US4181604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for waste water treatment
Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp
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Filing: 1978-04-04
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Granted: 1980-01-01
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Expires: 1998-04-04
Abstract
Abstract Waste water containing organic pollutants is purified by biological treatment with aerobic microorganisms supported on hollow fibers having microporous walls through which oxygen is supplied to the microorganisms.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisao Onishi
- 👤 Ryozo Numazawa
- 👤 Hitoshi Takeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:15
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/10; C02F3/102; C02F3/06; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A process for treating water polluted with organic substances by the action of microorganisms, comprising: supporting aerobic microorganisms on the outer surface of at least one hollow fiber having a porous wall, said fiber containing pores or a size sufficiently small to prevent invasion of the pores by said microorganisms but of a size sufficient to efficiently support microorganism life by oxygen diffusion therethrough and said fiber having an outside diameter of a size sufficient to supply oxygen to said microorganisms; supplying oxygen to said microorganisms from the interior of said hollow fiber; and contacting said polluted water with said supported microorganisms while supplying oxygen to said microorganisms from the interior of said hollow fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for treating water polluted with organic substances by the action of microorganisms, comprising: supporting aerobic microorganisms on the outer surface of at least one hollow fiber having a porous wall, said fiber containing pores or a size sufficiently small to prevent invasion of the pores by said microorganisms but of a size sufficient to efficiently support microorganism life by oxygen diffusion therethrough and said fiber having an outside diameter of a size sufficient to supply oxygen to said microorganisms; supplying oxygen to said microorganisms from the interior of said hollow fiber; and contacting said polluted water with said supported microorganisms while supplying oxygen to said microorganisms from the interior of said hollow fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber has an outside diameter of 0.01 to 3 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the pore size in the wall of the hollow fiber is 0.5μ or less in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the gas permeability of the wall of the hollow fiber is 1×10 -9 to 1×10 -4 ml·cm/cm 2 ·sec.·cmHg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber is of polypropylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber is of polyethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein a part of the treated water is recycled to the contaminated water.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for the biological treatment of water polluted with organic substances, comprising: at least one hollow fiber having a porous wall and having a colony of microorganisms on the exterior surface thereof, said fiber containing pores of a size sufficiently small to to prevent invasion of the pores by said microorganisms but of a size sufficient to efficiently support microorganism life by oxygen diffusion therethrough and said fiber having an outside diameter of a size sufficient to supply oxygen to said microorganisms; means for supplying oxygen to the interior of said hollow fiber; and means for applying polluted water to be treated to the exterior surface of said fiber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for the biological treatment of water polluted with organic substances, comprising: at least one hollow fiber having a porous wall and having a colony of microorganisms on the exterior surface thereof, said fiber containing pores of a size sufficiently small to to prevent invasion of the pores by said microorganisms but of a size sufficient to efficiently support microorganism life by oxygen diffusion therethrough and said fiber having an outside diameter of a size sufficient to supply oxygen to said microorganisms; means for supplying oxygen to the interior of said hollow fiber; and means for applying polluted water to be treated to the exterior surface of said fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one bundle of said fibers is present.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the hollow fiber has an outside diameter of 0.01 to 3 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the pore size in the wall of the hollow fiber is 0.5μ or less in diameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the gas permeability of the wall of the hollow fiber is 1×10 -9 to 1×10 -4 ml·cm/cm 2 ·sec.·cmHg.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the hollow fiber is of polypropylene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the hollow fiber is of polyethylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means of supplying polluted water to the surface of said fiber comprises a tank having an inlet pipe supplying polluted water to an inlet region of said tank and an outlet pipe removing treated water from an outlet region of said tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15 additionally comprising means for recycling said treated water to the inlet region of said tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for recycling treated water comprises a pipe connected between said outlet region and said inlet region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for recycling treated water comprises a pipe connected between said outlet pipe and said inlet region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for recycling treated water comprises a hollow cylinder fixed within the tank having one end communicating with said outlet region and the other end communicating with said inlet region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-12-31 | 1983-07-02 | 1984-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-31 | 1987-07-02 | 1988-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-31 | 1991-07-02 | 1992-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |