Making An Insoluble Substance Or Accreting Suspended Constituents Patents (Class 210/702)
  • Patent number: 11846596
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile system for continuous, automatic, online monitoring of water quality and particle sampling in a drinking water distribution network, comprising: a mobile unit provided with means for supplying, from at least a selected one of the plurality of points in the drinking water distribution network, a corresponding, selected influent fluid sample stream; means for discharging a corresponding, selected effluent fluid sample stream; for each selected influent fluid sample stream, a respectively associated continuous monitor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: OASEN N.V. [NL/NL]
    Inventors: Walterus Gijsbertus Joseph Van Der Meer, Gang Liu
  • Patent number: 11724950
    Abstract: An industrial wastewater and hydrocarbon treatment system including of a plurality of reactors and treatment modules that allows the application of principles of chemistry and quantum physics, dissociating electrons from the atoms or chemical elements contained in the hydrocarbon contaminated water. This invention advantageously allows the separation of water and oil in an efficient way, through the use of electromagnetic pulses with low amperage, and a series of filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Arnulfo Montes Cuen, Nydia Nohemi Montes Ruelas
  • Patent number: 11059727
    Abstract: A fluid treatment tank for an aeration filter has an air blocker separating a chamber in fluid communication with a control valve of the filter from a pocket of air above the liquid in the tank and the control valve. The air blocker contains a volume of liquid that acts as a trap that prevents or at least inhibits air in the pocket from backing up into the chamber. Contact between the control valve and air is dramatically reduced. The air blocker may comprise a baffle that directs any air flowing through the air blocker downwardly and then back upwardly before the air can escape the air blocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Clack Corporation
    Inventor: Don Vaughan
  • Patent number: 10988827
    Abstract: A coalescing element for aggregating droplets of an emulsion. The coalescing element includes a nonwoven web substrate. A coalescer that includes the coalescing element can also include a housing and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet each in fluid communication with the coalescing element. The coalescing element and coalescer may be useful for emulsions that form in solvent extraction/electrowinning copper processing and for other emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Clinton P. Waller, Jr., Chetan P. Jariwala, Jerald K. Rasmussen, John J. Schmidt, Michael J. Sierakowski, Karl D. Weilandt
  • Patent number: 10913012
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separation of hydrocarbon containing fluids are provided. More particularly, the disclosure is relevant to separating fluids having a gas phase, a hydrocarbon liquid phase, and an aqueous liquid phase using indirect heating. In general, the system uses a first gas separation followed by pressure reduction and then a second gas separation. Indirect follows the second gas separation and then three-phase separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: John Zink Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Rehm, Timothy Oneal, Gene Bittel, Mark Ferguson, Daniel Wright, Nicholas Jensen, Todd Earls
  • Patent number: 10829393
    Abstract: A bio-inspired method for detoxifying contaminated water is disclosed. In the method, polydopamine, a mussel-inspired adhesive catecholamine was used as an adsorbent to effectively remove from contaminated water three major classes of toxic agents: heavy metal ions (e.g., Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, and Cd), toxic organic species (e.g., 4-aminopyridine), and radioisotopes (e.g., Lutetium-177). Furthermore, the polydopamine adsorbent was regenerated by treatment with acid or hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Phillip B. Messersmith, Haeshin Lee
  • Patent number: 10822539
    Abstract: Provided herein are liquid polymer (LP) compositions comprising a synthetic (co)polymer (e.g., an acrylamide (co)polymer), as well as methods for preparing inverted polymer solutions by inverting these LP compositions in an aqueous fluid. The resulting inverted polymer solutions can have a concentration of a synthetic (co)polymer (e.g., an acrylamide (co)polymer) of from 50 to 15,000 ppm, and a filter ratio of 1.5 or less at 15 psi using a 1.2 ?m filter. Also provided are methods of using these inverted polymer solutions in oil and gas operations, including enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Do Hoon Kim, Dennis Arun Alexis, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, David Espinosa, Taimur Malik, Logan Jackson, Tom Lynch, Ronald Robinson, Frances Fournier, Hong Yang, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Patent number: 10792582
    Abstract: A system of generating steam from an emulsion stream produced from a reservoir via thermal recovery has a heat exchanger for adjusting the emulsion to a first temperature; at least one separation device for separating water from the emulsion at the first temperature to obtain produced water; an optional produced-water preheater, and a high-pressure evaporator for receiving the produced water and generating steam using the produced water. The evaporator has a vapor drum; a heating element receiving the water stream, and in fluid communication with the vapor drum via a pressure letdown device; a heating source for imparting sensible heat to the water stream for generating steam. The evaporator also includes a recirculation pump for circulation of blowdown concentrate, and a bubble generator for generating bubbles and injecting generated bubbles into the heating element to enable self-removal of scales and other solid deposits in the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GREAT OCEAN LTD.
    Inventors: Henry Z. Qin, Wen Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 10758902
    Abstract: A semipermeable ultrathin polymer membrane comprises a substantially optically transparent polymer film having a surface area to thickness ratio of at least 1,000,000:1, and an array of precisely spatially ordered pores of a user-selected diameter defined therethrough. Such membranes can be fabricated by providing a mold having a patterned array of nanoholes femtosecond laser ablated in a surface thereof; applying a first polymer solution onto the mold surface so that the first polymer solution infiltrates the nanoholes; allowing the first polymer solution to dry and form a replica of the mold having a plurality of freestanding nanoneedles extending from a surface of the replica; removing the replica from the mold; coating the replica surface with a second polymer solution; drying the second polymer solution to form a porous polymer film; and dissolving the replica in a solvent to release the film from the replica as a semipermeable ultrathin polymer membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ultra Small Fibers, LLC
    Inventors: William Hudson Hofmeister, Alexander Yuryevich Terekhov, Jose Lino Vasconcelos da Costa
  • Patent number: 10634427
    Abstract: A drainage system for drying frac sand without heat comprises multiple layers through which liquid passes to dewater sand resting on the drainage system. At the bottom of the drainage system, perforated collection pipes, at least partially surrounded by rocks, collect the liquid and carry it to a collection pond for reuse. A cellular confinement layer comprises sections of panels which, upon expansion, have cells filled with rocks. A woven monofilament geotextile fabric layer comprising woven monofilament geotextile fabric sheets sewn together has sized openings which allow fluid, but prevent sand from passing through the openings. The top layer comprises perforated sheets of high density polyethylene welded together. A watertight liner sits below the perforated collection pipes and below the cellular confinement layer. Protective layers above and below the watertight liner prevent rocks from damaging the watertight liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: R.T.D. Enterprises
    Inventors: Robert E. Kibel, Daniel M. Salsinger
  • Patent number: 10429671
    Abstract: The invention is to provide an ophthalmic lens and a manufacturing method thereof. The ophthalmic lens comprises a lens body and an antimicrobial hydrophilic layer thereon, wherein the antimicrobial hydrophilic layer comprises tannic acid and a zwittericionic polymer. The zwittericionic polymer can be selected from one of the group consisting of a phosphorylcholine polymer, a sulfobetaine polymer, a carboxybetaine polymer and a mixed-charge polymer or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: BenQ Materials Corporation
    Inventor: Fan-Dan Jan
  • Patent number: 10246379
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods directed to carbonation of a cement mix during mixing. The carbonation may be controlled by one or more feedback mechanisms to adjust carbon dioxide delivery based on one or more characteristics of the mix or other aspects of the mixing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CarbonCure Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Niven, George Sean Monkman, Dean Paul Forgeron, Kevin Cail, Joshua Jeremy Brown, Paul J. Sandberg, Mark MacDonald
  • Patent number: 9873623
    Abstract: A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: WASSERWERK, INC.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Hawks
  • Patent number: 9821310
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide for two-stage microfluidic devices using surface acoustic waves, methods of use thereof, methods of making, methods of focusing and separating particles, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Rasim Oytun Guldiken, Myeong Chan Jo, Jiang Zhe
  • Patent number: 9751780
    Abstract: Coagulation/flocculation apparatus for the treatment of a hydraulic flow of any type of liquid, upstream of a physical separation element, in particular upstream of a flotation unit, or of a filtration unit, in particular a membrane filtration unit, which apparatus comprises at least one coagulator with injection of coagulant, followed by a flocculator, which are successively passed through by the hydraulic flow, in which apparatus: the coagulator comprises a reactor (1) for injection of coagulant under high energy, followed by a low-energy coagulation reactor (2); an intermediate high-energy element (3) is placed between the coagulation reactor (2) and the flocculator (4); and the flocculator is a static flocculator of piston type (4) having the same width as the physical separation element (5) located downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: DEGREMONT
    Inventors: Patrick Vion, Guillem Grau
  • Patent number: 9637597
