Including Recycling Patents (Class 210/712)
  • Patent number: 8652304
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enhanced process for separating dissolved and suspended solids from valuable or harmful liquids and more particularly to improving the operational aspects and separation efficiency of treating certain water miscible fluids including those used for oil and gas processing such as glycols, as well as automobile and aircraft fluids, that have become contaminated with dissolved and/or suspended solid matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Prime Services Trustee Limited, VBW Trustees No. 2 Limited
    Inventor: Craig Nazzer
  • Publication number: 20140014589
    Abstract: To recover drilling fluid used in sample drilling at a drilling machine, when the drilling fluid exits the drill hole, and to transport it to a separate cleaning unit wherein solid matter is separated from the drilling fluid. The cleaned drilling fluid is returned to the drilling machine and reused in sample drilling. The cleaning unit has an inlet connection and two or more precipitation basins, where the solid matter accumulates on the bottom of the basin. In the bottom part of at least one precipitation basin there is a valve arrangement for removing drilling fluid sludge containing solid matter from the precipitation basin, which drilling fluid sludge is filtered with a filter arrangement. In the top part of the precipitation basin there is a transfer connection between precipitation basins or an outlet connection for taking cleaned drilling fluid out from the cleaning unit back to the drilling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: OY KATI AB KALOJAKI
    Inventor: Tapani Niskakangas
  • Patent number: 8617400
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater using a ballasted flocculation technique includes continuously measuring the concentration of suspended solids, organic matter or other impurities in the water to be treated prior to directing the water to be treated to a flocculation tank. Based on this measurement, the amount of ballast necessary to obtain treated water of a predetermined quality is then calculated. In the flocculation tank, ballast and a flocculating reagent are added to the water to form a water-floc mixture. The water-floc mixture is directed to a settling tank where a sludge-ballast mixture is settled. The sludge-ballast mixture is directed to a mixing tank and then to a separator to separate the ballast from the sludge. The separated ballast is directed to the flocculation tank. The separated sludge is directed to the mixing tank when the level of sludge-ballast mixture in the mixing tank is lower than a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Philippe Sauvignet, Claus Dahl, Valey Ursel, Celine Levecq, Jean-Francois Beaudet
  • Publication number: 20130334144
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for removing solutes from wastewater are disclosed. An embodiment provides a reactor tank having a manifold located at or near an interface between a lower (upstream) section having a first cross-section and a higher (downstream) section having a second cross-section smaller than the first cross section. An inlet for wastewater to enter the reactor tank is located in or below the first cross-section. A recycling path is provided for removing wastewater from the manifold and recycling at least part of the removed wastewater into the reactor tank. An outlet for water to exit the reactor tank is located downstream from the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: OSTARA NUTRIENT RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Ahren Britton
  • Patent number: 8596346
    Abstract: A method of flocculating coal fines from produced water that includes the steps of: (A) mixing at least: (i) produced water, wherein the produced water comprises suspended coal fines; (ii) one or more oil-soluble phosphate esters; and (iii) water-immiscible solvent; wherein the mixing is in proportions to obtain an oil-in-water emulsion; (B) allowing or mechanically causing the oil-in-water emulsion to substantially break into: (i) a first fluid having a continuous phase comprising at least some of the water from the produced water; and (ii) a second fluid having a continuous phase comprising at least some of the water-immiscible solvent; and (C) mechanically separating the first fluid and the second fluid. Optionally, the step of mixing further includes mixing with a crosslinker for the one or more phosphate esters to form a gel for suspending the separated coal fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Gersbach, Glen Clifford Fyten
  • Patent number: 8585903
    Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method to purify an aqueous solution, typically mine drainage water, especially of anions and cations present in the aqueous solution as dissolved solids, the anions and cations are removed by treatment with a positively charged extractant having at least eight carbon atoms, whereby an unstable emulsion is formed; the unstable emulsion is allowed to break into an extract phase loaded with the anions and cations, and a water phase depleted in anions and cations; a floc inherently forms in the loaded extractant phase and then the loaded extractant phase and floc are separated from the purified water and treated to remove the anions and cations as concentrated useful products; the treated aqueous phase now reduced in anion and/or cation content is also separated from the emulsion as a purified aqueous solution. The extractant phase is preferably recycled. A continuous water purification process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Winner Water Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce F. Monzyk, F. Michael Von Fahnestock, James Kevin Rose, H. Nick Conkle, Ming Wang, Satya P. Chauhan, Ruey K. Bruce, Tenisha Highsmith
  • Patent number: 8580917
    Abstract: The invention relates to block polymers, for example, arborescent copolymer compounds, and to methods of making and purifying such compounds. In one embodiment, the invention relates to arborescent polymer compounds that contain one or more styrene polymeric blocks in combination with one or more isobutylene polymeric blocks. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods for purifying arborescent polymer compounds that contain at least one styrene polymeric block in combination with at least one isobutylene polymeric block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventor: Judit E Puskas
  • Patent number: 8557123
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Soane Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Berg, John H. Dise, Robert P. Mahoney, Kevin T. Petersen, David S. Soane, Kristoffer K. Stokes, William Ware, Jr., Atul C. Thakrar
  • Patent number: 8506817
    Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Riad Al-Samadi
  • Patent number: 8506821
    Abstract: A system for processing drilling mud, the system including a primary separation tank having an inlet for receiving drilling waste and an outlet in fluid communication with a feed line, and an injection pump in fluid communication with a polymer tank and the feed line. The system also includes a clarifying tank in fluid communication with the feed line and a first collection tank, wherein effluent from the clarifying tank is discharged into the first collection tank, and a centrifuge in fluid communication with the clarifying tank and a second collection tank, wherein effluent from the centrifuge is discharged into the second collection tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: John O. Pruett, Gary E. Fout
  • Publication number: 20130193077
    Abstract: We provide a process for the neutralization and precipitation of high pH brines that eliminates the formation of “gelatinous silica” during neutralization. The high pH brine is neutralized in a two-step neutralization process. In the first step the salt concentration of a high pH brine is built up to a minimum level of 8-12%, and then its pH is reduced to 9-9.5. The partially neutralized brine is allowed a reaction period with mild agitation. Subsequently the pH is further reduced, typically to 8-9. A coagulant and/or a polymer can also be used to enhance the settling or filtration rate of the neutralized stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Ravi Chidambaran, Pavan Raina, Narendra Singh Bisht
  • Publication number: 20130153509
    Abstract: The present invention claims a process to reduce COD, TOC, and total solids from a contaminated liquid medium, which comprises of the following stages: feed an electrolytic cell provided with electrodes with the contaminated liquid medium; apply a constant direct current through said electrodes; flocculate the solids present in said contaminated liquid medium by adding coadjuvant agents, remove sludge and supernatant obtained; and oxidize the supernatant through oxidizing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Fiderman Machuca Martinez, Nilson de Jesus Marriaga Cabrales, Charles Eduardo Cardona Palomino
  • Patent number: 8440087
    Abstract: A thickening tank has a peripheral overflow launder and a centrally disposed feed well. Feedstock slurry is fed to a mixing box which also receives supernatant liquid and is supplemented by flocculated material flowing into the interior of the feed well onto a distributor baffle plate. The supernatant liquid is delivered at a controlled rate from a receiving vessel formed by an upright cylinder provided at its lower end with an impeller of a lift pump which is operated by a controller positioned at the upper end of a vertical drive shaft extending axially through the receiving vessel. The feed well is surrounded by a second launder which is closed at its base and formed with a cup. The lower end of the receiving vessel is spaced from the floor of the cup to draw supernatant liquid exclusively from the second launder rather than from the thickener tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Delkor Pty., Ltd
    Inventor: Rhett McElvenny
  • Publication number: 20130082003
    Abstract: Purified water can be obtained via a continuous or semi-continuous process by mixing a liquid composition (e.g., sea water or produced frac water) including water with a directional solvent to selectively dissolve water from the liquid composition into the directional solvent. The concentrated remainder of the liquid composition (e.g., brine) is removed, and the water is precipitated from the directional solvent and removed in a purified form. The solvent is then reused as the process is repeated in a continuous or semi-continuous operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Patent number: 8383764
