Including Organic Agent Patents (Class 210/728)
  • Patent number: 7722841
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a combination of a polymeric chelant and coagulant to treat metal containing wastewater. More particularly, the invention is directed at removing copper from CMP wastewater. The composition includes a combination of (a) a polymeric chelant derived from a polyamine selected from the group consisting of diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetraamine (TETA), tertraethylenepentaamine (TEPA), poly[vinylamine], and branched or linear poly[ethylenimine] (PEI); and (b) a water soluble or dispersible copolymer of a tannin and a cationic monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl chloride or dimethyl sulfate quaternary salt of dimethyl aminoethyl acrylate, diethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide, dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide, and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Baraka Kawawa, Stephen R. Vasconcellos, William Sean Carey, Nicholas R. Blandford
  • Patent number: 7718075
    Abstract: Methods are provided for treating suspensions of particles to improve the drainage rate and/or the solids content of flocs of the particles. The method includes the steps of (i) providing a suspension which comprises particles in a fluid; (ii) adding a cyclodextrin compound to the suspension; and (iii) dewatering the suspension by removing at least a portion of the fluid to form a cake comprising the particles. The cyclodextrin compound desirably is added in an amount effective to increase the dewatering rate of the flocs, to increase the solids content, or both, over that rate, solids content, or both, that would be obtained without the addition of the cyclodextrin compound. The suspension may be, for example, a biological or non-biological sludge, or a suspension of pulp fibers, such as in a pulping or papermaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventor: Sujit Banerjee
  • Patent number: 7699991
    Abstract: A conditioning process and equipment are provided for removing hardness from water circulated in a system. A sidestream from such system is routed to a reaction chamber and back to the system. A conditioner is added to the sidestream water and in some embodiments is routed through a sidestream inlet from the top of the reaction chamber to its lower portion in a swirling motion. A buffer is added to the sidestream exiting the reaction chamber, and in some embodiments is added upstream of a pH sensor. In some embodiments a polymer is added. A fluid bed develops in the reaction chamber consisting of conditioner, buffer, precipitated solids and sidestream water. An upper outlet on the reaction chamber regulates the height of the fluid bed, and a drain provides for periodic discharge of the lower fluid bed. In some embodiments, a corrosion inhibitor blend is pre-mixed with the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Samuel Rupert Owens
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7678280
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus and method for recycling an invert emulsion based drilling fluid, in which the invert emulsion based drilling fluid includes an oleaginous component and an aqueous component. The apparatus includes an emulsion breaking tank, a water treatment tank, a filter press, and hydrocarbon filters. The method includes: mixing said invert emulsion drilling fluid with a emulsion breaker, wherein the emulsion breaker is a mixture of an alkyl glucoside and an alkane sulfonate; and separating the oleaginous component of the invert emulsion drilling fluid from the aqueous component of the invert emulsion drilling fluid. The method preferably utilizes an emulsion breaker that is a combination of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventor: Frank Manfred Franz Mueller
  • Patent number: 7618541
    Abstract: A method of de-watering a slurry mixture produced from a jet grouting operation, comprising the addition to the mixture of a high MW polyethylene oxide polymer, in such manner that it is uniformly distributed therein. The solids of the slurry are left in an easily and inexpensively-disposable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Construction Research & Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Qiu Feng
  • Publication number: 20090242491
    Abstract: A method of treating silicon powder-containing drainage water, comprising the steps of: including an inorganic flocculant composed of a silica sol-water-soluble metal salt having a molar ratio of silicon to metal of 0.05 to 3.0 into drainage water containing silicon powders to ensure that the metal concentration becomes 15 to 300 mg/L; and adding an organic polymer flocculant. In this method, the coagulation treatment of drainage water containing fine silicon powders can be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Shinji Tokunaga, Yoshiaki Koga, Toshihiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 7595007
    Abstract: Water-soluble amino acid copolymers, modified polysaccharides, acrylamide polymers, and combinations thereof, are described, for uses including flocculation of solids, particularly flocculation of soil, such as in an agricultural setting. Also described are methods of preparing selected amino acid copolymers and modified polysaccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignees: Aquero Company, ValuGen LLC
    Inventors: C. Steven Sikes, Mark A. Hochwalt, T. Daniel Sikes
  • Patent number: 7595002
    Abstract: Water-soluble amino acid copolymers, modified polysaccharides, acrylamide polymers, and combinations thereof are described for use in flocculation of solids, particularly flocculation of soil, preferably in agricultural settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignees: Aquero Company, Valugen, LLC
    Inventors: C. Steven Sikes, Mark A. Hochwalt, T. Daniel Sikes
  • Patent number: 7582444
    Abstract: Process for improving the separation efficiency of residual solid matter from the liquid phase of an aqueous acid hydrolysate of a naturally occurring polysaccharide comprising dissolved sugars, and residual acid wherein a flocculating agent(s) is added to the aqueous mixture in an effective amount, and a process of producing fermentation products comprising the steps of, (i) hydrolysing a particulate polysaccharide based plant derived material in an acid medium, and thereby forming an aqueous mixture comprising dissolved sugar and solid matter, (ii) subjecting the aqueous mixture to one or more separation stages in which solid matter are removed from the aqueous phase, (iii) adjusting the pH of the obtained aqueous phase to a pH of at least 4, (iv) fermenting the dissolved sugars of the aqueous phase by a microorganism to produce a fermentation product, (v) isolating the fermentation product, wherein in at least one separation stage in step (ii) a flocculating agent is added to the aqueous mixture in an effe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventor: Jonathan Hughes
  • Patent number: 7582215
    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, which liquor comprises water, lignin and BOD, wherein the solids liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises either, (i) a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g at a dose of above 2 kg/tonne based on dry weight of suspension, or (ii) a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g and, (iii) an anionic polymer, and/or (iv) a cationic polymer of intrinsic viscosity of below 4 dl/g and a cationic charge density of at least 3 meq/g and/or (v) inorganic coagulants and/or (vi) charged microparticulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hughes, Kenneth Charles Symes
  • Publication number: 20090211982
    Abstract: A process for treating a liquid fraction of effluent wastewater from post anaerobic digestion containing fine solids having a size less than about 25 microns is disclosed. A metal salt flocculant is added to the liquid fraction in an amount ranging from about 50 to 500 ppm in the liquid fraction. The metal salt flocculant is selected from inorganic iron and aluminum flocculent compounds having a +2 or +3 valence. A cationic organic polymer is added to the liquid fraction in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 150 ppm in the liquid fraction. The cationic organic polymer has a molecular weight greater than about 3,000,000 and cationicity in the range form 1.25 mole % to 30 mole %. The metal salt flocculent and the cationic organic polymer produce a separable solid fraction which is recovered. Pre-treatment with a small amount of the cationic organic polymer provides improved results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen D. Allen
  • Publication number: 20090206040
    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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Michael C. Berg, John H. Dise, Kevin T. Petersen, David Soane, Kristoffer K. Stokes, William Ware, JR., Atul C. Thakrar
  • Patent number: 7563302
    Abstract: An improved system for processing a liquid manure and producing organic fertilizer includes equipment for separating various components of the liquid manure having different nitrogen to phosphorous ratios and then mixing these components so as to produce an organic fertilizer with a predetermined nitrogen to phosphorus ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Vermont Organics Reclamation Inc
    Inventor: Timothy Camisa
  • Patent number: 7560032
    Abstract: A high molecular weight, water-soluble polymer comprising pendant salicylic acid groups and having a weight average molecular weight of at least about 2,000,000 daltons and use of the polymer for clarifying red mud-containing liquors generated in the Bayer process for the recovery of alumina from bauxite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Murat Quadir, Everett C. Phillips, Larry E. Brammer, Jr., Robert P. Mahoney, John D. Kildea, Manian Ramesh, John T. Malito
  • Publication number: 20090095687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating off coloring components from aqueous plant extracts in which magnesium ions (Mg2+) are added to the plant extract, at least one alkaline component is added to the plant extract, a precipitate is formed, and the precipitate formed is separated off from the plant extract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Bayer CropScience AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Meuser, Ingo Bauer
