Simplified Bacillus–Paracoccus Composition for Aquatic Nitrogen Cycling

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biological treatments for aquatic systems, such as those described in WO 2016/179390, EP2178802, and EP3712116, require high oxygen levels, are difficult to industrialize, and require complex bacterial mixtures that are unstable and time-consuming, leading to incomplete nitrogen cycles and potential bacterial dominance issues.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a bacterial active agent with a high percentage of Bacillus and Paracoccus bacteria (≥80% by weight) that simplifies the formulation, ensuring a stable and efficient completion of the nitrogen cycle by maintaining a suitable equilibrium between these bacteria, even when used in aquatic systems like recreational water basins and swimming pools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex mixture of numerous bacteria is used to treat aquatic systems, then the nitrogen cycle can be addressed, but the composition becomes difficult to industrialize and is time-consuming (and therefore expensive)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of nitrogen cycle treatmentVSAvoidcomplexity of bacterial composition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and identifies the essential bacterial components needed for nitrogen cycle treatment, focusing on specific genera (Bacillus, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas) rather than using complex mixtures of numerous bacteria. This extraction of key functional elements simplifies the composition while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The simplified bacterial composition is designed to perform multiple functions within the nitrogen cycle (ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidation, denitrification) using a limited set of bacterial genera, making the composition universally applicable and easier to industrialize while maintaining comprehensive nitrogen cycle treatment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a complex mixture of numerous bacteria is used to treat aquatic systems, then the nitrogen cycle can be addressed, but the composition becomes time-consuming to prepare and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of nitrogen cycle treatmentVSAvoidpreparation time of composition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and identifies the essential bacterial components needed for nitrogen cycle treatment, focusing on specific genera (Bacillus, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas) rather than using complex mixtures of numerous bacteria. This extraction of key functional elements simplifies the composition while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of bacterial diversity from high (complex mixtures) to low (simplified composition with specific genera), which directly reduces preparation complexity and time while maintaining treatment effectiveness through optimized functional coverage of the nitrogen cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a complex mixture of numerous bacteria is used to treat aquatic systems, then the nitrogen cycle can be addressed, but the composition requires a subtle and delicate balance between bacterial populations to maintain effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of nitrogen cycle treatmentVSAvoidstability of bacterial population balance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and identifies the essential bacterial components needed for nitrogen cycle treatment, focusing on specific genera (Bacillus, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas) rather than using complex mixtures of numerous bacteria. This extraction of key functional elements simplifies the composition while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent promotes homogeneity in the bacterial composition by using a limited set of bacterial genera with complementary functions, reducing the complexity of maintaining population balance. The simplified composition with focused bacterial types is more stable and easier to control compared to heterogeneous mixtures of numerous species.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

4Reliability

If one bacterial population becomes dominant in a complex mixture, then the nitrogen cycle cannot complete properly, but preventing dominance in complex mixtures is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompletion of nitrogen cycleVSAvoidcomplexity of maintaining bacterial balance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and identifies the essential bacterial components needed for nitrogen cycle treatment, focusing on specific genera (Bacillus, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas) rather than using complex mixtures of numerous bacteria. This extraction of key functional elements simplifies the composition while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite bacterial composition with deliberately selected genera that have complementary metabolic functions covering the entire nitrogen cycle. This composite approach ensures functional redundancy and balance, preventing any single population from dominating while maintaining complete nitrogen cycle capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The simplified bacterial composition effectively decomposes organic matter, converts ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, and denitrifies nitrates, achieving rapid and stable nitrogen cycle completion with reduced complexity and cost, while avoiding the instability of complex mixtures.

Implementation Method 1

The bacteria described include, among others, strains of Bacillus... effectively decomposes organic matter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

converts ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates... ensuring proper completion of the nitrogen cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNitrification: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

converts ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates... completing the nitrogen cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

denitrifies nitrates... allowing for the proper completion of the nitrogen cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDenitrification: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP4640640A1Bacterial composition for the biological treatment of an aquatic system

Publication Date: 2025.10.29 AQUATIC SCIENCE SA

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AI summary

Composition for the biological treatment of aquatic systems, comprising a bacterial active agent, said bacterial active agent comprising bacteria of the genus Bacillus and Paracoccus, characterized in that the quantity of bacteria of the genus Bacillus and Paracoccus in said bacterial active agent is greater than or equal to 80% by weight relative to the total weight of said bacterial active agent in the composition.