# US 2017/0280752 A1 · Antimicrobial capture system with carbon container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280752 A1 - Document ID: US20170280752A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,096 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-24 - Assignees: Safe Foods Corporation - Applicants: Safe Foods Corporation - Inventors: Justin Massey; Tim Yeaman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280752A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/283: {using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them} - A23B 2/762: Organic compounds containing nitrogen - A23B 4/20: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A23B 4/22: Microorganisms; Enzymes; {Antibiotics} - A23B 4/30: by spraying of liquids - B01D 15/10: characterised by constructional or operational features - B01D 15/20: relating to the conditioning of the sorbent material - B01D 15/203: {Equilibration or regeneration} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - C02F 2101/36: containing halogen - C02F 2101/38: containing nitrogen - C02F 2103/22: from the processing of animals, e.g. poultry, fish, or parts thereof - C02F 2103/32: from the food or foodstuff industry, e.g. brewery waste waters - C02F 2209/42: Liquid level - C02F 2209/44: Time - C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a container for removing antimicrobials from an antimicrobial composition includes a container body having an exterior and an interior. The interior is at least partially filled with carbon granules configured to remove a portion of the antimicrobials in the antimicrobial composition. The interior is further filled with a liquid to at least a level that completely submerges each of the carbon granules. The container further includes an agitator configured to agitate at least a portion of the carbon granules. The container further includes a drain and a drainage valve. The location of the drainage valve is configured to prevent the drainage valve from lowering a current level of the liquid below the level that completely submerges each of the carbon granules. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antimicrobial capture system, comprising: a container to receive a composition, the composition comprising an antimicrobial material; a plurality of carbon granules disposed in the container, the carbon granules being configured to remove the antimicrobial material from the composition; a liquid disposed in the container, the liquid submerging the carbon granules; and a controller coupled to the container to control drainage of the liquid via a drainage valve of the container during operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 1, further comprising: one or more sensors to monitor conditions in connection with the operation of the antimicrobial capture system and to transmit signals to the controller that are indicative of the monitored conditions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of an infrared sensor, a visible light sensor, and an ultraviolet sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors include a first sensor to monitor a level of the liquid during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 4, wherein the one or more sensors further include a second sensor to monitor a concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 5, wherein the controller controls drainage of the liquid via the drainage valve, based on signals received from at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system, signals received from the first sensor indicating the level of the liquid in the container, and signals received from the second sensor indicating the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 6, wherein the drainage valve is operatively coupled to the controller to drain the liquid from an interior of the container to an exterior waste disposal area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 7, further comprising: a stand pipe to redirect the liquid from a drain in the interior of the container to the drainage valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 7, wherein the exterior waste disposal area is a wastewater system of a food processing plant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 6, wherein the controller controls drainage of the liquid via the drainage valve such that the level of the liquid as monitored by the first sensor remains at or below a predetermined level within the container and the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid as monitored by the second sensor remains above a predetermined concentration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 10, wherein the controller opens the drainage valve to drain the liquid from the container in response to signals received from the first sensor indicating that the level of the liquid within the container exceeds the predetermined level or signals received from the second sensor indicating that the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid is at or below the predetermined concentration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 11, wherein the controller closes the drainage valve to prevent the drainage of the liquid from the container in response to signals received from the first sensor indicating that the level of the liquid within the container is at or below the predetermined level or signals received from the second sensor indicating that the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid is above the predetermined concentration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 1, further comprising: an agitator positioned at least partially within an interior of the container to agitate at least a portion of the plurality of carbon granules during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 13, wherein the agitator agitates at least a portion of the plurality of carbon granules for a predetermined time period to reduce channeling of the plurality of carbon granules within the interior of the container during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 13, wherein the agitator is selected from the group consisting of: an air agitation hose; a vibrating device; an impeller; and a propeller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 13, wherein the agitator agitates at least a portion of the plurality of carbon granules by producing air bubbles in the liquid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 16, wherein the agitator is an air agitation hose arranged in a pattern within the interior of the container, and the air agitation hose produces the air bubbles in the liquid by releasing compressed air through one or more holes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 17, wherein the pattern is selected from the group consisting of: a spiral pattern; a square pattern; a rectangular pattern; a circle pattern; and an irregular pattern. ### Claim 19 An antimicrobial capture system, comprising: a container to receive an antimicrobial composition, the container including a plurality of carbon elements for removing antimicrobials from the antimicrobial composition, the plurality of carbon elements being submerged by a liquid within the container during operation of the antimicrobial capture system; one or more sensors to monitor conditions in connection with the operation of the antimicrobial capture system; and a controller to control drainage of the liquid via a drainage valve of the container, based on the conditions monitored by the one or more sensors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 19, wherein the carbon elements are selected from the group consisting of: carbon granules; carbon rocks; and carbon sheets. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of an infrared sensor, a visible light sensor, and an ultraviolet sensor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors include a first sensor to monitor a level of the liquid during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 22, wherein the one or more sensors further include a second sensor to monitor a concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 23, wherein the controller controls drainage of the liquid via the drainage valve, based on signals received from at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system, signals received from the first sensor indicating a current level of the liquid in the container, and signals received from the second sensor indicating a current concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 24, wherein the drainage valve is operatively coupled to the controller to drain the liquid from an interior of the container to an exterior waste disposal area. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 25, further comprising: a stand pipe to redirect the liquid from a drain in the interior of the container to the drainage valve. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 26, wherein the exterior waste disposal area is a wastewater system of a food processing plant. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 26, wherein the controller controls drainage of the liquid via the drainage valve such that the level of the liquid as monitored by the first sensor remains at or below a predetermined level within the container and the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid as monitored by the second sensor remains above a predetermined concentration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 28, wherein the controller opens the drainage valve to drain the liquid from the container in response to signals received from the first sensor indicating that the level of the liquid within the container exceeds the predetermined level or signals received from the second sensor indicating that the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid is at or below the predetermined concentration. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 29, wherein the controller closes the drainage valve to prevent the drainage of the liquid from the container in response to signals received from the first sensor indicating that the level of the liquid within the container is at or below the predetermined level or signals received from the second sensor indicating that the concentration of antimicrobials in the liquid is above the predetermined concentration. ### Claim 31 (depends on 19) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensors include a temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of the liquid during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The antimicrobial capture system of claim 31, further comprising: a heater operatively coupled to the controller to maintain the temperature of the liquid at or above a predetermined temperature during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system, based on signals received from the temperature sensor indicating the temperature of the liquid being monitored during the operation of the antimicrobial capture system.