  • Patent number: 7514007
    Abstract: A water-soluble interjacent complex that includes a first water-soluble polymer and one or more water-soluble monomers polymerized to form a second water-soluble polymer in the presence of the first water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble interjacent complex forms a solution in water that is free of insoluble polymer particles. The interjacent complexes may be used to treat a waste sludge by adding an effective amount thereof to the waste sludge. The interjacent complexes may also be used in making paper by adding an effective amount thereof to a pulp or a forming sheet at a suitable location on a paper making machine. The interjacent complexes may further be used as a rheology modifier in aqueous systems by adding an effective amount thereof to an aqueous medium to effect a desired viscosity, rheology, or flow curve property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: WSP Chemicals & Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Shih-Ruey T Chen, Valentino L. DeVito, Kevin W. Frederick
  • Patent number: 7507344
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus and method for recycling an invert emulsion based drilling fluid, in which the invert emulsion based drilling fluid includes an oleaginous component and an aqueous component. The apparatus includes an emulsion breaking tank, a water treatment tank, a filter press, and hydrocarbon filters. The method includes: mixing said invert emulsion drilling fluid with a emulsion breaker, wherein the emulsion breaker is a mixture of an alkyl glucoside and an alkane sulfonate; and separating the oleaginous component of the invert emulsion drilling fluid from the aqueous component of the invert emulsion drilling fluid. The method preferably utilizes an emulsion breaker that is a combination of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventor: Frank Manfred Franz Mueller
  • Publication number: 20090026145
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for dewatering a mineral slurry concentrate and increasing the production of the resulting filter cake consisting essentially of mixing an aqueous mineral slurry concentrate with an effective amount of a nonionic surfactant and an effective amount of a cationic polymer to form a nonionic surfactant and cationic polymer treated aqueous mineral slurry concentrate, and subjecting the treated aqueous mineral slurry concentrate to a liquid water removal process for dewatering the treated aqueous mineral slurry and for increasing the production of a resulting filter cake of the dewatered mineral slurry. An improved mineral slurry concentrate composition and an improved mineral concentrate filter cake is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Keith C. Hovland, Todd W. Groff, Monica A. Yorke, Charles R. Sundberg, Michael P. Lesar, Ruta O Rakutis
  • Publication number: 20090026142
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a purification method characterized by adding a chitosan powder or a chitosan-coated substance, and optionally further adding a silica sol to liquor and filtering the mixture by a filter machine to remove unsaturated fatty acids, compounds of unsaturated fatty acids with metal ions, or fusel oil from the liquor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Toshio Kadowaki, Takao Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20080314840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating suspended solid materials from aqueous systems, in which the latter is mixed with a flocculant made of polymer colloidal particles with cationic surface charge and subsequently the flocculated material is separated from the aqueous system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicants: LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR POLYMERFORSCHUNG DRESDEN E.V., FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWAND
    Inventors: Werner Jaeger, Bernd-Reiner Paulke, Simona Schwarz, Mandy Mende
  • Patent number: 7455997
    Abstract: A process of producing fermentation product comprising the steps of, (i) forming an acidified suspension of particulate plant derived material comprising a first polysaccharide which is more readily hydrolysable and a second polysaccharide which is more difficult to hydrolysable, (ii) allowing the first polysaccharide to undergo hydrolysis by action of the acid at a temperature of at least 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd
    Inventor: Jonathan Hughes
  • Patent number: 7438828
    Abstract: A product and apparatus for cleaning water or industrial and sewage waste water includes a mixture of diatomite that is heated and stirred to impart an enhanced negative electrical charge to the diatomite. A mixture of approximately 50% aluminium chloride (AlCl3) by volume is blended to provide a powder mixture for use as a flocculant in the system. According to a modification, the charged diatomite is instead blended with a mixture of approximately 50% ferric chloride (FeCl3) by volume and is stored in liquid form for later use as a flocculant in the system. From one to five percent, by volume, of polyacrylamide is preferably added to the mixture for use in sewage waste water treatment applications. An efficient system for reacting either the mixture or separately adding the diatomite and the metallic chloride to the water is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Wing Yip Young
  • Publication number: 20080190861
    Abstract: An effervescent chitosan-containing solid composition for agglomerating solids in and clarifying a slurry in a solid-liquid separation process or system, such as a mining pond, and a method of using the composition is described and claimed. The slurry contains water and solids. The composition includes chitosan, a solid acid, and a carbonate or a bicarbonate source. Optionally, the composition is formulated with an inert fluorescent tracer, to aid in dosing the composition to the slurry in the system. This clarification process causes solids to settle to the bottom of the pond, or otherwise aid in separating the solids from the aqueous phase, leaving the water less turbid than before the application of chitosan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Merle L. Branning
  • Patent number: 7404902
    Abstract: A composition for treating water contained in enclosures, such as swimming pools, spas, whirlpool tubs and cooling towers, which includes at least one boron compound, cyanuric acid, at least one mineral remover and at least one clarifier is provided. A composition and method for treating salt water contained in enclosures using halogen generators to generate sterilizing halogen in situ, wherein the method includes adding to the water effective amounts of a composition having at least one boron compound, cyanuric acid, at least one mineral remover and at least one clarifier, such that they are present in the water simultaneously is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Haviland Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Don H. Girvan, Paul J. Nederveld, Arthur F. Harre, III
  • Publication number: 20080149569
    Abstract: Composition and method of use for tannin based environmentally benign polymeric coagulants are disclosed. Tannin based coagulants are copolymers of naturally occurring tannins and a cationic monomer. One embodiment of the present invention provides for a composition of a tannin based polymeric coagulant which is comprised of N,N-(dimethylaminoethyl)methacrylate (MADAME) polymerized using t-butylhydroperoxide and sodium metabisulfite. The resulting polyMADAME is converted to hydrochloride and then blended/reacted in an aqueous medium with tannin to obtain a homogenous poly(MADAME)-Tannin composition. The method of use comprises adding an amount of the composition effective for the purpose of clarifying oily wastewater from food and beverage, steel, automotive, transportation, refinery, pharmaceutical, metals, paper and pulp, chemical processing and hydrocarbon processing industries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar Rai, Ashok Shyadligeri, Baraka Kawawa, Abdul Rafi Khwaja, Narain Madhavan
  • Patent number: 7384573
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for wastewater treatment. The compositions comprise CaCO3, MgCO3, lanthanum chloride, or chitosan, and can be applied easily with conventional wastewater treatment processes and equipments. The methods and compositions of the present invention significantly improve treatment efficiency and reduce amount of required chemical additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Ken Brummett
  • Patent number: 7364599
    Abstract: A method for increasing removal of drag reducer additive (DRA) from liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The method comprises producing contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a concentration of removable DRA comprising a quantity of one or more polar groups, and contacting the contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel with an amount of one or more removal agents under removal conditions effective to produce a reduced concentration of the removable DRA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: John Andrew Waynick
  • Patent number: 7344648
    Abstract: A method for causing or facilitating the flow of dispersions of solid particulates in liquids, having characteristics of high viscosity or resistance to flow, with particular reference to sludges from purification plants of civil or industrial wastes, which method comprises the addition to the dispersions of silicones of formula wherein R and R? are identical or different and represent a radical chosen between C1-C5 alkyl and aryl; x is an integer comprised between 3 and 2000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Vomm Chemipharma S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giuseppina Cerea
  • Patent number: 7341668
    Abstract: A filter aid and a method of using the same are disclosed that effectively removes contaminants from water-based metal forming liquids used in aluminum forming, rolling and other metal working processes. The filter aid includes a cellulosic material and a cationic polymer flocculating agent that is mixed with contaminated metal working fluid for a predetermined amount of time. The contaminated metal working fluid is then filtered through the filter aid, thereby removing the substantially all of the contaminants therein and allowing purified metal working fluid to return to the process system without carrying contaminants that will harm the surfaces of the metal being worked and the device that forms them. An acid material may be optionally added to the metal forming liquid, the acid serving to maintain the pressure and flow rate at normal levels by controlling clogging in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: J.R. Schneider Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Snell, J. Howard Adams
  • Patent number: 7338605
    Abstract: A filter aid and a method of using the same are disclosed that effectively removes contaminants from water-based metal forming liquids used in aluminum forming, rolling and other metal working processes. The filter aid includes a cellulosic material and a cationic polymer flocculating agent that is mixed with contaminated metal working fluid for a predetermined amount of time. The contaminated metal working fluid is then filtered through the filter aid, thereby removing the substantially all of the contaminants therein and allowing purified metal working fluid to return to the process system without carrying contaminants that will harm the surfaces of the metal being worked and the device that forms them. An acid material may be optionally added to the metal forming liquid, the acid serving to maintain the pressure and flow rate at normal levels by controlling clogging in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: J.R. Schneider Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Snell, J. Howard Adams
  • Patent number: 7306739
    Abstract: A method comprising treating a potato wastewater stream containing suspended free starch particles with a potato starch-complexing emulsifier to form agglomerated starch particle-emulsifier complexes, and separating the complexes from the remainder of said wastewater stream. Also the separated starch complex suitable for human or animal consumption alone or in combination with other food ingredients. In various embodiments, the products comprise (a) at least about 2000 mg/100 g, BDS, glutamic acid; and/or (b) at least about 2500 mg/100 g, BDS, aspartic acid; and/or (c) at least about 10 g/100 g, BDS, total protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Basic American, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry J. Camin, Stephen R. Goodson
  • Patent number: 7303670
    Abstract: What is disclosed are compositions, devices, and methods for use in environmental remediation. The compositions are for use in a variety of environmental remediation barriers including fiber rolls, blankets, and berms. Applications for the use of the compositions, devices, and methods include remediation of runoff water, of livestock waste, of eutrification of waterways, and for the revetment of banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: R. H. Dyck. Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin McPhillips
  • Patent number: 7291275
    Abstract: Methods are described for removing contaminates from aqueous industrial wastewater process streams, specifically industrial laundries to yield a less contaminated aqueous effluent for discharge to a sewer and reduce the sludge generated therefrom. A premixed medium/high molecular weight and medium/high charged cationic coagulant solution polymer and an inorganic aluminum species is injected into the wastewater, and after at least a two second delay, a high molecular weight highly charged anionic flocculent polymer solution is injected into the wastewater which reduces sludge generation, while maintaining or exceeding effluent quality. Also, no coagulant, flocculent or sludge aids are needed to attain the results and the sludge can be dewatered in a plate and frame press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventors: Robert A. Davis, Stuart G. Davis
  • Patent number: 7264640
    Abstract: A method for improving performance of an engine comprising contacting contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising an initial concentration of DRA with one or more effective DRA removal agent under conditions effective to produce decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a reduced concentration of the DRA, and feeding the decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: John Andrew Waynick
  • Patent number: 7264736
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and a device for the removal of non-water soluble substances from solutions of aqueous metal extracts, by addition of at least one water-soluble cationic polyelectrolyte, containing a diallylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylamide, neutralized or quaternised with mineral acid and subsequently polymerized, preferably dimethylaminopropylacrylamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Detlef Kuboth
  • Patent number: 7261747
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for removing drag reducer additive (“DRA”) from liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The method comprises: providing contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising an initial concentration of DRA; contacting the contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel with a quantity of fresh attapulgus clay under conditions effective to produce decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a reduced concentration of the DRA; said fresh attapulgus clay being effective to remove about 10% or more of a target DRA when 1 g of the fresh attapulgus clay is added in increments of from about 0.02 gram to about 0.1 gram, with agitation, to 100 ml. of contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising from about 8 to about 9 ppm of the unsheared target DRA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: John Andrew Waynick
  • Patent number: 7252783
    Abstract: A method of dewatering a suspension of solids in an aqueous medium, comprising introducing into the suspension a flocculating system, which flocculation system comprises, a) a substantially non-ionic water-soluble polymer and b) a cationic polymeric flocculant of intrinsic viscosity at least 4 dl/g, thereby causing the solids to flocculate, separating the flocculated from aqueous medium, characterized in that i) the components a) and b) are introduced into the suspension as an aqueous blend; or ii) component a) is a non-ionic polymer that has an average molecular weight of below 750,000 and components a) and b) are introduced into the suspension as an aqueous blend or separately. Also claimed is an aqueous composition comprising the substantially non-ionic water-soluble polymer and cationic polymer, method for making it and a composition comprising a blend of substantially anhydrous particles of component (a) and component (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments LTD
    Inventors: Steven Weir, Janine Marie Griffith, Simon Paul Oldfield
  • Patent number: 7250067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a product for, and a method of, treating gases, fumes and vapors with fragments of crustacean shell so as to extract one or more components/pollutants from the gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Carafiltration Limited
    Inventor: Ashley John Wilson
  • Patent number: 7238287
    Abstract: A solid formulation for use with sodium chloride and a chlorine generator to provide safe, clean chlorinated recreational water. The formulation comprises a chlorine stabilizing agent and a phosphate remover agent. An enhanced salt comprising a chlorine stabilizing agent, a phosphate remover agent and sodium chloride is also described. The formulation and enhanced salt can also contain a metal chelating agent and a pH balancing agent. A cleaning agent may also be included. A fast dissolving sodium cyanurate compound is used for the chlorine stabilizing agent. A method, kit, and system for providing safe, clean chlorinated recreational water are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Natural Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Kulperger
  • Patent number: 7229952
    Abstract: An additive package for removing oil from solid material recovered from a well bore, e.g., drill cuttings and produced sand, is provided. The additive package includes an aqueous acidic solution containing a polymer substituted with an amino group, a halogenating agent, and optionally one or more surfactants. The polymer substituted with an amino group is preferably chitosan, and the halogenating agent is preferably a sodium hypochlorite solution. A product of the reaction of the polymer and the halogenating agent, in conjunction with the surfactant when present, is capable of causing the separation of at least a portion of the oil from the solid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: B. Raghava Reddy, Sears T. Dealy, Ian D. Robb
  • Patent number: 7179385
    Abstract: The invention is a composition and method for treating paint booth water systems to facilitate paint removal. The composition comprises water, solid particles of insoluble organic polymer, such as, by way of non-limiting example, urea methanal copolymer, preferably including less than 50 weight percent of particles of diameter of 1 micron or less, and optionally surfactants, thickeners, polymeric flocculents different from the organic polymer, clarifiers, anti-corrosive components, and/or biocides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventor: Kathryn E. Foster
  • Patent number: 7160470
    Abstract: Methods are described for removing contaminates from aqueous industrial wastewater process streams, specifically industrial laundries to yield a less contaminated aqueous effluent for discharge to a sewer and reduce the sludge generated therefrom. A premixed medium/high molecular weight and medium/high charged cationic coagulant solution polymer and an inorganic aluminum species is injected into the wastewater, and after at least a two second delay, a high molecular weight highly charged anionic flocculent polymer solution is injected into the wastewater which reduces sludge generation, while maintaining or exceeding effluent quality. Also, no coagulant, flocculent or sludge aids are needed to attain the results and the sludge can be dewatered in a plate and frame press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventors: Robert A. Davis, Stuart G. Davis
  • Patent number: 7141181
    Abstract: A composition is provided which comprises amphoteric polymers comprising, as constituent monomer units, a cationic monomer unit, an anionic monomer unit, and optionally a nonionic monomer unit and having a 0.5% salted viscosity of 10 to 120 mPa·s, wherein said amphoteric polymers comprise a first amphoteric polymer satisfying the following expression (1) and a second amphoteric polymer satisfying the following expression (2) or a third amphoteric polymer satisfying the following expressions (3) and (4): Ca1/An1?1??(1) Ca2/An2<1??(2) Ca3/An3?1??(3) |(Ca1?An1)?(Ca3?An3)|?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Toagosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Mori, Koichi Adachi
  • Patent number: 7112283
    Abstract: A method and system of processing animal waste, whereby liquid is removed from the waste and recycled for use in other applications. Moreover, use of the method and system facilitates capture of the solid waste, which may then be used as fertilizer. In the present method and system, waste sludge is fed into a geotextile container, which functions as a filter. The liquid from the sludge permeates the geotextile container, while the geotextile container retains the solid waste. Multiple geotextile containers may be used to further filter and clean the liquid. The liquid exiting the geotextile container flows into a liquid reservoir, from which the liquid may be drawn for use in other applications. During this process, the solid waste is trapped in the geotextile container, where it will digest and compost and may be easily accessed for use as fertilizer or other nutrients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Nicolon Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas C. Stephens
  • Patent number: 7108792
    Abstract: Agents are used as cleaning agents and also as agents to purify the water in water treatment plants. The agents are a mixture of phosphates and fatty acid salts. Precipitation agents are used such as, polyvalent metals. The pH is adjusted. Flocking agents can be used to increase the rate of separation. The purified water is removed after precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Paul Wegner
  • Patent number: 7090777
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a compact aggregation precipitation method and an apparatus therefor which prevent the outflow of flocs and do not deteriorate the turbidity elimination performance even in start-up early stages. As the means to accomplish such an object, the present invention provides a method of adding an inorganic flocculant and, optionally, an organic polymer flocculent to the water to be treated and agitating the resulting mixture to effect aggregation precipitation treatment which comprises introducing the agitated solution into a first chamber of a separation tank where flocs are allowed to grow to effect solid-liquid separation and, simultaneously, the separated water is discharged out of the separation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Sakae Kosanda, Hirotoshi Hinuma, Naohiro Tateishi, Kenji Hata, Ken Suzuki, Tomoichi Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 7087171
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for dewatering sewage sludge by using sludge-coal-oil co-agglomeration (“SOCA”) which comprises the steps of physically, chemically or biologically conditioning sludge to impart hydrophobicity and lipophilicity to the sludge (conditioning step), supplying oil and coal to the conditioned sludge with stirring to form sludge-coal-oil agglomerates (agglomerating step), enlarging the particle diameter of sludge-coal-oil agglomerates (size enlargement step), and remaining the enlarged sludge-coal-oil agglomerates over a sieve to selectively separate them from hydrophilic materials dispersed in tailing water(screening step). According to the method, since sludge can be rapidly, easily and effectively dewatered and purified when compared to conventional sludge treatment methods. In addition, there is no risk of involving malodor and air pollution. Furthermore, the dewatered sludge can be utilized as a high-quality fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Sung-Kyu Kang, Hyun-Dong Shin
  • Patent number: 7063804
    Abstract: Compositions including alum and a smectite mineral material for the clarification of bodies of water by removal of dissolved solids, dissolved organic materials and other anions such as fluoride and chloride as well as the removal of total phosphorus from such bodies of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Landis, Steven Reed Gray
  • Patent number: 7030163
    Abstract: A biocidal composition includes, in combination, poly(hexamethylene)biguanide, didecyldimethylammonium chloride a homogenizing agent and a flocculating agent. The biocidal composition is used to treat water to control microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ipsilon Laboratories CC
    Inventor: Nicolaas Duneas