US 12,410,081 B2
Pump-based system for wastewater treatment through microorganism biochemical pathway optimization
Akiyoshi Ohki, Shirasato (JP); and Whitney Rich, Minato-ku (JP)
Filed by Akiyoshi Ohki, Shirasato (JP); and Whitney Rich, Minato-ku (JP)
Filed on Jul. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/761,058.
Application 18/761,058 is a continuation of application No. 18/363,718, filed on Aug. 1, 2023, granted, now 12,024,450.
Application 18/363,718 is a continuation of application No. 17/245,631, filed on Apr. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,724,948, issued on Aug. 15, 2023.
Application 17/245,631 is a continuation of application No. 16/866,434, filed on May 4, 2020, granted, now 11,046,603, issued on Jun. 29, 2021.
Application 16/866,434 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/665,533, filed on Oct. 28, 2019, granted, now 10,689,279, issued on Jun. 23, 2020.
Application 16/665,533 is a continuation of application No. 16/517,637, filed on Jul. 21, 2019, granted, now 10,457,582, issued on Oct. 29, 2019.
Application 16/517,637 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/236,190, filed on Dec. 28, 2018, granted, now 10,435,319, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Application 16/236,190 is a continuation of application No. 15/956,631, filed on Apr. 18, 2018, granted, now 10,167,214, issued on Jan. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0351924 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. C02F 3/26 (2023.01); B01F 31/80 (2022.01); B01F 101/00 (2022.01); C02F 1/34 (2023.01); C02F 1/36 (2023.01); C02F 3/00 (2023.01); C02F 3/12 (2023.01); C02F 3/20 (2023.01); C02F 3/28 (2023.01)
CPC C02F 3/26 (2013.01) [B01F 31/80 (2022.01); C02F 3/1221 (2013.01); C02F 3/20 (2013.01); C02F 3/28 (2013.01); B01F 2101/305 (2022.01); C02F 1/34 (2013.01); C02F 1/36 (2013.01); C02F 3/006 (2013.01); C02F 2201/782 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A pump-based controlled system for wastewater treatment through microorganism biochemical pathway optimization, comprising:
a gas generator configured to provide at least one reactive gas into a sludge comprising microorganisms having a digestive function and capable of digesting at least one pollutant via at least two biochemical pathways, one of the pathways for digesting that pollutant producing inert byproduct and another one of the pathways producing a further byproduct other than the inert byproduct, wherein the sludge is substantially free of the pollutants;
a controller interfaced to the gas generator and a pump and configured to receive user input comprising a desired treatment time of the wastewater and to determine an amount of a gas-dispersion return sludge to be combined with an amount of the wastewater to form a mixed liquor based on the user input; and
the pump configured to:
form the gas-dispersion return sludge by rendering the at least one reactive gas into ultra-fine bubbles within the sludge, wherein a portion of the ultra-fine bubbles dissolves within the sludge; and
provide under a control of the controller the determined amount of the gas-dispersion return sludge for combining with the amount of the wastewater that comprises the at least one pollutant to form the mixed liquor, wherein, upon encountering the pollutant within the wastewater, the activated microorganisms digest the at least one pollutant by prioritizing the pathway that produces the inert byproduct over the pathway that produces the other byproduct.