2017-5-22 Patent US6592762 - Process for treating BOD-containing wastewater - Google Patents

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ProcessfortreatingBODcontaining Publicationnumber US6592762B2

wastewater Publicationtype Grant
Applicationnumber US09/941,535
US6592762B2 Publicationdate Jul15,2003
Filingdate Aug29,2001
ABSTRACT Prioritydate Aug29,2001
Feestatus Paid
AprocessfortreatingBOD,nitrogenandphosphoruscontainingwastewater.
Alsopublishedas US20030042199
Theprocessincludesintroducingwastewaterinfluentintoananaerobiczone
Inventors GeorgeW.Smith
havingactivatedsludgeandmixingthewastewaterinfluentwiththeactivated
sludgeintheanaerobiczonetoformamixedliquor.Themixedliquoris OriginalAssignee UnitedStatesFilterCorporation

introducedintoanoxygendeficitaerationzone,anddenitrifiedmixedliquor ExportCitation BiBTeX,EndNote,RefMan

fromtheoxygendeficitaerationzoneisrecycledtotheanaerobiczonefor PatentCitations(20),NonPatentCitations(2),Referencedby(78),
mixingthereinwithwastewater.Theprocessalsoincludestransferringthe Classifications(17),LegalEvents(10)

mixedliquorfromtheoxygendeficitaerationzonetoanoxygensurplus ExternalLinks:USPTO,USPTOAssignment,Espacenet
aerationzone,transferringaportionofthemixedliquorfromtheoxygensurplus
aerationzonetoasettlingzonewhereinasupernatantisseparatedfromsettled
sludgeandrecyclingatleastaportionofthesettledsludgetotheoxygendeficitaerationzoneasrecycledactivatedsludge.

IMAGES (7)

DESCRIPTION CLAIMS (20)

FIELDOFTHEINVENTION Iclaim:

ThisinventionrelatestotreatmentofwastewaterscontainingBOD,phosphorus
andnitrogen,suchasmunicipalsewage,industrialwastewatersandthelikeby
anactivatedsludgeprocess.Moreparticularly,theinventionrelatestoa
processwherebyawastewaterinfluentismixedwithadenitrifiedmixedliquor
underanaerobicconditionsbeforebeingmixedwithrecycledactivatedsludgein
subsequentaerationzones.
BACKGROUNDOFTHEINVENTION
1.AprocessfortreatingBOD,nitrogenandphosphoruscontainingwastewater,
theprocesscomprising:
introducingwastewaterinfluentintoananaerobiczonehavingactivated
sludge
mixingthewastewaterinfluentwiththeactivatedsludgeintheanaerobic
zonetoformamixedliquor

introducingthemixedliquorintoanoxygendeficitaerationzone
Activatedsludgeprocesseshavebeenusedtoremovebiologicaloxygen
demand(BOD)frommunicipalsewage,industrialwastewatersandthelike.In recyclingdenitrifiedmixedliquorfromtheoxygendeficitaerationzoneto
suchaprocess,awastewaterinfluentismixedwithamicroorganismcontaining theanaerobiczoneformixingthereinwithwastewater
recycledbiomassoractivatedsludgeinaninitialcontactzonetoformamixed
liquor.Atsomepointintheprocess,themixedliquorisaeratedwithsufficient transferringthemixedliquorfromtheoxygendeficitaerationzonetoan
oxygentogrowandmaintainasatisfactorypopulationofmicroorganismswhich oxygensurplusaerationzone
sorb,assimilateandmetabolizetheBODofthewastewater.
transferringaportionofthemixedliquorfromtheoxygensurplusaeration
IntheactivatedsludgeprocessdisclosedinU.S.Pat.No.3,964,998, zonetoasettlingzonewhereinasupernatantisseparatedfromsettled
wastewaterandrecycledactivatedsludgearemixedwithmechanicalstirrersin sludgeand
afirststagewhichisoperatedunderanoxicconditions.Themixedliquoris
recyclingatleastaportionofthesettledsludgetotheoxygendeficit
subsequentlyaeratedinasecondstage,subjectedtoanoxicconditionsina
aerationzoneasrecycledactivatedsludge.
thirdstage,aeratedinafourthstageandthenclarifiedtoseparateanactivated
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2017-5-22 Patent US6592762 - Process for treating BOD-containing wastewater - Google Patents
sludge.
Inanotherprocess,wastewaterandrecycledactivatedsludgearemixedand
circulatedaroundapluralityofconcentric,annularbasinsorchannelsbya
pluralityofsurfaceaerationdiscsorothermechanicalsurfaceaerationdevices
whichchumoxygenintotheuppersurfaceofthemixedliquorandprovide
sufficientagitationtopreventsettling.Themixedliquorflowsfromonechannel
tothenextandfinallyisintroducedintoaclarifiertoseparateanactivated
sludge.Thechannelscanbeoperatedasaseriesofcompletemixreactorsso
thatthedissolvedoxygencontentinthefirstchannelinwhichthewastewater
andrecycledactivatedsludgeisinitiallymixedisaboutzeroorlessandthe
dissolvedoxygencontentissubsequentlyincreasedasthemixedliquormoves
fromonechanneltothenext.
OtheractivatedsludgewastewatertreatmentprocessesaredisclosedinU.S.
Pat.Nos.3,764,523,3,939,068,3,953,327and3,994,802.
SUMMARYOFTHEINVENTION
TheinventionprovidesaprocessfortreatingBOD,nitrogenandphosphorus
containingwastewater.Theprocesscomprisesintroducingwastewaterinfluent
intoananaerobiczonehavingactivatedsludgeandmixingthewastewater
influentwiththeactivatedsludgeintheanaerobiczonetoformamixedliquor.
Themixedliquorisintroducedintoanoxygendeficitaerationzone,and
denitrifiedmixedliquorfromtheoxygendeficitaerationzoneisrecycledtothe
anaerobiczoneformixingthereinwithwastewater.Theprocessfurther
comprisestransferringthemixedliquorfromtheoxygendeficitaerationzoneto
anoxygensurplusaerationzone,transferringaportionofthemixedliquorfrom
theoxygensurplusaerationzonetoasettlingzonewhereinasupernatantis
separatedfromsettledsludgeandrecyclingatleastaportionofthesettled
sludgetotheoxygendeficitaerationzoneasrecycledactivatedsludge.
Inanotheraspectoftheinvention,aprocessfortreatingBODcontaining
wastewaterusingasystememployingapluralityofconcentric,annularzonesis
provided.Theprocesscomprisesintroducingwastewaterinfluentintoan
anaerobiczonehavingactivatedsludgeandmixingthewastewaterinfluentwith
theactivatedsludgeintheanaerobiczonetoformamixedliquor.Themixed
liquorisintroducedintoafirstaerationzonemaintainedunderconditionswhich
produceacompletemixreactionandprovideinsufficientoxygentomeet,the
biologicaloxygendemandoftheresultingmixedliquor.Denitrifiedmixedliquor
fromthefirstaerationzoneisrecycledtotheanaerobiczoneformixingtherein
withwastewater.Theprocessfurthercomprisestransferringthemixedliquor
fromthefirstaerationzonetoasubsequentaerationzonemaintainedunder
conditionswhichproduceacompletemixreactionandprovidesufficientoxygen
toproduceanoveralldissolvedcontentofatleast0.5mg/L,transferringthe
mixedliquorfromthesubsequentaerationzonetoasettlingzonewhereina
supernatantisseparatedfromsettledsludgeandrecyclingatleastaportionof
thesettledsludgetothefirstaerationzoneasrecycledactivatedsludge.
Inanotheraspectoftheinvention,anotherprocessfortreatingBOD,nitrogen
andphosphoruscontainingwastewaterisprovided.Theprocesscomprises
introducingwastewaterinfluentintoananaerobiczonehavingactivatedsludge,
mixingthewastewaterinfluentwiththeactivatedsludgetoformamixedliquor
andintroducingthemixedliquorintoanaeratedanoxiczonepromoting
simultaneousnitrificationanddenitrification.Denitrifiedmixedliquorfromthe
aeratedanoxiczoneisrecycledtotheanaerobiczoneformixingthereinwith
wastewater.Themixedliquoristransferredtoasubsequentaerationzone
underconditionswhichproduceacompletemixreactionandprovidesufficient
oxygentoproductanoveralldissolvedoxygencontentofatleast0.5mg/L,and
thentransferredfromthesubsequentaerationzonetoasettlingzonewherein
supernatantisseparatedfromsettledsludge.Atleastaportionofthesettled
sludgeisrecycledtotheaeratedanoxiczone.
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2.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim1,whereinoxygendeficitinthe
oxygendeficitaerationzoneismaintainedbycontrollingaerationso
thatoxygensupplyislessthanoxygenconsumptionby
microorganismstherein.
3.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim2,whereinthecontinuousoxygen
deficitaerationzonehasadissolvedoxygenconcentrationofabout
zero.
4.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim1,whereinanaeratordeviceinthe
oxygendeficitaerationzoneprovidesoxygencontaininggasanda
mixerkeepsthemixedliquorinsuspension.
5.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim4,whereintheaeratordevice
includesafinebubblemembranediffuserincludingaflexible
membranehavingperforationsthroughwhichtheoxygencontaining
gasisinjected.
6.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim4,whereintheaeratordevice
includesaerationdiscs.
7.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim1,whereintheoxygensurplus
aerationzonehasadissolvedoxygenconcentrationofatleastabout
0.5mg/l.
8.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim1,whereinintheoxygendeficit
aerationzonepromotessimultaneousnitrificationanddenitrification.
9.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim8,whereinoxygendeficitinthe
oxygendeficitaerationzoneisproducedbysupplyingatmospheric
oxygenataratethatdoesnotmeetoxygendemandtherein.
10.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim1,whereinthesupernatanthasa
phosphorusconcentrationoflessthan2.5mg/l.
11.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim1,furthercomprisingrecyclinga
portionofmixedliquorfromtheoxygensurplusaerationzonetothe
oxygendeficitaerationzoneformixingthereinwiththewastewater
andtherecycledactivatedsludge.
12.AprocessfortreatingBODcontainingwastewaterusingasystem
employingapluralityofconcentric,annularzones,theprocesscomprising:
introducingwastewaterinfluentintoananaerobiczonehavingactivated
sludge
mixingthewastewaterinfluentwiththeactivatedsludgeintheanaerobic
zonetoformamixedliquor
introducingthemixedliquorintoafirstaerationzonemaintainedunder
conditionswhichproduceacompletemixreactionandprovideinsufficient
oxygentomeetthebiologicaloxygendemandoftheresultingmixedliquor
recyclingdenitrifiedmixedliquorfromthefirstaerationzonetothe
anaerobiczoneformixingthereinwithwastewater
transferringthemixedliquorfromthefirstaerationzonetoasubsequent
aerationzonemaintainedunderconditionswhichproduceacompletemix
reactionandprovidesufficientoxygentoproduceanoveralldissolved
contentofatleast0.5mg/L
transferringthemixedliquorfromthesubsequentaerationzonetoa
settlingzonewhereinasupernatantisseparatedfromsettledsludgeand
recyclingatleastaportionofthesettledsludgetothefirstaerationzoneas
recycledactivatedsludge.
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2017-5-22 Patent US6592762 - Process for treating BOD-containing wastewater - Google Patents
BRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFTHEDRAWINGS
FIG.1isaschematicviewofanimprovedwastewatertreatmentsystem
embodyingtheinvention.
FIG.2isaschematicanddiagrammatictopplanviewofanimproved
wastewatertreatmentsystemembodyingtheinvention.
FIG.3isaschematicanddiagrammaticsideplanviewofthesystemillustrated
inFIG.2.
FIG.4isafragmentary,topplanviewofabottomportionofthefirstchannel
showninFIG.3andincludingfinebubblemembranediffusers.
FIG.5isanenlargedfragmentaryviewofadiffusershowninFIG.4.
FIG.6isasideperspectiveelevationview,inpartialsection,ofaverticalloop
reactor.
FIG.7isasideviewofthereactorshowninFIG.6.
FIG.8isasideperspectiveelevationviewofasystemincludingaseriesof
verticalloopreactorsdownstreamfromananaerobiczone.
FIG.9isatopplanviewofthesystemshowninFIG.8.
Beforeoneembodimentoftheinventionisexplainedindetail,itistobe
understoodthattheinventionisnotlimitedinitsapplicationtothedetailsof
constructionandthearrangementofcomponentssetforthinthefollowing
descriptionorillustratedinthedrawings.Theinventioniscapableofother
embodimentsandofbeingpracticedorbeingcarriedoutinvariousways.Also,
itistobeunderstoodthatthephraseologyandterminologyusedhereinisfor
thepurposeofdescriptionandshouldnotberegardedaslimiting.
DETAILEDDESCRIPTIONOFTHEINVENTION
FIG.1illustratesaschematicviewofanimprovedwastewatertreatmentsystem
embodyingtheinvention.Theinventionemploysacompletemixsystemfor
treatingBOD,nitrogenandphosphoruscontainingwastewater.Inthesystem,
wastewatermayormaynotbepretreatedtoremovegrit,largeparticulate
matterandothersuspendedsolids.Thewastewateristhenfedthrougha
conduitintoananaerobicreactororreactors,whichpreferablyutilizea
mechanicalmixertokeepsolidsinsuspensionwithoutaeration.
AsshowninFIG.1,denitrifiedmixedliquorfromadownstreamaerationzone
havingacontinuousoxygendeficit(definedbelow)isaddedtotheanaerobic
zone.
Typically,thedenitrifiedmixedliquorisaddedataratefrom0.5to2timesthe
wastewaterinfluentflowrate.Intheanaerobicreactorzone,microorganisms
capableofaccumulatingquantitiesofphosophorusinexcessofthatrequiredfor
simplecellgrowthandreproductiontakeupandstoresimplecarbon
compounds,usingenergyderivedfromthehydrolysisandreleaseof
polyphosphates.Thehydraulicresidencetimeintheanaerobiczoneistypically,
butnotlimitedto,0.5to2.0hours.
Thecombinedwastewateranddenitrifiedmixedliquorthenflowtooneormore
downstreamaerationzonesortankshavingacontinuousoxygendeficit.As
usedherein,thetermsaerationzoneortankhavingacontinuousoxygen
deficitandoxygendeficitaerationzoneortankaresynonymousandmeantto
refertoazonehavingacontinuousoxygendeficitmaintained,e.g.,by
controllingtherateofaerationsuchthattherateofoxygensupplyislessthan
therateofoxygenconsumptionbythemicroorganismsinthetank.Thisresults
indissolvedoxygenconcentrationsatornearzerothroughoutthebasin.The
termsaerationzonehavingacontinuousoxygendeficitandoxygendeficit
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13.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim12,whereintheoveralldissolved
oxygencontentinthefirstaerationzonedoesnotexceedabout0.5
mg/l.
14.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim12furthercomprisingrecyclinga
portionofthemixedliquorfromthesubsequentaerationzonetothe
firstaerationzoneformixingthereinwiththewastewaterandthe
recycledactivatedsludge.
15.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim12,whereinthesubsequent
aerationzonecomprises:
asecondaerationzonemaintainedunderconditionswhich
produceacompletemixreactionandprovidesufficientoxygento
produceanoveralldissolvedoxygencontentwithintherangeof
about0.5toabout1.5mg/land
athirdaerationzone,maintainedunderconditionswhichproduce
acompletemixreactionandprovidesufficientoxygentoproduce
anoveralldissolvedoxygencontentofatleast2.0mg/linthethird
aerationzone.
16.Theprocessaccordingtoclaim15,furthercomprisingrecyclinga
portionofthemixedliquorfromthesecondaerationzone,thethird
aerationzoneorboththesecondandthirdaerationzonestothefirst
aerationzoneformixingthereinwiththewastewaterandtherecycled
activatedsludge.
17.Theprocesstoclaim12,whereinthefirstaerationzonepromotes
simultaneousnitrificationanddenitrification.
18.AprocessfortreatingBOD,nitrogenandphosphoruscontaining
wastewater,theprocesscomprising:
introducingwastewaterinfluentintoananaerobiczonehavingactivated
sludge
mixingthewastewaterinfluentwiththeactivatedsludgetoformamixed
liquor
introducingthemixedliquorintoanaeratedanoxiczonepromoting
simultaneousnitrificationanddenitrification
recyclingdenitrifiedmixedliquorfromtheaeratedanoxiczonetothe
anaerobiczoneformixingthereinwithwastewater
transferringthemixedliquortoasubsequentaerationzoneunder
conditionswhichproduceacompletemixreactionandprovidesufficient
oxygentoproductanoveralldissolvedoxygencontentofatleast0.5mg/L
transferringthemixedliquorfromthesubsequentaerationzonetoa
settlingzonewhereinsupernatantisseparatedfromsettledsludgeand
recyclingatleastaportionofthesettledsludgetotheaeratedanoxiczone.
19.Theprocessofclaim18furthercomprisingrecyclingaportionof
themixedliquorfromthesubsequentaerationzonetotheaerated
anoxiczoneformixingthereinthewastewaterandtherecycled
activatedsludge.
20.Theprocessofclaim18,whereintheaeratedanoxiczoneprovides
anoxygendeficitbysupplyingatmosphericoxygenataratethatdoes
notmeetoxygendemandtherein.
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2017-5-22 Patent US6592762 - Process for treating BOD-containing wastewater - Google Patents

simultaneousnitrificationanddenitrificationtakeplace.Inotherwords,atmosphericoxygenissuppliedtothetank,but
doesnotmeettheoxygendemandthereof.Incontrast,inanonaeratedanoxictank,simultaneousnitrificationand
denitrificationdonottakeplaceasnoatmosphericoxygenissuppliedtothetank,i.e.nooxygenissuppliedtothetankby
aerators.Aeratordevices(describedbelow),oracombinationofaeratordevicesandmechanicalmixersprovideoxygen
andkeepthemixedliquorsolidsinsuspension.Settledsludge(i.e.returnactivatedsludge)fromaclarifierisaddedtothe
aerationzonehavingacontinuousoxygendeficit.Nitrifiedmixedliquorfromadownstreamaerationzonehavingan
oxygensurplus(definedbelow)canalsobeaddedthereto.

Usingoxygensuppliedbytheaerators,heterotrophicorganismsoxidizeBODandautotrophicorganismsoxidizeammonia
intheaerationtankhavingacontinuousoxygendeficit.Astheamountofoxygensuppliedislessthanthedemandand
nitratesfromoxidationofammoniaarepresent,heterotrophicorganismswilloxidizeBODusingnitratesasanelectron
acceptorandconvertingnitratesintonitrogengas.Thehydraulicresidencetimeintheaerationzonehavingacontinuous
oxygendeficitistypically,butnotlimitedto,2to12hours.

Theeffluentfromtheaerationzonehavingacontinuousoxygendeficitthenflowstooneormoredownstreamtanks
havingacontinuousoxygensurplus.Asusedherein,thetermsaerationzoneortankhavingacontinuousoxygen
surplusandoxygensurplusaerationzoneortankaremeanttorefertoaaerationzonewhereintherateofoxygen
supplymeetsorexceedsthedemandofmicroorganismsinthetank.MostoftheBODandammoniainthewastewater
hasbeenoxidizedbythetimethewastewaterreachesthelastaerationzone,sodissolvedoxygenconcentrationsof1
mg/Lorgreaterareeasilymaintainedinthelastaerationzone.OxidationofBODandammoniaoccursintheaeration
tankshavingacontinuousoxygensurplus.Intheaerationzoneofcontinuousoxygensurplus,microorganismsoxidizethe
carbonthattheyhaveabsorbedintheanaerobiczoneandabsorbandstorepolyphosphatesasanenergysourceforthe
returntripbacktotheanaerobiczoneasreturnactivatedsludge.Thehydraulicresidencetimeintheaerationzonehaving
acontinuousoxygensurplusistypically,butnotlimitedto,2to12hours.

Finally,effluentfromtheaerationtankshavingacontinuousoxygensurplusflowstotheclarifierwherethebiologicalsolids
settle.Aportionoftheeffluentmaybereturnedtothebiologicalprocessleavingasupernatantwithreducedlevelsof
organicmatter,phosphorusandnitrogen.Thissupernatantisremovedandbecomestheprocesseffluent.Someofthe
settledsolidsisremovedfromthesystem(wasteactivatedsludge),therebyremovingphosphorusandorganicmatter.

FIGS.2and3illustrateoneembodimentoftheimprovedwastewatertreatmentsystem10forpracticingtheactivated
sludgetreatmentprocessoftheinvention.Thesystem10includesaninitialanaerobiczone11andapluralityof
concentric,annularbasinsorchannelsincludingafirstaerationzonehavinganoxygendeficit12,asecondaerationzone
havinganoxygensurplus14and,alternatively,athirdaerationzonehavinganoxygensurplus16.Thesystem10also
includesasettlingtankorclarifier18.Awastewaterinfluent,whichusuallyissubjectedtoscreeningand/orpreliminary
sedimentationtreatment(notshown)toremovelargeparticulatematerials,isintroducedintotheanaerobiczone11viaa
supplyconduit20andmixedwithdenitrifiedmixedliquorfromadownstreamaerationzone,e.g.thefirstaerationzoneor
channel12.

Thewastewater,denitrifiedmixedliquorandactivatedsludgearemixedintheanaerobiczone11byamechanicalmixer
19,whichallowssolidsinthewastewatertoremainsuspendedwithoutaeration.Anonaeratedtankorreactorisused
typicallyinthefrontpartoftheactivatedsludgeprocessforbiologicalphosphorusremovalwheretheinfluentrawsewage
flowismixedandblendedwithaerobicbiomasssolidsvoidofoxygen.Thetankisdesignedtypicallytobevoidbothof
deliveredoxygen(includingDOcontainedinsidestreams)andtheoxygencontainedinnitritesandnitrates.Priorto
enteringthesetanks,theaerobicbiomasssolidsareusuallyroutedthroughanoxictankstoremovenitritesandnitrates
andtoremoveanyDO(dissolvedoxygen)containedintheliquidstream.Blanketsofnitrogen,carbondioxideandother
gasescanalsobeusedtolimittheanaerobiczone'saccesstotheatmosphere.Theseanaerobicreactorsaremerely
illustrative,andshouldnotbeconstruedtolimitthetypesofanaerobiczoneswhichcanbeusedinconjunctionwiththe
methodsdescribedherein.Inotherwords,anyanaerobiczonewhichismaintainedunderanaerobicconditionsissuitable
forusewiththesystem.

Preferably,thedenitrifiedmixedliquorisaddedfromacontinuousoxygendeficitaerationzone(e.g.thefirstchannel12)
totheanaerobiczone11asshownbyarrow60inFIGS.2and3.Denitrifiedmixedliquorisaproductofaeratingand
mixingwastewaterinfluentwithactivatedsludgeundercontinuousoxygendeficitconditions.Preferably,thedenitrified
mixedliquorisaddedatratethatisabout0.5to2timesthewastewaterinfluentflowrate,althoughotherratescanbe
used.Althoughtheinventionshouldinnowaybelimitedbyscientifictheory,itisbelievedthatintheanaerobicreactor
zone,microorganismscapableofaccumulatingquantitiesofphosphorusinexcessofthatrequiredforsimplecellgrowth
andreproduction,takeupandstoresimplecarboncompounds,usingenergyderivedfromthehydrolysisandreleaseof
polyphosphates.Thehydraulicresidencetimeintheanaerobiczoneispreferably,butinnowaylimitedto,0.5to2hours.

Thecombinedwastewateranddenitrifiedmixedliquorthenflowtooneormoredownstreamaerationtankshavinga
continuousoxygendeficit,e.g.firstchannel12.Thecontinuousoxygendeficitismaintainedbycontrollingtherateof
aerationsuchthattherateofoxygensupplyislessthantherateofoxygenconsumptionbythemicroorganismsinthe
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tank,therebyresultingindissolvedoxygenconcentrationsatornearzerothroughoutthezone.Aeratordevices(discussed
below),oracombinationofaeratordevicesandmechanicalmixers,provideoxygenandkeepthemixedliquorsolidsin
suspension.Settledsludge(i.e.returnactivatedsludge)fromtheclarifier18canbeaddedtotheaerationzonehavinga
continuousoxygendeficit12.Inaddition,nitrifiedmixedliquorfromadownstreamaerationzonehavinganoxygen
surplus,e.g.,thirdchannel16,mayberecycledbyapump56throughaconduit58tothecontinuousoxygendeficit
aerationzone12asillustratedbydashedlinesinFIG.3.

Thecontentsofthefirstchannel12(collectivelythemixedliquor)aremixedthereininpartbyapluralityofsurface
aerationdevices24.Eachsurfaceaerationdevice24includesapluralityofaerationdiscs26mountedonashaft28which
isrotatedbyanelectricmotor30orothersuitabledriver.Eachaerationdisc26hasapluralityofaperturesorrecesses
(notshown)forcatchingorentrainingairwhichisdispersedintothemixedliquorasfinebubblesduringdiscrotation.The
rotatingaerationdiscs26effectivelymixandaeratetheupperportionofthemixedliquorandkeepthemixedliquor
movingaroundthefirstchannel12.

Althoughtheinventionshouldinnowaybelimitedbyscientifictheory,itisbelievedthatbyusingoxygensuppliedbythe
aerators24,heterotrophicorganismscanoxidizeBODandautotrophicorganismscanoxidizeammoniaintheaeration
tankhavingacontinuousoxygendeficit.Becausetheamountofoxygensuppliedislessthanthedemandandbecause
nitratesfromoxidationofammoniaarepresent,heterotrophicorganismswillalsooxidizeBODusingnitratesasan
electronacceptorandconvertnitratesintonitrogengas.Thehydraulicresidencetimeintheaerationzonewitha
continuousoxygendeficitispreferably,butshouldnotbelimitedto,2to12hours.

Inanalternativeembodiment,themixedliquorinthefirstchannel12maybemixedinpartbyapluralityofsubmerged
aerationdevices32whicharelocatedinthelowerportionofthefirstchannel12andproducefinebubbleshavinga
diameteroflessthanabout4mm,andpreferablyabout1toabout3mm.Submergedaerationdevicesarenotrequiredby
theinvention.Theoxygencontaininggasisintroducedbythesurfaceandsubmergedaerationdevices24and32under
conditionswhichproduceacompletemixreactioninthefirstchannel12andsufficientoxygenissuppliedtomeet,butnot
substantiallyexceed,thebiologicaloxygendemandofthemixedliquor.Asdiscussedabove,thedissolvedoxygencontent
preferablyismaintainedatasclosetozeroaspossible.However,becauseofchangingconditionsitmayperiodically
fluctuateaboveandbelowzero.Theoveralldissolvedoxygencontentinthefirstchannel12shouldnotexceedabout0.5
mg/l.

Theoxygencontaininggaspreferablyisairandthesubmergedaerationdevicespreferablyareconventionalcoarseor
finebubble(finepore)membranediffusers34havinganexpandableflexiblemember36includingapluralityof
perforations38throughwhichairisinjectedintothecontentsofthefirstchannel12.Thediffusers34areuniformly
distributedinthelowerportionofthefirstchannel12,eithernearthebottomoralongoneside.Thediffusers34canbe
eitherapipetypeoradisc.

Therelativelylargesurfaceareatovolumeratiooffinebubbleshavingadiameterof4mmorlessresultsinamore
efficienttransferofoxygenintothemixedliquorthanispossiblewithotheraerationdevices.Finebubblemembrane
diffusersareparticularlyadvantageousbecausethemembranecanbeperiodicallyflexedtodislodgematerialproducedin
thelowdissolvedoxygenenvironmentofthefirstchannel12whichmightplugtheperforations38,ashortcomingoffine
bubbleceramicdiffusersandplateaerators.Finebubblemembranediffuserscanbeintermittentlyoperated,ifdesired,to
controltheamountofoxygencontaininggasintroducedandtherebypermitthedissolvedoxygencontenttobemaintained
withinanoptimumrange.

Asthefineairbubblesrisefromthediffusers34,theyproduceaturbulentmixingactioninthelowerportionofthefirst
channel12which,incombinationwiththemixingmovementprovidedbytherotatingaerationdiscs26,preventssolidsin
themixedliquorfromsettling.Airflowtothediffusers34canbecontrolledtoproduce,incombinationwiththeair
introducedbytherotatingaerationdiscs26,thedissolvedoxygencontentdiscussedabove.Thus,thediffusers34serve
thedualfunctionofprovidingpartoftheoxygenrequiredtomeetthebiologicaloxygendemandofthemixedliquorand
mixingofthemixedliquorinthelowerportionofthefirstchannel12.

Thediffusers34canbeoperatedtoprovideasubstantialpartofthemixingrequiredtopreventsettlingandasubstantial
partoftheoxygenrequiredtomeetthebiologicaloxygendemandsofthemixedliquor.Inthatcase,theprimaryfunctionof
therotatingaerationdiscs26istokeepthemixedliquormovingaroundthefirstchannel12andthesecondaryfunctionis
tointroducearelativelysmallamountofairintothemixedliquor.Thiscanresultinthereductionofthenumberofdiscs
andtheamountofenergyrequiredtooperatethem.Ifthediffusers34areusedmoreasasupplementalsupplyofoxygen
andtoprovidesupplementalmixinginthelowerportionofthefirstchannel12,thecombinedmixingandoxygenprovided
bytherotatingaerationdiscs26andthediffusers34permitsthefirstchanneltobemuchdeeperthaninconventional
wastewatertreatmentprocessesemployingonlysurfaceaerationdevices.Thiscanresultinareductionininitialsystem
installationcosts.

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Inthespecificembodimentillustrated,apluralityofdisctypefinebubblemembranediffusers34aremountedinagridlike
arrayinthebottomofthefirstchannel12.Airissuppliedunderpressurethroughamanifold40(whichmayormaynotbe
influidcommunicationwithothermanifolds,e.g.,40a,40b)connectedtoapluralityofairsupplyconduits42whichare
arrangedinparallelrows.Apluralityoflongitudinallyspaceddiffusers34aremountedoneachsupplyconduit42,
preferablyinanarraysothatthediffusersonadjacentairsupplyconduitsformrowstransversetotheairsupplyconduits.

Effluentfromtheaerationzonehavingacontinuousoxygendeficit12flowstooneormoretankshavingacontinuous
oxygensurplus.Moreparticularly,aportionofthemixedliquor(approximatelyequaltothecombinedflowofthe
wastewaterinfluentandtherecycledactivatedsludge)flowsfromthefirstchannel12intothesecondchannel14through
asubmergedtransferport44.Inanotherembodimentoftheinvention,thewastewaterinfluentandrecycledactivated
sludgecontinuetoflowfromthesecondchannel14intothethirdchannel16throughasubmergedtransferport46.The
mixedliquorismovedaroundthesecondandthirdchannels14and16bytherotatingaerationdiscs26whileanoxygen
containinggasmaybeintroducedintothelowerportionofeachchannelbysubmergedaerationdevices24or32aand32
b,respectively.Thecombinedeffectofthesurfaceandsubmergedaerationdevicesproduceacompletemixreactionin
boththesecondandthirdchannels14and16.Theoveralldissolvedoxygencontentinthesecondchannel14is
preferablyatleast0.5mg/landpreferablygreaterthanabout1.0mg/l.Theoveralldissolvedoxygencontentofthethird
channel16ispreferablyatleast2.0mg/l.

Bythetimethewastewaterreachesthelastaerationzone,mostoftheBODandammoniainthewastewaterhasbeen
oxidized,therebymakingdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsof1mg/lorgreatereasytomaintaininthelastaerationzone.
OxidationofBODandammoniaoccursintheaerationtankshavingacontinuousoxygensurplus.Itisbelievedthatinthe
aerationzoneshavingcontinuousoxygensurplus,microorganismsoxidizethecarbonabsorbedintheanaerobiczone
andalsoabsorbandstorepolyphosphatesasanenergysourcefortheirreturntotheanaerobiczoneasreturnactivated
sludge.Thehydraulicresidencetimeintheaerationzonewithacontinuousoxygensurplusistypically,butinnoway
limitedto,about2to12hours.

Variousarrangementscanbeemployedtointroduceoxygencontaininggasintothelowerportionsofthesecondandthird
channels14and16.Forexample,conventionalfinebubblemembranediffusers34aand34blikethoseusedinthefirst
channel12andarrangedinasimilarmannercanservethedualfunctionsofsupplementingtheoxygensupplyand
agitationasdiscussedabove.

Themixedliquoristransferredfromoneofthecontinuousoxygensurplusaerationzones,e.g.thesecondchannel14or
thethirdchannel16,intoclarifier18throughaconduit48.Sludgesettlesintheclarifier18leavingaclarifiedeffluentor
supernatanthavingreducedlevelsoforganicmatter,phosphorusornitrogen.Aportionofthesupernatantmaybe
withdrawnfromtheupperportionoftheclarifierviaaconduit50forfurthertreatmentpriortodisposalorreuse.This
supernatantisremovedandbecomestheprocesseffluent.Aportionofthesettledsludgewithdrawnfromthebottom
portionoftheclarifier18isrecycledbyapump52throughtheconduit22backtothefirstchannel12asillustratedbysolid
linesinFIGS.2and3.Anotherportionofsettledsludgeisremovedviaaconduit54.Theamountofactivatedsludge
recycledtothefirstchannel12usuallyisabout15toabout150,preferablyabout50toabout100%,ofthewastewater
influentintroducedthroughtheconduit20.

Withsuchaprocess,uptoabout80%ofthenitrogenvaluescanberemovedfromawidevarietyofwastewaters.When
removalofahigheramountofnitrogenisdesired,aportionofnitrifiedmixedliquorfromthethirdchannel16and/orthe
secondchannel14isrecycledbyapump56throughaconduit58asillustratedbydashedlinesinFIG.3.Theamountof
mixedliquorrecycledtothefirstchannelusuallyisabout100toabout400%ofthewastewaterinfluentbeingintroduced
throughtheconduit20.

Fullscaletestswithaerationtankswithacontinuousoxygendeficit,followedbyaerationtankswithanoxygensurplus,
(suchasintheORBALprocess)haveshownthathighratesofbothnitrificationanddenitrificationwilloccurinthe
aerationtankswithacontinuousoxygendeficit,therebyreducingoreliminatingtheneedtopumpnitratesfromthetank
withtheoxygensurplustothetankwiththeoxygendeficit.Reducingoreliminatingtheneedtopumpnitratesfromthe
tankwiththeoxygensurplustothetankwiththeoxygendeficithasresultedinelectricalpowersavingsandhasproduced
lowereffluenttotalnitrogenconcentrations.

Initiallyintroducingwastewaterintoananaerobiczonebeforesubjectingthewastewatertothesubsequentaerationzones
asdiscussedaboveisbelievedtoenhancebiologicalphosphorusremoval.Moreparticularly,itisbelievedthatthe
anaerobiczonecausesthemicroorganismstoreleasephosphorus,therebyallowingthemicroorganismstotakeup
phosphorusatamuchhigherrateinthedifferentaerationzones.Infact,utilizingananaerobiczonehasbeenattributedto
reducingthephosphorusconcentrationintreatedwatersfromabout5mg/ltoabout2.5mg/l.

Inanotherembodimentoftheinvention,averticalloopreactor(VLR)systemmodifiedtoincludeaninitialanaerobiczone
canbeemployed.SuitableanaerobiczonesortanksforuseinthemodifiedVLRsystemaresetforthabove,andcanbe

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fluidlyconnectedtotheVLR.AsuitableverticalloopreactorsystemisdescribedbelowandinU.S.Pat.No.4,629,559
issuedtoSmithwhichisherebyfullyincorporatedbyreference.FIGS.67showindetailanindividualverticalloopreactor.

TheVLRcanbeinstalledinarectangulartank,andissimilartoanoxidationditchthathasbeenflippedonitsside.
Thereareupperandlowercompartments132and134,separatedbyahorizontalbaffle130runningthelengthofthetank.
Commonly,threebasinsmakeupaVLRsystem.TheVLRprocessisadaptedfromprovenORBALtechnologyand
usesthesamesurfacemounteddiscsoraerators120(describedabove)toprovidemixingandtodeliveroxygen.

ThetypicalVLRsystemhastwoormorerectangulartanks100,102,104placedsidebysideandoperatedinseries.Like
theimprovedORBALprocess,ananaerobiczone106isfollowedbyadownstreamfirsttank100.Thefirsttank100is
usedasanaeratedanoxicreactor,i.e.anaerationzonehavingacontinuousoxygendeficit,inwhichanoxygendeficitis
maintainedandtheDOleveliskeptnearzero.ThesubsequentVLRtanks102,104aremaintainedunderaerated
conditionshavingacontinuousoxygensurplus.Inotherwords,theinitialanaerobiczone106isfollowedbyadownstream
VLRtank100havinganoxygendeficitandoneormoreVLRtankshavinganoxygensurplus102and104.For
example,thelasttank104maybeoperatedwithaDOlevelof2mg/Lorhigher.

MostVLR'saredesignedforliquiddepthsgreaterthan20feet.Thehorizontalbaffle130islocatedaboutmiddepthso
thatbothupperandlowercompartments132and134areabout10feetdeep.Thesurfaceaerationdiscs120establish
andoverandundermixingpattern,withtheflowdirectiononthesurfaceoppositetheflowdirectiononthebottom.FIG.6
depictsarelativelydeepwastewaterVLRtankcomposedofasuitablematerialsuchasconcrete,syntheticresin,steel,
etc.Thetankisgenerallyofrectangularshapeandcanvaryinsize.Forexample,thelongeraxisofthetankcanvaryin
lengthuptoabout100200feet,whilethewidthmayvaryfromabout50100feet.Preferably,thetankhasaliquiddepthof
about1025feet.

Rawsewageenterstank100throughinfluentconduit108intoananaerobictankorzone106.Anyoftheanaerobictanks
orzonesdescribedabovecanbeemployedintheimprovedVLRsystem.Thewastewaterinfluentismixedwith
activatedsludgepresentintheanaerobictank106toformamixedliquor.

ThemixedliquoristhenintroducedintoaVLR100whichactsasanoxygendeficitaerationzone,i.e.anaerationzone
maintainedunderaeratedanoxicconditionsasdefinedabove.Themixedliquoristhenaeratedusingmechanicalaerators
120sothatairbubblesorthelikeareintroducedintothesewageintheupperlayerofthetank.Aerators120comprisesa
pluralityofdisks122mountedonacommonaxle124orientedonatransverseaxistotheflowofsewageanddesignedto
rotateatleastpartiallyincontactwiththemixedliquorenteringtank100viainfluentconduit112.Aportionofthis
denitrifiedmixedliquorfromtheoxygendeficitzone100mayberecycledtotheanaerobiczone106formixingtherein
withwastewater.

Theaxle124isoperationallyconnectedtoarotator126suchasanelectricmotor.Thedisks122areprovidedwitha
pluralityoffineperforationsanddepressions128whichfunctionnotonlytocarryairbubblesintoandbelowthesurfaceof
thesewageliquorbutalsototrapsubsurfaceliquidthereinandcarrydropsthereofupwardlyintocontactwiththeambient
air.Asshown,apluralityofmechanicalaerators120andthespeedofrotationmaybevariedtosuittheoperational
conditionsofthetank100andtheincomingsewage.Themechanicalaerators120thusintroducesairbelowthesurfaceof
theliquidintank100andprovidessurfaceenergythroughflowagitationofthesewagetopreventsettlingoutofsewage
solids.

Abafflelikemember130ismountedwithinthetankbelowthenormalliquidlevelapproximatelyhorizontallydividingthe
interioroftank100intoapluralityofequalvolumeflowpassagewaysinthepreferredembodimentcomprisinganupper
flowpassageway132andalowerflowpassageway134.AswillbeshownbelowinFIG.9,morethantwoflow
passagewaysmaybeprovidedwithoutdeviatingfromthespiritoftheinvention.Thebafflelikemember130isgas
impermeableandmaybecomposedofanyrigidmaterialsuchasmetalorsyntheticresin,butcorrosionresistant
characteristicsarepreferred.Thebafflemembermaybeformedincorrugatedfashion,asshown,orinotherfashionto
increaseitsstrength.Thecorrugationperformstheadditionalfunctionofpreventingairbubblesfromformingafilmor
otherwisecongregatingunderneaththebafflelikemember130.

Mixedliquorflowingintotank100throughinfluentconduit110isimmediatelymixedwiththecontentsoftank100andwith
airbymechanicalaerators120.Theaerator120functionsgenerallyinaplaneparalleltothedirectionofflowand
introducesairandflowenergyintothesewage.

Morespecifically,mechanicalaerators120performthedualfunctionofmixingairintothemixedliquorbydrawingoxygen
depletedsewageintotheairandbypullingairintothewastewater.Mechanicalaerators120alsocreateatankflow
patterninflowpassageways132and134ofanadequatevelocitynecessarytomaintainthewastesolidsinasuspended
condition.Thewastesolidsmustremainsuspendedaslongaspossibletoenablethemicroscopicbiotatooptimally
encounteranddigesttheorganicwastecompounds.

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Thisdirectionalflowcreatedbymechanicalaerator120isaidedbythegeometryoftheinnertanksurfacewithitscurved
endwalls131,andtravelsalongtheentirelengthoftheupperflowpassageways132intothelowerflowpassageway134
andthenbackintotheupperflowpassageway132.

Theflowofwastewatercarriesairintheformoftrappedbubblesalongthiscyclicalpathfromtheupper132tothelower
flowpassageway134,wheretheoxygencomponentoftheairisdissolvedwithinthesewageliquorsandisdepletedby
theactiveorganismscontainedinthewater.Thenatureoftheflowcycleissuchthatasaparticularportionofliquid
wastewatertravelsthroughtheupperandlowerpassageways132and134,itwillbegraduallydepletedofitssupplyof
oxygenfromthepointatwhichitleavesthemechanicalaerator120,untilitencountersanotheraeratororreturnstothe
startingpoint.Theoxygendepletednatureofthewastewaterasitencounterstheaerator120significantlyincreasesthe
efficiencyofthedevicebyfacilitatingtheabsorptionofoxygen.Itmaybenecessarytodelaytheescapeofairbubbles
fromthetank100aftertheyreachtheendofbafflelikemember130,sothattheoxygenmaybemorereadilyabsorbedby
themicroorganisms.Itisalsodesirabletoincreasetheairtowatersurfaceareaoftherelativelylarge,accumulated
bubblesbyfragmentingthemintoapluralityofsmallerbubbles.

Underutilizationofoxygenisaddressedinthepresentinventionbyprovidinganalternativesecondarygaspermeable
baffle150,attachedtothesidesoftank100.Secondarybaffle150iscomprisedofacurvedgascaptureportion152anda
substantiallyhorizontalgasreleaseportion154havingapluralityofrandomlyspacedgasreleaseapertures156.The
secondarybaffle150ispositionedinthetank100abovebafflelikemember130tocreateanarrowchamber158,said
chamberhavingaheightontheorderof12feet.Secondarybaffle150isfurtherpositionedintank100neartheendof
bafflelikemember130sothatthecurvedgascaptureportion152caninterceptthelargebubbles143astheyescape
fromunderneathbafflelikemember130.

Thelargebubbles143thenflowintonarrowchamber158,wheretheirnaturaltendencytorisetothesurfaceforcesthem
throughthesmallergasreleaseapertures156.Thegasreleaseapertures156areconstructedandarrangedtocreate
smallbubbles160oftheapproximatesizeofbubblesemittedfromacoarsebubblediffuserdevicewhichisstandardinthe
industry,orontheorderofonequarterto0.178inchindiameter.Thiscreationofapluralityofsmallbubbles160fromthe
largebubbles143inchamber158significantlyincreasestheoxygentransferefficiencyofthesystembyproviding
additionalair/liquidsurfacearea.

Inthepreferredembodiment,gasreleaseportion154isorientedsubstantiallyparallelwithbafflelikemember130and
extendslongitudinallyawayfromthegascaptureportionapproximately1530%ofthelengthofbafflelikemember130.
Theexactpositionofsecondarybaffle150mayvaryaslongasitsaircapturefunctionisnotimpairedandtheflowof
sewageliquorinflowpassageway132isnotimpeded.Smallbubbles160arereleasedintotheupperflowpassageway
132onanangulartrajectoryastheyarecarriedintothemovingflowofwastewater.

Thecirculationismaintainedforaperiodoftimesufficientforatleastasubstantialportionoftherawsewagetobe
processed.Subsequently,mixedliquorisintroducedintooneormoresubsequentaerationtanksorVLR's102or104
havingcontinuousoxygensurplusasdefinedabove.TheactualstructureofthesubsequenttanksissimilartotheVLR
describedabove,exceptthatitismaintainedunderconditionswhichprovideanoxygensurplus.Effluentflowsfromtank
100to102byconduit164,andfromtank102totank104byconduit168.Preferably,thesecondVLR102hasa
dissolvedoxygenconcentrationof1mg/LorgreaterandthethirdVLR104hasanoveralldissolvedoxygen
concentrationof2mg/Lorgreater.Theeffluentproceedsfromtheoutlet172toafinalclarifier(notshown)whereinsludge
isremovedforultimatedisposaland/orrecyclingbymixingwithfreshrawsewage.Theremainingeffluentisclarifiedand
otherwisetreatedtoyieldusefulwaterwhichcanbedischargedintostreamsorthelike.Aportionofthesettledsludgeis
recycledtotheaeratedVLRhavingoxygendeficitasrecycledactivatedsludge.

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CLASSIFICATIONS

U.S.Classification 210/605,210/623,210/906,210/903,210/629
InternationalClassification C02F3/20,C02F3/30,C02F3/18
CooperativeClassification Y02W10/15,Y10S210/903,Y10S210/906,C02F3/18,C02F3/201,C02F3/308
EuropeanClassification C02F3/18,C02F3/30F,C02F3/20B

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Ownername:UNITEDSTATESFILTERCORPORATION,CALIFORNIA
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNOR:SMITH,GEORGE
Aug29,2001 AS Assignment W.REEL/FRAME:012132/0399
Effectivedate:20010821
Ownername:USFILTERCORPORATION,PENNSYLVANIA
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNOR:UNITEDSTATESFILTER
Sep8,2004 AS Assignment CORPORATIONREEL/FRAME:015093/0586
Effectivedate:20040731
Fee Yearoffeepayment:4
Dec12,2006 FPAY
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Ownername:SIEMENSWATERTECHNOLOGIESHOLDINGCORP.,PENNSYLV
Jun3,2007 AS Assignment Freeformattext:CHANGEOFNAMEASSIGNOR:USFILTERCORPORATIONREEL/FRAME:019365/0288
Effectivedate:20060901
Fee Yearoffeepayment:8
Dec7,2010 FPAY
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Freeformattext:MERGERASSIGNOR:SIEMENSWATERTECHNOLOGIESHOLDING
Apr15,2011 AS Assignment CORP.REEL/FRAME:026138/0593
Effectivedate:20110401
Ownername:SIEMENSWATERTECHNOLOGIESLLC,GEORGIA
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNOR:SIEMENSINDUSTRY,
Jan1,2014 AS Assignment INC.REEL/FRAME:031896/0256
Effectivedate:20130731

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Ownername:CREDITSUISSEAG,CAYMANISLANDSBRANCH,ASCOLLAT
Freeformattext:INTELLECTUALPROPERTYSECURITYAGREEMENT(SECOND
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HOLDINGSIIICORP.WTGHOLDINGSIICORP.SIEMENSTREATEDWATEROUTSOURCINGCORP.AND
OTHERSREEL/FRAME:032126/0487
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Ownername:EVOQUAWATERTECHNOLOGIESLLC,GEORGIA
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Feb7,2014 AS Assignment LLCREEL/FRAME:032174/0282
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