueous stream, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Devadas Panjala, Joseph B. Cross, Larry E. Reed, Charles J. Lord, III
  • Publication number: 20090204051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of body fluid treatment for relieving the condition of inhibited lymphocyte proliferation which comprises bringing a mammalian body fluid into contact with an adsorbent comprising a high-molecular compound having a water contact angle within the range of 40° to 98° in the presence of a divalent cation chelating agent in the manner of extracorporeal circulation, or comprises bringing a mammalian body fluid into contact with an active carbon-containing adsorbent in the manner of extracorporeal circulation; and relates to a system for extracorporeal circulation which comprises a body fluid transfer pump, an anticoagulant infusion pump, and a device comprising a container wherein an adsorbent comprising a high-molecular compound having a water contact angle within the range of 40° to 98° is contained, or comprises a body fluid transfer pump, and a device comprising a container wherein an active carbon-containing adsorbent is contained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kobayashi, Shinya Yoshida, Hideo Niwa
  • Patent number: 7572382
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon stimulation fluids are often used to increase the permeability and productivity of oil and gas reservoirs. The fluid itself is made up of a mixture of hydrocarbons and various chemicals designed to induce gel formation and gel breaking. The successful removal of these chemicals from the fluid has been achieved, through a process of acid-washing, mixing with a settling agent, centrifugation and filtration. This will allow the fluid to be re-used many times for further fracturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Synoil Fluids Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun T. Mesher, Amanda G. Jarvis, Robin Tudor
  • Patent number: 7572353
    Abstract: A process arrangement for distilling fuel grade ethanol include a distillation portion which distills beer to produce thin stillage and hot ethanol vapor. In an evaporation portion, a set of first effect evaporators which are heated either by plant steam or hot ethanol vapor, concentrate thin stillage into mid stillage while producing first effect steam. The first effect steam from the first effect evaporators provides heat to a set of second effect evaporators which concentrate the mid stillage into a syrup for further drying. The second effect evaporators produce second effect steam which is used to heat the distillation portion of the process arrangement. The multiple evaporators of the first and second effects of the evaporation portion can be selectively taken off-line for maintenance while the evaporation portion and the remainder of the process arrangement continue to operate at full capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: ICM, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Lee Vander Griend
  • Patent number: 7556739
    Abstract: A method of treating a fluid stream underwater comprising integrally attaching a skid to a fluid stream treating vessel so that the fluid stream treating vessel can be disposed on an underwater floor in a position such that an opening in said vessel is at a highest point on said vessel when disposed on the underwater floor; remotely directing a fluid stream treating vessel to an underwater floor location sufficiently close to said fluid stream so that the fluid stream can be remotely attached in fluid communication with said fluid stream treating vessel; remotely connecting said underwater fluid stream to said fluid stream treating vessel for treatment of said fluid stream; treating said fluid stream by contact with a treatment media disposed within said treatment vessel, maintained at equilibrium water pressure at the depth of treatment; and flowing the treated fluid stream out of said treating vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Amcol International Corporation
    Inventors: Anna M. Johnston-Dhuet, Giovanni Occhipinti
  • Patent number: 7494592
    Abstract: Process involving repeatedly applying some of the liquid composition to the granular filter media to remove water from the liquid composition by passing through the granular filter media with the particulate solids collecting on top surface of granular filter media. Water is first allowed to fill from below to just above the top layer of the filter media. A non-porous liner is located on the inner, bottom surface of the container. A drain pipe, having small openings, is located on top of the liner in the valley. A porous layer of large filter media, with the drain pipe therein, is located in the bottom of the container. A grid having open passageways, with fine filter media therein, is located on top thereof. A layer of fine filtrate sand is located on top of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Franklin David Deskins
  • Patent number: 7473370
    Abstract: A water disinfection system using simultaneous multiple disinfectants includes a completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a contact basin or clearwell acting as a plug flow reactor (PFR). The CSTR receives ammoniated water and free chlorine, and generates multiple disinfectants in primary disinfection water within the CSTR. The contact basin or clearwell receives primary disinfected water from the CSTR, the primary disinfected water containing the disinfectants. A method for water disinfection including mixing the non-disinfected treated water with ammonia to form ammoniated water, mixing the ammoniated water with free chlorine to form a primary disinfection water including multiple disinfectants, and maintaining the disinfectants in the primary disinfection water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Inventor: Yao B. Kouame
  • Patent number: 7449117
    Abstract: A filtration unit that includes a casing that has a closed bottom and is immersed in a water storage tank (or water storage pond) into which raw water is introduced, the casing being composed of a introduction port which introduces the raw water in the water storage tank into the casing, an active carbon supply device which adds active carbon to the introduced raw water, an agitator which agitates the raw water inside the casing to which active carbon has been added, a filtration module which filters the raw water, a back flow preventing device which prevents the raw water inside the casing from flowing back into the introduction port and being discharged into the water storage tank, and a discharging device which discharges the raw water from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7413663
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a housing comprising multiple housing portions and a plurality of treatment sections disposed within the housing, each treatment section comprising at least one distinct particulate layer. The apparatus is designed so that no water pressure need be applied to force the water through the apparatus, as gravity pulls the water down through the filtering layers. Water may also be force fed through the treatment apparatus; when the water is force fed, the housing portions need not be vertically stacked, but may be configured in any suitable arrangement. The treatment sections are distributed through the various housing portions in logical groups to perform various kinds of filtering. The housing portions are detachable and sealably stackable in multiple configurations, thus passing water through more or fewer treatment layers, depending on the quality of the incoming water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Zero Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajan G. Rajan, Mathu G. Rajan
  • Patent number: 7404901
    Abstract: A method for the removal of arsenic ions from water with a porous silica composition with an organofunctional moiety comprising a thio which binds the arsenic ion and is then removed from the water. The method comprises the quality of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Joel I. Dulebohn, Emily J. McKimmy
  • Patent number: 7389639
    Abstract: A system for recovering and purifying water from a gas stream may include, a gas stream purification unit for purifying the gas stream, a water separation unit for separating water from the purified gas stream, and a water purification unit for purifying the water separated by the water separation unit. The gas stream purification unit may include comprise a soot reactor and a catalytic oxidation reactor or both. The water separation unit may include a condenser, a water extractor and a cyclic reverse osmosis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Michalakos, Mark B. Koch, Russ Johnson, Francis S. Lupton