US4772307A — Process for preparing an agricultural fertilizer …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 200 words

A non-biological process for forming an agriculturally acceptable fertilizer by removal of suspended solids biogenetic nutrients and dissolved metal compounds from water contaminated with organic and/or inorganic substances, comprising the steps of (a) contacting the contaminated water with an agent which contains a maximum quantity of 50 mass percent of salts of mono-, bi- or trivalent metal cations and a minimum quantity of 50 mass percent rock granules which contain at least 25 mass percent of a zeolite having ion-exchange selectivity for ammonium, to remove most of the suspended solids, phosphates, organic compounds, metal ions and a fraction of ammonium ions thereon; (b) binding residual ammonium ions onto said zeolite by passing said treated water through a bed thereof; (c) regenerating the ammonium binding capacity of said zeolite bed, after said capacity is exhausted, with a regenerating aqueous potassium salt solution; (d) enriching the regenerating solution with ammonium during regeneration of said zeolite, expelling ammonia gas from the regenerating solution, and absorbing it in phosphoric acid; (e) mixing said enriched solution with agriculturally acceptable fertilizer additives and with pretreated primary sludge and excess sludge; and (f) homogenizing the mixture of step (e) to produce an organic agriculturally acceptable fertilizer composition.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 200 words

A non-biological process for forming an agriculturally acceptable fertilizer by removal of suspended solids biogenetic nutrients and dissolved metal compounds from water contaminated with organic and/or inorganic substances, comprising the steps of (a) contacting the contaminated water with an agent which contains a maximum quantity of 50 mass percent of salts of mono-, bi- or trivalent metal cations and a minimum quantity of 50 mass percent rock granules which contain at least 25 mass percent of a zeolite having ion-exchange selectivity for ammonium, to remove most of the suspended solids, phosphates, organic compounds, metal ions and a fraction of ammonium ions thereon; (b) binding residual ammonium ions onto said zeolite by passing said treated water through a bed thereof; (c) regenerating the ammonium binding capacity of said zeolite bed, after said capacity is exhausted, with a regenerating aqueous potassium salt solution; (d) enriching the regenerating solution with ammonium during regeneration of said zeolite, expelling ammonia gas from the regenerating solution, and absorbing it in phosphoric acid; (e) mixing said enriched solution with agriculturally acceptable fertilizer additives and with pretreated primary sludge and excess sludge; and (f) homogenizing the mixture of step (e) to produce an organic agriculturally acceptable fertilizer composition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 11 words

Process of claim 1 wherein the zeolite is clinoptilolite or mordenite.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said agent has a definite content of metal as metal cations, and the metal content in said agent is increased in said zeolite containing granules by treating them with ion-exchange, adsorption or impregnation or by a combination of these processes, then homogenizing the material thus obtained.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

Process as claimed in claim 1, comprising enriching, during regeneration of the zeolite bed, the resulting regenerating solution with ammonium and expelling the ammonia gas from the regenerating solution and absorbing it in phosphoric acid.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 246 words

A process for preparation of an agricultural fertilizer composition by removal of suspended solids, biogenetic nutrients and dissolved metal compounds from water and sewage contaminated with organic and/or inorganic substances, comprising the steps of; (a) flowing said water and sewage into a primary settling tank wherein sludge settles out; (b) conducting the sludge through a sludge outlet for discharging from said primary settling tank; (c) conducting said settled water and sewage from said settling tank to a mixing tank; (d) adding to said mixing tank an agent which contains a maximum quantity of 50 mass percent of salts of mono-, bi- or trivalent metal cations, a minimum quality of 50 mass percent of rock granules which contain at least 25 mass percent of a zeolite having an ion exchange selectivity for ammonium; (e) mixing sludge, said settled water and sewage and zeolite-containing agent to remove most of the solids suspended therein, phosphate, organic compounds, metal ions and a fraction of ammonium ions thereon; (f) conducting water and sewage from the mixing tank to an aeration basin and adding oxygen therein; (g) conducting the oxygen-treated water and sewage to a secondary settling tank were treated water and sewage and any sludge therein separate; (h) discharging the treated water through a discharge outlet; and (i) increasing the biological activity of settled sludge from said contaminated water and sewage by contacting with a zeolite containing agent of grain size less than 200 μm to form an agricultural fertilizer composition.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 246 words

A process for preparation of an agricultural fertilizer composition by removal of suspended solids, biogenetic nutrients and dissolved metal compounds from water and sewage contaminated with organic and/or inorganic substances, comprising the steps of; (a) flowing said water and sewage into a primary settling tank wherein sludge settles out; (b) conducting the sludge through a sludge outlet for discharging from said primary settling tank; (c) conducting said settled water and sewage from said settling tank to a mixing tank; (d) adding to said mixing tank an agent which contains a maximum quantity of 50 mass percent of salts of mono-, bi- or trivalent metal cations, a minimum quality of 50 mass percent of rock granules which contain at least 25 mass percent of a zeolite having an ion exchange selectivity for ammonium; (e) mixing sludge, said settled water and sewage and zeolite-containing agent to remove most of the solids suspended therein, phosphate, organic compounds, metal ions and a fraction of ammonium ions thereon; (f) conducting water and sewage from the mixing tank to an aeration basin and adding oxygen therein; (g) conducting the oxygen-treated water and sewage to a secondary settling tank were treated water and sewage and any sludge therein separate; (h) discharging the treated water through a discharge outlet; and (i) increasing the biological activity of settled sludge from said contaminated water and sewage by contacting with a zeolite containing agent of grain size less than 200 μm to form an agricultural fertilizer composition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-09-20	1992-03-21	1992-09-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-09-20	1996-03-21	1996-09-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-09-20	2000-03-21	2000-09-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process for preparing an agricultural fertilizer from sewage

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