US4415450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for treating wastewater using microorganisms and vascular aquatic plants
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1981-12-28
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Granted: 1983-11-15
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Expires: 2001-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of subjecting the wastewater to an anaerobic settling step for at least 6 hours and passing the liquid effluent from the anaerobic settling step through a filter cell in an upflow manner, wherein the effluent is subjected first to the action of anaerobic and facultative microorganisms and then to the action of aerobic microorganisms and the roots of at least one vascular aquatic plant.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy C. Wolverton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:11
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/30; C02F3/301; C02F3/28; C02F3/308; C02F3/32; C02F3/327; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/30; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of subjecting the wastewater to an anaerobic settling step for at least 6 hours and passing the liquid effluent from the anaerobic settling step upwards through a filter bed, wherein the effluent is subjected first to the action of anaerobic and facultative microorganisms disposed on a particulate media in a lower portion of said bed and then to the action of aerobic microorganisms disposed on a particulate media in an upper portion of said bed and the roots of at least one vascular aquatic plant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of subjecting the wastewater to an anaerobic settling step for at least 6 hours and passing the liquid effluent from the anaerobic settling step upwards through a filter bed, wherein the effluent is subjected first to the action of anaerobic and facultative microorganisms disposed on a particulate media in a lower portion of said bed and then to the action of aerobic microorganisms disposed on a particulate media in an upper portion of said bed and the roots of at least one vascular aquatic plant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the vascular aquatic plant is a reed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the vascular aquatic plant is a rush.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the filter bed comprises rocks and has a top layer of pea gravel, a middle layer of rocks 2.5-7.5 cm in size and a base layer of rocks 7.5-15 cm in size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the filter bed comprises vinyl core medium as support and has as a top layer pea gravel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative microorganisms are provided with a high surface for attachment and growth under conditions producing mean cell residence times, θ c , of approximately 100 days.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the aerobic, anaerobic and facultative microorganisms are on the surface of the filter bed to a level of microorganisms with a mean cell residence time of approximately 100 days, the aerobic microorganisms are Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Fusazium, Mucor, Penicillium, Geotrichum, or Sporotichum; the anaerobic microorganisms are Methanobacterium, Methanobacillus, Methanococcus, or Methanosarcina; and the facultative microorganisms are Clostridium spp., Peptococcus anaerobus, Bifidobacterium spp., Desulphovibrio spp., Cornebacterium spp., Lactobacillus, Actinomyces, Staphylococcus or Escherichia coli.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the vascular aquatic plant is a reed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the vascular aquatic plant is a rush.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the anaerobic settling step is at least 12 hours.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein sludge accummulated during the anaerobic settling step is collected and removed periodically.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for the treatment of wastewater, comprising a preliminary vessel in which is carried out anaerobic settling, inlet means entering said vessel, a hybrid filter having a bed of particulate material, a lower portion of said bed being inoculated with anaerobic and facultative microorganisms and an upper portion thereof being inoculated with aerobic microorganisms and having vascular aquatic plants growing therein, fluid communication means between the preliminary vessel and said hybrid filter for conveying the effluent from the preliminary vessel to a bottom level of said hybrid filter for upflow therethrough, and outlet means from the hybrid filter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for the treatment of wastewater, comprising a preliminary vessel in which is carried out anaerobic settling, inlet means entering said vessel, a hybrid filter having a bed of particulate material, a lower portion of said bed being inoculated with anaerobic and facultative microorganisms and an upper portion thereof being inoculated with aerobic microorganisms and having vascular aquatic plants growing therein, fluid communication means between the preliminary vessel and said hybrid filter for conveying the effluent from the preliminary vessel to a bottom level of said hybrid filter for upflow therethrough, and outlet means from the hybrid filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the preliminary vessel is a covered anaerobic lagoon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid filter is a rock bed and wherein the vascular aquatic plant growing in the filter bed is reed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid filter is a rock bed and wherein the vascular aquatic plant growing in the filter bed is rush.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid filter comprises a bed of rocks and has a top layer of pea gravel, to serve as a support for the vascular aquatic plants; a middle layer of rocks 2.5-7.5 cm in size and a base layer of rocks 7.5-15 cm in size.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the hybrid filter comprises vinyl core medium as support and has as a top layer pea gravel.
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) | 1986-11-14 | 1987-05-16 | 1987-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-14 | 1991-05-16 | 1991-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-14 | 1995-05-16 | 1995-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |