Stephen N Allen

US Patent:

59048530, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Oct 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/957049

Inventors:

Stephen D. Allen - Holladay UT
Leonard Rees Lyman - South Jordan UT

Assignee:

Microbar Incorporated - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

C02F1/44;1/56

US Classification:

210638

Abstract:

A process and system for removing heavy metals, fluoride, silica and other contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing the contaminant is treated with a chemical coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the metal contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0. 5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 700 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 1500 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.

US Patent:

59102519, Jun 8, 1999

Filed:

Oct 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/957053

Inventors:

Stephen D. Allen - Holladay UT
Leonard Rees Lyman - South Jordan UT

Assignee:

Microbar Incorporated - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

C02F 144
C02F 156

US Classification:

210638

Abstract:

A process and system for removing heavy metals, fluoride, silica and other contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing the contaminant is treated with a chemical coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the metal contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0. 5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 700 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 1500 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.

US Patent:

59650273, Oct 12, 1999

Filed:

Nov 6, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/965574

Inventors:

Stephen D. Allen - Holladay UT
Leonard R. Lyman - South Jordan UT

Assignee:

Microbar Incorporated - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

C02F 144
C02F 156

US Classification:

210638

Abstract:

A process and system for removing silica from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing silica is treated with a chemical coagulant, such as a epichlorohydrin/dimethylamine polymer, to create spherical particles which agglomerate into clusters having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the silica contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0. 5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 150 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 600 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining solids at timed intervals from the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.

US Patent:

59002204, May 4, 1999

Filed:

Jan 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/008707

Inventors:

Stephen D. Allen - Holladay UT

Assignee:

Microbar Incorporated - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

B01D 6116
C01D 722

US Classification:

423179

Abstract:

A process and system for separating solids from concentration soda ash solution is disclosed. In the process, a soda ash solution feed stream containing solids and other impurities is treated with a chemical coagulant to create solid particles having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated feed stream is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the solids from the soda ash solution. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0. 5 micron to 5 microns may be used. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filter vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filter vessel is flushed removed from the filter vessel for further processing or disposal.

US Patent:

58716483, Feb 16, 1999

Filed:

Nov 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/756681

Inventors:

Stephen D. Allen - Holladay UT
Leonard Rees Lyman - South Jordan UT

Assignee:

Environmental Chemistries, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

C02F 144
C02F 156

US Classification:

210638

Abstract:

A process and system for removing heavy metals, fluoride, silica and other contaminants from large volumes of wastewater is disclosed. In the process, a wastewater stream containing the contaminant is treated with a chemical coagulant to create a particle having a diameter greater than 5 microns. Treated wastewater is passed through a microfiltration membrane which physically separates the metal contaminant particle from the wastewater. Commercially available microfiltration membranes having a pore size from 0. 5 micron to 5 microns may be used. The treated wastewater flow rate through the microfiltration membranes can range from 700 gallons per square foot of membrane per day ("GFD") to 1500 GFD. Solids are removed from the membrane surface by periodically backflushing the microfiltration membranes and draining the filtration vessel within which the membranes are located. The dislodged solid material within the filtration vessel is flushed into a holding tank for further processing of the solids.