Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Treatment by living organism
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2001-05-15
Barry, Chester T. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Treatment by living organism
C210S620000, C210S150000, C210S747300, C210S170050, C210S242200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231766
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A process for removing biodegradable materials from water in which the water is contacted with biological microorganisms disposed on a plurality of bio-suspension elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,998 of Lee M. DiClemente et al. discloses a method which uses biological microorganisms for removing selected biodegradable materials from a pond or a similar body of water. The entire disclosure of each of this United States patent is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.
The DiClemente process involves the steps of: (a) analyzing a sample of said pond water to determine at least one type of microorganism appropriate for feeding on the selected materials, (b) fixing a plurality of bio-suspension elements within an enclosure which is floating at least partially submerged in the water body, wherein such elements provide surfaces for supporting the growth of films of biological microorganisms, (c) introducing the appropriate microorganisms into the enclosure along with discrete amounts of such pond water in order to grow colonies of the microorganisms on the bio-suspension elements while minimizing circulation or other motion of the pond water within the enclosure, (d) sampling, testing, and analyzing the water and the microorganisms in the enclosure and nurturing the growth of such microorganisms until large and stable colonies of such microorganisms have been established on the bio-suspension elements, and, thereafter, (e) circulating pond water gently and regularly through and around the stable colony of microorganisms in the enclosure and returning the circulated water to the pond.
The DiClemente patent teaches that, in its claimed process, “. . . heavy turbulence of the input stream is intentionally avoided . . . ” (see column 2, lines 64-65) and that “. . . our invention achieves the biological activity that it uses to reduce pollutants by specifically avoiding uncontrolled turbulence in water being treated . . . ” (see column 2, lines 31-34).
However, the apparatus of the DiClemente patent has poor reliability. Because of the process in which it is used, the bio-suspension elements in the bio-chamber of the device often tend to become plugged with uncontrolled microorganism growth; when this occurs, water will cease flowing into and out of the device. Because this device is submerged at least partially in a body of water, it is difficult to repair it.
Even when the apparatus of the DiClemente patent is not plugged with uncontrolled microorganism growth, it does a relatively poor job of purifying the body of water in which it is at least partially submgerged.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process and apparatus for treating water which are substantially more reliable and effective and the process and apparatus of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,998.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a process for treating a body water to purify it. In this process, a portion of the water to be treated is continuously caused to flow at a rate of at least about 60 feet per minute and is continuously agitated, aerated, and fed into a biochamber within which are disposed at least five distinct strains of microorganisms. A screen is disposed in the biochamber below the microorganisms, and air is forced through such screen during the processing of the water.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3235234 (1966-02-01), Beaudoin
patent: 5228998 (1993-07-01), DiClemente
patent: 5421999 (1995-06-01), Poole
patent: 5507950 (1996-04-01), Senda
patent: 6022476 (2000-02-01), Hausin
patent: 6083405 (2000-07-01), Tanaka
patent: 6126816 (2000-10-01), Ruiz, Jr.
pages from www.tvt-bio.com downloaded Oct. 6, 2000 at 5:36 am.
Barry Chester T.
Greenwald Howard J.
Greenwald & Basch LLP
TVT US Corp.
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