    Abstract: Methods of synthesizing a DOPA-melanin (DM) polymer are disclosed, as well as compositions comprising the DM polymer and uses thereof. The method comprises contacting a reactant such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) with a high concentration aqueous salt solution under oxidative conditions. The resulting DM polymer may form as insoluble particles or as a coating on a substrate surface. Exemplary uses for the DM polymers include removing heavy metal ions from contaminated solutions or capturing and delivering cationic drugs such as gentamicin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Phillip B. Messersmith, Jinghao Kuang
  • Patent number: 9560848
    Abstract: A method of deterring biofouling of a surface comprising attaching an adduct having formula (I) or noradrenalin to the surface. Formula (I) being defined as compounds that have the formula A-L-R wherein A is i) a C6 or C10 substituted aryl ring, or ii) a C1-C9 substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl ring: L is a linking group, and R is a primary amino moiety comprising unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Andrew S. Mount, Neeraj V. Gohad, Andrew Metters, Nihar M. Shah
  • Patent number: 9517435
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a formaldehyde absorbent and a method for using the same, the chemical composition of the formaldehyde absorbent by weight percentage is, amino acid: 0.1-99.9%; DNA and RNA base 99.9-0.1%. The method comprises the following steps: a. dissolving the formaldehyde absorbent in solvent to form a solution or dissolving the formaldehyde absorbent in solvent and mixing the same onto a solid carrier; b. placing the solution or solid carrier in indoor space that contains formaldehyde; and c. contacting and reacting the formaldehyde-containing air with the solution or the solid carrier and then absorbing the same. The present invention not only achieves not only excellent performance in absorbing hazard gases in the air, but also features low-cost, and further causes no secondary pollution, which therefore creates great social and economical significance in improving quality of human life, safeguarding human health, and protecting environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: NINGBO YUCHEN ENVIROCLEAN TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zuolin Zhu, JiaBao Zhao, Meng Sun, Zhenji Zhu, Kangfu Gu, Shanqing Sun, Tongxing Xie, Wenhai Wang
  • Patent number: 9475712
    Abstract: A process is described for recovering alkali-chloride and alkali-sulfate salts from a salt solution. The salt solution comprises alkali metal, chloride and sulfate ions and is directed to a hydrous salt crystallization unit which crystallizes hydrated sulfate salts that comprise sulfate and at least one alkali metal. A purged solution from the hydrous salt crystallization unit is directed to a chloride salt crystallization unit while the hydrated sulfate salt crystals are melted to form an aqueous sulfate solution which is directed to a sulfate crystallization unit. Anhydrous sulfate salts are crystallized from the aqueous sulfate solution to form sulfate salt crystals comprising sulfate and at least one alkali metal. In the chloride salt crystallization unit, chloride salt is crystallized to form chloride salt crystals. A purge from the chloride salt crystallization unit is directed to the hydrous salt crystallization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Mack, Timothy J. Rittof
  • Patent number: 9409115
    Abstract: The invention features a filtration segment having a top seal, a bottom seal and a primary filter core and the method of filtering with the design of the filtration segment. The primary filter core is operatively coupled to at least one opening which is located either on the top seal or on the bottom seal. The filtration segment also includes one or more interior filters surrounding the primary filter core. Each interior filter includes a filter material surrounding a secondary core which is operatively coupled to at least one opening which is located either on the top seal or on the bottom seal. Each filter may optionally include a retaining medium enclosing the filter material. The filtration segment has one or more layers of an exterior filter media which operatively surround the interior filters and are operatively coupled to the top seal and the bottom seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Filtration Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Hampton, Greg P Wallace
  • Patent number: 9289727
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for fabricating a membrane filter that can stand up to filtration of nanometer-scaled fine particles or organic molecules, and a membrane filter having that filtration feature. Membrane filter 20 is disclosed. There is also the process for fabricating membrane filter 20 disclosed that is characterized by comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous solution containing a metal salt and an aqueous solution containing an alkali to prepare nanostrand solution 32 comprising a metal hydroxide, and filtrating nanostrand solution 32 through porous substrate 2 having pores to fabricate nanostrand sheet 3 comprising an accumulation of fibrous nanostrands on porous substrate 2 wherein the first pore formed between the nanostrands and extending through the nanostrand sheet from one surface side to another surface side has a maximum diameter of up to 5 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Izumi Ichinose, Xinsheng Peng, Sandeep Ghosh, Qifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 9238589
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for processes, compositions and systems for waste sludge dewatering. In an example, the process may include receiving a waste sludge including a water component and an initial content of suspended particulates. The process may include treating the waste sludge with a combination of flocculant produced by Proteus mirabilis and a flocculant including chloride. The combination may be sufficient to flocculate at least some of the suspended particulates in the water component of the waste sludge and sufficient to produce treated waste sludge. The treated waste sludge may have a water component with a reduced content of suspended particulates. The process may include separating at least some of the water component with a reduced content of suspended particulates from the treated waste sludge to produce dewatered waste sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Tongji University
    Inventors: Siqing Xia, Zhiqiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9192879
    Abstract: The system and method is directed to improved separation or clarification of solids from a solids-laden liquid, including the removal of low gravity solids. A liquid to be treated is introduced into the inlet of a solid-liquid separator modified to include one or more sources of vibrational energy. The liquid is directed through a conduit within the separator. This conduit can be configured into a tortuous flow path to assist in the separation of solids from the liquid, the tortuous path being interconnected between two separation towers. Vibrational energy and gas sparging is applied to the flow path. As solids fall out of solution, they are collected. The clarified liquid is also collected. A vacuum can be applied to the system to assist in moving the solid-liquid mixture through the system and to provide vacuum clarification. Electrocoagulation electrodes can also be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: 1612017 ALBERTA LTD.
    Inventor: Derald L. McCabe
  • Patent number: 9187342
    Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to methods, systems, and apparatus for polishing wastewater (i.e. non-potable water) using filtration media. More particularly, the instant disclosure relates to wastewater polishing using a bed of mixed metal oxides under certain operating conditions to remove a plurality of contaminants from a wastewater stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon L. Isovitsch Parks, David Iwig, John R. Smith, Jaw K. Fu, Rajat Ghosh
  • Patent number: 9147881
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a graphene paper which reduced graphene oxide layers and coating layers are stacked in sequence. The graphene paper prepared according to a preparation method of the present invention has excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, and can be economically prepared in large-sized graphene paper, therefore may be efficiently applied to various electrical devices such as thin-film electrodes, flexible electrodes, super capacitors, semiconductor insulating layer reinforcements and TFT semiconductor layer-electrodes, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Wonoh Lee, Jea Uk Lee, Jin-Woo Yi, Sang-Bok Lee, Jun-Hyung Byun, Byung-Sun Kim
  • Publication number: 20150122740
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems and methods of fluid treatment systems. Fluid treatment systems and methods thereof may be operable to remove contaminants and optionally reduce hardness. A fluid treatment system may comprise a feed stream configured to provide a contaminated fluid, a concentrate tank configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the feed stream, a filtration unit configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the concentrate tank, and a permeate stream operable to receive a treated fluid from the filtration unit. A concentrate tank may be operable to reduce hardness of the contaminated fluid. A filtration unit may be operable to filter contaminants from the contaminated fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony L. Powell, Brian E. Butters
  • Publication number: 20150114819
    Abstract: Methods and a system for removing carbon nanotubes from a water stream are provided herein. The system includes a purification vessel, wherein the purification vessel is configured to form a carbon oxide from the carbon nanotubes within the water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Robert D. Denton, Dallas B. Noyes, Russell J. Koveal, Jr., Terry A. Ring
  • Patent number: 8997863
    Abstract: A method of improving natural gas release from a well via an enhanced hydraulic fracturing operation. The method includes capturing or retrieving the flow back from the well following the fracturing operation. The flow back or other source water is introduced to an electrocoagulation (“EC”) treatment process. EC treatment separates the water from other fracturing fluid components in the flow back and also removes bacteria and other contaminants. Thereafter, the EC-treated fluid is recycled for subsequent fracturing operations. The process may also be used to treat all source water, including fresh water delivered to the well before it is used as a fracturing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Water Tectonics, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mothersbaugh, Marvin Eugene Hancock
  • Publication number: 20150083577
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to the desalination of aqueous solutions containing one or more dissolved salts are generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Gradiant Corporation
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Steven Lam, Maximus G. St. John, Mark Zaloudek, Anurag Bajpayee
  • Publication number: 20150083669
    Abstract: Some waters have high sulfate contents, such as acid mine drainage (AMD), which makes them unsuitable for use in fracturing fluids and difficult to dispose. Such waters may be treated with a solution of barium chloride to react with the sulfate ion of the sulfates and precipitate the sulfates as barium sulfate. Not all of the sulfates needs to be removed for the reclaimed water to be useful in formulating a fracturing fluid. The by-product of the reaction is almost pure barium sulfate, which is an inert, commercially valuable material that may be used in drilling fluids, paint and other industries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ronald M. Matherly, Jiasheng Cao
  • Publication number: 20150060367
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coagulation processing method capable of adding a sufficiently-dissolved coagulant aqueous solution to being processed water and materializing high-efficiency coagulation processing, a coagulation processing unit, and a water processing apparatus. A coagulation processing unit includes a coagulant aqueous solution storage tank 1 to have a stirrer 5 and store a coagulant aqueous solution, a particle size distribution measurement device 50 to measure the particle size distribution of the coagulant aqueous solution in the coagulant aqueous solution storage tank 1, a coagulation tank 11 to mix being processed water with an added coagulant aqueous solution and form a coagulation, a coagulation removing section 9 to remove the coagulation from the being processed water containing the coagulation, and a control section 6 to control the stirrer 5 so that a median size in the particle size distribution of the coagulant aqueous solution may be not more than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Satoshi ISHII, Kenji OKISHIRO, Hiroshi SASAKI
  • Patent number: 8968569
    Abstract: A method of wastewater reutilization by which reusable water can be stably obtained from a wastewater. Ozone is added to a wastewater, such as water resulting from sewage treatment, in such a small amount as to result in a residual ozone concentration as measured before membrane filtration of 0.01-1.0 mg/L. Ozone is thus brought into contact with fine solids contained in the wastewater to alter the surface properties of the fine solids so that the solids are easily to coagulate. Thereafter, a coagulant, e.g., PACl, is added from a coagulant addition device (3). The fine solids are coagulated in a coagulation tank (5) or a line mixer and the resultant water is subjected to membrane filtration with an ozone-resistant separation membrane (6) such as ceramic membrane. Thus, reusable water is obtained which has a residual ozone concentration, as measured after filtration through the membrane, less than 0.5 mg/L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Metawater Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Suzuki, Motoharu Noguchi, Hideki Kozono
  • Publication number: 20150048030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water treatment device comprising a mixing tank comprising an inlet path (12) for an effluent to be treated, an optional inlet path (13) for reagents, a stirring source (14) for generating a turbulent stir in a given volume of said tank, an extraction path (15) for discharging sludge, and an extraction path (16) for treated effluent, and further comprising above and adjacent to the given volume, but below the treated-effluent outlet path, a settling structure (17) comprising a plurality of ducts extending from the bottom to the top and arranged in the form of a baffle so that no particle can flow through said layer along a rectilinear path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Barbier, Amaud Genin
  • Patent number: 8956460
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for recovery of values from a fermentation mass obtained in producing ethanol. Further, the present invention relates to processes for the recovery of values from an inorganic- and lignin-containing mass. The present invention also relates to processes for the recovery of a fraction having enhanced silica content from a silica-containing mass. Still further, the present invention relates to processes for the recovery of crude ethanol from a fermentation mass. The present invention relates to various lignin-containing products and solutions and mineral-rich products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aziz Ahmed, Quang A. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150041405
    Abstract: A method for processing raw liquid manure and/or fermentation residues involves providing raw liquid manure and/or fermentation residues, purifying the raw liquid manure and/or fermentation residues in a first purification stage so as to form a first solid phase and a first purified liquid phase, pre-conditioning the first purified liquid phase in order to separate ultrafine particles from the first purified liquid phase, and purifying the first purified liquid phase in a second purification stage so as to form a second solid phase and a second purified liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Sven Heymann, Bernd Lueking
  • Publication number: 20150041404
    Abstract: A method for treating acid mine drainage includes mixing acid mine drainage (20) and alkaline tailings from a gold recovery process (140). The acid mine drainage is thereby neutralized (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: MINTAILS MINNING SA (PTY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jan Hendrik Phillipus Jacobs, Robert George Freeman
  • Patent number: 8945896
    Abstract: Ligand functionalized substrates, methods of making ligand functionalized substrates, and methods of using functionalized substrates are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jerald K. Rasmussen, Catherine A. Bothof, Kannan Seshadri, Erin A. Satterwhite, Robert T. Fitzsimons, Jr., James L. Hembre, Mahfuza B. Ali
  • Patent number: 8945394
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for removing fine particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a separator that separates an inflow fluid stream into an overflow fluid path and an underflow fluid path, where the underflow fluid path is treated with a tethering material that attaches to the coarse particulate matter to form tether-bearing anchor particles and where the overflow fluid path is treated with an activating material so that the activating material interacts with the fine particulate matter to form activated particles. After these treatments, the underflow fluid path containing the tether-bearing anchor particles is commingled with the overflow fluid path containing the activated particles, so that a removable complex is produced that can be removed in a settling facility, thereby removing the fine particulate matter from the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Soane Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick D. Kincaid, Robert P. Mahoney, David Soane
  • Publication number: 20150021273
    Abstract: An oil recovery process that utilizes one or more filtration medium comprises a filter cake and a second filtration medium being nonwovens sheet to remove silica and/or oil and/or dissolved organics and/or dissolved solids from produced water which includes separating oil from the produced water and precipitating silica into particles and wherein the produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a filtration medium which operates in a direct flow filtration mode and removes the precipitated silica from the produced water to form a filtrate stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: SIMON FRISK, Hyun Sung Lim, Lisa C. Bates, Peter Andrin, Basil El-Borno
  • Patent number: 8926793
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide technology for regenerating pulp having high quality with compact pulp regenerating equipment and less energy. In the pulp regenerating method of the present invention, pulp slurry containing 1.5 wt % or more of a solid component including waste paper pulp is separated into a long fiber fraction and a short fiber fraction by using an outward type slit screen including an opening portion having a slit width in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The solid component ratio of the long fiber fraction and the short fiber fraction is in the range from 10:90 to 60:40, and the difference in Canadian Standard Freeness of the long fiber fraction and the short fiber fraction is in the range of 100 ml to 300 ml.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., Aikawa Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shisei Goto, Takaharu Noda, Hiroki Ohtake, Tatsumi Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20150001158
    Abstract: A cleaning system that includes a meter operatively connected to a cleaning device, and where the flow of waste water activates the cleaning device, and which device removes contaminates from the meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Rodolfo E. Valladares, Suyana Villarroel, David B. Montfort
