Franklin Jo Nathan Green

6852225, Feb 8, 2005

Apr 19, 2000

09/552576

William J. Oswald - Concord CA, US
Franklin Bailey Green - Kensington CA, US

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

C02F003/00

210603, 210605

A method of disposing waste includes the step of forming a primary waste pond called an Advanced Facultative Pond (AFP). A stable microbiological methane fermentation zone is established within the AFP. The system constitutes a complete primary treatment of organic waste and wastewater that does not require daily sludge handling typically associated with organic waste treatment and disposal The method of the invention converts organic compounds, including settleable solids, into methane. The invention controls sulfide odors from methane fermentation. The invention also provides a method of filtering raw wastewater through a bed of fermenting organic solids suspended by gas evolved in a fermentation zone. Hydrogen sulfide is oxidized in accordance with the invention. The technique of the invention biologically increases pH near the pond surface, thus retaining hydrogen sulfide in solution in the pond water.

6923906, Aug 2, 2005

Apr 2, 2002

10/115838

William J. Oswald - Concord CA, US
Franklin Bailey Green - Kensington CA, US

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

C02F003/00

210188, 210220

A method of disposing waste includes the step of forming a primary waste pond called an Advanced Facultative Pond (AFP). A stable microbiological methane fermentation zone is established within the AFP. The system constitutes a complete primary treatment of organic waste and wastewater that does not require daily sludge handling typically associated with organic waste treatment and disposal. The method of the invention converts organic compounds, including settleable solids, into methane. The invention controls sulfide odors from methane fermentation. The invention also provides a method of filtering raw wastewater through a bed of fermenting organic solids suspended by gas evolved in a fermentation zone. Hydrogen sulfide is oxidized in accordance with the invention. The technique of the invention biologically increases pH near the pond surface, thus retaining hydrogen sulfide in solution in the pond water.

20020153303, Oct 24, 2002

Oct 24, 2001

10/083222

William Oswald - Concord CA, US
Franklin Green - Kensington CA, US
Ezio Bracco - Savona, IT

C02F003/00

210/603000, 210/608000

A method of processing sewage. Non-biodegradable solids are first removed from the sewage for separate disposal. The sewage is then introduced to the bottom of a fermentation cell designed to optimize sedimentation and methane fermentation of settleable organic solids, most of which settle in the fermentation cell. Sulfate-reducing micro-organisms that release sulfides are growing in the fermentation cell. The sulfides released combine with multivalent metal particles in the sewage to form insoluble particles, a portion of which settles in the fermentation cell. The remaining metal sulfides, other suspended solids, microorganisms, nutrients, and pathogens in the sewage are then removed by natural means followed by Dissolved Air Flotation, Slow Sand Filtration and disinfection. Metal ions that escaped sedimentation in the fermentation cell are adsorbed by microorganisms that have a strong negative surface charge. Finally, reverse osmosis is carried out to produce purified water and a high-salinity concentrate. The purified water and the high-salinity concentrate, being substantially free of toxic multivalent metal particles, can be used respectively for safe human consumption and for cultivation of halophilic microalgae.