Phosphorus Containing Patents (Class 210/906)

Cross-Reference Art Collections

Phosphate slimes (Class 210/907)
  • Patent number: 8382984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for biologically treating waste water, using a set of micro-organisms having different metabolic spectra, in order to eliminate carbon and nitrogen, even phosphorus. Some of the micro-organisms are fixed to mobile solid carriers (2) and form a fluidised fixed biomass. Some of the micro-organisms are free to be used in an activated mud treatment. To this end, a first non-aerated treatment zone (21a) is followed by a second aerated treatment zone (21b); the treated effluent is subjected to a solid/liquid separation by flotation (6) at a speed higher than 10 m/H; and part of the mud recovered by flotation is recirculated (8) towards the activated mud treatment, said recirculation being controlled (9, 10, 11) so that the MES concentration of the effluent subjected to the liquid/solid separation remains compatible with the retained flotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Degremont
    Inventor: Laure Graveleau
  • Patent number: 8361327
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an agricultural water-recycling system comprising an iron (Fe)-ionizing module and a method of recycling agricultural water using the same, and more particularly to an agricultural water-recycling system comprising an iron (Fe)-ionizing module and a method of recycling agricultural water using the same, in which phosphorus (P) contained in effluent from a sewage treatment plant is removed by using the iron (Fe)-ionizing module comprising an iron (Fe)-ionizing electrode consisting of an iron plate serving as a cathode and a titanium plate serving as an anode and an electrode-washing device. According to the present invention, an effluent treatment process of a sewage treatment plant and an electrode washing process needed for iron ionization can be simultaneously performed, the iron ionization is controlled depending on the concentration of phosphorus contained in the effluent, thereby improving effluent treatment efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Korea Rural Community Corporation, Blue Environment N Tech Co., Ltd., Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Kwang Ya Lee, Hae Do Kim, Jong Hwa Son, Min Hong, Kyung Sook Choi
  • Patent number: 8303811
    Abstract: An aquarium filter element having a removable insert. The removable insert may include a chemical agent or biological agent for treating aquarium water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Central Garden and Pet Company
    Inventor: Brad L Mihlbauer
  • Patent number: 8293098
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system comprising: a first treatment zone (11) fluidly connected to one or more further treatment zones (12-14), a membrane module (16) comprising a filter membrane is positioned in or fluidly connected to the further treatment zone; and a gravity settling device (15) fluidly connected to the first treatment zone (11) to receive overflow therefrom. A method of treating wastewater comprising flowing wastewater through one or more treatment zones (11-14) to produce a fluid product which is passed through a filter membrane (16) to produce a concentrated mixed liquor and a filtrate; returning at least a portion of the concentrated mixed liquor to at least one of the treatment zones (11); when the flow of wastewater water exceeds a predetermined level, flowing a portion of the returned mixed liquor to a gravity settling device (15) and clarifying the mixed liquor within the gravity settling device (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Smith, Dennis J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 8258076
    Abstract: A phosphorus compound adsorbent; a phosphorus compound adsorption system, wherein the phosphorus compound adsorbed can be desorbed in a neutral solvent; and a method of using the phosphorus compound adsorbent are provided. The phosphorus compound adsorbent includes a nitrogen-containing compound having an amino group at an end of the molecular structure, a support carrying the nitrogen-containing compound, and at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of a zinc ion, a copper ion, an iron ion, and a zirconium ion, which is fixed to the nitrogen-containing compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akiko Suzuki, Tatsuoki Kohno, Shinetsu Fujieda, Toshihide Takahashi, Katsuya Yamamoto, Mari Iwashita, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Hidetake Shiire, Satoshi Haraguchi, Tokusuke Hayami
  • Patent number: 8216476
    Abstract: A method for removing phosphorus includes at least the steps of: 1) placing lanthanum oxide hydrate (absorbent) into a device for removing phosphorus, and allowing sewage having a phosphorus content of less than 100 mg/L to flow through the device; 2) adding sodium hydroxide (regeneration solution of the absorbent) when the absorption capacity of the device is exhausted, and allowing the regeneration reaction to proceed for between 4 and 12 hours; and 3) collecting eluate from step 2) and recycling phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Jiangxi JDL Environmental Protection Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhimin Liao, Zhihua Yuan, Jialin Zhou, Lingyun He, Shuyan Chen, Aiguo Wan, Wenqian Chen
  • Patent number: 8202426
    Abstract: A method of removing phosphonates from water includes directing the water into a first settling zone. The water is then directed to a membrane filtration zone and is filtered therein to produce a concentrate containing phosphonates. The concentrate containing phosphonates is then contacted with sludge such that at least some of the phosphonates in the concentrate are adsorbed onto the sludge. Flocculant is added to the sludge and the concentrate to form a floc-mixture which is directed to a second settling zone to form treated concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Catherine Daines-Martinez, Jean-Christophe Schrotter, Karine Drouet, Abdelkader Gaid
  • Patent number: 8147695
    Abstract: A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: I. Kruger Inc.
    Inventors: Kashi Banerjee, Charles D. Blumenschein, John Charles Schrader
  • Patent number: 8105490
    Abstract: A water or wastewater treatment system to reduce phosphorus or other pollutant concentrations in water or wastewater may include an optional primary treatment stage in fluid communication with a biological secondary treatment stage. The secondary treatment stage may, in turn, be fluidly connected with a tertiary treatment stage, which may include a chemical treatment portion for reducing phosphorus or other pollutants to desired levels. The precipitated phosphorus and other solids or sludge produced from the chemical treatment portion may be recycled upstream for reuse in the primary, secondary, and/or tertiary treatment stages. Such recycle may reduce the amount of added chemicals required in the tertiary treatment stage to phosphorus or other pollutants to desired amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen T. Daigger
  • Patent number: 8101079
    Abstract: Methods, system, compositions for a green sorption media for bioretention soil amendments in drainfields for on-site waste water systems filled with the green sorption media to foster an anaerobic or anoxic environment saturated. The green sorption media includes one or more recycled materials, including tire crumb, sawdust, orange peel, coconut husks, leaf compost, oyster shell, soy bean hulls and one or more naturally occurring materials including peat, sands, zeolites, and clay. The wastewater filtration system for a passive drainfield includes the green sorption material mixture, a cell including baffled compartments and a riser, the cell filled with green sorption material mixture to provide an alternating cycle of aerobic and anoxic environments, an influent distribution system to distribute the influent over the cell, and a piping system arranged for dosing the cell to sustain the functionality of the green sorption material mixture to remove nutrient content in wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin P. Wanielista, Ni-Bin Chang, Ammarin Makkeasorn
  • Patent number: 8101072
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Allen Lawrence, Joseph E. Zuback
  • Patent number: 8048303
    Abstract: A bioretention system and method are provided for removing phosphorus, nitrogen and other materials from effluent such as wastewater and stormwater. The system and method can include a filtration media comprising water treatment residuals and other fill such as soil. Plants can be growing in the soil. The system can also include a drainage system to regulate outflow, to function during both low and high throughputs of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: William Lucas
  • Patent number: 8039242
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substantially odorless biologically mediated treatment process for solid and liquid organic wastes. The present invention also provides for a novel nutrient rich humus material produced from the biologically mediated treatment process. The bioconversion process of the present invention results from low electron acceptor concentrations and high quantities of microorganisms in a diverse microbial community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Bion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Morris, Jere Northrop
  • Patent number: 8021551
    Abstract: A system and method of treating wastewater from an animal confinement operation. The system including at least a first lagoon receiving water from the confinement operation. The system further including a free surface water wetland, a subsurface flow wetland and a vertical flow recirculating media filter. The first artificial wetland including a pipe such that water from the lagoon flows into the first artificial wetland through an inlet of the pipe and is contained within the wetland. The first wetland further including a plurality of wetland plants. A second subsurface flow wetland and a vertical flow recirculating media filter on top of the subsurface flow wetland and wetland plants contained within a first pea gravel bed on top of a coarse gravel bed of the subsurface flow media filter such that water from the lagoon is received by the first wetland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Mark Harrison
  • Patent number: 8017019
    Abstract: Improved fluidized bed precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) especially useful for the treatment of waste waters containing soluble phosphorus are provided, having upright, primary fluidized bed sections (22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136) and obliquely oriented solids settling sections (28, 54, 68, 120, 144) which enhance the settling of small particles (166) and return thereof to the fluidized bed sections (22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136). The precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) may also be equipped with a solids detection/withdrawal assembly (178) made up of one or more pressure transducers (180, 182) operable to determine the pressures within the fluidized bed sections 22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136) as a measure of bed densities, along with a selectively operable valve (172) which may be opened to periodically remove solids without clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Kansas State University Research Foundation, Kansas Environmental Management Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Gina Young Becker, Sigifredo Castro Diaz, Michael Hanson, Kylo Martin Heller, Dean Thompson
  • Patent number: 8017018
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Allen Lawrence, Joseph E. Zuback
  • Patent number: 8012352
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing ammonia partially by a denitrification process. A stream containing ammonia is contacted with oxygen to form a first product stream in low dissolved oxygen conditions. The ratio of oxygen to nitrogen is about 2.28 g O2/g N—NH3 (2.28 grams of oxygen per gram of nitrogen in ammonia) or less. The first product stream is then exposed to organic matter in an amount of 0.57 g COD/g N—NH3 (0.57 grams of chemical oxygen demand per gram of nitrogen in ammonia). This microbial reaction ultimately produces nitrogen gas, water, and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: American Water Works Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Giraldo, Yanjin Liu, Swarna Muthukrishnan
  • Patent number: 7972517
    Abstract: A method for treating a portion of liquid waste manure comprising adding a first reagent to the portion in a first vessel to cause the formation of waste manure flocs of a first size; adding a second reagent to liquid portion to cause growth of the waste manure flocs of the first size into separable waste manure flocs; adding optionally a third reagent to the portion of liquid containing waste manure flocs to cause further growth of the separable waste manure flocs; separating the liquid volume containing separable waste manure flocs into a waste manure sludge and a first filtrate; and dewatering the waste manure sludge in a filtration system comprising a first filter including a first housing, a first displaceable filter medium, and a first displacement actuator disposed between the first housing and the first displaceable filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Innovative environmental Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Miller
  • Patent number: 7967990
    Abstract: A hybrid chemical/mechanical dewatering sewage treatment plant and method employing rapid sludge chemical dewatering technology in conjunction with slower conventional mechanical dewatering solids agglomeration and disposal methods to meet operating constraints and environmental permitting restrictions and siting limitations for disposal of sewage and wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus G. Theodore
  • Patent number: 7967989
    Abstract: A sulfurous acid treated wastewater disposal method employing soil aquifer treatment (SAT) for artificial recharge of groundwater through infiltration basins allowing fully or partially-treated sewage effluent to infiltrate into the soil and move down to the groundwater through a “vadose” zone, which acts as a natural filter to remove essentially all suspended solids, biodegradable materials, bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Terry Gong, John Harmon, Marcus G. Theodore
  • Patent number: 7938970
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing and using aluminum slurry containing aluminum particles having an extremely small size. In particular, a particle size that is small enough to freely flow through water filtration filters. Once the aluminum particles react with phosphorus, phosphates, and other contaminants, the resulting particles are large enough to be trapped by filters such that the contaminants can be easily removed. The aluminum slurry is created by the use of a unique process which rapidly transforms electrically charged aluminum plates into slurry. The resulting slurry is then added to the body of water where it disperses throughout the water and flocculates with the contaminants. The resulting clumps produced by the reaction are large enough to be trapped by filters in the water treatment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: John J. Murray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7927493
    Abstract: A water or wastewater treatment system to reduce phosphorus or other pollutant concentrations in water or wastewater may include an optional primary treatment stage in fluid communication with a biological secondary treatment stage. The secondary treatment stage may, in turn, be fluidly connected with a tertiary treatment stage, which may include a chemical treatment portion for reducing phosphorus or other pollutants to desired levels. The precipitated phosphorus and other solids or sludge produced from the chemical treatment portion may be recycled upstream for reuse in the primary, secondary, and/or tertiary treatment stages. Such recycle may reduce the amount of added chemicals required in the tertiary treatment stage to phosphorus or other pollutants to desired amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen T. Daigger
  • Patent number: 7927484
    Abstract: Methods, systems and compositions for a green sorption media for bioretention soil amendments in drainfields for on-site waste water systems filled with the green sorption media to foster an anaerobic or anoxic environment saturated. The green sorption media includes one or more recycled materials, including tire crumb, sawdust, orange peel, coconut husks, leaf compost, oyster shell, soy bean hulls and one or more naturally occurring materials including peat, sands, zeolites, and clay. The wastewater filtration system for a passive drainfield includes the green sorption material mixture, a cell including baffled compartments and a riser, the cell filled with green sorption material mixture to provide an alternating cycle of aerobic and anoxic environments, an influent distribution system to distribute the influent over the cell, and a piping system arranged for dosing the cell to sustain the functionality of the green sorption material mixture to remove nutrient content in wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin P. Wanielista, Ni-Bin Chang, Ammarin Makkeasorn
  • Patent number: 7901582
    Abstract: A phosphorus recovery method and a phosphorus recovery system which can make equipment size small, and can be added easily also to an existing wastewater treatment facility, and can recover phosphorus by low cost, are provided. A phosphorus compound adsorption material includes a nitrogen containing compound which has an amino group at an end of molecular structure, a carrier supporting the nitrogen containing compound, and zinc ion or iron ion fixed to the nitrogen containing compound. After passing water to be treated containing phosphorus to an adsorption tower filled up with this phosphorus compound adsorption material to make phosphorus stick to the phosphorus compound adsorption material, a drug solution for desorption is supplied to the adsorption tower, and phosphorus is desorbed in liquid and is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidetake Shiire, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Tokusuke Hayami, Tatsuoki Kono, Akiko Suzuki, Shinetsu Fujieda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7879589
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substantially odorless biologically mediated treatment process for solid and liquid organic wastes. The present invention also provides for a novel nutrient rich humus material produced from the biologically mediated treatment process. The bioconversion process of the present invention results from low electron acceptor concentrations and high quantities of microorganisms in a diverse microbial community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Morris, Jere Northrop
  • Patent number: 7879236
    Abstract: A lagoon of effluent is established, comprising a set of sub-portions at different levels in the lagoon associated with a corresponding set of concentrations of dissolved oxygen, each sub-portion of the lagoon having a different concentration of dissolved oxygen. An incubator comprising a set of sub-portions associated with said set of concentrations of dissolved oxygen is established, each sub-portion of the incubator having a different concentration of dissolved oxygen. A volume of effluent from each sub-portion of the lagoon is transmitted to a corresponding sub-portion of an incubator having a substantially similar concentration of dissolved oxygen as said sub-portion of the lagoon. A first remediated volume of effluent is generated in said corresponding sub-portion of the incubator responsive to proliferating a first microorganism which uses a first compound in said volume of effluent as substrate for growth, the first microorganism enabling a first chemical reaction which alters the first compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Verdure Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Terry
  • Patent number: 7854842
    Abstract: Waste-treatment processes are enhanced through generation and introduction of specific biological populations customized to perform or favor specific tasks either during the main process, for the formation or precipitation of certain biological nutrients, or to accomplish solids formation reduction in a post-treatment process. These bacteria may be grown from specialized mixes of activated sludge and waste influent by exposing these materials to controlled environments (e.g., in an off-line treatment area). They may then be returned to the main process to perform certain tasks such as converting particulate cBOD into soluble cBOD for utilization, to reduce high solids yield organisms by supplementing the population characteristics with low yield organism characteristics, to provide biological nutrients or oxygenation assistance, to improve nitrification/denitrification efficiency, or to disfavor filamentous biology such as Norcardia sp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Miklos
  • Patent number: 7850851
    Abstract: A process for treating waste water to remove phosphorous and nitrogen in a treatment system including an anaerobic zone (5) containing an anaerobic mixed liquor having organisms which release phosphorous into the anaerobic mixed liquor; an anoxic zone (7) containing an anoxic mixed liquor having organisms which uptake phosphorous and denitrify the anoxic mixed liquor and an aerobic zone (9) containing an aerobic mixed liquor having organisms which uptake phosphorous and nitrify the aerobic mixed liquor; the process including the steps of providing wastewater to be treated into the anaerobic zone (5) and communicating anaerobic mixed liquor from the anaerobic zone (5) to the anoxic zone (7). The anoxic mixed liquor is then communicated from the anoxic zone (7) to the anaerobic zone (5) and the anoxic mixed liquor from the anoxic zone (7) to the amble zone (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Edward John Jordan
  • Patent number: 7842186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating wastewater containing phosphorus and/or nitrogen for removing phosphorus and/or nitrogen from the wastewater, including following steps of: (a) introducing wastewater containing phosphorus and/or nitrogen into a an anaerobic reactor, treating the introduced wastewater with anaerobic microorganisms, to produce biogas from organic matters in the wastewater, and then discharging the treated wastewater saturated with carbon dioxide under carbon dioxide partial pressure of 0.2 to 0.5 atm; and (b) injecting the treated wastewater of step (a) into a carbon dioxide stripping apparatus wherein the wastewater is free-fallen to expose the wastewater to ambient condition with carbon dioxide partial pressure of less than 0.001 atm so that carbon dioxide stripping takes place and increase in pH occurs without addition of alkaline substance, and then providing proper pH of 8.4 to 9.6 to form struvite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Entechs Co.
    Inventors: In Chung, Chi-Don Sung
  • Patent number: 7828976
    Abstract: A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: I. Kruger, Inc.
    Inventors: Kashi Banerjee, Charles D. Blumenschein, John Charles Schrader
  • Patent number: 7820047
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system has two separate but interlinked tanks containing four different zones, namely aerobic, microaerophilic, anoxic and anaerobic, for the biological treatment of the wastewater, as well as two clarification zones and a filtration unit for separation of solids from liquid. The first tank contains the aerobic, microaerophilic and anoxic zone as well as a clarification zone, while the second dank includes the anaerobic zone, a solid-liquid separation zone and a filtration unit. The aerobic zone is an airlift reactor that contains air diffusers at the bottom of the zone to introduce air into the zone. The air bubbles mix the liquid and its content of microorganisms, and provide oxygen for the aerobic biological processes that take place in this zone. Aeration also produces circulation of liquid between the aerobic zone and its adjacent microaerophilic and anoxic zones that are located at the sides and under the aerobic zone, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: BioCAST Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Laleh Yerushalmi, Michael J. Ogilvie
  • Patent number: 7776217
    Abstract: A bioretention system and method are provided for removing phosphorus, nitrogen and other materials from effluent such as wastewater and stormwater. The system and method can include a filtration media comprising water treatment residuals and other fill such as soil. Plants can be growing in the soil. The system can also include a drainage system to regulate outflow, to function during both low and high throughputs of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: William Lucas
  • Patent number: 7758752
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a composite material which can rapidly and effectively remove algae and transform them into submerged macrophytes. The composite material is a mixture of two functional materials: one can grow into submerged macrophytes, and the other is clays or modified local soil particles which can flocculate algae, inhibit phosphorus release from sediments and act as the carrier of the above-mentioned seeds, earthnuts, buds, and roots of submerged macrophytes. In addition, the present invention proposes a physical-chemical-ecological combined method for improving water quality and enhancing the ecological restoration of eutrophic lakes using the above-mentioned material. By spraying the composite material to the lake surface, the new method can remove algae and turbidity through flocculation and complete the planting process simultaneously so that HABs and eutrophication are effectively controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Gang Pan, Binghui Tian, Hao Chen, Mulan Zhang, Xianzheng Yuan
  • Patent number: 7758756
    Abstract: A lignocellulose-based anion-adsorbing medium (LAM) and process for making and using same for selectively removing phosphates and arsenic contaminants from aqueous solutions is disclosed. Making the LAM comprises (a) dissociating cations such as Fe and Al, from their counterions by adding a chemical compound containing said cations to water and acidifying; (b) pelletizing a lignocellulose; (c) adsorbing the cations to the lignocellulose by bringing the lignocellulose into contact with the solution of step (a) and incubating; and, (d) exposing the lignocellulose of step (c) to an alkaline fixing agent to replace hydrogens (H) of the hydroxyl groups of the lignocellulose with the adsorbed cations to produce the LAM with a positive charge. The LAM may be used to selectively and cost-effectively remove phosphate and arsenic contaminants from aqueous solutions by retaining them at the Fe or Al on the LAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: AG Bio Tech, LLC
    Inventor: Ju Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7736513
    Abstract: Biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, has recently become increasingly popular worldwide due to increasingly stringent regulations. Biological fluidized bed (BFB) technology, which could be potentially used for BNR processes, can provide some advantages such as high efficiency and compact structure. This present invention incorporates the fixed-film biological fluidized bed technology with the biological nutrient removal in a twin liquid-solid fluidized bed, which has achieved the simultaneous elimination of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, in a very efficient manner and with very compact space requirements. The BNR-LSFB has two fluidized beds, running as anoxic/anaerobic and aerobic processes to accomplish simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and to remove carbonaceous substrates, nutrients and phosphorus, with continuous liquid and solids recirculation through the anoxic/anaerobic bed and the aerobic bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Jingxu Zhu, George Nakhla, Yubo Cui
  • Patent number: 7736509
    Abstract: An aquaculture or wastewater effluent water quality device to improve water quality and food supply in an aquaculture pond or body of water by incubating beneficial microbes in a temperature controlled environment and systematically releasing them to the surrounding water, allowing the beneficial microbes to perform sanitation functions and to help such systems or water bodies overcome the natural production of harmful microbial species without substantially heating or cooling the entire system any more than is required by the present state of the system or body of water or the inhabitants thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Alan Kruse
  • Patent number: 7722768
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the simultaneous removal of BOD and phosphate from a liquid containing ammonium, BOD, phosphate and magnesium, the method comprising: feeding the liquid to a reactor containing BOD-oxidising biomass; ensuring that the liquid in the reactor contains an excess to stoichiometry of ammonium and magnesium relative to phosphate, wherein the stoichiometry is related to the stoichiometry of struvite; oxidising at least part of the BOD; adjusting the pH of the liquid in the reactor at a desired value; forming solid material in the reactor, the solid material comprising struvite; separating at least part of the solid material from the reactor effluent; returning a part of the solid material to the reactor. The invention is also directed to a reactor for this process. The advantage of the process and the apparatus is that in one reactor both BOD and phosphate are removed from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Paques B.V.
    Inventors: Wiebe Ruurd Abma, Sjoerd Hubertus Josef Vellinga, Ronald Mulder
  • Patent number: 7718057
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a wastewater treatment system having a fluidizable media carrying anoxic bacteria in a first treatment zone and a filter membrane positioned in a second treatment zone. A wastewater is contacted with the fluidizable media and further contacted with air and a filter membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Jordan, Wenjun Liu
  • Patent number: 7713423
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a reactive filtration method includes continuously regenerating a reactive filter media while simultaneously filtering contaminants from fluid flowing through the filter media. In one embodiment, regenerating the reactive filter media comprises mixing metal granules with the filter media and agitating the mixture. In another embodiment, regenerating the reactive filter media comprises introducing a metal in the fluid flowing through the filter media and agitating the filter media. In one embodiment, a method for removing phosphorus, arsenic or a heavy metal from water includes introducing a metal salt reagent into the water at a molar ratio of 5:1 to 200:1 to the phosphorous or the arsenic in the water and passing the water through a bed of moving sand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Moller, Kevin Marshall Brackney, Roger Alan Korus, Gerald Michael Keller, Jr., Brian Keith Hart, Remembrance Louisa Newcombe
  • Patent number: 7713413
    Abstract: A process for treating biological oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorus containing wastewater, wherein the process includes providing wastewater influent to an oxygen-deficit aeration zone having activated sludge and mixing the wastewater influent with the activated sludge in the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to form a mixed liquor. The process further includes transferring the mixed liquor from the oxygen-deficit aeration zone to an oxygen-surplus aeration zone and transferring a portion of the mixed liquor from the oxygen-surplus aeration zone to a membrane filter wherein a filtrate is separated from sludge. In addition, the process includes recycling at least a portion of the sludge to the oxygen-deficit aeration zone as recycled activated sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7674379
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment systems and processes for removal of solids, pathogens, nitrogen, and phosphorus from municipal and agricultural wastewater include the simultaneous separation of solids and phosphorus from wastewater and industrial effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Matias B. Vanotti, Ariel A. Szogi, Lewis M. Fetterman
  • Patent number: 7674380
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating sewage using a semi-batch process is provided. The apparatus may include an aeration tank, a thickening tank, a dephosphorization tank, and first and second reactor basins. The first and second reactor basins may each include an opening portion formed by opening a side wall thereof so as to be connected with a lateral portion of the aeration tank and an aeration unit installed therein. The apparatus may also include a flow distribution pipe including a start pipe and a pair of flow pipes, a pair of stirrers each provided at a respective side of the auxiliary pipes in each of the pair of flow pipes, operating in turn to stir the dephosphorized sewage overflowing from the dephosphorization, and a decanter installed across the top of the side opposite to the opening portions of the first and second reactor basins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Essa Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 7670486
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Allen Lawrence, Joseph E Zuback
  • Patent number: 7622047
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor (14) for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater has a column comprising a number of sections. (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) The diameter of the column changes stepwise between the sections. A flow velocity in excess of 100 cm/min is maintained in a lowermost one of the sections and lower flow velocities are maintained in subsequent sections. A struvite supersaturation ratio is controlled in part by recycling wastewater from an outlet of the column. Struvite pellets are removed periodically from the bottom of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Fred A. Koch, Donald S. Mavinic, Noboru Yonemitsu, Ahren T. Britton
  • Patent number: 7604740
    Abstract: A method of treating a mixture of microorganisms containing phosphorus and magnesium, by first inducing the mixture microorganisms to release phosphorus and magnesium which is then tapped off as the mixture is thickened, to produce phosphorus and magnesium-rich liquid and phosphorus and magnesium-reduced treated mixture. This treated mixture is placed in an anaerobic digester where ammonia is formed but combines very little with phosphorus or magnesium as these elements have been greatly reduced in concentration. Next the high-ammonia mixture is dewatered, to produce an ammonia-rich liquid, which is combined with the phosphorus and magnesium-rich liquid. In one preferred embodiment a useable struvite product is harvested from this combination. Additionally, the production of nuisance struvite in the anaerobic digester is greatly reduced, in comparison with prior art waste treatment methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Clean Water Services
    Inventor: Robert James Baur
  • Patent number: 7604733
    Abstract: A biological removal method of phosphorus and nitrogen includes supplying a mixture gas into a gas holder. Inflow water and return water are supplied into the gas holder to make the mixture gas dissolved in the inflow water and the return water. The return water was provided from a granulation biological reaction tank. The inflow water and the return water including the dissolved mixture gas are transported to the granulation biological reaction tank. A nitrogen-based component is removed from the inflow water and the return water using methan-oxidizing bacteria granulated in the granulation biological reaction tank. Treated water without the nitrogen-based component is transported to an anoxic tank for treatment, and discharged from the anoxic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Korea Institute of Construction Technology, Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Soo Kim, Hee-Ja Lee, I-Tae Kim, Kwang-Ho Ahn, Chai-Sung Gee, Sung-Youn Kim, Ji-Seon Yoo, Eui-Sin Lee, Sung-Pok Paik, Chul-Ki Oh, Kwang-Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7588744
    Abstract: A method for removing and recovering phosphorus from a spent adsorbent medium to result in a regenerated medium and a phosphorus-containing solution useful as a fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Layne Christensen Company
    Inventor: Paul Sylvester
  • Publication number: 20090206028
    Abstract: An economical, integrated system works in series with anaerobic digestion of animal waste to recover nitrogen and phosphorous, while also scrubbing the produced biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Anping Jiang, Tianxi Zhang, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Patent number: 7575685
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substantially odorless biologically mediated treatment process for solid and liquid organic wastes. The present invention also provides for a novel nutrient rich humus material produced from the biologically mediated treatment process. The bioconversion process of the present invention results from low electron acceptor concentrations and high quantities of microorganisms in a diverse microbial community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Bion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Morris, Jere Northrop
  • Patent number: 7563373
    Abstract: Processes, methods and systems are provided herein for lowering the concentration of phosphorus in wastewater. The process includes adding a suitable amount of an aluminum-based coagulant/flocculent, for example, an aluminum-silicate coagulant/flocculent product to the wastewater while maintaining the pH of the wastewater at between about 4.5 and about 6.65. This step provides an eventual effluent stream of precipitated aluminum-based, phosphorus-containing flocs dispersed in the wastewater. The next step involves physically removing, as by filtering, the precipitated aluminum-based, phosphorus-containing flocs which is dispersed in the wastewater. These steps are able to provide a wastewater effluent containing less than about 0.03 mg total phosphorus per liter of wastewater. The disclosure also teaches novel methods and systems for carrying out the novel process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seprotech Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Lysane Bolduc