  • Publication number: 20150001159
    Abstract: Provided are methods for recovering phosphate from wastewater by treating the wastewater with calcium containing compounds to raise its pH to near neutral values in order to precipitate calcium phosphate compounds, such as brushite, from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Publication number: 20140374360
    Abstract: By means of a method and a device for separating suspension or colloid components a sample is moved through a conduit system which extends in axial direction at at least one flow rate in at least one flow direction over a time period until reaching axial separation of components which are then separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Manuel Kemmler, Oliver Poppe
  • Patent number: 8911831
    Abstract: The invention provides surface treatments that reduce or eliminate marine biofouling of various surfaces. A surface that is to be subjected to a marine environment can be treated with a mPEG-DOPA. The treated surface is thus rendered less susceptible to fouling of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Phillip B. Messersmith, Haeshin Lee, Andrea R. Statz, Bruce P. Lee, Jeffrey L. Dalsin, Daniel Sherman
  • Publication number: 20140353252
    Abstract: A method of supplying engineered water for drilling or hydraulic fracturing of wells, where the water comes from either fresh sources or is recycled from drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations whereby the water is treated for example with a mechanical vapor recompression unit or other treating apparatuses and methods to significantly reduce the concentration of constituents that are deleterious to drilling or hydraulic fracturing chemistries while keeping desirable constituents, such as semi-volatile antimicrobial constituents. The final composition of the engineered water is designed to contain constituents that are optimal for drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: 212 Resources
    Inventors: Stephen Earl Hester, Leslie Douglas Merrill, Christopher R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8889008
    Abstract: A method of conditioning a membrane biological reactor mixed liquor containing one or more nonionic polysaccharides and/or one or more organic molecules is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Deepak A. Musale, John H. Collins
  • Patent number: 8889404
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing biogas from organic matter including a container (1) which is charged with fermentation substrate by a delivery system (13), and at least two stirring mechanisms (2) arranged in the container, the stirring mechanisms having propellers (3) which are rotated and generate mostly horizontal currents of the fermentation substrate in the container. The propeller diameters, the propeller geometries, and the positions of the propellers in the container are selected such that a shared mixing zone of the medium is generated in the container. Data for determining the mean speed and/or the viscosity of the medium in the mixing zone are detected and transmitted to a control unit (4) which varies actuating variables which modify the power input of the stirring mechanism into the mixing zone and/or the composition and/or the flow behavior of the container contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kai Rostalski, Peer Springer
  • Publication number: 20140332472
    Abstract: The invention discloses a process to implement and maintain water bodies larger than 15,000 m3 for recreational use, such as lakes or artificial lagoons, with excellent color, transparency and cleanness properties at low cost, which comprises the following steps: a.—providing a structure able to contain a large water body larger than 15,000 m3; b.—feeding the structure of step (a) with inlet water having iron and manganese levels lower than 1.5 ppm and turbidity lower than 5 NTU; c.—measuring water pH, ideally it should be within a range lower than 7.8; d.—adding an oxidizing agent to the water contained in the structure of step (a), with which a 600 mV minimal ORP is controlled in water for a minimal period of 4 hours and in maximal cycles of 48 hours; e.—adding a flocculating agent in concentrations within 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Fernando Benjamin FISHMANN TORRES
  • Publication number: 20140326674
    Abstract: Disclosed are zero liquid discharge (ZLD) processes that utilize naturally occurring or supplemental silicate in the water supply for removing magnesium and calcium hardness from aqueous alkaline streams in the form of a silica gel, thereby allowing separation of a low hardness supernant for recycling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: John Richardson
  • Publication number: 20140319068
    Abstract: Methods of treating a liquid having a contaminant, compositions, and the like, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Anna Casasus, Fredrick Vance Fredrick Vance