Back to results
US 8,747,672 B2Granted
Process and system for recovering phosphorus from wastewater
AssigneeMultiform Harvest Inc.
InventorKeith E. Bowers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for recovery of phosphorus from wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus complexes.
Claims40
A method for producing inorganic phosphorus from wastewater, comprising:
- (a) thickening a phosphorus- and magnesium-containing mixture derived from microorganisms induced to release phosphorus and magnesium to provide a phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid and a phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (b) conducting the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid to a first inorganic phosphorus reactor;
- (c) anaerobically treating the phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture to provide an ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (d) separating a first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid from the ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (e) conducting the first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to a second inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus and a second ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid;
- and
- (f) adding ammonia to the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid in the first inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus.
4 more elements
A method for treating wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus, comprising:
- (a) inducing a mixture of microorganisms containing phosphorus and magnesium to release phosphorus and magnesium to provide a treated mixture that includes phosphorus and magnesium;
- (b) thickening the treated mixture to provide a phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid and a phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (c) conducting the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid to a first inorganic phosphorus reactor;
- (d) anaerobically treating the phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture to provide an ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (e) separating a first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid from the ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (f) conducting the first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to a second inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus and a second ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid;
- (g) conducting the second ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to an ammonia stripper to provide ammonia and an ammonia-reduced, phosphorus-, and magnesium-reduced liquid;
- and
- (h) adding the ammonia to the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid in the first inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus.
6 more elements
A method for treating wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus, comprising:
- (a) inducing a mixture of microorganisms containing phosphorus and magnesium to release phosphorus and magnesium to provide a treated mixture that includes phosphorus and magnesium;
- (b) thickening the treated mixture to provide a phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid and a phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (c) conducting the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid to a first inorganic phosphorus reactor;
- (d) anaerobically treating the phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture to provide an ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (e) separating a first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid from the ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (f) conducting the first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to a second inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus;
- and
- (g) conducting a portion of the inorganic phosphorus from the second inorganic phosphorus reactor to a heater to provide magnesium, phosphorus, and ammonia and water, wherein the ammonia is added to the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid in the first inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus.
5 more elements
A method for treating wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus, comprising:
- (a) inducing a mixture of microorganisms containing phosphorus and magnesium to release phosphorus and magnesium to provide a treated mixture that includes phosphorus and magnesium;
- (b) thickening the treated mixture to provide a phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid and a phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (c) conducting the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid to a first inorganic phosphorus reactor;
- (d) adding ammonia to the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid in the first inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus;
- (e) anaerobically treating the phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture from step (b) to provide an ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (f) separating a first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid from the ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- and
- (g) conducting the first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to a second inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus.
5 more elements
A method for treating wastewater and producing inorganic phosphorus, comprising:
- (a) inducing a mixture of microorganisms containing phosphorus and magnesium to release phosphorus and magnesium to provide a treated mixture that includes phosphorus and magnesium;
- (b) separating the treated mixture into a phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid and a phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (c) conducting the phosphorus- and magnesium-rich liquid to a first inorganic phosphorus reactor;
- (d) anaerobically treating the phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture to provide an ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture;
- (e) separating the ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced mixture to provide biosolids and a first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid;
- (f) conducting the first ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to a second inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus and a second ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid;
- and
- (g) conducting the second ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid to the first inorganic phosphorus reactor to provide inorganic phosphorus and a third ammonia-rich, phosphorus- and magnesium-reduced liquid.
5 more elements
A system for producing inorganic phosphorus from wastewater, comprising:
- (a) a first solids separator for thickening a phosphorus- and magnesium-containing mixture;
- (b) a first inorganic reactor, the reactor having a conduit for receiving ammonia;
- (c) a first conduit intermediate the first solids separator and the first inorganic phosphorus reactor;
- (d) a digester;
- (e) a second conduit intermediate the first solids separator and the digester;
- (f) a second solids separator;
- (g) a third conduit intermediate the digester and the second solids separator;
- (h) a second inorganic reactor;
- and
- (i) a fourth conduit intermediate the second solids separator and the second inorganic phosphorus reactor.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.