From Industrial Wastes Patents (Class 71/25)
  • Patent number: 7736411
    Abstract: The invention relates to a renewable process for manufacturing ground and soil treatment compounds using plant by-products. The invention further relates to products of that process, including an anti-slip compound for use on snow- or ice-covered surfaces, and to a related fertilizer compound for improving plant growth. The described compounds primarily comprise organic by-products of timber processing operations. In addition, the invention relates to a renewable energy and resource process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Maffei
  • Patent number: 7691169
    Abstract: Soil dispersible and water dispersible granular nutrients for use in fertilizers include granules having a crystallized saccharide and acid binder with carboxylates (sucrates) of a nutrient embedded therein and a method of preparing the nutrient containing granules is provided. A reducible nutrient compound and citric acid is converted to a nutrient carboxylate (sucrate) and chelate by reacting the reducible nutrient and citric acid with a sprayed stream of a stoichiometric excess of reducing saccharides (sugar cane molasses) containing at least 76% by weight solids and glacial acetic acid at a temperature of 160° to 175° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Paul E. McCoy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7662205
    Abstract: This invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for modifying the process of producing dried biosolids pellets or granules into beneficiated inorganically-augmented bioorganic fertilizer. The present invention describes a method to beneficiate heat-dried biosolids or sludge pellets or granules as presently manufactured by municipalities or companies from a) dewatered municipal wastewater biosolids or sludges within the municipal wastewater treatment plant heat-dried biosolids production facility or from b) finished dry heat dried biosolids pellets or granules in a separate manufacturing facility from the municipal wastewater treatment plant to produce a fertilizer containing sufficient organic and inorganic plant nutrients to be valuable and saleable into the commercial agricultural industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Vitag Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Burnham
  • Patent number: 7662206
    Abstract: This invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for treating organic-containing sludges and converting such sludges to high value fertilizers containing both inorganic and organic fertilizer components, which creates an inorganically-augmented bioorganic fertilizer. The invention describes methods to create a thixotrophic or paste-like material via the application of mixing energy to the organic sludge followed by an alkaline treatment and a subsequent ammoniation. The invention further describes a method to increase the plant nutrient content in the organic containing product to a level which permits the finished granular fertilizer product to compete in the commercial agricultural fertilizer marketplace. Further, the invention reduces odors associated with said organic-containing sludges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Vitag Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Burnham
  • Publication number: 20090126433
    Abstract: A method of treating biomass feed by pyrolyzing it in the presence of superheated steam at a selected temperature for a sufficient time to produce at least one product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Jan Piskorz, Piotr Majerski
  • Patent number: 7513927
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting chemical self-heating in organic-containing materials by the addition of phosphate and or other buffering agents which control the pH of the organic-containing material and alter the organic nature of the material such that self-heating reaction is inhibited, and fertilizer produced by these methods. Also disclosed are methods for producing an improved, i.e., self-heating resistant, organically-enhanced inorganic fertilizer and methods for improving the management of soil pH and the interaction of fertilizers with the soil and associated agricultural crops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: VitAG, LLC
    Inventors: Ervin L. Faulmann, Jeffrey C. Burnham
  • Patent number: 7501006
    Abstract: This invention relates to soil conditioner, fertilizer and fungicide compositions. In particular it relates to soil conditioner, fertilizer and fungicide compositions that utilizes by-products from brewing processes, and especially made from malt extract or spent grain liquor. The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing soil conditioners, fertilizer and fungicides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Carlton and United Breweries Limited
    Inventors: Peter John Rogers, Robert White Gilbert, Michael Andrew Pecar
  • Publication number: 20080276676
    Abstract: A soil improvement material comprising a ground burned product A and gypsum, the burned product A having a hydraulic modulus (H.M.) of 1.8 to 2.3, a silica modulus (S.M.) of 1.3 to 2.3, and an iron modulus (I.M.) of 1.3 to 2.8. The soil improvement material is useful for improving the ground, especially through solidifying soft soil, such as water-rich soil or organic-rich soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: TAIHEIYO CEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Sawaki, Susumu Sano, Kenichi Homma, Kouki Ichitsubo, Kenichi Matsumoto, Makihiko Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20080250831
    Abstract: The invention is a process for treatment of brown grease, where the brown grease comprises water, food solids and free-oil. This process starts with the collection of the brown grease into a container. The brown grease's pH is adjusted with a chemical treatment to produce an adjusted brown grease phase. To the adjusted brown grease phase an anionic copolymer treatment mixture is added along with a cationic copolymer to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture reacts for a period of time, and during this time wastewater is discharged from the reaction mixture to produce resulting solids. The resulting solids are then transferred from the container for disposal or are processed further into a fuel or soil additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Ralph W. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7422617
    Abstract: A system for composting-free disposal of organic waste and method thereof included a heating apparatus, a pretreatment apparatus, and a decomposition apparatus. The heating apparatus heats the pretreatment apparatus and the decomposition apparatus. The organic waste is separated into a slurry and a surface oil-water mixed liquid by the pretreatment apparatus. Microbial enzymes and raw material are added into the slurry to become a mixture. The mixture is then decomposed and sterilized by the decomposition apparatus to become a composting-free organic fertilizer product. All these procedures can be carried out within 3 to 24 hours. The system and the method thereof provides an efficiently fast, space-saving way to deal with organic waste and achieve environmental protection and sanitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Yes-Sun Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Shing Hong Lee
  • Publication number: 20080190160
    Abstract: A coating oil composition and methods of using the composition for dust control is provided. The coating oil comprises utilizing a by-product from the manufacture of biodiesel and/or fatty alkyl esters, wherein the by-product comprises C6-C24 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, C6-C24 saturated and unsaturated fatty acid salts, methyl esters, ethyl esters and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bo L. Tran, Theodore C. Arnst, Patrick C. Miller, Dmitri L. Kouznetsov
  • Publication number: 20080124443
    Abstract: The inventive developments disclosed in this application include the following features and combinations thereof: extracting oil from spent bleaching earths for animal feed; using earths and acid water as soil amendment/fertilizer; efficient extraction of substances valuable to plants, animals, and humans from plant, animal, and fish oil soapstock, especially using the “interphase” emulsion from soapstock acidulation; use of “black paste” from oil refining as fertilizer component (nutrient source); use of interphase from agricultural oil refining, especially refining of non-degummed oils, as animal feed; use of “oil refining by-products to fertilizers” process and/or KOH refining in conjunction with “Miscella”-type hexane refining or “Zenith” process refining; fertilizers containing silica/silicates from by-products of agricultural oil refining; use of higher-sodium oil refining by-products as fertilizer for sodium-tolerant plants; using by-products of sugar beet refining as nutrient source; agriculturally us
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ralph S. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20080092612
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to economically process muddy paint sludge that is generated in painting, without destroying the natural environment, and to effectively utilize the processed product. The present invention's method of processing paint sludge comprises: (1) a first process, by which a first compost-like product is produced by fermenting organic waste under an aerobic condition and under the condition that the organic waste has a moisture content of 50%-60%, (2) a second process, by which the first compost-like product is mixed with paint sludge in such a way that the moisture content of the mixture becomes 50%-60% and the temperature of the mixture becomes about 60° C., and (3) a third process, by which the paint sludge in the mixture is processed into fine grains by fermenting heat generated by aerobic microbes in the first compost-like product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: AGRICULTURAL RECYCLING SYSTEM GOUSIGAISYA
    Inventor: Toshihisa Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7291199
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of plant growth stimulator from fly ash, comprising treating fly ash with effluent NOx gases in a reactor under agitation at a temperature in the range of 60 to 100 degree celsius, for a time period in the range of 2 to 5 hours and treating the resulting material with effluent ammonia gas in the same reactor under ambient conditions for time period in the range of 20 to 50 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Sukuru Ramakrishna Rao, Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Gulab Singh, Sushanta Kumar Hazra
  • Patent number: 7261912
    Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of useful products, including fertilizers and nutritional supplements, from the organic matter and minerals contained in seawater and other brines. The dissolved organic carbon-based chemicals and suspended particulate carbon-based organic matter are co-precipitated together with the contained magnesium and/or calcium, along with incidental trace minerals, entrained water and water of hydration. An alkali base and/or alkaline earth base are added to the brine until a pH of 10.75 to 11.0 is achieved. The settled or non-dry filtered or centrifuged precipitate is utilized as a slurry and the supernatant brine is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Arthur William Zeigler
  • Patent number: 7198943
    Abstract: An organic nitrogen-containing composition comprising fermentation mother liquor obtained by culturing a microorganism having L-glutamic acid-producing ability in a liquid medium of which pH is adjusted to a condition under which L-glutamic acid is allowed to be precipitated, to allow L-glutamic acid to be produced and accumulated with precipitation of L-glutamic acid accompanied, and then separating L-glutamic acid from the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Koda, Kazuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 7144439
    Abstract: An eco-friendly fertilizer that acts as a plant growth promotion agent, soil improvement agent, bactericide and insecticide agent, disease and harmful insect prevention agent and the like, and is suitable for organic farming. The fertilizer contains extract from fruits, leaves, stems, seeds and/or roots of the Yaeyama Aoki and increases the amount of yield and extends the freshness period after harvest when applied to fruits, vegetables, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, grains as well as flowers and shrubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Morinda, Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiyuki Isami
  • Patent number: 7074252
    Abstract: The inventive developments disclosed in this application include the following features and combinations thereof: extracting oil from spent bleaching earths for animal feed; using earths and acid water as soil amendment/fertilizer; efficient extraction of substances valuable to plants, animals, and humans from plant, animal, and fish oil soapstock, especially using the “interphase” emulsion from soapstock acidulation; use of “black paste” from oil refining as fertilizer component (nutrient source); use of interphase from agricultural oil refining, especially refining of non-degummed oils, as animal feed; use of “oil refining by-products to fertilizers” process and/or KOH refining in conjunction with “Miscella”-type hexane refining or “Zenith” process refining; fertilizers containing silica/silicates from by-products of agricultural oil refining; use of higher-sodium oil refining by-products as fertilizer for sodium-tolerant plants; using by-products of sugar beet refining as nutrient source; agriculturally us
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Ralph S. Daniels
  • Patent number: 7074251
    Abstract: This invention relates to soil conditioner, fertilizer and fungicide compositions. In particular it relates to soil conditioner, fertilizer and fungicide compositions that utilizes by-products from brewing processes, and especially made from malt extract or spent grain liquor. The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing soil conditioners, fertilizers and fungicides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Carlton and United Breweries Limited
    Inventors: Peter John Rogers, Robert White Gilbert, Michael Andrew Pecar
  • Patent number: 6833359
    Abstract: A method for reducing bacterial and fungal soil pathogens which comprises applying to a soil a chemically effective amount of a lignosulfonate, the amount preferably being between 0.05% and about 5% on a volume/weight basis. The method is effective in controlling a number of soil pathogens and can be used to treat the soil for diseases such as potato scab disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Earth Alive Resources Inc.
    Inventor: George Lazarovits
  • Publication number: 20040250581
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of plant growth stimulator from fly ash, comprising treating fly ash with effluent NOx gases in a reactor under agitation a a temperature in the range of 60 to 100 degree celsius, for a time period in the rane of 2 to 5 hours and treating the resulting material with effluent ammonia gas in the same reactor under ambient conditions for time period in the range of 20 to 50 minutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sukuru Ramakrishna Rao, Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Gulab Singh, Sushanta Kumar Hazra
  • Patent number: 6752849
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of disinfecting and stabilizing organic wastes wherein organic waste is intimately mixed with one or more mineral by-products to produce a mixture having a pH of less than about 9. The mixture is heated and dried to produce a stable, granular bio-mineral product that may be used for example, as a fertilizer, soil amendment or as a soil substitute. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heat for heating and/or drying the mixture is provided by residual heat in at least one of the one or more mineral by-products. Also provided are stable, granular bio-mineral products formed by the methods of the present invention and fertilizers, soil amendments, and soil substitutes that include these stable, granular bio-mineral products. Further provided are systems for disinfecting and stabilizing organic waste, and systems for making a stable, granular bio-mineral product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Ervin L. Faulmann
  • Patent number: 6716618
    Abstract: A system and process for remediating an “asbestos containing material” (ACM), or a “regulated” asbestos containing material (RACM), with a vermicultural process, or “vermiprocess.” Worms are employed to convert the ACM into a material with an acceptable, deminimus level of asbestos fibers, or further to a non-detectable level of asbestos. The process includes placing an asbestos containing material into a worm bin and mixing the asbestos containing material with an effective quantity of a worm adjuvant, optionally employing organic material and mixing in a homogenizer. The worm bin may be a single bin or alternatively an array of staged worm bins. The worms are introduced into the ACM to form an asbestos containing vermicompost. The preferred worm species employed the species Esenia hortensis, or “hortensis,” and Esenia fetida, commonly referred to as “red wigglers,” or “red worms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Good Earth Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Craig, G. Daniel Thomas
  • Patent number: 6709481
    Abstract: A soil adjuvant, comprising dried glutamic acid fermentation solubles, dried corn fermentation solubles, or a mixture of dried glutamic acid fermentation solubles and dried corn fermentation solubles, wherein said dried solubles have been dried to a total moisture content of less than 30% by weight at a temperature not less than about 80° F. and not more than about 900° F. The dried fermentation solubles can be mixed with a carrier, such as corn middlings, in a ratio of 1:10 to 10:1 by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Biovance Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Julien
  • Patent number: 6695892
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the production of an organic fertilizer of humic-like nature, by oxidising and ammoniating treatment of lignite, characterised by the fact that lignite is suspended in a aqueous ammoniacal medium of pH>9 to 12 and in this context is partially dissolved and is oxidised at a temperature of 20-100° C. at normal pressure; and the organic fertilizer being obtained as a dispersion in aqueous medium, by thickening, or by drying, with a C/N ratio from 9 to 15. An organic fertilizer as well as its use is described. The process enables the production of an organic fertilizer from lignite distinguished by a humus-like structure and slow-releasing fertilization effect, and its use as such or as an addition to yield-increasing and soil-ameliorating substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Novihum GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Fischer, Rainer Schiene, Joachim Katzur
  • Patent number: 6682577
    Abstract: The soil modifier includes a porous material obtained by dry distillation of refuse-derived fuel to pioneer a cheap way for effectively utilizing the refuse, thereby enabling the environment to be improved by modification of soil while promoting environment preserving disposal of the refuse. The porous material includes carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamaguchi, Takuya Tsubota, Yutaka Yamauchi, Ryoichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 6682578
    Abstract: Integrated waste treatment and fertilizer and feed supplement production methods to be implemented at organic waste source sites, at remote treatment sites, or partially at the organic waste source site and at a remote location, whether in small or large scale operations. The methods are suitable for retrofitting existing organic waste sources and for treating the organic waste generated by a single source or by a plurality of sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Crystal Peak Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Larry P. Sower
  • Publication number: 20040011102
