Medical College of Ohio

N-viro Energy Systems Ltd.

The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund

N-viro International Corporation

Burnham Technologies Ltd.

Coolant Treatment Systems, L.l.c.

Jeffrey C Burnham

Robert S Reimers

John P Nicholson

Warren S Bankston

Judy Hendricks

Jery E Barton

Frederick H Kurtz

Edward L LeBlanc

Douglas Jambard-Sweet

Walter F Emig, Iii

George J Hageage

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for the disinfection of fluids and, in particular, to the disinfection of industrial fluids with ultraviolet radiation. These fluids are typically used in manufacturing as coolants in both long and short assembly lines. They commonly accumulate contaminants from multiple and diverse sources including oil and microorganisms. Fluids can be disinfected by establishing a fluid flow rate sufficient to prevent occlusion of the walls of the ultraviolet transmissible portion by contaminants. Fluids may be so heavily contaminated so as to require removal of at least a minimum percentage of contaminants (MPC) prior to irradiation. Such fluids may be processed to remove the minimum percentage of contaminants according to the equation: MPC=102-(23.45.times.lnV). Subject to removal of the MPC, a flow rate can be established to prevent occlusion of ultraviolet-transmissible portions of the flow path and thereby successfully treat the fluid with a disinfecting amount of ultraviolet radiation. Using these methods, microorganism levels can be greatly reduced with a reduced need for biocides or other anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents. The methods and apparatus of the invention also comprise a flattened-tube mechanism for increased exposure to UV radiation and a turbulence-generating system to increase effectiveness of radiation treatments. Turbulence-generating systems include means for creating pressure differentials or aeration in the fluid stream as well as various types of structures such as ribbons, paddles, cones, beads or vanes that can be placed within the lumen of the tubing system. These methods are highly effective at extending the useful life of fluids such as coolants and reducing or eliminating the risks posed to workers by heavily contaminated or biocide-treated coolants.

Apparatus for the disinfection of fluids

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for the treatment of fluids with magnetic fields and, in particular, to the disinfection of contaminated fluids by treating the fluids with a high-gauss magnet followed by ultraviolet radiation. Fluids can accumulate organic and non-organic contaminants from multiple and diverse sources. Magnetic treatment enhances the ability to separate hydrophobic contaminants from the fluid and the ability of that fluid to be disinfected. A wide variety of fluids can be treated with these methods including water to be made potable, industrial water and other fluids such as coolants and lubricants, oils, petrochemicals such as fuels, and beverages. Further, fluid can be exposed to UV radiation at a flow rate sufficient to prevent occlusion of UV-transmissible surfaces in the disinfection system by contaminants in the fluid or by removing a set amount of those contaminants. Using these methods, microorganism levels can be substantially decreased with a reduced need for biocides or other anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents. These methods are highly effective at removing contaminants and extending the useful life of fluids such as coolants and reducing or eliminating the risks posed to workers by heavily contaminated or biocide-treated coolants.

Methods and apparatus for the application of combined fields to

The method of treating wastewater or bioorganic sludges containing odor, animal viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and parasites to produce a bioactive but stabilized product that is useful as a soil substitute or as a fertilizer which can be applied directly to lands which consists essentially of the following steps: mixing said sludge with at least one alkaline material, wherein the amount of added material mixed with said sludge is sufficient to raise the pH of said mixture to pH 12, and raise the conductivity to disinfect and stabilize the sludge, and adding green waste at different process locations so that a biological action occurs converting the greenwaste into a soil-like granular product with improved odor over that of the treated municipal sludge alone or a composted greenwaste alone.

Method for treating bioorganic and wastewater sludges

A method of treating sludge to provide a stable product for use as a beneficial soil or fertilize for agricultural lands is disclosed which includes the steps of:

The invention is directed to biological processes and apparatus for determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle based upon the recovery of activity of interactive enzyme systems comprising enzymes, coenzymes, catalysts, cofactors, substrates or any other necessary reagents. The invention provides a vital process for expediting sterility verification before utilization of the articles thought to be sterilized. The invention involves the rapid detection of any surviving interactive enzymatic activity which directly relates to the probability of any biological spores surviving in a test sample. An absence of a change indicates that the sterilization process had inactivated the enzyme system thereby preventing the interactive reaction from taking place which is a rapid equivalent to directly detecting the survivability of bacterial spores in a similar test. The methods and apparatus of the invention are useful in the health care industry such as in hospitals, laboratories, and research institutions, in food and environmental technology, and in all technologies which utilize sterilization in manufacturing, production or waste disposal.

Biologically relevant methods for the rapid determination of sterility

A method for treating bioorganic or raw or treated wastewater sludge so that a stability based upon achieving a significant microbial population, conductivity level and percent solids, is developed rapidly, is provided for indefinitely and is independent of climatic conditions. A dewatered sludge that has not been treated (i.e., raw) or a sludge that has been treated to a PSRP level or a sludge that has been treated to a PFRP level, i.e., pasteurized or sterilized sludge when still in a wet condition, i.e., between 12%-30% solids, or when in a dry condition, i.e., between 30-60% solids, is mixed with alkaline adsorptive materials to reduce odor, to increase the percent solids and to facilitate granulation, is adjusted to a mildly alkaline pH, and is adjusted to an ionic conductivity which will allow the sludge to mature rapidly when seeded with a beneficiating microbial flora. This process will reduce the pH or a high alkaline treated sludge, e.g., often above pH 12, to a physiological pH of between 7 and 9.5 or will raise the pH of a treated acid sludge to a similar range so that microbial activity can proceed to facilitate stability. Heat may be applied to the mixture to accelerate the carbonation and aid the overall drying process. The granular product, substantially due to its active microbial population, is useful as an agricultural product and topsoil blend.

Process to stabilize bioorganic, raw or treated wastewater sludge

A method for treating wastewater sludge so that a stability based upon achieving a significant microbial population, conductivity level and percent solids, is developed rapidly, is provided for indefinitely and is independent of climatic conditions. A dewatered sludge that has not been treated (i.e., raw) or a sludge that has been treated to a PSRP level or a sludge that has been treated to a PFRP level, i.e., pasteurized or sterilized sludge when still in a wet condition, i.e., between 12%-30% solids, or when in a dry condition, i.e., between 30%-60% solids, is mixed with alkaline adsorptive materials to reduce odor, to increase the percent solids and to facilitate granulation, is adjusted to a mildly alkaline pH, and is adjusted to an ionic conductivity which will allow the sludge to mature rapidly when seeded with a beneficiating microbial flora. This process will reduce the pH of a high alkaline treated sludge, e.g., often above pH 12, to a physiological pH of between 7 and 9.5 or will raise the pH of a treated acid sludge to a similar range so that microbial activity can proceed to facilitate stability. Heat may be applied to the mixture to accelerate the carbonation and aid the overall drying process. The granular product, substantially due to its active microbial population, is useful as an agricultural product and topsoil blend.

Process to stabilize wastewater sludge

A method for treating wastewater sludge which comprises the steps of further treating the sludges after they have been mixed with alkaline materials and are still in a wet condition with carbon dioxide containing gases wherein the carbon dioxide is a significant constituent for a time sufficient to reduce the pH below 10 and to prevent the emission of the ammonia nitrogen. Preferably heat is added to the mixture to accelerate the reaction and facilitate drying. The product is useful as an agricultural product. In a preferred process, the amount of alkaline materials being sufficient to raise the pH of the mixture to 12 or above and to heat the mixture by an exothermic reaction to a range of about 52.degree. C. to about 62.degree. C. and maintain the pH above 12 and the temperature range for a minimum of 12 hours to reduce significantly offensive odor of the sludge to a level that is tolerable; to reduce anumal viruses therein to less than one plaque forming unit per 5 grams dry weight of said sludge; to reduce pathogenic bacteria therein no less than three colony forming units per 5 grams dry weight of said sludge; to reduce parasites therein to less than one viable egg per 5 grams dry weight of said sludge; to retain a soil-like indigenous microflora; to reduce vector attraction to said sludge; and to prevent significant regrowth of the pathogenic microorganism; and thereafter subjecting the mixture to carbon dioxide containing gas wherein carbon dioxide is a significant constituent for a time sufficient to reduce the pH below 10 and to prevent the emission of the ammonia nitrogen.

Method for treating wastewater sludge

A method of decontaminating wastewater sludge to a level that meets or exceeds USEPA Process to Further Reduce Pathogens standards, wherein lime or kiln dust and/or other alkaline materials are mixed with wastewater sludge in sufficient quantity to raise the pH of the mixture to 12 and above for a predetermined time and drying the resulting mixture.

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Maumee, OH, United States of America

Jeffrey C Burnham