Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy... – Destruction of hazardous or toxic waste
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-06
2004-07-20
Naff, David M. (Department: 1651)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy...
Destruction of hazardous or toxic waste
C241S001000, C241S003000, C241S015000, C241S083000, C241S195000, C435S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06764848
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for the remediation of manure-contaminated material, and more particularly to a method for the remediation of manure-contaminated material treated with chemical amendments. It also relates to producing an enriched fertilizer from the remediated manure-contaminated material.
There are known processes for treating manure-containing soil. U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,280, for example, is directed to a process for treating poultry manure with acid, formaldehyde and urea to obtain a pathogen-free product suitable as feedstuff for ruminant animals.
As stated in U.S. '208, poultry manure has been utilized for centuries as a soil enriching material because it contains an advantageous mixture of organic protein, inorganic nitrogen, fiber and minerals. The disposal of this material, which is collected in large quantities, poses a serious problem to the poultry industry. It is customary to remove the accumulated poultry manure periodically from under the cages and transport it to a disposal area some distance away. After drying and composting the poultry manure for a period of days or weeks, it is then used as a landfill, or it is sold as a soil builder. A major use of poultry manure at the present time is as a soil enriching agent, based on its inherent phosphorus content.
According to the U.S. '280 invention, there is provided a process which comprises four critical steps. In step 1, to the poultry manure as collected in the poultry raising operation, there is added an amount of acid capable of adjusting the pH of the poultry manure to be less than 7.0, preferably about 5.5 to 6.0. Formaldehyde, or a substance that releases formaldehyde, such as paraformaldehyde, is added in step 2 and is mixed in the poultry manure, before or after step 1, to kill the bacteria present therein. As the third critical step in the process, there is added from about 1 to about 20 weight percent of urea, preferably about 2 to 10 weight percent, based on the weight of poultry manure, calculated as having zero percent moisture. The final critical step of the process is drying the product of step C to a condition suitable for storage, packaging and use, generally to a moisture content of less than 15 weight percent, preferably about 10.+−.5 weight percent. This final drying is conducted at a temperature below the melting point of urea, i.e., 132.degree.C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,403 relates to treating poultry manure in the growing location with alum in an amount of from about 0.15 to about 9.25 pounds per bird raised. The alum-treated manure may also be used as an agricultural fertilizer.
The invention of U.S. '403 is predicated on the discovery that treatment of poultry litter with the aluminum sulfate compound, alum, dramatically reduces ammonia volatilization from the litter. Results also indicate that alum, ferrous sulfate and calcium hydroxide effectively precipitate soluble phosphorus when added to litter, thereby reducing soluble phosphorus levels. Poultry litter is composed of a mixture of bedding material, manure, spilled food and feathers.
A need therefore exists for a method of remediation which will overcome problems associated with the above described prior art methods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Applicants have met the above-described existing needs and have overcome the above-described prior art problems through the invention set forth herein.
Accordingly, a method is hereby provided for remediating manure-contaminated material. The method of the present invention comprises providing a mass of manure-contaminated material including in situ-formed bacteria and nitrogen-containing materials. The mass of manure-contaminated material is acidified to a pH of not more than about 7.0 without (a) destroying a substantial portion of said active bacteria, and/or (b) without liberating a substantial portion of said nitrogen-containing materials. Then, the acidified manure-contaminated material is particularized, preferably microenfractionated, as hereinafter described. The particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is treated with at least one chemical amendment to form a treated particularized manure-contaminated material. Preferably, the microenfractionated, acidified manure-contaminated material is treated with at least one nutrient.
Preferably, acidifying of the mass of manure-contaminated material comprises neutralization. The mass of manure-contaminated material is preferably acidified with sulfuric acid and/or phosphoric acid and/or citric acid.
In a preferred form of this invention, the average size of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially reduced. Moreover, when the mass of manure-contaminated material undergoes microenfractionation, the average size of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially reduced as hereinafter described. Furthermore, the average surface area of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially increased. And, when the mass of manure-contaminated material undergoes microenfractionation, the surface area of the particularized, acidified manure-contaminated material is substantially increased as hereinafter described.
The amount of active bacteria, which is present in the mass of acidified manure-contaminated material, is substantially increased as compared to the amount of active bacteria which is present in said mass of manure-contaminated material. And, the amount of nitrogen-containing materials which are present in said mass of acidified manure-contaminated material as compared to the amount of nitrogen-containing materials which are present in said mass of manure-contaminated material.
Preferably, the chemical amendment comprises at least one nutrient. Additionally, the chemical amendment can be configured to activate the active bacteria so that subject method will proceed more expeditiously. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, the treated particularized manure-contaminated material comprises a fertilizer.
In one form of the invention, a method of using an apparatus is provided for the accelerated remediation of treated contaminated material. Treating of the contaminated material with at least one chemical amendment, with or without at least one biological amendment, can occur prior to, and/or during, and/or subsequent to, microenfractionating of the contaminated material. The chemical amendment can be at least one chemical reducing agent with or without at least one chemical oxidizing agent. For example, a contaminated material can be treated with at least one chemical amendment comprising a chemical reducing and/or oxidizing agent to form a treated contaminated material prior to microenfractionation of thereof. Then, an air stream is generated at a velocity sufficient for entraining the treated contaminated material therein, and the treated contaminated material is entrained in the air stream, and the treated contaminated material is microenfractionated under conditions sufficient to form a microenfractionated treated contaminated material such that subsequent accelerated remediation is provided under conditions sufficient for conducting said accelerated remediation. Alternatively, the chemical amendment(s) can be added during, or subsequent to, microenfractionating of the contaminated material. In any of the above-described methods, the accelerated remediation of the treated contaminated material can be facilitated.
The chemical amendment can also comprise at least one chemical reducing agent which is in the form of a liquid or a solid, preferably an aqueous solution, which is capable of acting as a chemical reducing agent for remediation or bioremediation purposes, particularly in the microenfractionation of contaminated materials of the present invention. These types of chemical amendments are particularly useful in the dehalogenation of halogenated hydrocarbons such as the difficult to remediate chlorinated hydrocarbons.
The chemical amendment of this invention
Glaze Bradley S.
Horn Ronald D.
Horn Terry Dean
Stout Roy Calvin
Warner Kenneth R.
H&H Eco Systems, Inc.
Marger Johnson & McCollum P.C.
Naff David M.
Ware Deborah K.
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