Wastewater treatment method and apparatus, biosolids-based food additive, and business application
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process comprising:
- adding an aqueous waste stream comprising metabolizable components to a growth vessel containing at least one bacterial culture, at a first flow rate;
allowing the bacteria of the at least one bacterial culture to grow in the growth vessel by metabolizing at least a portion of the metabolizable components of the aqueous waste stream, thereby forming a bacterial suspension in an aqueous bulk liquid, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is depleted of metabolizable components relative to the aqueous waste stream;
separating a portion of the bacterial suspension from the aqueous bulk liquid, thereby forming a bacterial mass;
removing the bacterial mass at a second flow rate;
removing a portion of the aqueous bulk liquid at a third flow rate, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is substantially free of total suspended solids;
adjusting the second flow rate to provide a MCRT of the bacteria of no more than about 8 days; and
drying the removed bacterial mass within a time period whereby MWRT−
MCRT≦
about 2 days.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to processes and business methods and wastewater treatment units for converting the waterborne residuals from wastewater generated by food processing plants into an ingredient suitable for use in animal feeds. The ingredient produced by the processes of the present invention has a high protein content and can be used as a replacement for conventional sources of animal feed protein such as fish meal.
15 Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A process comprising:
-
adding an aqueous waste stream comprising metabolizable components to a growth vessel containing at least one bacterial culture, at a first flow rate; allowing the bacteria of the at least one bacterial culture to grow in the growth vessel by metabolizing at least a portion of the metabolizable components of the aqueous waste stream, thereby forming a bacterial suspension in an aqueous bulk liquid, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is depleted of metabolizable components relative to the aqueous waste stream; separating a portion of the bacterial suspension from the aqueous bulk liquid, thereby forming a bacterial mass; removing the bacterial mass at a second flow rate; removing a portion of the aqueous bulk liquid at a third flow rate, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is substantially free of total suspended solids; adjusting the second flow rate to provide a MCRT of the bacteria of no more than about 8 days; and drying the removed bacterial mass within a time period whereby MWRT−
MCRT≦
about 2 days. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method, comprising:
-
calculating a processing cost associated with reducing a biochemical oxygen demand level of an aqueous waste stream from an input biochemical oxygen demand level to an output biochemical oxygen demand level; calculating a recovery value associated with a bacterial mass removed from the aqueous waste stream when the biochemical oxygen demand level of the aqueous waste stream is reduced from the input biochemical oxygen demand level to the output biochemical oxygen demand level; and adjusting automatically a contract price associated with reducing the biochemical oxygen demand level of the aqueous waste stream based on at least the processing cost and the recovery value. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A method, comprising:
-
calculating a processing cost associated with a process of reducing a biochemical oxygen demand level of an aqueous waste stream from an input biochemical oxygen demand level to an output biochemical oxygen demand level; calculating a recovery value associated with a bacterial mass removed from the aqueous waste stream during the process; and adjusting automatically a portion of the process based on at least the processing cost and the recovery value. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
-
-
37. A wastewater treatment unit comprising:
-
a growth vessel; means for adding an aqueous waste stream comprising metabolizable components to the growth vessel; at least one bacterial culture in the growth vessel, which metabolizes at least a portion of the metabolizable components of the aqueous waste stream, thereby forming a bacterial suspension in an aqueous bulk liquid, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is depleted of metabolizable components relative to the aqueous waste stream; means for aerating the bacterial suspension and aqueous bulk liquid in the growth vessel; means for separating a portion of the bacterial suspension from the aqueous bulk liquid, thereby forming a bacterial mass; means for removing the bacterial mass from the wastewater treatment unit; means for adjusting the rate at which the bacterial mass is removed to provide a MCRT of the bacteria in the wastewater treatment unit of no more than about 8 days; means for removing a portion of the aqueous bulk liquid from the wastewater treatment unit, wherein said aqueous bulk liquid is substantially free of total suspended solids; means for drying the removed bacterial mass; and means for adjusting the time period in which the removed bacterial mass is dried whereby MWRT−
MCRT≦
about 2 days.- View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A method comprising:
-
receiving an aqueous waste stream from a food and/or beverage processing plant comprising dissolved or suspended metabolizable food and/or beverage byproducts with BOD levels of ≧
about 100 mg/L;adding the aqueous waste stream comprising metabolizable components to a growth vessel containing at least one bacterial culture, at a first flow rate; allowing the bacteria of the at least one bacterial culture to grow in the growth vessel by metabolizing at least a portion of the metabolizable components of the aqueous waste stream, thereby forming a bacterial suspension in an aqueous bulk liquid, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is depleted of metabolizable components relative to the aqueous waste stream; separating a portion of the bacterial suspension from the aqueous bulk liquid, thereby fowling a bacterial mass; removing the bacterial mass at a second flow rate; removing a portion of the aqueous bulk liquid at a third flow rate, wherein the aqueous bulk liquid is substantially free of total suspended solids and has a BOD within permitted levels; adjusting the second flow rate to provide a MCRT of the bacteria of no more than about 8 days; and drying the removed bacterial mass within a time period whereby MWRT−
MCRT≦
about 2 days;providing the dried bacterial mass as a protein source for animal feed. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A composition comprising:
a dried and deactivated bacterial mass comprising a mixture of bacteria, wherein the true protein content is at least about 50%, wherein the dried bacterial mass is suitable for use as a feed for animals used for human consumption and complies with the requirements of the American Association of Feed Control Officials Official Publication (2007), wherein the amino acid levels, total amino acid levels, and crude protein levels are at least those in the following table;
-
46. A composition comprising:
a dried and deactivated bacterial mass comprising a mixture of bacteria, wherein the true protein content is at least about 50%, wherein the dried bacterial mass is suitable for use as a feed for animals used for human consumption and complies with the requirements of the American Association of Feed Control Officials Official Publication (2007), wherein the amino acid levels are at least those in the following table;
Specification