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US4564453A
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Method and apparatus for the detection of toxic substances in waste water feeding a biological treatment plant
Assignee: Arkema France SA
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Filing: 1984-01-20
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2004-01-20
Abstract
Abstract Waste water to be analyzed is brought into a reactor continuously supplied with samples of activated sludge taken from the biological treatment plant; oxygen is also constantly supplied to the reactor and the content of oxygen dissolved inside the reactor is measured in order to automatically regulate the waste water flow admitted into the reactor in relation the measured value of dissolved oxygen content and thus keep the load applied to the reactor substantially constant; a toxicity alarm is released in case of abnormal reduction of respiration when the waste water admission flow is maximum.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Coplot
- 👤 Georges Picon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/18; G01N33/1806; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/12; Y10T436/20; Y10T436/207497; Y10T436/209163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for detecting toxic substances in the waste water supplied to a biological treatment plant wherein the waste water is brought in contact with activated sludge samples taken from the biological treatment plant inside a reactor, comprising the steps of: continuously supplying the reactor with activated sludge samples from the plant; supplying the reactor with waste water to be analyzed; continuously supplying the reactor with oxygen; measuring the quantity of oxygen dissolved in the reactor; comparing the measured quantity of oxygen dissolved in the reactor to selected maximum and minimum values; regulating the flow of waste water supplied to the reactor by respectively reducing and increasing the waste water flow when the measured dissolved oxygen content value is respectively below the selected minimum value and above the selected maximum value in order to maintain the load applied to the reactor substantially constant; and activating a toxicity alarm when the measured content exceeds said maximum value and when the waste water supply to the reactor reaches a selected water flow rate maximum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for detecting toxic substances in the waste water supplied to a biological treatment plant wherein the waste water is brought in contact with activated sludge samples taken from the biological treatment plant inside a reactor, comprising the steps of: continuously supplying the reactor with activated sludge samples from the plant; supplying the reactor with waste water to be analyzed; continuously supplying the reactor with oxygen; measuring the quantity of oxygen dissolved in the reactor; comparing the measured quantity of oxygen dissolved in the reactor to selected maximum and minimum values; regulating the flow of waste water supplied to the reactor by respectively reducing and increasing the waste water flow when the measured dissolved oxygen content value is respectively below the selected minimum value and above the selected maximum value in order to maintain the load applied to the reactor substantially constant; and activating a toxicity alarm when the measured content exceeds said maximum value and when the waste water supply to the reactor reaches a selected water flow rate maximum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of activating the toxicity alarm comprises activating the alarm when the measured dissolved oxygen content remains above said selected maximum value for a selected time period commencing when the waste water supply flow to the reactor reaches its selected water flow rate maximum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of regulating the waste water supply flow to the reactor comprises regulating the supply flow in stages between a selected minimum and the selected maximum water flow rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of regulating the waste water supply flow to the reactor comprises regulating the waste water supply flow continuously throughout a range between a selected minimum and the selected maximum water flow rate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for detecting toxic substances in the waste water supplied to a biological treatment plant, comprising: a reactor; pump means including a conduit for supplying the reactor with activated sludge samples taken from the plant; pump means including a conduit for supplying the reactor with waste water to be analyzed; means for supplying the reactor with oxygen; means for measuring the quantity of oxygen dissolved in the reactor; regulating means comprising a comparator for comparing the measured value of the dissolved oxygen content to selected maximum and minimum oxygen values, a control circuit means for controlling the waste water pump means by respectively increasing and decreasing the flow rate of waste water to the reactor, a selector circuit connected to the comparator circuit for applying a variable signal to the control circuit to decrease the flow rate when the measured oxygen content is less than said minimum value, and to increase the flow rate when the measured oxygen content is more than said maximum value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for detecting toxic substances in the waste water supplied to a biological treatment plant, comprising: a reactor; pump means including a conduit for supplying the reactor with activated sludge samples taken from the plant; pump means including a conduit for supplying the reactor with waste water to be analyzed; means for supplying the reactor with oxygen; means for measuring the quantity of oxygen dissolved in the reactor; regulating means comprising a comparator for comparing the measured value of the dissolved oxygen content to selected maximum and minimum oxygen values, a control circuit means for controlling the waste water pump means by respectively increasing and decreasing the flow rate of waste water to the reactor, a selector circuit connected to the comparator circuit for applying a variable signal to the control circuit to decrease the flow rate when the measured oxygen content is less than said minimum value, and to increase the flow rate when the measured oxygen content is more than said maximum value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said selector circuit has means for producing said variable signal having pulses of fixed period and variable duration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said apparatus further comprises an adjustable timing circuit means for activating an alarm circuit when the waste water supply flow to the reactor remains above a selected maximum value for a selected time period due to an increase in the measured dissolved oxygen content above the selected maximum value, and for resetting the alarm circuit when said measured content returns to under said maximum value before said selected time period elapses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the means for supplying waste water and activated sludge to the reactor respectively comprise means for supplying waste water and activated sludge at a relatively fast supply rate in order to detect toxic substances quickly and to minimize backup and deposit of sludge being supplied to the reactor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-13 | 1989-07-15 | 1990-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-13 | 1993-07-15 | 1994-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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