Including Temperature Change Patents (Class 210/766)
  • Patent number: 6221261
    Abstract: A process for treating sewage containing biological solids including the steps of mixing the sewage with oxygen-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers, retaining the sewage with the hydro fluoro ether polymers for a desired period of time so as to produce oxygenated sewage and carbon dioxide-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers, and separating the carbon dioxide-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers from the oxygenated sewage. Water is separated from the oxygenated sewage so as to produce a sludge. Oxygen is mixed with the carbon dioxide-containing hydro fluoro ether polymers so as to oxygenate the hydro fluoro ether polymers and to remove carbon dioxide therefrom. The sewage is retained with the hydro fluoro etherpolymers at a temperature of between 32° and 140° F. The sewage is dewatered prior to mixing so that the dewatered sewage has a water content of less than 93 percent by weight. The steps of mixing and retaining can be carried in a closed vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Edward E. Boss, Samuel L. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6221260
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a high efficiency method for the remediation of large quantities of liquids, operating at low to moderate ambient pressures, in order to reduce environmental or health risks or to purify the liquid for use in industrial processing. Decontamination is achieved through the use of a swirl chamber in which a central vortex is formed which has a core pressure lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid thus inducing cavitation pockets in the vortex, which are then ejected from the nozzle through the exit orifice into a volume of liquid where the cavitation pockets collapse. These cavitation events drive chemical reactions, by generating strong oxidants and reductants, efficiently decomposing and destroying contaminating organic compounds, as well as some inorganics. These same cavitation events also physically disrupt or rupture the cell walls or outer membranes of microorganisms (such as E.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Dynaflow, Inc.
    Inventors: Georges L. Chahine, Kenneth M. Kalumuck
  • Patent number: 6200486
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a high efficiency method for the remediation of large quantities of liquids, operating at low to moderate ambient pressures, in order to reduce environmental or health risks or to purify the liquid for use in industrial processing. Decontamination is achieved through the use of submerged liquid jets which trigger cavitation events. These cavitation events drive chemical reactions, by generating strong oxidants and reductants, efficiently decomposing and destroying contaminating organic compounds, as well as some inorganics. These same cavitation events also physically disrupt or rupture the cell walls or outer membranes of microorganisms (such as E. coli and salmonella) and larvae (such as Zebra mussel larvae), leaving the inner cellular components susceptible to oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Dynaflow, Inc.
    Inventors: Georges L. Chahine, Kenneth M. Kalumuck
  • Patent number: 6156210
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating water to produce potable water includes a filter connected to an inlet of a heating unit in turn connected at an outlet to an input of a container with cooling components for separating out heavy water. The heavy water separator is coupled at an outlet to a tank having cooling and heating components and an ultraviolet radiation source for irradiating the water sample from the heavy water separator with ultraviolet radiation during a freezing and subsequent warming of the water sample. A storage vessel and a silver ionizer are disposed on a downstream side of the ultraviolet treatment tank. Various operations, including timing and water transfer, heating cooling and irradiating, are controlled by a programmed computer. Temperature sensors are disposed in the heating unit, the heavy water separator and the irradiation tank for monitoring temperatures of the water in the heating unit, the container and/or the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Grigory Sadkhin
  • Patent number: 6139755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing substances contained in sewage, a nozzle system, and a plant for carrying out this method. The method is characterized in that three radical chain circuits are superimposed, thus producing a continuous reaction chain which is maintained by incorporating a radical starter, a catalyst and oxygen into the sewage flow. The reaction is characterized in that the reaction partners are brought together via a nozzle system which creates unsteady flowing conditions. To reduce operational costs, the sewage is fed by the nozzle system to the autothermic reactor via a heat exchanger which is heated by the treated sewage flow. The method is characterized by its flexibility in treating different kinds of sewage flow of different concentrations. The advantages are, above all, the following: reduced sludge production, high biocompatibility of the residues to be transported, and low consumption of chemical substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventors: Walter Marte, Martin Meyer, Ulrich Meyer
  • Patent number: 6113789
    Abstract: An anaerobic process for digesting organic waste solids to produce residual solids having low levels of pathogens so as to meet regulatory Class A requirements involves a pasteurization step to reduce pathogen levels and digestion of the pasteurized material to reduce the solids volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Western Environmental Engineering Company
    Inventor: Dennis A. Burke
  • Patent number: 6096227
    Abstract: A system for treating industrial sludges to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a solid particulate substrate portion. A sludge feedstock is screened to remove large particles and is diluted to between about 5% and about 50% solids to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated and heated to 180.degree. F. or higher for a time sufficient to melt waxy hydrocarbon solids, reduce the viscosity of the slurry, reduce the density of hydrocarbons within the slurry, and break surface adhesion of hydrocarbon compounds to substrate particles. In a first separation step, the substrate particles are separated from a first liquid effluent containing most of the hydrocarbons from the original sludge, which may be further processed for recycle use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Continuum Environmental, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Conaway
  • Patent number: 6056880
    Abstract: A process for treating a waste sludge of biological solids including the steps of blending the sludge with an acid, mixing an oxide-chemical with the blended sludge so as to cause a reaction which elevates a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a. and retaining the mixed sludge at such pressure for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The step of pressurizing is accomplished by passing the mixed sludge as a flow into the pipe. The pipe has a length and diameter such that the flow of the mixed sludge takes longer than 15 seconds to pass through the pipe. The mixed sludge is heated as the flow passes through the pipe. An immersion heater or a magnetic field is installed so as to apply heat directly to the mixed sludge as the mixed sludge passes through the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventors: Edward E. Boss, Samuel L. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6051145
    Abstract: A hydrothermal process (10) is integrated into a wastewater treatment facility (12) to fully oxidize an undigested wastewater sludge produced by the treatment facility. A thickened and conditioned feed mixture comprising sludge from the treatment facility is first pressurized to a critical pressure and then heated to a reaction initiating temperature below the critical temperature. An oxidant is injected into the feed mixture at the reaction initiating temperature to initiate an oxidation reaction in low light-off temperature constituents of the feed mixture to produce a partially reacted mixture and raise the temperature of the partially reacted mixture to at least the critical temperature for water in a supercritical water oxidation reactor (52). Heat from the supercritical water oxidation reaction is used to heat the feed mixture and also, to condition the sludge from the wastewater treatment plant preferably by thickening and heating the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: HydroProcessing, LLC
    Inventors: James Walton Griffith, William Tracy Wofford, III, James Randolph Griffith
  • Patent number: 5993673
    Abstract: A propylene oxide/styrene monomer aqueous purge stream is contacted with a solid iron promoted alumina catalyst at conditions effective to decompose peroxides contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Arco Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas I. Evans, David W. Leyshon
  • Patent number: 5948275
    Abstract: An integrated method for purifying industrial and/or urban effluents containing a large amount of organic material in solution and/or suspension, wherein said effluents are treated in a wet oxidation reactor. The effluents are oxidized in the presence of at least one oxidizing gas to mineralize a large part of the organic material therein by producing a gas phase and an essentially liquid phase mainly containing soluble residual organic material, as well as an essentially inorganic solid phase in suspension. The essentially liquid phase from the reactor is subjected to liquid/solid separation to separate the solid phase, and at least a fraction of the separated solid phase is recycled in the wet oxidation reactor. Various alternative embodiments of the method include adding a catalyst and/or an agent for acidifying the recycled solid phase fraction. The facility may operate continuously or semi-continuously between interruptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: OTV Omnium de Traltements et de Valorisation S.A.
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5942127
    Abstract: A fuel oil treatment unit and associated method for removing undesirable contaminants from a fuel oil, such as diesel oil, being delivered to an associated engine, such as a vehicle diesel engine. The invention includes, inter alia, a unit for treating contaminant-containing fuel oil, comprising means for heating the fuel oil to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least some of the contaminants and, also, means for filtering the so-heated fuel oil, to remove therefrom at least some of the remaining, unvolatilized contaminants. Optionally, the previously-heated and filtered fuel oil is passed to a temperature control means for maintaining or returning the temperature of the fuel oil to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventors: Steven Ian Wilcox, James Robert Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5928522
    Abstract: Refinery waste feedstock is screened to remove large particles and is diluted to less than 5% solids weight percent to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated and heated to 180.degree. F. or higher for a time sufficient to melt waxy petroleum solids, reduce the viscosity of the slurry, reduce the density of petroleum fractions within the slurry, and begin to break surface adhesion of petroleum to residual fines. The conditioned slurry is passed through a first disc/bowl centrifuge which separates more than 80% of the waste volume as a first liquid effluent containing most of the petroleum fractions from the original waste and which may be returned to the refinery for processing. The residual cake is diluted with hot water to form a second slurry and is treated with an amount of hydrogen peroxide for a time sufficient to lyse and/or liberate residual petroleum bound to inert fine particles and to oxidize toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to non-toxic derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Continuum Invironmental, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Conaway
  • Patent number: 5922834
    Abstract: A method of treating paint sludge containing uncured polymer resin, water and/or solvent is provided in which a paint sludge putty is formed which may be used as a replacement for polymeric components used to form compounded polymeric compositions. The treated paint sludge putty or powder comprises from about 5 to 90% by weight of the total compounded polymeric composition and may be used in a variety of compositions including pressure sensitive sealants, caulking sealants, automotive sealants, polyvinyl chloride plastics, rubbers and asphalt cement coatings, and waterbased sealers and coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Aster, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Gerace, Sevilla C. Gamboa, Yasminka S. Landaburu
  • Patent number: 5868940
    Abstract: Methods for on-site remediation of contaminated natural resources and fabrication of construction products therefrom. A mobile treatment facility is provided at the site of the contaminated natural resources. Contaminated sediment, soil, pulp and/or liquids are obtained from the site and processed on-site to obtain a variety of construction materials, including coarse and fine particulate material, bricks, concrete products, pellets and aggregate material. Coarse, sand-like materials are fabricated from decontaminated clay-based based materials and used in the fabrication of concrete products. Waste streams are combined to optimize their mutually neutralizing properties. Contaminants such as inorganics and heavy metals are immobilized as water-insoluble complexes in the matrix of the resulting products. Organic contaminants are volatilized and/or burned off, and thermochemical reactions of inorganic contaminants are induced, in a high-temperature irradiation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventor: Alex Gurfinkel
  • Patent number: 5868945
    Abstract: Ozonolysis is an effective process for improving the quality of produced water. A process for reducing the concentration of water soluble organic materials dissolved in produced water consists of introducing into the produced water a sufficient amount of gaseous ozone by use of a means for maximizing the collision frequency of ozone gas and the produced water. The temperature of the produced water is between from about 80.degree. to about 180.degree. F. The process renders a water effluent with markedly reduced oil and grease content. The water effluent can be used on land as a drinking or irrigation water supply source and may be safely discharged into navigable waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Texaco Inc
    Inventors: Lawrence Robert Morrow, Wilson Kirkpatrick Martir, Hossein Aghazeynali, David Edmund Wright
  • Patent number: 5868942
    Abstract: A process for treating a pathogen-containing sludge of biological solids including the steps of mixing the sludge with calcium oxide, ammonia and carbon dioxide so as to elevate a temperature of the mixed sludge to between 50.degree. C. and 140.degree. C. and to elevate a pH of the mixed sludge to greater than 9.8, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a., and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The sludge has a water content of between 65% and 94% by weight. Ammonia is added to the sludge in the form of either ammonia gas, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium bicarbonate or as a byproduct of the reaction of the calcium oxide with the water in the sludge. Carbon dioxide is added to the sludge in the form of carbon dioxide gas or a reactant of ammonium bicarbonate. The pressurized mixed sludge is discharged by flashing the sludge across a restricting orifice and by evaporating a liquid component of the flashed sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventors: Edward E. Boss, Samuel L. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 5762802
    Abstract: A process for removing nitrocresols in a crude aqueous alkaline dinitrotoluene wash stream derived by nitration of toluene using a mixed acid technique followed by treatment with aqueous alkaline material in which the crude aqueous alkaline dinitrotoluene wash stream is mixed with a dilute oxidizing acid such as nitric acid, heated to 130.degree. to 180.degree. C. for a period of time required to reduce the nitrocresols to a level at which it does not precipitate from the mixed acidic wash stream at temperatures above about 60.degree. C., and removing the remaining nitrocresols by conventional methods such as adsorption or activated sludge biotreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Van Court Carr, Mark Shedrick Simpson
  • Patent number: 5709841
    Abstract: A waste water cleanup process where an aqueous solution of organoboron compounds is hydrolyzed to boric acid and the corresponding organic compound by treatment at a temperature of greater than 150.degree. C. at a pressure sufficient to prevent substantial evaporation and at a pH of 5 or greater, but 9 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Ronald Anthony Reimer
  • Patent number: 5651893
    Abstract: High level disinfection of a home hemodialysis machine is achieved without the use of disinfection chemicals. The machine has a water treatment module, an extracorporeal circuit and a dialysate circuit. Purified water is heated to a high level disinfection temperature, such as 75 or 80 degrees C. The water is circulated though the water treatment module, the extracorporeal circuit and the dialysate circuit for a time sufficient to achieve a high level disinfection of the machine, for example at least one hour. After the high level disinfection is obtained, the water is drained from the machine and the machine is placed in condition for another treatment session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: AKSYS, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney S. Kenley, Dennis M. Treu
  • Patent number: 5635069
    Abstract: A process for treating a waste sludge of biological solids including the steps of mixing the sludge with an oxide-containing chemical and sulfamic acid so as to elevate a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a., and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The oxide-containing chemical can be either calcium oxide, potassium oxide, or potassium hydroxide. The sludge has a water content of between 5 and 85 percent. The oxide-containing chemical and the acid are reacted with the sludge so as to elevate the temperature of the sludge to between 50.degree. C. and 450.degree. C. The pressurized mixed sludge is flashed across a restricting orifice or passed into a chamber having a lower pressure. The evaporated liquid component can be condensed and used as part of the process. The oxide-containing chemical is mixed with the sludge in an amount between 5 and 50 weight percent of the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventors: Edward E. Boss, Samuel L. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 5591344
    Abstract: A dialysis machine is disclosed that incorporates a water treatment module, a dialysate preparation module having a dialysate circuit, and an extracorporeal circuit including a dialyzer and arterial and venous blood lines that connect to the patient. The machine accomplishes on-line disinfection of all the fluid circuits of the machine, including the water treatment module, the dialysate preparation module and extracorporeal circuit, the arterial and venous lines, and the dialyzer, by circulating water heated to a high level disinfection temperature (e.g., 80 degrees C.) through the fluid passages of the machine for a sufficient time (such as an hour) to achieve high level disinfection. After the dialysis session is ended, the patient connects the arterial and venous lines to ports in a disinfection manifold that places the arterial and venous lines into fluid communication with the heated water. Thereafter, the machine is ready to disinfect the fluid circuits including the extracorporeal circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Aksys, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney S. Kenley, Dennis M. Treu, Frederick H. Peter, Jr., Thomas M. Feldsein, Kenneth E. Pawlak, Wayne F. Adolf, Linda Roettger
  • Patent number: 5571419
    Abstract: Raw water is made acidic so that the pH is not more than 4.5 and heated in the presence of an oxidizing agent to decompose TOC components in the raw water, and then deionized, thereby producing ultrapure water having a greatly low concentration of organic matters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Kurita Water Insustries Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Obata, Nobuhiro Orita, Hiroshi Kurobe
  • Patent number: 5558783
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for initiating and sustaining an oxidation reaction. A fuel, such as natural gas or hazardous waste, is introduced into a reaction zone within a pressurized containment vessel. A permeable liner is placed within the containment vessel and around the reaction zone. An oxidizer, preferably oxygen, is mixed with a carrier fluid, such as water, and the mixture is heated and pressurized to supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure. The supercritical oxidizer-carrier mix is introduced to the reaction zone gradually and uniformly, over a comparatively large area, by forcing it radially inward through the permeable liner and toward the reaction zone. A means and method for cooling the exhausted by-products and using them as a cleansing rinse are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas G. McGuinness
  • Patent number: 5549833
    Abstract: The improved method achieves effective and economical decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and may be used in recycling hydrogen peroxide-containing spent sulfuric acid that has been used in wafer cleaning and other operations in the process of semiconductor fabrication or in removing residual hydrogen peroxide that will occur either within the papermaking process or in plant effluents as a consequence of a shift from chlorine-containing bleaching agents to oxygen-containing bleaching agents.When coke was added in an amount of 10 wt % to a solution of 0.88 wt % hydrogen peroxide in 72.6 wt % sulfuric acid, followed by treatment at 60.degree.-70.degree. C. for 4 hours, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide dropped to 0.0001 wt % and below. When coke was added in an amount of 10 wt % to each of a solution (pH, 0.94) of 1.0 wt % hydrogen peroxide in 1.1 wt % sulfuric acid and a solution (pH, 2.58) of 1.04 wt % hydrogen peroxide in sulfuric acid followed by treatment at 60.degree.-70.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Toshin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hagimori, Yuzuru Abe, Tetsuo Kanke
  • Patent number: 5540847
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed for treating materials such as waste material, wastewater, and sludge, particularly waste activated sludge (WAS). In one aspect a process according to the present invention includes denaturing, acidifying and degassing incoming WAS while venting gases produced, preferably to a vent treatment system; feeding the resulting denatured WAS to a reactor into which are fed steam and oxygen, the steam discontinued once the reaction becomes autothermal; venting hot gases from the reactor back to the degassing step, to heat recovery or to a reactor, e.g. a sequencing batch reactor; and cooling and neutralizing the reactor product. Batch, semi-continuous, and batch sequencing methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Stultz, Danford L. Bice
  • Patent number: 5536411
    Abstract: A water and energy recovery process for an ice rink is disclosed. The process includes softening and carbon filtering water for use as flood water on an ice rink. The water is then demineralized by reverse osmosis to produce flood water having a specific conductance of about 2 to 30 micromhos/cm. The demineralized water is heated to 90.degree. F. and utilized in a resurfacer to flood the surface of the ice rink. The ice shavings removed from the surface of the ice by the resurface are deposited into a holding means and melted by utilizing recovered heat from the ice rink's refrigeration unit. The melted water from the holding means is used as a coolant in the ice rink's refrigeration unit. The steps of the process are then repeated, utilizing the warmed water from the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Bassai Limited
    Inventor: Russell W. Blades
  • Patent number: 5529697
    Abstract: Potassium permanganate is added to paper mill wastewater streams at an elevated temperature to remove color compounds from the effluent streams. The potassium permanganate causes the formation of flocculant particles which are precipitated out of the stream. This precipitate is then treated with acid to cause resolubilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: The University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Dwaine A. Braasch, R. D. Ellender
  • Patent number: 5480564
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for treating water in heat exchange systems. The present invention automatically and inexpensively provides an effective chemical to process water systems at times and in proportion to the need for water treatment in such systems. When used in evaporative cooling systems, the present invention adds the treatment chemical to the system via the make-up water. The make-up water acquires a substantially constant concentration of treatment chemical as it is passed through a device containing a treatment chemical. The constant concentration of chemical is achieved by dividing the make-up flow into two streams within the device, saturating the smaller of the two streams with chemical, and re-mixing the two streams. The biocide agent used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is prilled elemental iodine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel H. Pope, Dennis R. Honchar, Wilbur L. Medairy
  • Patent number: 5470421
    Abstract: A method for purifying an etching solution consisting of an aqueous phosphoric acid solution which has been used in etching of a silicon nitride film. In the process, hydrogen fluoride is added to an etching solution consisting of an aqueous phosphoric acid solution which has been used for etching of a silicon nitride film, and the resulting solution is heated to remove fluorides of silicon as reaction products of hydrogen fluoride with silicon compounds which have been contained in the etching solution together with vaporized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Nisso Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Akira Yoneya, Noriyuki Kobayashi, Mamoru Katayanagi, Tsutomu Kawashima, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5451300
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for stripping a volatile component from a liquid. The volatile component is destroyed by exothermic reaction with an active component in the gas phase, typically over a catalyst. Heat generated by the reaction of the volatile and active components is transferred to a fluid contact zone in which the organic component is stripped from the liquid stream by a stripping gas. Transfer of heat to the fluid contact zone increases the equilibrium partial pressure of the volatile component in the gas phase and thus increases the driving force for mass transfer in the stripping operation. Preferably, the volatile component is reacted with the active component in a regenerative heat transfer reaction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Yurii S. Matros, David E. McCombs
  • Patent number: 5447642
    Abstract: A process for the recycling of used and contaminated water-based metalworking fluids comprising separation of solid contaminants by settling and filtration, and separation of unemulsifiable tramp oil, reduction in total dissolved solids, removal of destructive bacteria and fungi, and removal of odors and toxic gases by the injection of steam, said process not requiring the use of a centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas A. Schenach
  • Patent number: 5433868
    Abstract: The invention greatly reduces the amount of ammonia in sewage plant effluent. The process of the invention has three main steps. The first step is dewatering without first digesting, thereby producing a first ammonia-containing stream having a low concentration of ammonia, and a second solids-containing stream. The second step is sending the second solids-containing stream through a means for separating the solids from the liquid and producing an aqueous stream containing a high concentration of ammonia. The third step is removal of ammonia from the aqueous stream using a hydrothermal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Alex G. Fassbender
  • Patent number: 5423992
    Abstract: A chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material comprising (1) an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge-containing material having a solids content in the range of about 10 to 30 wt. %; and (2) a chemical disinfectant comprising a water soluble silicate of sodium in the amount of 5 to 20 wt. % (basis dry wt. of said sewage sludge). In one embodiment, a pumpable chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material was produced by the steps of (1) dewatering sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry having a solids content of about 10 to 30 wt. %; (2) shearing the dewatered sewage sludge from (1) at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. and at a shear rate of at least 30 per second for a period in the range of about 0.5 to 180 minutes; and (3) mixing the following materials together at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 30 to 65 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. McMahon, Mitri S. Najjar, Peter D. Robison, Ronald J. McKeon
  • Patent number: 5422015
    Abstract: Solid waste such as sewage sludge containing fecal matter is processed to reduce pathogens by at least 90% and converted to a useful product such as an amendment to agricultural land by combining the waste with an acid such as concentrated sulfuric and a base such as fly ash which exothermically react and thermally pasteurize the waste and add mineral value to the product. Pozzolanic materials, such as fly ash agglomerate the product and after grinding, the particles can aerate soil. The calcium oxide in fly ash reacts with sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate dihydrate, a soil amendment. The amount of sulfuric acid can be controlled to provide a product with acid pH which is useful to neutralize alkaline soils such as those found in the Western United States of America.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Hondo Chemical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin C. Angell, Jess Karr
  • Patent number: 5417862
    Abstract: A process for inactivating the biological activity of DNA, especially recombinant DNA, is disclosed. The process includes the step of heating the DNA at 60.degree. to 100.degree. C. in the presence of an acid other than percarboxylic acid at a concentration of at least 0.2 mM and a pH value of maximum 4, preferably 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Dr. Karl Thomae Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Klaus Bergemann, Georg Bader, Wolfgang Berthold, Rolf-Gunter Werner
  • Patent number: 5405541
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for treating water in heat exchange systems. The present invention automatically and inexpensively provides an effective chemical to process water systems at times and in proportion to the need for water treatment in such systems. When used in evaporative cooling systems, the present invention adds the treatment chemical to the system via the make-up water. The make-up water acquires a substantially constant concentration of treatment chemical as it is passed through a device containing a treatment chemical. The constant concentration of chemical is achieved by dividing the make-up flow into two streams within the device, saturating the smaller of the two streams with chemical, and re-mixing the two streams. The biocide agent used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is prilled elemental iodine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel H. Pope, Dennis R. Honchar, Wilbur L. Medairy
  • Patent number: 5397481
    Abstract: A submergible torch for removing nitrate and/or nitrite ions from a waste solution containing nitrate and/or nitrite ions comprises: a torch tip, a fuel delivery mechanism, a fuel flow control mechanism, a catalyst, and a combustion chamber. The submergible torch is ignited to form a flame within the combustion chamber of the submergible torch. The torch is submerged in a waste solution containing nitrate and/or nitrite ions in such a manner that the flame is in contact with the waste solution and the catalyst and is maintained submerged for a period of time sufficient to decompose the nitrate and/or nitrite ions present in the waste solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred J. Mattus
  • Patent number: 5393428
    Abstract: A process for treating waste water containing chlorinated organic substances, particularly waste water from production of epichlorohydrin which contains more than 10 mg of adsorbable organic halogen compounds (AOX) per liter, comprising charging the waste water at a pH of 10 to 14 (measured at room temperature) into a reactor and maintaining a temperature of at least 75.degree.C., a pressure of at least 1 bar (abs.), and a residence time of at least 0.5 hours in said reactor, thereby partially dechlorinating and/or dehydrochlorinating chlorinated organic compounds contained in the waste water, and thereafter subjecting the waste water to further dechlorination and/or dehydrochlorination treatment in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, a hydrogen-releasing compound and/or a catalytically active material; and optionally subjecting the waste water to a biological treatment with the use of microorganisms; and apparatus for carrying out the foregoing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Solvay Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Dilla, Helmut Dillenburg, Erich Ploenissen, Michael Sell
  • Patent number: 5384051
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for initiating and sustaining an oxidation reaction. A fuel, such as natural gas or hazardous waste, is introduced into a reaction zone within a pressurized containment vessel. A permeable liner is placed within the containment vessel and around the reaction zone. An oxidizer, preferably oxygen, is mixed with a carrier fluid, such as water, and the mixture is heated and pressurized to supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure. The supercritical oxidizer-carrier mix is introduced to the reaction zone gradually and uniformly, over a comparatively large area, by forcing it radially inward through the permeable liner and toward the reaction zone. A means and method for cooling the exhausted by-products and using them as a cleansing rinse are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas G. McGinness
  • Patent number: 5271849
    Abstract: A process is provided for removing ammoniacal values of potential environmental concern, both present and latent, from cyanate-containing waste streams and water-wet waste solids, typically generated in gold leaching or electroplating operations. The process includes heating the waste material to a temperature in excess of 50.degree. C. to convert ammonium cyanate to urea and optionally reducing pH to a range of 2.5 to 5 to accelerate hydrolysis of cyanate to ammonium carbonate, to supply ammonium ions for reacting with unhydrolyzed cyanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Inventor: Frederick W. Devries
  • Patent number: 5246598
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detoxifying an aqueous waste solution containing cyanide. The method involves adding a source of silicon oxide to the cyanide containing aqueous waste solution in a concentration of 0.001 to 10 g silicon dioxide/liter aqueous waste solution, at an alkaline pH and a temperature of from 10.degree. to 100.degree. C. Hydrogen peroxide or another peroxygen compound is added in a sufficient quantity to convert the aqueous waste solution containing cyanide to an aqueous solution containing environmentally less toxic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Degussa Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Proulx, Jaganmay Chattopadhyay, Wilfried Eul, Gregg Vickell
  • Patent number: 5242601
    Abstract: A process for treating contaminated sludges such as municipal sewage sludge, industrial waste sludge and riverbottom sludge with calcium oxide (CaO) and/or calcium carbide (CaC.sub.2) with reclaiming and recycling of calcium oxide (CaO) from the reaction materials. The process is also applicable for dechlorinating PCB contaminated sludges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Alternative Technologies For Waste, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Manchak, Jr., Frank Manchak, III, Peter Manchak
  • Patent number: 5238583
    Abstract: A method for converting a contaminated waste material which is not environmentally acceptable to one that is environmentally acceptable. The waste material is mixed with an effective amount of reagent material, such as fly ash, in a containing means, such as an earthen pit. An effective amount of water is then added to cause an exothermic reaction and cause the temperature of the mixture to reach about 140.degree. F. to about 180.degree. F. The so-treated mixture is then allowed to dry without setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Derrick's Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis M. Fortson
  • Patent number: 5234606
    Abstract: Raw water such as polluted ground water can be recovered to clean water through the following processes. Firstly, oxidizing agent is added to raw water to disinfect bacteria, and then after suspended solid is removed from the water, ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the water so that organic chlorine compounds can be decomposed by active oxygen generated by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays. Finally, the residual oxidizing agent remaining in the treated water is reduced by activated carbon and catalytic resin. Further, the organic chlorine compound decomposition reaction is promoted at pH of 9 or below and in a temperature range of 15 to 30.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: NEC Environment Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kazama, Masahiro Sano, Seiji Takayama
  • Patent number: 5232606
    Abstract: A method is provided for recovering PVC from a material including PVC and one or more non-PVC components, in which the material is mixed with a sufficient amount of a plasticizer at an effective temperature, preferably in the range of 100.degree.-200.degree. C., to give a PVC: plasticizer ratio such that the PVC and plasticizer form a mixture which is a liquid at that temperature so that the liquid PVC/plasticizer can be separated from the non-PVC component or components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Ortech Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Leidner
  • Patent number: 5221486
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for denitrification of compounds containing nitrogen present in aqueous waste streams. The method comprises the steps of (1) identifying the types of nitrogen compounds present in a waste stream, (2) determining the concentrations of nitrogen compounds, (3) balancing oxidized and reduced form of nitrogen by adding a reactant, and (4) heating the mixture to a predetermined reaction temperature from about 300.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C., thereby resulting in less harmful nitrogen and oxygen gas, hydroxides, alcohols, and hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Alex G. Fassbender
  • Patent number: 5217623
    Abstract: A method for detoxifying cyanide waste using a reactive sugar having aldose functionality is provided. The reactive sugar is mixed with the cyanide waste to produce sugar acid, a non-toxic and environmentally safe compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Northwestern Flavors, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Greenberg, Roy L. Whistler
  • Patent number: 5190668
    Abstract: A process for removing volatile organic compounds such as methanol from wastewater comprising first stripping the organic compound from water and then oxidizing the organic compound in the gaseous phase using a hydrophobic catalyst, to form harmless reaction products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Inventor: Karl T. Chuang
  • Patent number: RE35815
    Abstract: Preheated diluent and steam are introduced into a container containing waste material typically comprised of a sludge mixture of liquid and solid material including hydrocarbons. The material is thereby heated and its viscosity reduced to form a pumpable slurry. The slurry is pumped out of the container and its viscosity is adjusted to the optimum for separating the solids and liquids. The solids are then separated from the liquid, any valuable material in either the solids and the liquid are recovered and the rest disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Landry Service Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Landry