Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy... – Petroleum oil or shale oil treating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-11-13
Redding, David A. (Department: 1744)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy...
Petroleum oil or shale oil treating
C435S262500, C435S264000, C134S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06316249
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Increased Federal, State and Local environmental regulations have produced an increased focus of environmental consciousness on a global level. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have instituted increased and stringent regulations for the processing, manufacturing, utilization, and disposal of chemical compounds. For the purpose of this invention, the regulations of particular interest are those in the field of petroleum products, particularly those consisting of petroleum and petro-chemical based compounds (lubricating oils).
There are existing today numerous technologies for the reclamation and reprocessing of petroleum and petrochemical compounds including the recovery of oil to be used in power stations and factories as an alternative source of fuel. When dealing with large volumes of these waste streams, there is a certain degree of technological and economic feasibility. One particular segment of this disposal market deals specifically with a variety of filtration components such as engine oil filter media and other filtration media utilized in automotive truck, marine and aircraft applications. These filtration media, when removed from the engine application, do represent petroleum and petrochemical contaminated materials. These filtration media typically do not provide enough oil on a per unit basis to warrant a recycling activity and so pose a significant disposal problem. This problem is of particular importance in the face of increased environmental regulations which are imposed on large corporations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One objective of the present invention is to provide compositions and methods which will facilitate safe disposal of oil contaminated filter media and preferably an accelerated decomposition of the petroleum products within the filter media, most preferably by natural biological decomposition.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the safe disposal of oil contaminated filter media which meets or exceeds current environmental regulations for disposal of such contaminated materials and which also provides a positive environmental impact.
An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a simple apparatus (kits) for treating contaminated filter media and filter housings to prevent the escape of petroleum and petro-chemical based contaminants therefrom for safe disposal.
Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
The present invention provides compositions, methods and apparatus for treating filtration components with petroleum or petrochemical based compounds entrained therein to prevent leakage of these petroleum and petro-chemical based compounds into the environment. Preferred embodiments incorporate a bio-oxidizing medium which accelerates decomposition of these petroleum products.
In one aspect of the present invention, there are provided compositions capable of decomposing petroleum and petrochemical based compounds which comprise a dormant bio-oxidizing medium capable of oxidizing petroleum and petro-chemical based compounds, preferably to CO
2
and water. This bio-oxidizing medium comprises freezeried microorganisms on a freeze-dried substrate. The freeze dried microorganisms are capable of digesting petroleum or petrochemical based compounds upon rehydration. The freeze-dried substrate and freeze-dried microorganisms are freeze-dried simultaneously.
In another aspect of this invention, there are provided methods for treating filtration components to prevent the escape of the petroleum and petrochemical based contaminants entrained therein. These methods comprise exposing the entrained petroleum and petrochemical based compounds to a dormant bio-oxidizing medium comprising freeze-dried microorganisms on a freeze-dried substrate as described above and water. The amount of water used rehydrates the freeze-dried substrate and freeze-dried microorganism so as to activate the freeze-dried microorganisms, and provides a source of oxygen for the activated microorganisms to digest petroleum and petrochemical based compounds entrained within the filtration components.
Preferably at least 40 ml water is added per gram of dormant bio-oxidizing used. The filtration component is then sealed to retain the petroleum, petrochemical based compounds, bio-oxidizing medium and water therein so as not to escape into the environment. In preferred embodiments, at least 25%, most preferably at least 90%, of the entrained petroleum and petrochemical based compounds are digested by the microorganisms.
In a further aspect of this invention, there are provided kits with which petroleum and petrochemical based compounds entrained within filtration components can be treated. These kits comprise a written protocol which:
i) identifies at least one filtration component which can be treated,
ii) identifies a bio-oxidizing medium to be added to a filtration component identified in the written protocol,
iii) specifies an amount of water to be added to a filtration component identified in the written protocol, and
iv) indicates the filtration component should be sealed after addition of the bio-oxidizing medium and water.
The kit also comprises a dormant bio-oxidizing medium and, optionally, a seal for a filtration component identified in the written protocol. The seal prevents the escape of entrained petroleum, petrochemical based compounds, bio-oxidizing medium and water from the filtration component into thee environment.
The compositions of this invention find wide use in decomposing petroleum and petrochemical based compounds in many environments, while the methods and apparatus (kits) of this invention are well suited for treating filtration components having petroleum and petrochemical based compounds entrained therein.
The “petrochemical based compounds” referred to herein include aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene, cresol, nitroaromatics, polychlorinated biphenols, greases, chlorinated aliphatics and aromatics and lipids.
The “filtration components” referred to herein include filter media, filter elements, filter housings and combinations thereof. Suitable filter media include those prepared from conventional materials using a conventional configuration such as a corrugated absorbent paper. Preferably, the filter media are within a filter housing. The filtration components are treated to prevent the escape of petroleum and petro-chemical based compounds entrained therein from escaping into the environment. This is accomplished by the methods of this invention which comprise:
a) exposing a filtration component contaminated with petroleum and/or petro-chemical based components, to a dormant bio-oxidizing medium as described above with sufficient water to reactivate said bio-oxidizing medium and provide a source of oxygen for the activated microorganisms to digest the petroleum and petrochemical based compounds, and
b) sealing the filtration component to prevent the escape of petroleum, petro-chemical based compounds, bio-oxidation medium and water from the filtration component into the environment.
The compositions, methods and apparatus (kits) of this invention can use a variety of microorganisms within the bio-oxidizing medium which decompose petroleum and petrochemical based compounds. For example, bacteria conventionally known to digest petroleum compounds can be used as an active ingredient of the bio-oxidizing medium. There are several forms of bacillus which can be successfully colonized upon filter media with petroleum contaminants. Bacteria which grow rapidly and digest petroleum provide advantage in that colonization serves to increase the activity of the bio-oxidizing medium allowing adjustment to the level of contaminants within the filtration components.
The petroleum and petrochemical based compounds within contaminated oil filters are sometimes complex and, as such, combination
Cornwell James H.
Lasky William M.
Dana Corporation
Millen White Zelano & Branigan P.C.
Redding David A.
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