Destroying/degradation Of Chemical Contaminant Patents (Class 210/748.04)
  • Patent number: 9011697
    Abstract: A method for the treatment of fluid including the step of exposing the fluid to a pulsed plasma discharge. The pulsed plasma discharge will be generated using a suitable electrode configuration to generate the plasma discharge in the fluid. Apparatus useful in the method may include a vessel, at least two electrodes for generating a plasma discharge in water, and a flow inlet and a flow outlet to allow water to be passed through the vessel. Also described is an in-line water treatment, where a pulsed plasma discharge is used in a pipe carrying moving water. Plasma based fluid treatment system may have many advantages in comparison to other treatment methods, such as very minimal maintenance, low operating power, and minimal pressure loss through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Christopher A. Campbell, Young I. Cho, Alexander F. Gutsol, Alexander Fridman, Frank T. Snyder, Vincent Szarko, Erik Yelk, Jesse Zanolini, Victor Vasilets
  • Patent number: 8956538
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for desalination of salt water based on an engineered acoustic field that causes constructive and destructive interference at pre-computed spatial positions. The engineered acoustic field can cause high-pressure and low-pressure regions where desalination membranes are located. The induced pressure from the acoustic field can force pure water through the membranes leaving ionic and dissolved molecular species behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Rietman, Bart Lipkens
  • Patent number: 8926844
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing an amount of unwanted living organisms within an algae cultivation fluid are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods may include subjecting the algae cultivation fluid to an amount of cavitation, the amount of cavitation being defined by a pressure differential between a downstream pressure and a vapor pressure, the pressure differential divided by half of a product of a fluid density multiplied by a square of a velocity of an apparatus throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Aurora Algae, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehran Parsheh, Megan Hippler, Shahrokh A Naieni, Guido Radaelli
  • Publication number: 20140367343
    Abstract: WATER GENERATION PROCESS IN SUPERCRITICAL STATE WITH LOWER ENERGY CONSUMPTION THROUGH ULTRASOUND composed by the formation of a bubble in the cavitation cycle wherein two transducers are used in two ends, and that these transducers generate a mechanical pressure on the fluid. This pressure wave on the fluid generates dilatation, wherein we may call as low and high-pressure zones, which forms the evaporation and generates a bubble. This bubble starts growing up until reaching a size in which the resonance coincides with the vibration that is being applied up to it blows. The process consists of inducing the delay of bubble blow, it will take in its conservation and also new bubbles are created with which the fluid will have more bubbles than the conventional form. To have this effect, what is made is ranging the embodiment frequency to the fluid at an average range of 20%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Ruben Garcia MARROCHE
  • Publication number: 20140346121
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treatment of a sulphide-containing spent caustic via chemical conversion of the sulphides, wherein the method is comprised of the following steps: introducing the spent caustic into a reaction chamber (18) that is comprised of at least one acoustic power converter (22) and one cavitation element (20), treating the spent caustic with ultrasound from the at least one acoustic power converter (22), feeding a gas mixture containing ozone into the reaction chamber and distributing the gas mixture containing ozone in the spent caustic using the cavitation element (20), wherein the sulphide-containing spent caustic is converted with the gas mixture containing ozone, forming non-sulphide-bearing, inorganic sulphur compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Ulrich Poeschl, Carmelo Oliveri
  • Patent number: 8858805
    Abstract: A sono-molecular-conversion device and method for effecting nitrification of ammonia in water, the method including feeding the water containing ammonia through a sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; and applying ultrasonic energy to the water containing ammonia by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in the water containing ammonia to effect nitrification of ammonia therein by sono-molecular-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Edward Vago
  • Patent number: 8679338
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes one or more acoustic microfilters through which is flowed a mixture of a fluid and a particulate to selectively filter particles from the fluid. Also included are one or more phononic crystal units coupled to the acoustic microfilter(s) to further selectively filter particles from the fluid. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Flodesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Rietman, Bart Lipkens, Jason Dionne
  • Patent number: 8496817
    Abstract: A dechlorinator for dechlorinating a stream of water comprises a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet. The housing defines a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A filter is operatively supported in the housing and located in the flow path. At least one dechlorinating tablet is operatively supported in the housing and located in the flow path downstream of the filter for dechlorinating water flowing from the filter to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventor: Erwin Just
  • Patent number: 8475714
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, a selective ultraviolet disinfection method is provided. The method includes selecting operating parameters for an ultraviolet disinfection process of flowing liquid carrying first and second types of entities to affect the first type of entities while the second type of entities remains intact, illuminating the liquid with ultraviolet light according to the operating parameters and continuously adjusting the operating parameters based on real-time measurements of ultraviolet transmission and flow rate of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Atlantium Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Limor Barak, Vladimir Glukhman, Iian Wilf
  • Publication number: 20130161263
    Abstract: An advanced oxidation procedure for treating solution waste water, comprising: applying an ultrasound-Fenton reaction, wherein said ultrasound-Fenton reaction includes: providing oxidants and at least one catalyst selected from bivalent metal ions which include Ti, Fe, Mg, Mo, and Cu; subjecting the treated solution and said oxidants and catalyst to ultrasound cavitation generated by a generator device; forcing a flow of treated solution through said ultrasound device adapted to generate ultrasound waves for forming cavitation in said treated solution, said flow of treated solution passing through at least one flow-through tubular reactor chamber of the ultrasound device, and wherein said cavitation is effected by longitudinally linear distributed string of ultrasound transducers fixedly disposed and attached along a length of said at least one tubular reactor chamber, and wherein said cavitation is effected along a width dimension of said reactor chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: A. SHITZER LTD.
    Inventor: A. SHITZER LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130082008
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described that control and manage wastewater collection and treatment. A method for treating waste water comprises receiving from a vessel, a portion of a body of fluid for treatment at an input port, providing the oxidizing gas under pneumatic or vacuum pressure to a mixing chamber, where the oxidizing gas comprises one or more of oxygen and ozone, and conducting the portion of the fluid to the mixing chamber. The fluid and oxidizing gas may be mixed to obtain treated fluid which may be reintroduced to the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Hatten
  • Publication number: 20130026108
    Abstract: The fluid purification disclosed herein provides the advantages of high-voltage purification without electrocution risks. In illustrative purifiers, a contaminated fluid, such as contaminated water, is aerated and passed through a cavity that contains highly porous piezoelectric material and an ultrasonic transducer. The transducer emits ultrasonic energy that causes the piezoelectric material to discharge a high-voltage field, which produces strong oxidizing agents that kill organisms and oxidize organic pollutants. Since the ultrasonic actuator operates at relatively low voltages (e.g., 20-110 V) and can be electrically isolated from the fluid, illustrative purification is safe, environmentally friendly, and scalable from small to large size applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas A. Yager, Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Patent number: 8273252
    Abstract: A solution reactor allows the solution L to contact with the reactant gas G, and the component contained in the solution L is chemically changed by means of the reactant gas G. The reactor includes a nozzle 41 for spraying the solution L into a state of mists M, and a pressure feed unit 42 for feeding the reactant gas G, which is pressurized, into the nozzle 41. Further, in the reactor, the pressure feed unit 42 feeds such pressurized reactant gas G to the nozzle 41 to be flown fast, so that the nozzle 41 allows the fast flowing reactant gas G to contact with the solution and the solution L is broken into the state of mists M to be jetted out, and thus the component contained in the solution L is chemically changed by means of the reactant gas G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ultrasound Brewery
    Inventors: Kazuo Matsuura, Susumu Nii
  • Publication number: 20120067827
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating liquids flowing in a thin film around a source of wave energy to directly expose the liquid to the wave energy, preferably generated in whole or part by an electrical arc between carbon electrodes. In addition to the wave energy generated by the electrical arc, energy generated by cavitation of the flowing liquid may be used in treating the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: FORET PLASMA LABS, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Publication number: 20120055884
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for hydrolyzing an organic solid are described. The method includes mixing an organic solid and a nanobubble water having a plurality of nanobubbles, to form an organic liquid, in which the nanobubbles contain a combustible gas; and applying an ultrasonic wave on the organic liquid, such that the nanobubbles generate an additional cavitation effect. A preprocessor is applicable to an organic solid processing system having an anaerobic digestion tank, in which the anaerobic digestion tank has anaerobic microbes for generating a combustible gas. The preprocessor includes a nanobubble water generator, a digestion tank, and an ultrasonic wave generator. With the method and the structure, the nanobubbles are used to increase the probability of generation of the additional cavitation effect, and the combustible gas is used to improve an impact force of bursts produced by the cavitation effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shing Der Chen, Chen Hua Chu, Wang Kuan Chang, Shing Chen, Teh Ming Liang, Shan Shan Chou
  • Patent number: 7887708
    Abstract: A method and a device for treating water using an electromagnetic field. The method comprising the steps of subjecting the water to the electromagnetic field generated utilizing an inductor coil; and varying a frequency of a driving signal for the inductor coil such that the generated electromagnetic field has a varying frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mass Technology (H.K.) Limited
    Inventor: Hwee Hong Chew
  • Publication number: 20100243570
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, device and system for measuring and/or treating contaminating components dissolved in a liquid in a liquid flow, such as in a water treatment, the method comprising the steps of: —carrying at least a part of the liquid from the liquid flow with contaminating components present therein into a container or a conduit; —causing precipitation of at least a part of the dissolved contaminating components, wherein solid particles are formed, and/or treating the quantity of process liquid; optionally followed by: —measuring the presence and/or the quantity of solid particles formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Mateo Jozef Jacques Mayer, Johannes Kuipers, Maarten Markus Nederlof, Sybrandus Jacob Metz
  • Publication number: 20100187182
    Abstract: A sono-molecular-conversion device and method for treating waste water including (a) feeding the waste water containing organic matter through a first sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; (b) applying ultrasonic energy to the waste water containing the organic matter by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in said waste water containing organic matter to effect mineralization of the organic matter into ammonia therein by sono-molecular-conversion; (c) feeding the waste water containing the ammonia through a second sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; and (d) applying ultrasonic energy to the waste water containing the ammonia by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in said waste water containing the ammonia to effect nitrification of the ammonia into nitrates and nitrites therein
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Edward Vago
  • Patent number: 7713422
    Abstract: Lignin and alkali are efficiently sorted out of alkaline black liquor discharged from the paper manufacturing/pulp and paper manufacturing industries and the treated water is made as purified water. Acid is added to the black liquor and its pH is adjusted to 2.5 to 3.5. An aggregating agent is added to have lignin contained in the black liquor settled and the black liquor is separated into lignin and clean water. Ozone gas, preferably in the micro bubble state, is given to the clean water for contact reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: K.I. System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Kitagawa, Akira Ako
  • Publication number: 20100089841
    Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of fluorochemicals in an aqueous environment, the process including the steps of (1) ultrasonically inducing cavitation in an aqueous system at a frequency within the range from about 15 kHz to about 1100 kHz, the aqueous system comprising fluorochemicals; and (2) breaking down the fluorochemicals into constituent components by the application of the cavitation. The ultrasonically induced cavitation is performed at a frequency within the range from greater than 200 kHz to about 1100 kHz. The process can be used to facilitate the degradation of any of a variety of fluorochemicals having a carbon chain length of C2 and higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Brian T. Mader, Chad D. Vecitis, Michael R. Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100072134
    Abstract: A system is described for the treatment of fluorochemicals in an aqueous environment, the system includes: a first treatment station configured to receive a first stream or volume of water comprising fluorochemicals, the first treatment station configured to provide a first treatment to the first stream or volume of water to thereby provide a second stream or volume of water comprising fluorochemicals; and a second treatment station configured, to treat the second stream or volume of water by ultrasonically induced cavitation at a frequency within the range from about 15 kHz to about 1100 kHz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Brian T. Mader
  • Publication number: 20100038320
    Abstract: A sono-molecular-conversion device and method for effecting nitrification of ammonia in water, the method including feeding the water containing ammonia through a sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; and applying ultrasonic energy to the water containing ammonia by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in the water containing ammonia to effect nitrification of ammonia therein by sono-molecular-conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Edward Vago
  • Patent number: RE43332
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting and purifying liquids and gasses comprising; a) passing said liquids or gasses through a reactor or a combination of reactors, having a truncated compounded concentrator geometry; and b) simultaneously delivering and concentrating diversified electromagnetic and acoustic energies into a specific predetermined inner space of said compounded concentrator reactor, forming a high energy density zone in said reactor or reactors over a predetermined period of time. The reactor according to the present invention is preferably a compounded parabolic concentrator or a compounded ellipsoidal concentrator. The electromagnetic energy delivered and concentrated into and inside the reactor can be of any range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultra-violet, visible, infra-red, microwave etc., or combination thereof. The acoustic energy is of any suitable frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Atlantium Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Zamir Tribelsky, Michael Ende