US4515697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for flocculating microscopic particles in suspension in a liquid and application to the collection of phytoplankton microalgae and zooplankton and for the purification of used water
Assignee: CENTRO COMERCIAL APLAUSO
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Filing: 1983-01-27
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Granted: 1985-05-07
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Expires: 2003-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Method for flocculating microscopic particles in suspension in a liquid and application to the collection of phytoplankton microalgae and of zooplankton and for the purification of used water. One passes a first liquid comprising microscopic particles in suspension through a fixed granular layer (2) up to partial or complete clogging of said granular material by said microscopic particles; one unclogs at least partially said granular material in a fixed layer by passing a second liquid therethrough, moving in the same direction as the first liquid, but at a higher speed than the first; and one recovers below said layer flocculated aggregates of said microscopic particles and a liquid outflow (6).
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Elmaleh
- 👤 Alain D. Grasmick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:39
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K80/00; B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/01; B03; B03D; B03D3/00; B03D3/06; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/001; C02F1/004; C02F1/52; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/12; C02F1/54; C02F2303/00; C02F2303/16; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/30; Y02W10/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
Method of treating microscopic particles comprising micro-organisms in suspension in a liquid, comprising: passing a first liquid containing said microscopic particles in suspension through a fixed granular layer up to partial or complete clogging of said granular material by said microscopic particles; passing a second liquid through said fixed layer to be partially unclogged by the passing of said second liquid therethrough; said second liquid moving in the same direction as the first liquid, but at a higher speed so as to recover below said layer in the direction of passage of said liquid, flocculated aggregates of said microscopic particles and an outflow of a liquid which is freed of said particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
Method of treating microscopic particles comprising micro-organisms in suspension in a liquid, comprising: passing a first liquid containing said microscopic particles in suspension through a fixed granular layer up to partial or complete clogging of said granular material by said microscopic particles; passing a second liquid through said fixed layer to be partially unclogged by the passing of said second liquid therethrough; said second liquid moving in the same direction as the first liquid, but at a higher speed so as to recover below said layer in the direction of passage of said liquid, flocculated aggregates of said microscopic particles and an outflow of a liquid which is freed of said particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method according to claim 1, wherein said second liquid contains microscopic particles in suspension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method according to claim 2, wherein said first and said second liquid are one liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the liquid is recycled for supplying said granular material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said granular material is passed through bottom to top by said first and said second liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 5, wherein said granular material is fixedly arranged during the operation of the method.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method according to claim 5, wherein said granular material undergoes an expansion of 30% in volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, said liquids being free of flocculating agents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
Method of treating microscopic particles in suspension in a liquid, comprising: passing a first liquid containing microscopic particles in suspension through a fixed granular layer up to partial or complete clogging of said granular material by said microscopic particles; passing a second liquid through said fixed layer to be partially unclogged by the passing of said second liquid therethrough; said second liquid moving in the same direction as the first liquid, but at a higher speed so as to recover below said layer in the direction of passage of said liquid flocculated aggregates of said microscopic particles and an outflow of a liquid which is freed of said particles, wherein the speed of passing of the second liquid through the granular material is about 0.1 to 5 m/h.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
Method of treating microscopic particles in suspension in a liquid, comprising: passing a first liquid containing microscopic particles in suspension through a fixed granular layer up to partial or complete clogging of said granular material by said microscopic particles; passing a second liquid through said fixed layer to be partially unclogged by the passing of said second liquid therethrough; said second liquid moving in the same direction as the first liquid, but at a higher speed so as to recover below said layer in the direction of passage of said liquid flocculated aggregates of said microscopic particles and an outflow of a liquid which is freed of said particles, wherein the speed of passing of the second liquid through the granular material is about 0.1 to 5 m/h.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method according to claim 9, wherein said granular material is formed of particles having a granulometry of about between 0.005 and 3 cm and a volume of about 1.1 g/cm 3 or more.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method according to claim 10, wherein said granular material is formed of calcinated and crushed clay of a granulometry between 3 and 5 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method according to claim 11, wherein said granular material is provided in a column (1), vertical or inclined, cylindrical or helical, whose portion situated above said material has a greater cross-section that the one containing said material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Use of the method according claim 9 for collecting microalgae and zooplankton, whereby said flocculate is then concentrated by liquid-solid separation means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Use of the method according claim 9 to purifying used water in the absence of any flocculation reagent.
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) | 1988-05-06 | 1988-11-05 | 1989-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-06 | 1992-11-05 | 1993-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-06 | 1996-11-05 | 1997-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |