Patent 5057221 Issued on October 15, 1991. Estimated Expiration Date: December 19, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
210/610, Including adding ancillary growth medium for microorganism210/617, In bed form210/631, And additional treating agent other than mere mechanical manipulation (e.g., chemical, sorption, etc.)210/747, Including geographic feature (e.g., drainage ditch, septic, pond)210/908, Organic435/250, Having five or less carbon atoms435/267Treating animal or plant material or micro-organism
Methylotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms are supported on a rigid substrate bed. Oxygen, such as from air, and a low-molecular-weight alkane, such as methane, flow through the bed. Organic compounds in contaminated water processing through the bed are biodegraded by the microorganisms. The bed may be formed of manufactured particlate material, such as of activated carbon. These bed-forming materials may be preloaded with organic carbon materials to provide a nutrient source for the microogranisms. The biological reactor may continuously treat effluent from, for example, an industrial plant, in either a batch or continuous process. A water solids removal subsystem may be positioned upstream of the biological reactor to remove organic carbon compounds and various solids from the contaminated water prior to treatment. Optional bed cleaning mechanisms may also be included in the biological reactor. A methane gas source for the biological reactor may comprise a methanogenic microorganism-containing second reactor which uses liquid from the first biological reactor as a carbon and energy source.
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December 19, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