    Abstract: A pellet for use in conditioning soil made of a lignocellulose fiber matrix having up to 20% by weight of a soil conditioning material incorporated therein. The soil conditioning material comprises one or more synthetic soil conditioning polymers and, optionally, additional soil enhancing additives such as fertilizers, gypsum, and calcium salts. The preferred lignocellulose materials are pulp fibers with an alpha-cellulose purity of greater than about 75% by weight, with preferred lignin content of no higher than 10%. The soil conditioning polymers are preferably polyacrylamides (PAMs) or modified PAMs, but may be a combination of other soil conditioning polymers. The pellet is produced by dispersing the polymers into a bath of lignocellulose fibers. The dispersion is then formed into pellets with a pelletizing machine such that the polymer and other soil conditioning material is interspersed within the matrix formed by the pelletized lignocellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Karl D. Sears
  • Patent number: 6626974
    Abstract: Laura's blend is an organic compost that is blended with ingredients that will meet EPA approval as organic compost. The blending is done to meet requirements for soil condition so as to protect that land from over application of fertilizer. If the customer wants just a standard blended compost then Laura's Blend will be blended to meet the standard application rates as chemical fertilizers, but will be environment friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Leo Byford
  • Publication number: 20030172698
    Abstract: An organic nitrogen-containing composition comprising fermentation mother liquor obtained by culturing a microorganism having L-glutamic acid-producing ability in a liquid medium of which pH is adjusted to a condition under which L-glutamic acid is allowed to be precipitated, to allow L-glutamic acid to be produced and accumulated with precipitation of L-glutamic acid accompanied, and then separating L-glutamic acid from the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Takayuki Koda, Kazuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6497741
    Abstract: Integrated waste treatment and fertilizer and feed supplement production methods to be implemented at organic waste source sites, at remote treatment sites, or partially at the organic waste source site and at a remote location, whether in small or large scale operations. The methods are suitable for retrofitting existing organic waste sources and for treating the organic waste generated by a single source or by a plurality of sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Crystal Peak Farms
    Inventor: Larry P. Sower
  • Patent number: 6488732
    Abstract: A material composed primarily of coffee grounds, along with other commercial and industrial waste materials, in which the materials are uniformly pulverized, skillfully measured and combined to form a homogeneous particulate waste mixture. The composition is alternately turned and rested in a windrow or like apparatus for several months until natural aerobic thermophilic fermentation causes the material composition to have an overall pH level of 5.0 to 7.0 (with an optimum of 6.0), for the purpose of making the minerals latent in the material composition soluble, conducive to healthy plant life, and therefore useable as a plant growth medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Scanlan
  • Patent number: 6475257
    Abstract: A method of improving plant growth by providing controlled amounts of precursor solutions of either new or used ethylene glycol (antifreeze), an emulsified used motor oil, other biodegradable material to the soil to produce carbon dioxide by the action of soil microorganisms. Also, shredded paper can be added to the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: James N. Baptist
  • Patent number: 6464875
    Abstract: A system and method for converting animal, vegetable, and food byproduct materials into useful bio-gas and fertilizer, and/or soil amendment products has an anaerobic digester, a liquid-solids separating unit, an ammonia stripper, an ammonia absorption unit, a solids processing unit, and an equilization tank. The system and method use anaerobic digestion to break down the fats, oils, and greases, proteinaceous, and carbonaceous substances contained in the byproducts. Anaerobic digestion creates bio-gas, mainly methane and carbon dioxide, waste biosolids, which can contain phosphorous, nitrogen and other trace minerals, and a liquid effluent with significant ammonia levels. Ammonia, a useful ingredient for fertilizer formulation, is recovered from the effluent. The solids and the extracted ammonia and/or phosphorous can also be used to make fertilizer and/or soil amendment materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Gold Kist, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 6426113
    Abstract: The inventive developments disclosed in this application include the following features and combinations thereof: extracting oil from spent bleaching earths for animal feed; using earths and acid water as soil amendment/fertilizer; efficient extraction of substances valuable to plants, animals, and humans from plant, animal, and fish oil soap stock, especially using the “inter phase” emulsion from soap stock accumulation; use of “black paste” from oil refining as fertilizer component (nutrient source); use of inter phase from agricultural oil refining, especially refining of non-drummed oils, as animal feed; use of “oil refining by-products to fertilizers” process and/or KOH refining in conjunction with “Miscella”-type hexane refining or “Zenith” process refining; fertilizers containing silica/silicates from by-products of agricultural oil refining; use of higher-sodium oil refining by-products as fertilizer for sodium-tolerant plants; using by-produ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Ralph S. Daniels
  • Patent number: 6419722
    Abstract: A process for making an artificial soil includes first combining the volume percentages of the following substances: 1-99% materials suitable for use as a blending base; 1-99% cellulose; 0.01-60% bio-solids; 0.01-10% calcium in any form; 0.01-10% charcoal or it's equivalents; and 0.05-5% ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, or calcium nitrate. The above substances are ground until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, after which the artificial soil can be either blended in place or manufactured at one location and transported to another location for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Paul Thomas Adam
  • Patent number: 6409788
    Abstract: Integrated waste treatment and fertilizer and feed supplement production methods to be implemented at organic waste source sites, at remote treatment sites, or partially at the organic waste source site and at a remote location, whether in small or large scale operations. The methods are suitable for retrofitting existing organic waste sources and for treating the organic waste generated by a single source or by a plurality of sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Crystal Peak Farms
    Inventor: Larry P. Sower
  • Patent number: 6406510
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods for treating wastewater sludge cake with acid and calcium carbonate under acidic, low heat conditions to produce a stable, soil-like or granular, finished product containing calcium carbonate, useful as a nitrogen fertilizer, synthetic soil component or soil conditioner for pH control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Unified Environmental Services Group, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Burnham
  • Patent number: 6405664
    Abstract: A process is provided for NOx, removal at coal burning power plants, which includes introducing ammonia that is liberated upon drying a mixture of organic waste, coal combustion by-products, and optionally lime, having a pH of at least 9.5, to a coal burner in the power plant. A process is also provided for fueling a coal burner of a power plant with coal and a dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products. The present invention is further directed to the dried mixture of organic waste and coal combustion by-products made by the processes of the present invention, which may optionally be used as a soil additive or as a supplemental fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, James D. O'Neil, Ervin Louis Faulmann, Timothy Joseph Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6368657
    Abstract: A practical precipitation recovery process for food waste sludge from dissolved air floatation (DAF) units and sugar by products is provided. Typical meat DAF (dissolved air floatation) skimming sludge has about 12% solid with about 40% fat and 42% protein in solid basis. The skimming sludge is often for land application to cause a pollution problem. Much of the potential nutritive value of the skimming is lost through microbiological degradation. The process converts the skimming sludge and animal blood into a precipitate, which binds most nutrients. Then the precipitate product can be separated easily by a centrifuge, screen or press process. The dry process cost can be reduced because the extra water is removed and the product surface area is increased. The process can convert the waste skimming sludge into a value added product as a good and safe ingredient for feed and nutritional applications. A typical dry product has about protein 54%, pepsin digestible protein 96%, fat 23%, ash 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Rigel Technology Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Lee
  • Patent number: 6336772
    Abstract: Compositions for and method of degrading organic chemicals in soil. The composition is a nutrient medium serving as a substrate for micro-organisms in the soil, preferably containing a major proportion of a source of carbon skeleton and energy, a macronutrient component preferably including nitrogen and other macronutrients, and a micronutrient component, preferably also a complexing agent and a vitamin/co-factor component. This nutrient material is added to soil, e.g. soil contaminated by a pesticide, to cause proliferation of micro-organisms which are effective, or which develop effectiveness to degrade the organic chemicals. Preferably the micro-organisms are those naturally present in the soil but useful micro- organisms may be added with the nutrient medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas T. Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6309440
    Abstract: Composition for and method of stimulating growth of plants, e.g. increase in crop production. The composition comprises a carbon skeleton/energy component, typically a sugar or mixture of sugars; a macronutrient component providing the elements nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, preferably also magnesium and sulfur; a micronutrient component providing zinc, iron and manganese, preferably also copper, boron, molybdenum and cobalt. The composition also preferably contains a vitamin/cofactor component and an enhancement component. The composition may be in the form of an aqueous solution or in a form suitable for coating seeds or coating pollen. It may be applied as a foliar spray, as a soil amendment, as a root dip or as an injectable solution. Preferably where, for example, it is used as a foliar spray it is applied at intervals at different stages of growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas T. Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6302936
    Abstract: A process for making an artificial soil includes first combining the volume percentages of the following substances: 5-95% materials suitable for use as a blending base; 5-95% cellulose; 0.5-50% bio-solids; 0.1-10% calcium; 0.1-5% charcoal; and 0.5-4% ammonium nitrate or sulfate. The above substances are ground until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, after which the artificial soil can be either blended in place or manufactured at one location and transported to another location for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Paul Thomas Adam
  • Patent number: 6083738
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process of decontaminating, by composting under specific conditions, soil and/or sediments containing toxic contaminants of PCB. The process is carried out by converting the contaminants into harmless materials. The process includes the step of affecting a solid compost mixture during composting with a redox potential below negative 200 mV (millivolts). Further, the process includes several steps which are repeated until complete degradation is achieved. Other processes for degrading compounds such as chlordane, dieldrin, toxaphene, aldrin, endrin, and heptachlorepoxide as well as polychlorinated benzenes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Zeneca, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy P. Moser, Neil C. C. Gray, David J. Gannon
  • Patent number: 6042629
    Abstract: A process provides for the production of fertilizer solutions from brewery cleaning solutions. The process comprises the steps of combining a brewery caustic potash cleaning solution with a brewery nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing acid cleaning solution in mutually neutralizing amounts. This process results in the production of a fertilizer solution comprising a neutralized potassium salt solution having nitrogen-containing, organic, brewing materials entrained therein. If desired, spent grains and/or spent yeast from the brewing process can be added to provide further nutrients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Labatt Brewing Company Limited
    Inventor: Michael Jerome McGarrity
  • Patent number: 6039782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing granulated organic matters wherein a precipitated fraction obtaied in a settling tank from a methane fermentation fluid having been treated aerobically in an aeration tank is added to a fermentation waste fluid. According to the present invention, there is provided a process for producing physically stable granulated organic matters with reduced increase of stickiness occurring at the time of manufacturing granulated organic matters from fermentation waste fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Sota, Tomoo Okiura, Masaki Azuma
  • Patent number: 6033899
    Abstract: A process of decontaminating soil containing pentachlorophenol (PCP) contaminant comprising admixing an organic nutrient material into soil in an amount of about 10% to 95% by weight of the soil mixture. The soil mixture forms a compost mixture. Composting the compost mixture at a temperature in the range of 20 to 65 degrees celsius. The water content of the compost mixture is maintained in a range of 40% to 100% water holding capacity (WHC). The redox potential level during the composting is below negative 200 mV to achieve partial degradation of the PCP contaminant. After composting, the compost mixture is oxygenated to raise the redox potential to positive 100 mV to further degrade the contaminant; and the steps are repeated until the PCP contaminant is present in an amount less than 140 ppm per ton of soil. The organic nutrient material comprises agricultural waste and municipal waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Zenca, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy P. Moser, Neil C. C. Gray
  • Patent number: 5998199
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process of decontaminating, by composting under specific conditions, soil and/or sediments containing toxic contaminants of TNT, HMX and RDX. The process is carried out by converting the contaminants into harmless materials. The process includes the step of affecting a solid compost mixture during composting with a redox potential below negative 200 mV (millivolts). Further, the process includes several steps which are repeated until complete degradation is achieved. Other processes for degrading compounds such as chlordane, dieldrin, toxaphene, aldrin, endrin, and heptachlorepoxide as well as polychlorinated benzenes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Zeneca Inc
    Inventors: Guy P. Moser, Neil C. C. Gray
  • Patent number: 5984579
    Abstract: Synthetic soil is created by blending processed or unprocessed incinerator ash, derived from solid waste or other materials, with either compostable materials or compostable materials derived therefrom. The blending of these materials results in residual biotech soil which can be used as a plant-growth medium; as cover material for such things as landfills, disturbed soil areas or mined-land reclamation; and as a medium to treat contaminated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Richard J. McClimans
  • Patent number: 5976211
    Abstract: A process for producing a fertilizer from an organic waste material is described which comprises treating a waste, having a water content of no more than 90% by weight and which has been alkalinized, with nitrogen dioxide or a precursor thereof in sufficient amount to reduce the pH by at least 2.0 pH units. The process produces an organic fertilizer in which the percentage by weight of nitrogen in the form of oxides of nitrogen is higher than percentage by weight of nitrogen in the form of ammonium ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Agronova A/S
    Inventors: Erling Fjelldal, .O slashed.yvind Vartdal, Svein Slangsvold, Pal Jacobsen