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US 12,304,843 B2Granted
Phosphorous extraction and recovery system
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County
InventorsLee Blaney, Utsav Shashvatt, Charles Portner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Separation methods and systems for converting high concentrations of animal wastes and other nutrient-rich organic materials into nutrients and other useful products such as struvite and potassium struvite. Advantageously, the system and methods do not require the addition of external chemicals other than an acid and a base.
Claims20
A phosphorus extraction and recovery system (PEARS) system comprising:
- (a) a reaction vessel comprising a mixer and a gas diffuser positioned within the reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel and the mixer are substantially inert to both an acidic solution and a basic solution;
- (b) at least one solid-liquid separation module in fluid communication with the reaction vessel, wherein the at least one solid-liquid separation module separates contents of the reaction vessel into a substantially solid fraction and a substantially liquid fraction;
- (c) at least one container in communication with at least one solid-liquid separation module, wherein the substantially solid fraction from the at least one solid-liquid separation module is collected in the at least one container;
- and
- (d) a liquid conduit connecting the reaction vessel to at least one solid-liquid separation module for directing the substantially liquid fraction from at least one solid-liquid separation module to the reaction vessel,
- wherein the reaction vessel is devoid of any solid-liquid separator comprising a membrane.
3 more elements
A phosphorus extraction and recovery system (PEARS) system comprising:
- (a) an extraction reaction vessel comprising a first mixer and a gas diffuser positioned within the extraction reaction vessel, wherein each of the components of the extraction reaction vessel are substantially inert to an acidic solution;
- (b) at least one first solid-liquid separation module in fluid communication with, and downstream of, the extraction reaction vessel, wherein the at least one first solid-liquid separation module separates contents of the extraction reaction vessel into a first substantially solid fraction and a first substantially liquid fraction;
- (c) a precipitation reaction vessel positioned to receive the substantially liquid fraction from the at least one first solid-liquid separation module, wherein the precipitation reaction vessel comprises a second mixer, wherein each of the components of the precipitation reaction vessel are substantially inert to a basic solution;
- (d) at least one second solid-liquid separation module in fluid communication with, and downstream of, the precipitation reaction vessel, wherein the at least one second solid-liquid separation module separates contents of the precipitation reaction vessel into a second substantially solid fraction and a second substantially liquid fraction;
- and
- (e) an optional liquid conduit fluidly connecting the at least one second solid-liquid separation module to the extraction reaction vessel for directing liquid from the at least one second solid-liquid separation module to the extraction reaction vessel,
- wherein the extraction reaction vessel, the precipitation reaction vessel, or both, is devoid of any solid-liquid separator comprising a membrane.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.