Phosphorus Containing Patents (Class 210/906)

Cross-Reference Art Collections

Phosphate slimes (Class 210/907)
  • Patent number: 11981591
    Abstract: Water treatment structures may have at least a first geotextile fabric layer; a second geotextile fabric layer; a third geotextile fabric layer; a first filler layer with plastic particles, arranged between the first and second geotextile fabric layers; and a second filler layer with plastic particles, arranged between the second and third geotextile fabric layers, wherein the geotextile fabric layers and the filler layers are within a housing, and wherein the structure is configured such that contaminated water proceeds sequentially through the first geotextile fabric layer, the first filler layer, the second geotextile fabric layer, the second filler layer, and the third geotextile fabric layer. Methods of treating wastewater may involve passing wastewater, after optional oxygenating and pre-filtering, through such alternating layers of geotextile, preferably nonwoven, and polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
    Inventors: Cevat Yaman, Omer Aga
  • Patent number: 11851356
    Abstract: A method and system for the nitrification and denitrification of septic effluent, e.g. from a domestic septic tank, is disclosed comprising a variable speed pump system for constant continuous flow and a recycle mechanism to increase efficacy in producing a final denitrified effluent suitable for discharge to ground or surface waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventor: Frank M. Russo
  • Patent number: 11807562
    Abstract: An activated sludge process for the treatment of municipal wastewater, particularly applicable to oxidation ditch activated sludge treatment systems which utilize a conventional race track or continuous loop reactor basin configuration. The process removes phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system, with an anoxic cycle followed by an aerobic cycle, and followed by a surface wasting cycle until a low flow diurnal period is reached in a diurnal or twenty-four hour period. Automated microprocessor control system using “oxidation-reduction potential” (ORP) and “dissolved oxygen” (DO) as process variable inputs automate aerated and anoxic cycles to optimize phosphorus and nitrogen removal using the available carbon in the influent wastewater resulting in an energy efficient dynamic dissolved oxygen control during the aerated periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DENTRO-P, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Coleman
  • Patent number: 11787716
    Abstract: A method for advanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal of domestic sewage based on DEAMOX in AOAO process with sludge double-reflux is disclosed. The method comprises allowing domestic sewage and returned sludge of the secondary sedimentation tank (3) to enter the anaerobic zone (2.1) of the AOAO reactor (2), firstly performing partial denitrification by the denitrifying bacteria, reducing nitrate-nitrogen in the returned sludge to nitrite-nitrogen, then converting ammonia-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen into nitrogen by anammox bacteria, and phosphate accumulating bacteria and denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms performing anaerobic phosphate release and storing internal carbon source; then allowing part of the mixed liquid to enter the intermediate aerobic zone (2.2) of the AOAO bioreactor (2) to carry out phosphate uptake and nitrification reaction, allowing another part of the mixed liquid to enter the anoxic zone (2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing University of Technology
    Inventors: Yongzhen Peng, Yan Feng, Bo Liu, Lei Wu
  • Patent number: 11760668
    Abstract: A water treatment method that uses a reaction tank and involves repeatedly performing an operation cycle including: an inflow step for causing an inflow of waste water; a biological treatment step for subjecting the waste water to biological treatment using biological sludge; a sedimentation step for causing the biological sludge to settle; and a drainage step for draining biologically-treated water that has undergone the aforementioned biological treatment. The reaction tank is provided with an inflow port that is disposed at a position lower than an interface position of a biological sludge bed formed at the bottom of the reaction tank in the sedimentation step, and an inflow pipe that extends upward in the vertical direction from the inflow port. In the inflow step, the waste water is caused to gravitationally flow down in the inflow pipe so as to be fed into the biological sludge bed from the inflow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Miyake, Yoshiaki Hasebe, Shohei Yamamoto, Hizuru Wakayama
  • Patent number: 11760674
    Abstract: A semiconductor process wastewater treatment system and a semiconductor process wastewater treatment method using the same are disclosed. The disclosed semiconductor process wastewater treatment system may comprises: a processing unit configured to receive semiconductor process wastewater and treats the semiconductor process wastewater through a plurality of operations; and a membrane filtration tank arranged separately from the processing unit, the membrane filtration tank having a ceramic nano-membrane for filtering the semiconductor process wastewater which has passed through the processing unit, wherein the ceramic nano-membrane may include a carbon-based nano-material. The ceramic nano-membrane may include a graphene-based nano-material as the carbon-based nano-material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: SK hynix Inc., Ewha University—Industry Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Sehyuk Ahn, Chanhyuk Park, Soyoun Kim, Minju Cha
  • Patent number: 11760673
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a treatment method of wastewater containing heterocyclic organics comprising the following steps: (1) adding a persulfate to the wastewater containing heterocyclic organics in a reaction vessel; (2) heating the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature in an inert atmosphere, then introducing an oxygen-containing gas until a reaction pressure is reached for reaction, and after the reaction is completed, cooling and filtering the reaction resultant to obtain a filtrate as a treated effluent and a filter residue; no catalyst is added to the reaction system. The treatment method provided by the present disclosure not only can significantly reduce the treatment temperature of the conventional wet oxidation, but also can control the amount of generated spherical polymer and the removal efficiency of organic pollutants by control of reaction conditions. Wastewater purification and organics recovery and reuse are achieved at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Hongbin Cao, Yongbing Xie, Linbi Zhou, Yanchun Shi
  • Patent number: 11577959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering N, K, and P from liquid waste stream, preferably from a stream of urine, or from a stream comprising excreta (e.g. faeces, manure, digestate, fertilizer), or from (concentrated) wastewater, for example, municipal (e.g. sewage, septic) and/or industrial wastewater (e.g. food and feed industry, agriculture, mining, etc.); more preferably from urine, such as human or animal urine; most preferably from human urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Arne Verliefde, Sebastiaan Derese
  • Patent number: 11513053
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for determining optimal preservation temperature of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm in wastewater treatment, and belongs to the technical field of environmental engineering. The method of the present disclosure characterizes the ratio of living cells, early apoptotic cells, late apoptotic cells and dead cells in the anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm by flow cytometry, and the optimum storage temperature can be measured within a few hours. The method of the present disclosure performs correlation analysis on the characteristic indexes of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm activity recovery process to verify the reliability of the data. By using the method of the present disclosure, the step of recovering the biofilm activity can be omitted, the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen were over 90% and 85%, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Jiangnan University
    Inventors: Shuo Wang, Yin Zhu, Xuesong Yi, Ji Li, Yan Wang, Junhua Zheng
  • Patent number: 11453608
    Abstract: Sludge, for example primary sludge or waste activated sludge or both from a wastewater treatment plant, is pre-treated prior to anaerobic digestion. The pre-treatment includes an optional mechanical treatment to reduce the viscosity of the sludge and a biological hydrolysis treatment. The biological hydrolysis treatment may be performed in a series of reactors some of which are maintained at a temperature in the range of 50 to 70° C. The reactors provide a combined residence time in the range of 0.5 to 6 days. Optionally, measurements of the pH of the sludge during or after biological hydrolysis, or the production of biogas from a downstream anaerobic digester, may be considered in adjusting the temperature of one or more of the biological hydrolysis reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael David Theodoulou, Dorian Harrison, Marion Debacker
  • Patent number: 9039897
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Peter George Stroot
  • Patent number: 9011692
    Abstract: This application relates to processes for selectively removing anionic phosphate molecules from contaminated hydrocarbon oil using the ion exchange activity of acid activated clay. The methods are particularly applicable to the removal of volatile phosphates from hydrocarbons contaminated during fracturing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Skye Petroleum Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Robert McCartney
  • Patent number: 9005956
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selectively obtaining phosphorus from solids containing heavy metals and phosphate. In this method, the solid is treated under acidic aerobic conditions using microorganisms comprising leaching microorganisms and polyphosphate-accumulating microorganisms, so that the heavy metals and the phosphates are released from the solid and the released phosphates may be taken up by the polyphosphate-accumulating microorganisms. The phosphorus-enriched biomass that is obtained in this manner is separated and may be utilized, e.g., as organic fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Georg Fritzmeier GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jennifer Zimmermann, Wolfgang Dott
  • Patent number: 8999165
