Ronald E Destefano

US Patent:

20020170858, Nov 21, 2002

Filed:

May 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861922

Inventors:

John Maddux - Sheridan WY, US
Jay Stender - Sheridan WY, US
Shawn Hansen - Sheridan WY, US
Ronald Destefano - Sheridan WY, US
S. Throne - Sheridan WY, US

International Classification:

C02F003/10

US Classification:

210/615000, 210/151000

Abstract:

A system and method for removing contaminants from water that has a relatively low oxygen content with naturally occurring chemoautotrophic bacteria, ferrous iron, manganese, sulfide, and other contaminants. The system comprises an oxygenation vessel for oxygenating the water and a filtration vessel having bio-filtration media with surfaces that are exposed to the oxygenated water. The chemoautotrophic bacteria propagate in the presence of the oxygenated water and deposit certain of the contaminants on the bio-filtration media as by-products. The contaminants are also precipitated in the presence of the oxygenated water and settle on the bio-filtration media in at least the filtration vessel. A secondary filtration stage can further remove contaminants from the water that were not sufficiently removed by the first filtration stage.