Patent US4172781A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4172781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waste water process for treatment of strong wastes
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1977-06-15
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Granted: 1979-10-30
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Expires: 1997-06-15
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a waste water process for the treatment of strong wastes. Generally the process comprises an activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: feeding the waste water to a first aeration zone wherein oxygen is introduced into the waste water, and said waste water is contacted with activated sludge; passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; oxygenating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water; and recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone and passing decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone. Preferably said first aeration zone comprises a multiple stage aeration zone wherein waste water is aerated to introduce oxygen into the waste water in a first stage and the effluent from the first stage is aerated in one or more stages downstream of said first stage.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe D. Walk
- 👤 James F. Grutsch
- 👤 Russell C. Mallatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:00
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1205; C02F3/1226; C02F3/121; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: feeding the waste water to a first aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the waste water, and said waste water is contacted with activated sludge; passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; oxygenating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water, and recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone so as to maintain the average sludge age in the second aeration zone greater than about 10 days, and passing decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: feeding the waste water to a first aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the waste water, and said waste water is contacted with activated sludge; passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; oxygenating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water, and recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone so as to maintain the average sludge age in the second aeration zone greater than about 10 days, and passing decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a portion of the suspended sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone is recycled to the first aeration zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first aeration zone comprises a multiplicity of aeration zones in series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the first aeration zone comprises two aeration zones in series.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the average sludge age in the first aeration zone is greater than about 10 days.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the average sludge age in the first aeration zone is greater than about 30 days.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the average sludge age in the second aeration zone is greater than about 30 days.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminated water leaving the second clarification zone is passed to a granular media bed filter for filtration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the powdered activated carbon is added to the inlet of the granular media bed filter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the filters are occasionally backwashed to reduce filter plugging and to remove activated carbon and residual organic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the activated carbon and residual organic material are backwashed to the second stage aeration zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the waste water is pretreated to substantially reduce chemical oxygen demand prior to the first aeration zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the waste water is pretreated to reduce oil and solids to less than about 20 ppm each.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a surface area greater than about 1500 square meters per gram.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a surface area greater than about 2500 square meters per gram.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 5 to about 40 parts of carbon are added per million parts of water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a zeta potential more positive than about minus ten millivolts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
267 words
An activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: pretreating the waste water to reduce oil and solids to less than about 20 ppm each; feeding the pretreated waste water to a first aeration zone wherein it is contacted with activated sludge and air or oxygen is introduced into the waste water so that the waste water is vigorously agitated; and passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; aerating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein air or oxygen is introduced into the water so that the waste water is vigorously agitated and oxygen is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone so as to maintain the average sludge age in the second aeration zone greater than about 10 days; and passing the decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
267 words
An activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: pretreating the waste water to reduce oil and solids to less than about 20 ppm each; feeding the pretreated waste water to a first aeration zone wherein it is contacted with activated sludge and air or oxygen is introduced into the waste water so that the waste water is vigorously agitated; and passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; aerating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein air or oxygen is introduced into the water so that the waste water is vigorously agitated and oxygen is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone so as to maintain the average sludge age in the second aeration zone greater than about 10 days; and passing the decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 18 wherein about 5 to about 40 parts of powdered activated carbon are added per million parts of water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a zeta potential more positive than about minus ten millivolts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
254 words
An activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: feeding the waste water to a first aeration zone, said first aeration zone comprising a multiple stage aeration zone wherein waste water is aerated to introduce oxygen into the waste water in a first stage and the effluent from the first stage is aerated in one or more stages downsteam of said first stage; passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; oxygenating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water; and recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone so as to maintain the average sludge age in the second aeration zone greater than about 10 days, and passing decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
254 words
An activated sludge process for the purification of waste water comprising: feeding the waste water to a first aeration zone, said first aeration zone comprising a multiple stage aeration zone wherein waste water is aerated to introduce oxygen into the waste water in a first stage and the effluent from the first stage is aerated in one or more stages downsteam of said first stage; passing the effluent from the first aeration zone to a first clarification zone where the water from the first aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge particles from partially decontaminated water; recycling a portion of the separated sludge from the first clarification zone to the first aeration zone and passing the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone to a second aeration zone; adding about 5 to about 500 ppm powdered activated carbon to the partially decontaminated water from the first clarification zone; oxygenating the partially decontaminated water containing carbon in a second aeration zone wherein oxygen or air is introduced into the partially decontaminated water; passing the effluent from the second aeration zone to a second clarification zone where the water from the second aeration zone is clarified to separate suspended sludge and carbon particles from decontaminated water; and recycling a portion of the separated sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone to the second aeration zone so as to maintain the average sludge age in the second aeration zone greater than about 10 days, and passing decontaminated water out of the second clarification zone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 21 wherein a portion of the suspended sludge and carbon from the second clarification zone is recycled to the first aeration zone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the first aeration zone comprises two aeration zones in series.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the average sludge age in the first aeration zone is greater than about 10 days.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the average sludge age in the first aeration zone is greater than about 30 days.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 24 wherein the filter is occasionally backwashed to reduce filter plugging and remove activated carbon and residual organic material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the activated carbon and residual organic material are backwashed to the second aeration zone.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the average sludge age in the second aeration zone is greater than about 30 days.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the decontaminated water leaving the second clarification zone is passed to a granular media bed filter for filtration.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 29 wherein the powdered activated carbon is added to the water passing to the granular media filter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the waste water is pretreated to substantially reduce chemical oxygen demand prior to the first aeration zone.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 31 wherein the waste water is pretreated to reduce oil and solids to less than about 20 ppm each.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a surface area greater than about 1500 square meters per gram.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 33 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a surface area greater than about 2500 square meters per gram.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 21 wherein about 5 to about 40 parts of powdered activated carbon is added per million parts of water.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the powdered activated carbon has a zeta potential more positive than about minus ten millivolts.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the effluent from filtration is contacted with powdered activated carbon in a reaction zone for a time sufficient to reduce contaminants to low levels, purified water is separated from the powdered activated carbon, and a portion of the powdered activated carbon is recycled to the reaction zone.
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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) | 1982-10-29 | 1983-04-30 | 1983-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-29 | 1987-04-30 | 1987-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-29 | 1991-04-30 | 1991-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |