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US4214985A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for sewage treatment with bacteria

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-11-27
•
Granted: 1980-07-29
•
Expires: 1998-11-27
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Abstract

Abstract A process for the treatment of sewage wherein the sludge is innoculated with a bacteria, L. plantarum, and a carbohydrate such as lactose is admixed therewith. The addition of the bacteria and the carbohydrate without more, drops the pH of the sludge to below 4.0. This results in the elimination of pathogenic bacteria and renders the sludge suitable for use as a soil extender without any further environmental constraints.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bonnie J. Bodenrader

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:10
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/34; C02F1/00; C02F1/02; C02F1/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
A method for the treatment of sewage sludge which treatment renders the sludge environmentally acceptable which includes: inoculating the sludge with Lactobacillus the sludge per se containing the nutritional requirements for the lactobacilli; and admixing a fermentable carbohydrate in an effective amount with the sludge, the Lactobacillus inoculated and the carbohydrate admixed in an amount sufficient to lower the pH of the sludge to below 4.5 to render the sludge substantially free of coliform, and pathogenic bacteria.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 77 words
A method for the treatment of sewage sludge which treatment renders the sludge environmentally acceptable which includes: inoculating the sludge with Lactobacillus the sludge per se containing the nutritional requirements for the lactobacilli; and admixing a fermentable carbohydrate in an effective amount with the sludge, the Lactobacillus inoculated and the carbohydrate admixed in an amount sufficient to lower the pH of the sludge to below 4.5 to render the sludge substantially free of coliform, and pathogenic bacteria.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is raw sludge and which includes: sterilizing the sludge by heating the sludge prior to innoculation and admixing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is raw sludge and which includes: sterilizing the sludge by irradiation prior to innoculation and admixing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is digested sludge and which includes: sterilizing the sludge by heating the sludge prior to innoculating and admixing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is digested sludge and which includes: sterilizing the sludge by irradiation prior to innoculation and admixing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is untreated raw sludge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sludge is untreated digested sludge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the carbohydrate is lactose and wherein the bacteria is L. plantarum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the amount of L. plantarum in the sludge increases from 10 3 to 10 9 as the pH drops below 4.5.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the lactose added is between 0.25 to 5% based on the total volume of the sludge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate is lactose.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the Lactobacillus is L. plantarum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 which includes: maintaining the sludge at a temperature of between about 5°-53° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 which includes maintaining the temperature of the sludge between about 30°-35° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the Lactobacillus is L. plantarum and the carbohydrate is lactose.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. coryniformis, L. debrucckii, L. helveticus, L. Lactis, L. Leichmannii, L. plantarum, L. Thermophilus, L. Xylosus, L. brevis, L. buchneri, L. corprophilus, L. fermentum, L. viridescens and combinations thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the bacteria is L. casei.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of Amygdalin, Arabinose, Cellobiose, Fructose, Galactose, Glucose, Gluconate, Lactose, Maltose, Mannitol, Mannose, Melezitose, Melibiose, Raffinose, Rhamnose, Ribose, Salicin, Sorbitol, Sucrose, Trehalose, Xylose, Esculin and combinations thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the carbohydrate is lactose and wherein the bacteria is L. plantarum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the carbohydrate is glucose.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 which includes: adding ammonia to the sludge to produce ammonium lactate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 which includes: innoculating the sludge with treated sludge.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the bacteria is L. casei and the carbohydrate is glucose.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3546812A Cited
US3751338A Cited
US3801499A Cited
US3961078A Cited
US3900572A Cited
US4018650A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-07-29 1984-01-28 1984-07-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-07-29 1988-01-28 1988-07-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-07-29 1992-01-28 1992-07-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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