    Abstract: The invention relates to block polymers, for example, arborescent copolymer compounds, and to methods of making and purifying such compounds. In one embodiment, the invention relates to arborescent polymer compounds that contain one or more styrene polymeric blocks in combination with one or more isobutylene polymeric blocks. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods for purifying arborescent polymer compounds that contain at least one styrene polymeric block in combination with at least one isobutylene polymeric block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventor: Judit E. Puskas
  • Publication number: 20130015141
    Abstract: A method may include providing a returned fluid comprising a fluid; and a solid contaminant; introducing the returned fluid into a solid-liquid sorter thereby separating the returned fluid into an overflow and underflow; flocculating the underflow in a flocculating chamber thereby forming a flocculated fluid; and dewatering the flocculated fluid using a dewatering rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Charles R. Landis, Ryan P. Collins, Edward A. Anderson, Roger H. Woods, Douglas G. Pullman, David M. Donald
  • Patent number: 8241503
    Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Riad Al-Samadi
  • Publication number: 20120160769
    Abstract: A method of water treatment comprising: providing an electrolysis device comprising an electrolysis vessel; providing feed streams to the first salt water chamber of the vessel, second salt water chamber of the vessel, acidic chamber of the vessel, and alkalic chamber of the vessel, the acidic chamber producing an acidic solution and the alkalic chamber producing an alkalic solution; directing at least a portion of the contents of the first and second salt water chambers into a precipitation tank; directing at least a portion of the alkalic solution into the precipitation tank, thereby increasing the pH in the precipitation tank to produce precipitate; and removing the precipitate from the precipitation tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Caroline Chihyu Sui, Caibin Xiao, Hai Yang
  • Patent number: 8202426
    Abstract: A method of removing phosphonates from water includes directing the water into a first settling zone. The water is then directed to a membrane filtration zone and is filtered therein to produce a concentrate containing phosphonates. The concentrate containing phosphonates is then contacted with sludge such that at least some of the phosphonates in the concentrate are adsorbed onto the sludge. Flocculant is added to the sludge and the concentrate to form a floc-mixture which is directed to a second settling zone to form treated concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Catherine Daines-Martinez, Jean-Christophe Schrotter, Karine Drouet, Abdelkader Gaid
  • Patent number: 8197696
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide in a standalone basis or in conjunction with the precipitation of calcium in different forms from saline streams. Methods are also disclosed for flue gas scrubbing in conjunction with the precipitation methods or in a standalone basis. Among the benefits of the disclosed methods is that their resulted spent saline stream and/or gas can be used, for instance, to feed seawater desalination plants and/or to enhance hydrocarbons recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Mansour S. Bader
  • Patent number: 8192631
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating raw water. The apparatus includes a vessel having an inlet for the raw water, an outlet for the skimmed water, a rotor mechanism for creating a plurality of gas bubbles within the raw water, and a disperser device operatively associated with the rotor mechanism for dispersing the plurality of gas bubbles from the rotor mechanism within the vessel. The vessel contains raw water. The gas bubbles create an oily froth on top of the raw water. The apparatus further includes a skim tray positioned about the rotor mechanism for removing the oily froth from the top of the raw water and a secondary skimmer positioned within the skim tray. An external skim tank may be configured to deliver a gas to the rotor mechanism and to receive the oily froth from the secondary skimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: CCS Energy Services LLC
    Inventors: Melvin O. Stacy, Mark G. Arceneaux, Eric Wingate
  • Patent number: 8187470
    Abstract: Some mineral processing plants encounter difficulties in dewatering pulps using clarifier/thickener (C/T) equipment due to a layer of fine particles, air bubbles and chemicals formed at the top of the liquid in the thickener. Such layers are very stable and form a cap on the C/T. The dewatering performance of the C/T then deteriorates under these conditions, and a high percentage of solids is contained in the thickener overflow. A process for removing water from rock slurry containing a wide range of particle sizes in mineral processing operations has been developed. The process includes: (a) classifying the feed slurry into two size fractions, namely a coarse fraction and a fine fraction, (b) treating the fine fraction (and the coarse fraction if required) with a selected flocculant, and (3) thickening the flocculated slurry in sedimentation equipment to separate liquid from solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ARR-MAZ Custom Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoxin Wang, Zhengxing Gu, Edward W. Gannon
  • Patent number: 8168067
    Abstract: A process for treating and disposing a liquid waste, which is solidified prior to disposal, includes steps of adding to said liquid waste a dry treatment product generally comprising approximately 25% to 75% bentonite clay and respectively 75% to 25% of a liquid-sorbing polymer, subjecting the liquid waste to a single pass high shear mix so as to incorporate the treatment product into the liquid waste with increased dispersion and reduced agglomeration, subjecting the treated liquid waste to a retention time suitable for solidification, and disposing of the solidified liquid waste. The liquid waste preferably is recirculated prior to addition of dry treatment product so as to permit a calibration of the characteristics of the liquid waste, and subsequent determination of the correct rate of dry treatment addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Metaflo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Roger H. Woods, Doug Pullman
  • Patent number: 8158075
    Abstract: This invention intends to enable silicon compound to be removed from waste etching solution at a high removal rate and waste etching solution to be recycled without disposing it. The etching solution reproducing apparatus includes: temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of taken out waste etching solution; atomizing means for atomizing waste etching solution adjusted in temperature by the temperature adjusting means; precipitating means for collecting waste etching solution atomized by the atomizing means and precipitating silicon compound in the waste etching solution; and separating means for separating silicon compound precipitated from the waste etching solution by the precipitating means so as to obtain reproduced etching solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Chemical Art Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120080383
    Abstract: A process for treating waste includes reacting a feedstock in a reactor to form an effluent. The feedstock is part of a reaction mixture that includes sulfuric and nitric acid. The effluent is separated into a liquid fraction and a solid fraction. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, mercury, molybdenum, and/or selenium are removed from the liquid fraction to form a cleaned liquid fraction. The reaction mixture, excluding solids, includes no more than 7.5 wt % of the total of the first oxidizing acid and the nitric acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: EARTH RENEWAL GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick P. Kesler, George G. Foster, Shannon Comp, Malcolm Draper
  • Patent number: 8137566
    Abstract: A method of treating tailings comprising a solids fraction and a hydrocarbon fraction is disclosed. A primary flow is supplied to a jet pump, the primary flow comprising water and less than 20% solids by mass. A secondary flow is supplied to a mixing chamber of the jet pump, the secondary flow comprising a slurry of water and tailings, the slurry comprising more solids by mass than the primary flow. The jet pump is operated using the primary flow such that the tailings are agitated to effect at least a partial phase separation of the hydrocarbon fraction from the tailings. The methods disclosed herein may also be applied to treat tailings ponds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: RJ Oil Sands Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Ralph Bozak, Michael A. Kessick, Roderick Michael Facey
  • Patent number: 8123955
    Abstract: A feed system is used in a sedimentation vessel. The feed system includes an inlet for receiving a quantity of feed slurry and an outlet for delivering the feed slurry to a separation zone within the sedimentation vessel. The feed slurry includes a mixture of solids and liquids that are to be separated in a separation zone within the sedimentation vessel. An airlift pump is used to cycle at least a portion of either the separated solids or the separated liquids from the separation zone and return it to the feed system. This returned portion mixes with the feed slurry and may operate to dilute the feed slurry to a concentration for optimal separation. Additionally, feed conditioning chemicals may be mixed into the feed slurry prior to or after the mixing of the feed slurry with the returned portion of the separated products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: WesTech Engineering Inc., Paste Thick Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Philip Lake, Mark Crozier, Jeffery H. Easton
  • Publication number: 20120024794
    Abstract: A low cost method and system for treating water, which will be used in an industrial process, is provided. A system of the invention generally includes at least one containing means, at least one coordination means, at least one chemical application means, at least one mobile suction means, and at least one filtration means. The coordination means can control the necessary processes depending on the system needs (e.g., water quality or purity). The method and system of the invention purifies the water and eliminates suspended solids without the need of filtering the totality of the water volume, but only filtering a small fraction of up to 200 times less than the flow filtered by a conventional water treatment filtration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Crystal Lagoons Corporation LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Fischmann T.
  • Patent number: 8088287
    Abstract: An automatic, self-regulating method of water treatment for use in water circulating towers in which water is evaporated, and make up water is added, with components which synergistically function to cut chemical, energy, water, corrosion, pollution, and maintenance costs, by passing the water through a Water Conditioning unit to prevent adhering evaporation scale deposits along with their content of concentrated biofouling nutrients from forming on the flooded surfaces of the tower and its associated water flow circuit, adding a trace level of iodine to the input make-up water to enhance the further disinfection of nutrient-deprived surfaces from any residual biofilm and chance pathogen contaminations, and adding a trace level addition of zinc ions in the water such as by an assured treatment feeder to the input make-up flow for inhibiting residual iodine-resistant algal and bacterial organisms of hazard for restoring bionutrient tower conditions, such as within sun-lit environments, and apparatus for carryi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Evandtec, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick James Dart, John Owen Richmond
  • Patent number: 8062530
    Abstract: A method for neutralizing brines that contain high levels of silica accompanied with a high pH. Brine is processed through a reactor in which the pH is lowered and the resultant silica precipitate is adsorbed onto a sacrificial crystal structure. The resultant stream is then processed through a solids removal zone wherein the solids are removed and recovered for reuse. The neutralized solids-free brine is then suitable for down-hole injection in the heavy oil industry or further treatment by common water treatment methods if further adjustment is required for other industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aquatech International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Schoen, Chandrakant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 8048314
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for treating a chlorine-containing waste, which can separate and recover a chlorine component from a chlorine-containing waste, and also can achieve a high chlorine removal thereby obtaining a high purity chlorine compound, and can decrease the amount of water for recovering chlorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., Japan Water Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Konishi, Hideho Hayashi, Ikuko Watanabe, Takehiko Itoh, Takayuki Kuroiwa, Taichiro Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 8042282
    Abstract: A drum for a clothes dryer in which an internal structure, especially, a baffle structure, of the drum is improved to prevent target items from being entangled and damaged during a drying operation to thereby improve the drying efficiency of the clothes dryer. Rotatable balls are inserted in the baffles mounted on an internal surface of the drum, the mounting arrangement of the baffles is changed, or the baffles are modified to thus improve the drying operation. In addition, an absorbent is filled in the baffles to thus increase the drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung-Geun Oh, Sang-Ik Lee, Sang-Hun Bae, Sung-Ho Song, Jae-Hak Joung, Yoon-Seob Eom
  • Patent number: 8017018
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Allen Lawrence, Joseph E. Zuback
  • Patent number: 8012358
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes: (a) a mobile platform; (b) an input pump operatively connected to be capable of pumping a treatment stream through the system; (c) a centrifugal separator operatively connected downstream of the input pump to centrifugally treat the treatment stream; (d) a borate filter operatively connected downstream of the centrifugal separator to filter the treatment stream capable of removing at least some of a borate when the treatment stream is at a pH of 8 or above; and (e) a chemical-additive subsystem operatively connected to be capable of: (i) selectively adding one or more chemical agents to the treatment stream upstream of the centrifugal separator, wherein the chemical agents can be selected to be capable of precipitating dissolved ions selected from the group consisting of: sulfate, calcium, strontium, or barium, magnesium, iron; and (ii) selectively adding a chemical agent to the treatment stream upstream of the borate filter to increase the pH of the treatment stream to 8 o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy F. Slabaugh, Arron L. Karcher, Michael J. R. Segura, Randy S. Rosine, Max L. Phillippi, Donna L. Harris
  • Patent number: 7988865
    Abstract: A feedwell dilution system for diluting an influent feed stream, which include at least one eductor assembly, and a feedwell assembly. The at least one eductor assembly includes a feed pipe which converges to a narrow throat portion or nozzle; a mix tube positioned downstream from the narrow throat portion that is sized and configured to provide mixing of the influent feed stream and a clarified liquid drawn from a settling tank; and an enclosure, which is installed around the narrow throat portion and an inlet portion of the mix tube and includes an open-ended portion on a bottom thereof, which is sized and configured to allow a clarified liquid to be pulled into the mix tube from below the inlet portion of the mix tube. The feedwell assembly is sized and configured to receive the mixture of the influent feed stream and the clarified liquid from the mix tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventors: Timothy J. Laros, Frank Andrew Baczek
  • Patent number: 7981295
    Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively. The purified water recovery is not adversely affected by design and/or operational deficiencies in the chemical precipitation softening system that may result in higher residual hardness and silica in the supernatant from the clarifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Riad A. Al-Samadi
  • Patent number: 7981299
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as a slurry containing minerals. The thickening apparatus comprises a tank (2), a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having an inlet for receiving feed slurry (9) and an outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one conduit (5) for feed slurry to deliver a feed slurry (9) into the feedwell, means for diluting the feed slurry, when at least one separate dilute liquid conduit (16, 19) is directed tangentially with respect to the feedwell (4) and at least one inflow aperture (15) is arranged tangentially with respect to the feedwell for recirculating the dilute liquid from the tank inside the feedwell in order to dilute the feed slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Richard Triglavcanin, Ian Arbuthnot
  • Patent number: 7972518
    Abstract: A method for cleaning solids-laden aqueous fluids uses an apparatus comprising a settling tank having a sloping floor, which drops off into a collection area; primary and secondary mixing tanks, the lower regions of which are in fluid communication via fluid transfer means; and agitators in each of the mixing tanks. Solids-laden fluid is introduced into the primary mixing tank along with selected coagulant and/or flocculent chemicals, whereupon the agitator in the primary mixing tank is actuated to induce downward fluid flow toward the fluid transfer means and into the secondary mixing tank. The agitator in the secondary mixing tank is actuated to induce upward fluid flow in the secondary mixing tank, from which the fluid mixture overflows into the setting tank. Solids settle or precipitate into the settling tank, and then move downward along the settling tank's sloped floor and into the collection area, from which the solids can be removed for further treatment or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventors: Ambrose Ralph, Randy Wold, Roger Allard
  • Publication number: 20110127223
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of phosphoric acid plant pond water where an increased recovery of phosphorus values from the input pond water is achieved through the dilution of the initial pond water with clarified water from the product generation stage and/or the final stage clarified water. The recycle of the product generation stage and/or final stage waters to dilute the feed pond water mitigates or eliminates the problems of silica gel formation and precipitation that occur when undiluted pond waters are processed. In addition, the dilution reduces phosphate losses in the first liming or neutralization stage rejected solids thereby increasing the yield of Di-Calcium Phosphate or ammonium magnesium phosphate or potassium magnesium phosphates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: VEOLIA WATER NORTH AMERICA OPERATING SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Vaughn V. Astley, Dennis H. Michalski, Robert Cook
  • Patent number: 7947183
    Abstract: A method and a device for purifying water from contaminant trace species, especially arsenic, by co-precipitating trace species during oxidation and precipitation of iron compounds with subsequent separation. The co-precipitation is improved by contacting the water with an iron-containing material prior to oxidation to increase the iron content of the water. Arsenic and other trace species harmful to health may be removed from water effectively and in a simple manner, thus being able to comply with the more restrictive limits of arsenic in drinking water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: MicroDrop Aqua ApS
    Inventor: Finn Lebech
  • Publication number: 20110108490
    Abstract: An efficient filtration process of water from a tank is performed over a small volume of water and not on the totality of the water from the tank. The process includes emitting ultrasonic waves in the tank; and adding a flocculant agent to the water. The tank bottom is covered with a suctioning device which suctions a water flow with flocculated particles, discharging to a collecting effluent line and the effluent flow of the suctioning device is filtered from the collecting effluent line. Filtered flow is returned to the tank. A suctioning device is used in the efficient filtration process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: CRYSTAL LAGOONS CORPOTATION LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Benjamin Fischmann Torres
  • Patent number: 7938970
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing and using aluminum slurry containing aluminum particles having an extremely small size. In particular, a particle size that is small enough to freely flow through water filtration filters. Once the aluminum particles react with phosphorus, phosphates, and other contaminants, the resulting particles are large enough to be trapped by filters such that the contaminants can be easily removed. The aluminum slurry is created by the use of a unique process which rapidly transforms electrically charged aluminum plates into slurry. The resulting slurry is then added to the body of water where it disperses throughout the water and flocculates with the contaminants. The resulting clumps produced by the reaction are large enough to be trapped by filters in the water treatment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: John J. Murray, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110100924
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator and contaminant scrubber includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. A reagent may be mixed with the liquid to react with contaminants in the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 7901583
    Abstract: A process in which material comprising an aqueous liquid with dispersed particulate solids is transferred as a fluid to a deposition area, then allowed to stand and rigidify, and in which rigidification is improved while retaining the fluidity of the material during transfer, by combining with the material an effective rigidifying amount of aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer. The process is particularly suitable for the treatment of the tailings underflow resulting from a mineral processing operation and the co-disposal of fine and coarse tailings fractions. In addition, liquor released during the rigidification step is of high clarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventors: Philip McColl, Stephen Scammell
  • Publication number: 20110024354
    Abstract: A desalination system comprises an electrical separation device configured to receive and ionize a first stream for desalination and a crystallization device. The crystallization device is configured to provide a second stream to the electrical separation device to carry away ions from the first stream, and defining a crystallization zone for facilitating precipitation of the ions and a solid-liquid separation zone in fluid communication with the crystallization zone for separation of the precipitate. A desalination method is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jiyang Xia, Rihua Xiong, Wei Cai, Zijun Xia, Chengqian Zhang, James Manio Silva, Weiming Zhang
  • Patent number: 7867400
    Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, and which liquor comprises lignin, wherein the solids-liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises an anionic polymer, with the proviso that the treatment system and does not include a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ciba Speacialty Chemicals Water treaments Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hughes, Rajesh Mistry, Kenneth Charles Symes
  • Publication number: 20100300979
    Abstract: A method of treating silicate-based wellbore fluids that includes flocculating at least a portion of contaminants contained in a silicate-based wellbore fluid out of the fluid phase; and separating the flocculated contaminants from the fluid phase. Methods of recycling silicate-based fluids, methods of disposing used silicate-based fluid, and methods of disposing of wellbore fluid waste are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gilmour, Arvind D. Patel
  • Patent number: 7824552
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes: (a) a mobile platform; (b) an input pump operatively connected to be capable of pumping a treatment stream through the system; (c) a centrifugal separator operatively connected downstream of the input pump to centrifugally treat the treatment stream; (d) a borate filter operatively connected downstream of the centrifugal separator to filter the treatment stream capable of removing at least some of a borate when the treatment stream is at a pH of 8 or above; and (e) a chemical-additive subsystem operatively connected to be capable of: (i) selectively adding one or more chemical agents to the treatment stream upstream of the centrifugal separator, wherein the chemical agents can be selected to be capable of precipitating dissolved ions selected from the group consisting of: sulfate, calcium, strontium, or barium, magnesium, iron; and (ii) selectively adding a chemical agent to the treatment stream upstream of the borate filter to increase the pH of the treatment stream to 8 o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy F. Slabaugh, Arron L. Karcher, Michael J. R. Segura, Randy S. Rosine, Max L. Phillippi, Donna L. Harris
  • 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: 7736518
    Abstract: A cavitation device is used to heat and facilitation the separation of mixtures and emulsions of oil and water. Waste heat from the power source for the cavitation device may be utilized to elevate the temperature of incoming mixtures or emulsions. The heated mixture of emulsion is sent to a separation vessel where vapor may be removed and/or recovered, and where oil is removed as it separates into an identifiable layer. The separation vessel may be a flash tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Total Separation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Robert L. Sloan, Harry D. Smith, Jr.