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Title: Method and apparatus for the removal or bioconversion of constituents of organic liquids

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for the removal or conversion of constituents from bulk organic liquids. A countercurrent biphasic bioreactor system is utilized to disperse and recoalesce a biocatalyst contained in the aqueous liquid phase into the organic liquid phase containing the constituent. Two transient, high-intensity electrical fields rupture the aqueous drops into a plurality of microdroplets and induce continuous coalescence and redispersion as the microdroplets travel through the organic phase, thus increasing surface area. As the aqueous microdroplets progress through the organic phase, the biocatalyst then reacts with the constituent to produce a product which is then removed from the bioreactor in the aqueous phase or retained in the organic phase. The organic liquid, now free of the original constituents, is ready for immediate use or further processing. 1 fig.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7001476
Patent Number(s):
5358614
Application Number:
PPN: US 8-116772
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 3 Sep 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; BIOREACTORS; DESIGN; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; CLEANING; POLLUTANTS; BIODEGRADATION; REMOVAL; DISPERSIONS; DROPLETS; ELECTRIC FIELDS; OPERATION; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DECOMPOSITION; PARTICLES; 320305* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management

Citation Formats

Scott, T, and Scott, C D. Method and apparatus for the removal or bioconversion of constituents of organic liquids. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Scott, T, & Scott, C D. Method and apparatus for the removal or bioconversion of constituents of organic liquids. United States.
Scott, T, and Scott, C D. Tue . "Method and apparatus for the removal or bioconversion of constituents of organic liquids". United States.
@article{osti_7001476,
title = {Method and apparatus for the removal or bioconversion of constituents of organic liquids},
author = {Scott, T and Scott, C D},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus are disclosed for the removal or conversion of constituents from bulk organic liquids. A countercurrent biphasic bioreactor system is utilized to disperse and recoalesce a biocatalyst contained in the aqueous liquid phase into the organic liquid phase containing the constituent. Two transient, high-intensity electrical fields rupture the aqueous drops into a plurality of microdroplets and induce continuous coalescence and redispersion as the microdroplets travel through the organic phase, thus increasing surface area. As the aqueous microdroplets progress through the organic phase, the biocatalyst then reacts with the constituent to produce a product which is then removed from the bioreactor in the aqueous phase or retained in the organic phase. The organic liquid, now free of the original constituents, is ready for immediate use or further processing. 1 fig.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {10}
}

Patent:
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