US4162153A
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US
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High nitrogen and phosphorous content biomass produced by treatment of a BOD-containing material
Assignee: I Kruger Inc
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Filing: 1977-07-25
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Granted: 1979-07-24
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Expires: 1997-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An organic product material having a high nitrogen and phosphorous content is produced as the product of a biological system for the treatment of a BOD-containing influent which also contains phosphorous and fixed nitrogen. The biological treatment system comprises the reaction of a mixed liquor composed of an activated biomass and a BOD-containing influent initially under anaerobic conditions and thereafter treating such mixed liquor under oxic conditions. The treated material is then separated into a supernatant liquid in which the BOD is depleted and a dense, activated biomass. A portion of this biomass is employed in forming the mixed liquor for the initial anaerobic treatment, while the remaining portion of the biomass is recovered as product. The living biomass product can be used in the fermentation industries. Alternatively, the product can be used as such or further processed, e.g. dried, for employment as a fertilizer or a nutrient in animal feeds.
Inventors
- 👤 Marshall L. Spector
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:21
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1205; C02F3/1215; A; A23; A23K; A23K10/00; A23K10/30; A23K10/37; C02F11/00; C02F11/12; C02F11/13; C02F3/28; C02F3/30; C02F3/308; C02F3/34; C05; C05F; C05F17/00; C05F17/40; C05F7/00; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/20; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/141; Y02P20/145; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/80; Y02P60/87; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/40; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/903; Y10S210/906; Y10S210/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An improved high nitrogen-, and phosphorus- content biomass characterized by a phosphorous content of at least about 3.96% and produced by the operation of an activated sludge process which inhibits proliferation of filamentous biomass, said process consisting essentially of: (a) first forming a mixed liquor by mixing activated biomass with nitrogen-, phosphorus-, and BOD-containting influent and initially treating the mixed liquor under anaerobic conditions such as to be substantially free of NO x - and to have a dissolved oxygen content of less than 0.7 ppm; thereby effecting selective production of nonfilamentous microorganisms capable of sorbing BOD under anaerobic conditions, whereby said mocroorganisms effect a decrease in BOD content of said mixed liquor; (b) oxidizing BOD in the mixed liquor to cause removal of BOD by contact with oxygen containing gas under conditions selected to maintain a dissolved oxygen content of at least 1 ppm; (c) settling the oxidized mixed liquor so as to separate a supernatant liquid from a more dense biomass; (d) employing a portion of the separated biomass as the activated biomass in an initial mixing with BOD-containing influent; and (e) recovering another portion of the settled and separated biomass as product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An improved high nitrogen-, and phosphorus- content biomass characterized by a phosphorous content of at least about 3.96% and produced by the operation of an activated sludge process which inhibits proliferation of filamentous biomass, said process consisting essentially of: (a) first forming a mixed liquor by mixing activated biomass with nitrogen-, phosphorus-, and BOD-containting influent and initially treating the mixed liquor under anaerobic conditions such as to be substantially free of NO x - and to have a dissolved oxygen content of less than 0.7 ppm; thereby effecting selective production of nonfilamentous microorganisms capable of sorbing BOD under anaerobic conditions, whereby said mocroorganisms effect a decrease in BOD content of said mixed liquor; (b) oxidizing BOD in the mixed liquor to cause removal of BOD by contact with oxygen containing gas under conditions selected to maintain a dissolved oxygen content of at least 1 ppm; (c) settling the oxidized mixed liquor so as to separate a supernatant liquid from a more dense biomass; (d) employing a portion of the separated biomass as the activated biomass in an initial mixing with BOD-containing influent; and (e) recovering another portion of the settled and separated biomass as product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic conditions are selected so as to have a dissolved oxygen concentration of less than about 0.5 ppm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the anaerobic conditions are maintained by contacting the mixed liquor with nitrogen gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the product is to be employed as a plant or animal nutrient and the BOD-containing influent is wastewater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the influent also contains ammonia values and wherein the mixed liquor, subsequent to the anaerobic treatment and prior to the oxidizing treatment, is treated under anoxic conditions including a dissolved oxygen content not in excess of 0.7 ppm and wherein oxidized mixed liquor having a concentration of nitrates and/or nitrites in excess of about 2 ppm, expressed as elemental nitrogen, is admixed during the anoxic treatment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The biomass product of claim 5 wherein the oxidized mixed liquor added to the anoxic treatment is added in a quantity corresponding to from 100 to about 400% by volume based upon the fresh influent employed in the initial anaerobic treatment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The biomass product of claim 5 wherein the activated biomass feed to the anaerobic treatment is admixed with the influent in a quantity corresponding from about 10 to about 50% by volume of the influent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The biomass product of claim 4 wherein the total treating time under anaerobic conditions and under oxidizing conditions does not exceed about 3 hours.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The biomass product of claim 5 wherein the total treating time under anaerobic conditions, anoxic conditions and oxidizing conditions does not exceed about 3 hours.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the product is to be employed as a live micro-organism in fermentation and steps (a) through (e) are performed in a batch-type process.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the process steps are performed in a continuous flow process in separate zones and the portion of separated biomass employed as the activated biomass is recycled to the initial anaerobic zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The biomass product of claim 5 wherein the process steps are performed in a continuous flow process in separate zones, the portion of separated biomass employed as the activated biomass is recycled to the initial anaerobic zone, and oxidized mixed liquor from the oxic zone is recycled to the anoxic zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The biomass product of claim 11 wherein the oxic zone comprises a series of at least two hydraulically distinct sections in sequential liquid flow communication.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The biomass product of claim 12 wherein the oxic zone comprises a series of at least two hydraulically distinct sections in sequential liquid flow communication.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The biomass product of claim 1 wherein the BOD-containing influent is a carbohydrate solution or suspension.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The biomass product of claim 11 wherein the anaerobic zone comprises a series of at least two hydraulically distinct sections in sequential flow communication.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The biomass product of claim 12 wherein the anaerobic zone comprises a series of at least two hydraulically distinct sections in sequential flow communication.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-07-23 | 1983-01-22 | 1983-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-07-23 | 1987-01-22 | 1987-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-07-23 | 1991-01-22 | 1991-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |