Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Treatment by living organism
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2003-03-11
Cintins, Ivars (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Treatment by living organism
C210S662000, C210S670000, C210S747300, C210S096100, C210S170050, C210S266000, C210S269000, C210S284000, C210S290000, C210S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06531063
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The parent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and is directed to a method and system for the in situ removal of radionuclides from a groundwater radionuclide contaminated water source, such as a moving, underground water plume. The parent application provides for a trench or a bed above groundwater level and containing therein, granulated zeolite material, and with the trench having a bottom water barrier lining.
Groundwater containing the radionuclides is distributed, such as by pumping from a water source, generally uniformly, over the top of the zeolite material in the trench, in order to filter the radionuclide contaminated water source through the zeolite bed to remove the radionuclides, or rather metal contaminants, cations, i.e., using the zeolite material, such as by ion exchange with the zeolite material, or more typically by capture of the radionuclides or other contaminates in the internal lattice structure of the zeolite material. The system and method also provides for the discharge of the treated water from the bottom of the trench containing the zeolite material, or recycling all or part of the treated water, as desired, back to the trench for continuous treatment, until the desired level of treatment water is obtained. The system and method also includes for the in situ closure of the trench with the zeolite material, by covering the trench of the zeolite material, for example, with a plastic or clay layer, and subsequently burying the trench with soil to close the bed after the exhaustion of the process by the zeolite material, thereby providing for the in situ treatment and removal of radionuclides or other contaminants from the contaminated water source.
Septic systems are commonly used for the treatment of domestic wastewater, and such septic systems include a septic tank to receive a flowing wastewater effluent or sewerage, typically, from a residence or small business, and which effluent sewerage includes solid matter, and wherein the septic tank bacteria breaks down the sewerage and solid matter. The septic system normally includes one or more leaching fields to receive the continuously flowing treated effluent or “grey water” from the septic tank. Generally, the septic systems are employed in those suburban or farm areas where there is a lack of a central or municipal sewerage facility. Approximately ⅓ of all households in the United States dispose of domestic wastewater through the use of septic tank systems. However, due to poor construction and maintenance or geologic conditions, septic tank systems have polluted underlying ground waters and surface waters, such as streams, rivers, ponds, estuaries and bays.
While septic systems with the septic tank and leach field are acceptable, septic system problems are magnified by the fact that in many areas, particularly rural communities, a substantial reliance on subsurface sewage disposal systems is paralleled by a reliance on private wells for drinking water supplies. These problems, which stem from the nutrient-rich composition of the septic tank effluent water when it reaches the leach field, create hazardous conditions in certain areas. For example, where soils are sandy and well-drained, and on-site groundwater is also a source of drinking water for the domicile, nutrient-rich water from leachate can contaminate the drinking water source. Nutrient-rich leachate from home septic systems can cause unacceptably high nitrate levels in drinking water, resulting in “blue baby” syndrome and other health problems. Nitrogen is a key nutrient of concern, because it contributes to the eutrophication of surface water, as well as posing health hazards in groundwater. Nitrates in drinking water, derived from wells where septic system are also present on-site, constitute a widespread, intractable problem throughout the United States. It is therefore desirable to provide for a new and improved septic system and method for the treatment of wastewater effluent and sewerage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a zeolite-augmented bed septic system and method for the treatment of wastewater, particularly through the use of zeolite material in an adjunct tank between the septic tank and the leaching field.
In particular, the invention concerns a zeolite bed septic system and method which includes a filter media bed between the septic tank and the zeolite bed; and optionally, an ion sensor monitoring system and method for ammonium ions and a regeneration system.
The invention relates to a septic system for the removal of contaminants, particularly nitrogen contaminants, such as ammonia from wastewater effluent, which septic system comprises a source of wastewater containing nitrogen and other contaminants, such as ammonia and phosphorus, and typically a residence or small business employing such a septic system, and more particularly, wherein the septic system is located in a very low-soil absorbing geographical area, such as Cape Cod. The system includes a septic tank connected to said wastewater source to receive septage, including solid matter, and the septic tank containing bacteria therein for the treatment of said septage and to provide a wastewater treated effluent from said septic tank. The system also includes a zeolite-filled tank (or bed) in the ground, above groundwater, to receive the wastewater effluent from the septic tank and one or more leaching fields. The second tank contains granulated zeolite material selected to capture and retain the nitrogen and other nutrients and contaminants in the wastewater effluent from the septic tank. Inflow to the zeolite tank is composed of nutrient-rich wastewater effluent from the septic tank. Outflow from the tank is effluent that has been filtered by the zeolite in the tank and no longer contains nutrient contaminants. Outflow from the tank is piped to a standard leach field where it will leach into the groundwater. A septic system also includes a means to regenerate periodically, as desired, the zeolite material in the zeolite tank when the zeolite material can no longer substantially capture the nitrogen contaminants from the treated wastewater effluent, and includes a means to remove the displaced nitrogen contaminants generated from the regeneration of the zeolite material.
Generally, the septic tank and the zeolite tank are employed as an underground septic system, above groundwater level, in a well-drained, typically sandy soil, and wherein the nitrogen contaminant in the wastewater effluent comprises primarily nitrates and ammonia, and wherein the zeolite material comprises a granulated, natural zeolite material, placed in one or more concrete tanks, preceding the leach field trench or bed. The zeolite material in the tank may be regenerated in a number of ways; for example, by the use of liquid solution with cations or other compounds to displace the nitrogen contaminants, such as ammonia, captured within the zeolite material; the means are provided to remove the released nitrogen contaminants, such as by the employment of a pump means to pump out the septic tank or leaching field, or a heating means to heat the zeolite material to displace the nitrogen contaminants, such as ammonia, as a gas and either to permit the escape of the gas or to capture the gas. The zeolite material in the zeolite tank field may also be regenerated by nitrifying bacteria introduced into the zeolite material, which may be included as nonpathogenic organisms within the zeolite material.
The zeolite tank may be equipped with shut-off valves at the intake and outflow, and piped openings on top of the tank, through which a flushing hose may be introduced to flush the zeolite with regenerating fluid, which is then extracted. The extracted regenerating fluid then contains the nitrogen contaminants previously stored in the zeolites, and the zeolites are recharged and ready to receive and decontaminate effluent from the septic tank.
The invention also comprises a method for the removal of nitrogen contaminants, mor
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