627results about "Grey water treatment" patented technology

Modified polysaccharide polymers for use as anti-scalant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The modified polysaccharides are also useful in detergent formulations, water treatment, dispersants and oilfield applications and as fiberglass binders. Such applications include a modified polysaccharide having up to about 70 mole % carboxyl groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU and up to about 20 mole % aldehyde groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU. The applications can also include a blend of modified polysaccharides and other synthetic polymers.

A reactor has an aerobic tank, an anoxic tank and a sealed membrane tank with conduits for circulating mixed liquor between them. Permeation starts when the mixed liquor reaches a high level and stops when the mixed liquor reaches a low level. A sensor, for detecting the mixed liquor level, may stop and start permeation. Pressure builds in the membrane tank when membrane air is on. Transmembrane pressure is also provided by gravity flow or siphon. Membrane air generates an air lift which drives the mixed liquor circulation. The total amount of air provided by an air source is divided and varied in time between the membrane aerator and the process aerator. The process aerator acts as a screening inlet to the conduit to the membrane tank. Chemical maintenance cleaning is provided by gravity flow.

A domestic water recycling system using a combination of an optical detector to detect certain smaller sized (non-filtered) contaminants and a filter to remove larger sized (filtered) contaminants provides an efficient wastewater recycling system. Optical detection of contaminants determines whether water is discharged or filtered and recycled. The optical detection system can use several discrete optical wavelengths that are passed through the fluid, and can determine a relative presence of the contaminants based on the resulting wavelength response. A recycling shower using optical detection, an electronically actuated directional device and pump and a controller allows for automatic recycling or discharging of water without requiring user input. The system may include a turbulence reduction baffle in a collection chamber, and a disinfection unit for the recycled water.

A reactor has an aerobic tank, an anoxic tank and a sealed membrane tank with conduits for circulating mixed liquor between them. Permeation starts when the mixed liquor reaches a high level and stops when the mixed liquor reaches a low level. A sensor, for detecting the mixed liquor level, may stop and start permeation. Pressure builds in the membrane tank when membrane air is on. Transmembrane pressure is also provided by gravity flow or siphon. Membrane air generates an air lift which drives the mixed liquor circulation. The total amount of air provided by an air source is divided and varied in time between the membrane aerator and the process aerator. The process aerator acts as a screening inlet to the conduit to the membrane tank. Chemical maintenance cleaning is provided by gravity flow.

Systems and methods for generating reactive oxygen species formulations useful in various oxidation applications. Exemplary formulations include singlet oxygen or superoxide and can also contain hydroxyl radicals or hydroperoxy radicals, among others. Formulations can contain other reactive species, including other radicals. Exemplary formulations containing peracids are activated to generate singlet oxygen. Exemplary formulations include those containing a mixture of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Exemplary formulations include those in which one or more components of the formulation are generated electrochemically. Formulations of the invention containing reactive oxygen species can be further activated to generate reactive oxygen species using activation chosen from a Fenton or Fenton-like catalyst, ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation or thermal activation. Exemplary applications of the formulations of the invention among others include: cleaning in place applications, water treatment, soil decontamination and flushing of well casings and water distribution pipes.

An economically viable process and system for centrally processing multiple loads of laundry with minimum environmental impact. A system and method of laundering whereby successive loads of laundry may be washed while continuously providing effective soil removal comprising at least partially recycled wash water from at least one previous wash cycle. The system and the method of using the same comprises filtering wash water with at least one filter to form wash retentate and wash permeate. The use of wash permeate in successive washes provides for reuse of chemicals and water recovery. A similar arrangement may be used with regard to the rinse water. Advantageously, one embodiment of the invention provides for the use of rinse retentate as make up water in the wash loop which increases water recovery and chemical recovery. Ultimately, the invention can reduce the production of gray water and recover chemicals used in the laundering process.

A self-contained wetlands treatment system to remove pollutants from water and treat stormwater runoff or other grey water. This is system and method wherein the water is passed through a wetland filtering and treatment system. This invention removes solids, metals (dissolved / particulate), nutrients (dissolved / particulate), oils, and bacterial contaminants from the water. The system and system housing can be fabricated, built, and assembled in a broad range of sizes and materials to accommodate and treat a broad range of influent flow rates.

A portable water treatment system includes at least one sub-system to treat water including a flocculation system, a chlorination system, and a bio-sand filter system. The water treatment system may include multiple sub-systems for treating water that feed into one another. The sand filter system may include a mini bio-sand filter, a foam filter, or a pressed block filter. The flocculation system may include a tank bottom that urges settling particles toward a sump and a ladle that removes settled particles. A manual pump or siphon may be included in the water treatment system.

Hybrid copolymers for use as anti-scalant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The polymers include at least one synthetic monomeric constituent that is chain terminated by a naturally occurring hydroxyl containing moiety. A process for preparing these hybrid copolymers is also provided.

This invention relates to a gray water recycling invention that utilizes filtered gray water for maintaining constant moisture levels in building foundations and for other irrigation uses. The invention allows for the mixture of pesticides with a gray water stream injected under a building in order to treat for insects. Additionally, pesticides, fungicides, or fertilizers can be injected into a gray water stream prior to its application in landscape irrigating. The invention has applications in both a single residence and fill development real estate setting.

A washing machine with a circulated water treatment function and a control method therefor. The washing machine comprises a water holding barrel (2), a washing structure arranged inside the water holding barrel (2) and a circulated water treatment device arranged under the water holding barrel (2), wherein the circulated water treatment device comprises a flocculation treatment unit and a filtering unit, the flocculation treatment unit comprises a flocculation container (10) connected to the water holding barrel (2) and a flocculation agent dosing device (11) for dosing a flocculation agent into the flocculation container (10), and water is discharged from the water holding barrel (2) to the flocculation container (10) for flocculation treatment; and the filtering unit comprises a filtering container (12) and a filter net (13) arranged inside the filtering container (12), the filtering container (12) is in communication with the flocculation container (10) and the water holding barrel (2), respectively, for filtering the water having been flocculation-treated in the flocculation container (10) and discharging same again into the water holding barrel (2) for reuse. The washing machine circularly treats water by flocculation and filtration till the end of washing, in which the water is discharged into the circulated water treatment device for purification in the flocculation treatment unit and the filtering unit and finally discharged outside. The washing machine has the advantages of saving water resources, reducing water pollution and protecting the environment.

The Grey Water Processing and Distribution System is a self-contained fully functional grey water collection, processing and dispersing system that runs on grey water collected from internal grey water sources and supplies filtered water to the house's landscaping irrigation system as well as filtered and sanitized flush water to the house's toilets and washing machine for usage and requires standard local power. It incorporates a unique self-cleaning fine screen filter system. The central digital control unit monitors and runs the various system components and manages the house's landscaping irrigation system. The digital control unit also makes sure that the toilets are never without flush water and protects the irrigation system against under and over watering. The internal and external plumbing also allows for the system to be completely bypassed in the event of power failure or the introduction of undesirable contaminants into the grey water source stream.

A lint filter having a succession of mesh screens which are arranged in parallel in a tank which receives lint-containing water from a laundry facility. The mesh screens are positioned so that the lint-containing water must pass through the screens in order to leave the tank. The lint-containing water is sprayed evenly on one side of the tank and proceeds across the tank toward the mesh screens. The mesh screens are angled so that lint and particles contained in the lint-containing water are allowed to fall to the bottom of the tank. Multiple exits allow lint-filtered water to leave the lint filter.

Contaminated water, particularly, ballast water, blackwater, galley water, accommodation water, laundry water, fresh water and seawater, is disinfected by admixture of a highly reactive gas stream containing ions of oxygen and nitrogen, formed by exposure of air to short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, and of chlorine, formed in situ by electrolysis of salt in the water. Solids removal can be accomplished by electrophoresis in the same unit employed for electrolysis to release chlorine, or in a separate unit. Heavy metals maybe removed by plating or sacrificing electrodes.

A wastewater treatment system for use on a marine vessel comprising an aerobic fixed film biological reactor, a tubular flocculator and a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit. The process units desirably include means for reducing erratic movement of the wastewater due to sea-induced movement of the marine vessel. The DAF unit includes a plurality of inclined baffles arranged to create a plurality of parallel inverted U-shaped flow paths that effect combined co-current and counter-current flotation separation while reducing erratic movement of the wastewater. The selection of process units and operating conditions advantageously reduces the footprint of the wastewater treatment system and reduces cost and complexity associated with the handling of wastewater treatment chemicals.

Modified polysaccharide polymers for use as anti-scalant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The modified polysaccharides are also useful in detergent formulations, water treatment, dispersants and oilfield applications and as fiberglass binders. Such applications include a modified polysaccharide having up to about 70 mole % carboxyl groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU and up to about 20 mole % aldehyde groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU. The applications can also include a blend of modified polysaccharides and other synthetic polymers.

Two systems of recycling washing machine effluent to irrigate fields in areas when natural precipitation and the municipal water supply are wanting. The pH is acidified from basic to 7 to 8 in a holding tank before the effluent flows through a series of ion exchange filters, treated with ultraviolet illumination, and to the irrigating water sprinklers and an inside or outside toilet.

A complete storm water management system and process which performs both drainage and treatment tasks and incorporates a wetlands water treatment system. This system creates an infrastructure, flow control which is multi-level and multi-stage. This system incorporates a self-contained wetlands treatment system. This is a modular system which includes three or more linear chambers through which the storm water or other influent passes and is cleaned. The influent which flows into a storm drain, curb inlet, or inflow pipe into the system is directed first into a screening type catch basin inset filter within the first chamber of the system. The wetlands chamber is composed of one or more modular segments which may be made in various depths, lengths and widths. The influent is treated within the first chamber before it passes out of this chamber into the incorporated wetlands system. The water flows through the wetlands chamber where it is further filtered and decontaminated through both an aerobic and anaerobic process. In situations of high runoff there is a bypass component which runs directly from the first chamber and bypasses the wetlands chamber dumping the pretreated water into the discharge final chamber. This system is fitted with a variable level treatment component designed in such a way to offer variable discharge rates and thus vary the level of treatments over a wide range of flow rates. The system can be placed underground, and below concrete, such as in parking lots or park areas.

An aerated biological filtration system (10) for treating waste water includes a treatment vessel (11) of elongated configuration which incorporates a circulating filter bed (23) and a static filter bed (24). The circulating filter bed incorporate a particulate material such as granulated activated carbon having a specific gravity in the range of 1.2 to 1.4 and effective size of 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm. The circulating filter bed is disposed above the static filter bed and an aeration system (27) is disposed between the filter beds. The aeration system is arranged to diffuse air through the circulating bed either continuously or intermittently so as to provide oxygen to micro-organisms attaching to the particulate material and to cause slow circulation of that particulate material. The system has particular application for domestic recycling of grey water.

Methods and systems are disclosed which provide for the purification of effluent from a septic system or natural water from rainwater or stormwater collection devices for the storage and reuse of water. The purified water may be supplied to water applications, such as a return conduit to a home for potable or graywater usage. The distillation unit may be powered by a local power independent of a municipal power grid and which may employ sustainable energy mechanisms. The distiller residue may undergo a volume reduction process, such as evaporation, coagulation, electrocoagulation or microfiltration. The purified water may be stored in a holding tank with sensors to monitor the water quality and water level within the tank. Alarms, release valves or relief valves may be activated in response to such monitoring.

A method and apparatus is provided for the purification of water, in particular to the removal of surfactants and optionally organic, inorganic and / or biological contaminants from water using adsorption filtration techniques.

A process to purify wastewater that comprises the steps of passing the wastewater through an electrocoagulation cell which comprises a plurality of reaction plates or electrodes (6) disposed within said cell and spaced apart from each other, whereby said wastewater is treated by passing an electric current through the wastewater to thereby produce purified water (8); re-using said purified water for cleaning or other purposes to produce wastewater; and recycling (3) the wastewater back to the electrocoagulation cell. The wastewater may be obtained public or household showers, sinks, basins, baths, washing machines, dishwashers, kitchens or car washes.

An apparatus and method for recovering wastewater from laundry operations. A substantially closed loop series of tanks, conduits and pumps hold and transfer water output from a wash machine through a series of filters, including a lint pulloff filter, a multimedia pressure filter, a clay filter, and a carbon filter. The water is ozonated to coagulate suspended solids and to disinfect and is subjected to ultraviolet light to disinfect and to reduce residual ozone.

A self-contained wetlands treatment system to remove pollutants from water and treat stormwater runoff or other grey water. This is system and method wherein the water is passed through a wetland filtering and treatment system. This invention removes solids, metals (dissolved / particulate), nutrients (dissolved / particulate), oils, and bacterial contaminants from the water. The system and system housing can be fabricated, built, and assembled in a broad range of sizes and materials to accommodate and treat a broad range of influent flow rates.

Methods for use of enzymes for sustainable wash water maintenance are disclosed. The invention relates to use of enzymes for removing soils from wash water sources in a variety of cleaning applications. The invention cleans wash water sources, prevents the re-deposition of soils on treated surfaces and enhances detergency. Methods of wash water maintenance according to the invention provide sustainable practices by improving water quality and minimizing water and energy consumption in wash systems.

The present invention is a system that recycles shower water to promote water conservation. The system comprises a plurality water valves for opening and closing water lines, sensors for temperature and presence of soap / shampoo / conditioner in the water, a heater, a filter means, and a control center. This system has the capability to monitor when the water is clean and then channels water to be recycled and supplemented with heating, filtering, and a percentage of fresh hot and cold (ambient) water. The control center continuously monitors the water for cleanliness or contaminated with soap products and can switch between a recycle mode and a non-recycle mode. The temperature sensor monitors the recycle water temperature and activates a heater to increase the temperature if needed.

The invention relates to bio-electrochemical systems for treating wastewater, and sour gas produced by anaerobic digestion of organic material. The invention further relates to novel anode / cathode pairing schemes, and electric and hydraulic architectures for use in bio-electrochemical systems.

An oil / grease separator separates a lighter liquid from a mixture of the heavier liquid and a lighter liquid. A housing has an inner volume, an inlet to receive influent flow, an outlet to discharge the heavier liquid, which defines a static liquid level, and an outlet port above the static liquid level to discharge substantially all of the lighter liquid and portions of the heavier liquid. The lighter liquid floats on the heavier liquid, so that large volume flows into the inlet raises the liquid level in the housing, flowing the floating lighter liquid through the outlet port.