Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Apparatus – Bioreactor
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-08
2003-06-17
Redding, David A. (Department: 1744)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Apparatus
Bioreactor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06579713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to apparatus and method for disposal of putrescent waste material and in particular the continuous bio-conversion of putrescent waste material.
2. Description of Related Art
The production of organic compost for municipal refuse or garbage is well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,486 filed on Nov. 16, 1990 by Glogowski teaches a method for the production of organic compost comprising the following steps:
1. shredding the refuse;
2. adding water to saturation;
3. adding earthworms;
4. keeping the water content at more than 80% during at least 30 days; and
5. keeping the mixture at a temperature from 0-54° C. and with a moisture of at least 45% during more than 4 months.
Such a method is not suitable for continuous treatment of large amounts of putrescent waste. Furthermore, the separation of earthworms from the treated waste materials is very difficult.
The prior art suggests various types of bio-conversion facilities for facilitating the production of useful animal products from putrescent waste material. One device and associated method relates to the continuous treatment of large amounts of humid putrescent waste materials by means of fly larvae. Thus, after a relatively short period of a few days, the putrescent waste is converted into a slightly moist odor-free compost. After treatment of the waste materials, the use of fly larvae allows for separation of the larvae from the waste. Live or dehydrated larvae constitute an excellent feed stock for fish and poultry, but the larvae can also be used for the production of by-products such as protein meal, chitin, and chitosan. It has been observed that when using fly larvae for the treatment of putrescent waste materials, it is possible to induce them to crawl out of the waste by exposing the waste to an illumination, preferably together with a heating, especially an infrared illumination, whereby the separation of the larvae out of the putrescent waste is obtained by the larvae themselves.
FIG. 1
is a flow diagram of a prior art bio-conversion facility for continuous treatment of putrescent waste by means of fly larvae in which the fly larvae actually eat the waste. Facility
100
is further described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,224 filed on Aug. 22, 1996 by Paul A. Oliver and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Facility
100
comprises walls
101
defining fly larvae cultivation chamber
102
for the treatment of putrescent waste. A stack of at least two conveyor belt systems
108
, each having a waste reception zone
108
A, a treatment zone
108
B in which the putrescent waste is more or less completely eaten by fly larvae, and an evacuation zone
108
C, is designed so as to transport the waste and the fly larvae eating the waste from the reception zone
108
A towards the evacuation zone
108
C. A system
130
grinds putrescent waste material to be treated so as to form a pulp containing particles of more or less uniform grain size, the grain size being preferably smaller than the size of the mature fly larvae mouth, and a blending and holding tank
140
contains the ground putrescent waste. Pump
148
transfers the waste from the blending and holding tank
140
to paddle box
131
. Variable speed control system
149
for pump
148
controls the discharge rate of waste into paddle box
131
. A pipe or other transfer means
150
is used to transfer the ground waste from pump
148
into paddle box
131
, the pipe or transfer means
150
being provided with heating system
144
.
Valve
151
is mounted on pipe
150
to select sequentially the specific paddle box
131
and conveyor belt
108
that are to receive the waste. The distribution paddle box
131
has paddles that, in the preferred embodiment, turn in a direction opposite the flow of material so as to ensure a more or less even deposition of the ground putrescent waste down an inclined chute onto the central section of a long conveyor belt (80-100 meters), leaving the lateral surfaces of the conveyor belt free of waste. One or more distribution bags
110
contain an aqueous suspension of fly larvae eggs, the bags
110
being made preferably of plastic, and being connected to one or more tubes
145
through which the suspension liquid containing eggs drops onto the waste exiting the paddle box. A container with holes in the bottom could also be used to drip larvae onto the conveyor belt
108
. A motor and speed reducer drives the conveyor belt
108
, the motor being associated with a system well known in the art for controlling the speed of the conveyor belt
108
. An air-conditioning system
112
controls the most appropriate temperature, humidity, and oxygen content in the fly larvae cultivation chamber (for example, between 28° C.-38° C. [82° F.-100° F.] between 30-90% relative humidity), depending on the species of fly larvae used. An air-scrubbing system
113
deodorizes the waste material leaving the fly larvae cultivation chamber in a well-known manner.
Infrared lamps
115
are located in evacuation zone
108
C for inducing the larvae to crawl out of the waste. Two troughs
116
, one on each lateral side of the conveyor belt (not shown), collect and transport the larvae falling or sliding from conveyor belt
108
, each trough
116
having a water inlet (inlet
117
) so as to create a high-speed water stream for transporting the larvae out of the trough, as well as an outlet (outlet
147
) for evacuating the water and fly larvae. Transfer pipe
146
connects outlet
147
of a first conveyor belt trough to inlet
117
of a second conveyor belt trough, the second conveyor belt preferably being situated below the first. Pipe
118
through which the water stream with larvae flows toward a central rinsing and de-watering device
119
that may be, for example, a vibratory de-watering screen. Conveyor belt scraper
141
is used for scraping and cleaning the conveyor belt and for transferring the fly larvae residue onto chute
142
. Centralized conveyor belt
143
receives waste from one or more waste chutes
142
and a storage area or surge bin (not shown) receives the waste from conveyor belt
143
. Variable speed control system
123
is used to determine the speed or the intermittent movement of the conveyor belt (for example, if the larvae in the evacuation zone have not reached optimal maturation, the speed of the conveyor belt is reduced so as to increase the residence time of the larvae on the conveyor belt). System
132
, shown in phantom lines in FIG.
1
and well known in the art, may be used for measuring the thickness of the waste deposited on the conveyor belt and controlling the amount of eggs or larvae to be added to the waste, so that the appropriate amount of eggs or larvae is added according to the thickness of waste on the belt, the system controlling, for example, the outlet of eggs or larvae from the distribution box
110
. System
138
, well known in the art, can be used for determining the presence of heavy metals or other contaminants in the waste, the system preventing the entry of contaminated waste into the blending and holding tank
140
.
Paddle box
131
ensures an even deposition of the waste from a chute incorporated in paddle box
131
, between distribution arms, on conveyor belt
108
, but not over the entire width of the conveyor belt
108
. This leaves the lateral surfaces of conveyor belt
108
adjacent the lateral edges free of waste. The lateral surfaces are preferably about 10 cm in width and are provided with pins, needles, bristles, indentations, or holes, all of which may serve as a means for improving the detachment of waste particles adhering to the larvae crawling off the conveyor belt.
Upon reaching maturity, fly larvae naturally crawl out of the waste but, since they do not all reach maturity at exactly the same time, infrared lamps
115
are used for inducing the fly larvae to crawl out of the waste and off the conveyor belt in a synchronized and orderly manner. Even the direction in which the fly larvae
Jones Day
Redding David A.
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