    Abstract: A method for the biological treatment of wastewater containing pollutants, using an aerobic biomass, includes a plurality of successive cycles of a predefined duration in order to achieve pollutants removal efficiency of 90% or higher, each of the cycles including the following steps: —introducing a wastewater effluent containing phosphorus and calcium into a reactor containing biomass; —applying an aerobic phase by introducing into the reactor a gas flow containing oxygen for a predefined length of time, sufficient to form aerobic biomass granules; —decanting the aerobic biomass granules thus formed; —and removing at least part of the treated effluent. After each step of introducing effluent into the reactor, the pH in the reactor is maintained at a value above 8 for a length of time at least equal to 10% of the cycle duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Valbio, Inst National des Sciences Appliquees de Toulouse
    Inventors: Mathieu Sperandio, Angela Manas-Llamas, Francois Decker, Beatrice Biscans
  • Patent number: 8980090
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for alternative aeration-effluent wastewater treatment using a ceramic membrane, which allows the biological treatment to be performed sufficiently in an intermittent aeration tank by combining an anaerobic tank with a plurality of intermittent aeration tanks and selectively changing an inflow path of influent water according to an operation status of the intermittent aeration tanks. The present disclosure is directed to providing an apparatus and method for alternative aeration-effluent wastewater treatment, which allows the aeration and treated water to continuously discharge through two intermittent aeration tanks by independently forming an air injection line and a treated water discharge line at a ceramic membrane provided in each intermittent aeration tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong Su Choi, Seok Won Hong, Jae Shik Chung, Yong Bae Park, Gyo Bum Kim, Yun Chul Chung
  • Patent number: 8932466
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sludge treatment, comprising the following steps: (1) mixing a sludge feed from a sewage biotreatment process with a first mixed liquor to obtain a second mixed liquor; (2) subjecting the second mixed liquor to an oxygen-supplying process to obtain a third mixed liquor; (3) subjecting the third mixed liquor to an anoxic process to obtain a fourth mixed liquor; (4) separating the fourth mixed liquor to obtain a supernatant liquid and a first concentrated mixed liquor; (5) discharging the supernatant liquid, and returning at least a part of the first concentrated mixed liquor as the first mixed liquor to the step (1), wherein the amount of sludge of the first concentrated mixed liquor that does not return to the step (1) is less than the amount of sludge of the sludge feed. The present invention further relates to the use of the method for sludge treatment in sewage treatment. The method for sludge treatment can achieve a long term stable run without sludge discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Jinmin Li, Liankui Zhou, Dayong Li
  • Patent number: 8894856
    Abstract: A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system, an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system, and an aerobic treatment tank that partially reduces oxygen demand of a portion of the sludge from the sorption tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, George W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8877049
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, water to be treated is passed through each of a first reactor vessel and second reactor vessel, phosphorus contained in the water is removed by using an adsorbent, thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged from each of a first treated water discharge path and second treated water discharge path, and thus the influence of soluble impurities derived from the water is eliminated. Further, when suspended solids impurities contained in the water are accumulated in the phosphorus adsorbent, the accumulated impurities are eliminated by a reverse cleaning operation using a liquid to be thereafter introduced from a reactor vessel liquid introduction path into the reactor vessel, and hence the influence of the suspended solids in the water on a desorption agent liquid to be thereafter introduced into a crystallization vessel, and containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetaki Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8877907
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cross-linked molecularly imprinted polymer including cross-linked chitosan having selective binding sites for phosphate ions, phosphate containing molecules, or a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Tracy J. Terry, Andrew F. Mason, Carl A. Marrese
  • Patent number: 8864992
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Patent number: 8864993
    Abstract: A process that utilizes ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (ANAMMOX) bacteria to remove ammonium from a wastewater stream. Sludge separated from the wastewater in a mainstream is processed in a sidestream that includes an anaerobic digester, a dewatering system, and a biofilm reactor. The anaerobic digester produces digested sludge that is dewatered, producing reject water that includes a relatively high ammonium concentration and a relatively low organic carbon concentration and a relatively high temperature. The reject water is treated in a sidestream deammonification biofilm reactor that includes biofilm carriers seeded with AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria that are effective to remove ammonium from the reject water. AOB and ANAMMOX bacteria on the media carriers is utilized to contact the wastewater in the mainstream and to remove ammonium therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Hong W. Zhao, Thomas Welander, Magnus Christensson, Romain Lemaire
  • Patent number: 8845900
    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: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Daniel R. Miklos
  • Patent number: 8801931
    Abstract: A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system, an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system, and an aerobic treatment tank that partially reduces oxygen demand of a portion of the sludge from the sorption tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, George W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8764986
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for removal of undesirable substances from a body of liquid. The system can include an aeration structure having a continuously inclined surface configured to provide an interaction of air bubbles against substantially an entire length of the continuously inclined surface while the air bubbles are moving toward a top of the body of liquid. The continuously inclined surface can be substantially submerged in the body of liquid. A bio-film of diverse bacteria colonies is disposed on the continuously inclined surface, and a high surface area-to-volume structure is located in proximity to the aeration structure, upon which a bio-film of bacteria colonies can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kraig Johnson, Lawrence D. Reaveley, Fred Jaeger, Hua Xu, Joyce A. Okey
  • Patent number: 8747671
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating wastewater to simultaneously remove nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus. The process includes an anoxic tank that receives at least two streams, including plant influent wastewater and return activated sludge. These streams are mixed in the anoxic tank to promote phosphorus release and fermentation of particulate and dissolved organic matter. The mixed liquor is transferred to an aerated tank having low dissolved oxygen concentrations to promote development of phosphorus-release bacteria that is eventually recycled to the anoxic tank by way of the return activated sludge. Simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus release occur in the aerated tank. A membrane tank separates treated effluent from activated sludge in a membrane tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: American Water Works Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Giraldo, Yanjin Liu, Swarna Muthukrishnan
  • Patent number: 8747672
    Abstract: Methods and systems for recovery of phosphorus from wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Multiform Harvest Inc.
    Inventor: Keith E. Bowers
  • Patent number: 8734647
    Abstract: Process for the biological treatment of organic wastes, includes a first anaerobic digestion phase and a second aerobic digestion phase in succession, a respective filtration phase of the solid substance being provided between the two digestion phases, a separation phase of the biogas released in the anaerobic digestion phase and a nitrogen recovery phase from the exhaust gases rich in ammoniac substances separated from the aerobic digestion phase. The solid substance coming from each of the filtration phases is separately returned to the respective digestion phase, while the liquid phase coming from the filtration phase downstream of the anaerobic digestion phase is sent to aerobic phase. In the nitrogen recovery phase the gaseous current consisting of exhaust gases rich in ammoniac substances is treated with a solution of carbonic acid supplied in countercurrent in a first gas/liquid contactor to obtain a mixture of nitrogen salts (ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Bioenergia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Bresciani, Andrea Manfredini, Andrea Peri, Federico Peri, Mario Peri, Vanessa Pizzaballa, Martino Pretalli, Antonio Tabarelli, Antonio Trilli
  • Patent number: 8721885
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing phosphorous (P) from P-containing wastewater are disclosed. The system includes a main filter unit (MFU) comprising P-adsorbing material. The MFU receives the P-containing wastewater and forms therefrom MFU-filtered wastewater having a first pH. A pH adjusting unit (AU) that contains pH-reducing material receives the MFU-filtered wastewater and forms therefrom AU-filtered wastewater having a second pH lower than the first pH. A replaceable filter unit (RFU) similar to the MFU but smaller may be arranged upstream of the MFU to pre-filter the P-containing wastewater. Some or all of the RFU may be replaced when maintaining the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventors: Aleksandra Drizo, Hugo Picard
  • Patent number: 8715502
    Abstract: A biological nutrient removal (BNR) system to treat a typical U.S. municipal/domestic wastewater. This BNR system consists of four main directly interflowing of anaerobic, aerobic, anoxic and re-aeration. In the municipal/domestic wastewater treatment industry, the past multi-stage suspended waste activated sludge treatment facilities have been adding coagulant chemicals such as alum to remove total phosphorous (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) to 1.0 mg/l and 3.0 mg/l, respectively. This BNR system is a unique activated sludge biological configuration capable of treating wastewater biologically for clarifier effluent TP and clarifier effluent TN to a level less than 1.0 mg/l for each pollutant without any coagulant chemical additions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Hossein Eshaghi
  • Patent number: 8702993
    Abstract: Amine-aldehyde resins are disclosed for removing a wide variety of solids and/or ionic species from the liquids in which they are suspended and/or dissolved. These resins are especially useful as froth flotation depressants in the separation of bitumen from sand and/or clay or in the beneficiation of clay (e.g., kaolin clay) from an impure clay-containing ore. The resins are also useful for treating aqueous liquid suspensions to remove solid particulates, as well as for removing metallic ions in the purification of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC
    Inventors: James Wright, Carl R. White, Kurt Gabrielson, John B. Hines, Lisa M. Arthur, Paul Hart, Richard Rediger
  • Patent number: 8691094
    Abstract: A method and system for treating domestic sewage and organic garbage are provided. The method comprises the steps of: multi-phase separation, retting, generating sewage gas, and optional biological denitrification and dephosphorization, which can convert the domestic sewage and organic garbage into clear water, sewage gas, organic manure and sludge. The system comprises a multi-phase separation device, a retting device, a sewage gas generating device and a biological denitrification and dephosphorization device, which can treat the domestic sewage and organic garbage effectively and environmental friendly to achieve a reduction in pollution emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Huge Asia Limited
    Inventor: Ming Lu
  • Patent number: 8685246
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating wastewater to simultaneously remove nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus, while recovering energy in the form of methane and carbon dioxide. An ammonia-containing stream is directed to a pretreatment tank that produces excess sludge, biogas, and a pretreated stream. The pretreated stream has at least 45% less carbon than the ammonia-containing stream. The pretreated stream is then directed to an anoxic tank, which promotes phosphorus release and fermentation of particulate and dissolved organic matter. The mixed liquor is transferred to an aerated tank having low dissolved oxygen concentrations to promote development of phosphorus-release bacteria that is eventually recycled to the anoxic tank by way of the return activated sludge. Simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus release occur in the aerated tank. A membrane tank separates treated effluent from activated sludge in a membrane tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: American Water Works Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugenio Giraldo
  • Patent number: 8685247
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and processes of wastewater treatment and, in particular, to systems and methods of treating wastewater utilizing biological treatments utilizing two mixed liquor recycle streams for nutrient removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: John Edward Olson
  • Patent number: 8673152
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment systems, methods and apparatus for polishing a wastewater stream comprising a plurality of contaminants are provided. One system includes a vessel containing a plurality of natural media filtration agents selected to remove selected ones of the plurality of contaminants from the wastewater stream. In one embodiment, the vessel includes a bed of bauxite residue and at least one other natural media filtration agent. In another embodiment, the vessel includes a bed of compost and at least one other natural media filtration agent. The vessel includes a wastewater inlet that is in fluid communication with one or more of the natural media filtration agents. The vessel includes a wastewater outlet that is in fluid communication with one or more of the natural media filtration agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: Alcoa Inc., Corporate Environmental Solutions LLC
    Inventors: John R. Smith, Jaw K. Fu, Rajat Ghosh, Kevin Kitzman, Jonell Kerkhoff, Robert C. Horger, Dennis L. Fulmer, Aniruddha Bhattacharyya, Andrew C. Middleton, Robin L. Weightman
  • Patent number: 8636905
    Abstract: This application relates to processes for selectively removing anionic phosphate molecules from contaminated hydrocarbon oil using the ion exchange activity of acid activated clay. The methods are particularly applicable to the removal of volatile phosphates from hydrocarbons contaminated during fracturing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Woodrising Resources Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Robert McCartney
  • Patent number: 8585900
    Abstract: In accordance with particular process, method and system aspects there is provided a biological manner of treating water/wastewater. Treatment is undertaken in bioreactor configured to treat the water/wastewater through a first process of denitrification followed by a second process of biological phosphorus removal. The bioreactor may be defined by multiple stages arranged in compact vertical alignment, for example, to reduce a footprint of the bioreactor and to feed the water/wastewater between the stages using gravity. The stages may comprise, in order, a Deaeration stage, an Anoxic stage, an Anaerobic stage, and an Aerobic stage. Continuous vacuum operation in the Deaeration stage enhances the physical removal of oxygen and other dissolved gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Manuel Alvarez-Cuenca, Maryam Reza
  • Patent number: 8568590
    Abstract: A method for recovering phosphate from sewage treatment plants using multi-stage anaerobic digestion includes the treatment of organic acid digest with calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and similar compounds to raise pH to near neutral values and precipitate calcium phosphate compounds such as brushite and similar amorphous compounds. The method includes the formation of calcium phosphates on weak-acid ion exchange columns and membranes in contact with organic acid digest. The system includes removal of the calcium phosphate compounds formed by sedimentation, either static or against an upwelling flow, centrifugation, or filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip Barak
  • Patent number: 8568592
    Abstract: A method for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from an activated sludge wastewater treatment system is provided consisting of one or more anaerobic zones followed by two or more activated sludge reactors operating in parallel each having independent aeration/mixing means, whereby the utilization of the influent organic carbon under anoxic conditions; and thereby, the selection of denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DNPAOs) over non-denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), is maximized in order to further maximize the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen in the wastewater treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: dTEC Systems LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Coleman
  • Patent number: 8518359
    Abstract: Phosphorous ions are extracted (210) from solutions by adsorbing phosphorous ions in a scavenger and by releasing the phosphorous ions into an eluate during regeneration (230) of the scavenger. The regeneration (230) is performed by ammonia. Phosphate anions are precipitated (262) in form of tri-ammonium phosphate upon introduction (260) of excess amounts of ammonia. The ammonia remaining in solution after the precipitation of tri-ammonium phosphate is reused (266) for regenerating the scavenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: EasyMining Sweden AB
    Inventor: Yariv Cohen
  • Patent number: 8496827
    Abstract: A method of treating a mixture of microorganisms with readily biodegradable carbon compounds (RBCs) in the form of one or more volatile fatty acids (VFAs), by first inducing the mixture microorganisms to release phosphorus and magnesium which is then tapped o as the mixture is thickened, to produce a phosphorus/magnesium-nch liquid and a phosphorus/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 Next the high-ammonia mixture is dewatered to produce an ammonia-rich liquid, which is combined with the phosphorus and magnesium-rich liquid and reacted to form struvite In one preferred embodiment, VFAs are formed in situ via an upstream unified fermentation and thickening (UFAT) process and added to the waste sidestream to strip phosphorus and magnesium found therein In another preferred embodiment a usable struvite product is harvested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Clean Water Services
    Inventor: Robert James Baur
  • Patent number: 8435413
    Abstract: A method of controlling the concentration of P of cleaning solution waste water starts by providing a waste water buffer tank capable of either sending the waste water to a waste water treatment plant or storing the waste water after the waste water is accepted. The concentration of P in the cleaning solution is set within a target concentration range, and matter to be treated is treated. The concentration of P in the waste water is measured in the waste water buffer tank. When the measured value of the concentration of P is less than a selected upper limit, the waste water is sent from the waste water buffer tank to the waste water treatment plant. When the measured value of the concentration of P is higher than the selected upper limit, sending the waste water to the waste water treatment plant is stopped, and the waste water is stored in the waste water buffer tank. The concentration of P is reduced to a value within the target concentration range, and the matter to be treated is treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoneda, Takahiro Sugano, Nobuyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8394267
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in order to eliminate impurities, and the like, water to be treated is passed through each of reactor vessels, phosphorus contained in the water to be treated is removed by using an adsorbent, and thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged through each of first to third treated water discharge paths, thereby eliminating the impurities, and the like derived from the water to be treated. It is possible to eliminate the influence of the impurities in the water to be treated on the discharged desorption agent liquid containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent can be eliminated, and hence it is possible to obtain a phosphorus-containing liquid containing no substance other than the recovered phosphoric matter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetake Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • 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: RE44570
    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: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Idaho
    Inventors: Gregory Moller, Kevin Marshall Brackney, Roger Alan Korus, Gerald Michael Keller, Jr., Brian Keith Hart, Remembrance Louisa Newcombe