Contaminant removal from water bodies with biochar

{
  "publication_number": "US9878924B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Contaminant removal from water bodies with biochar",
  "abstract": "A system and method for contaminant removal from water bodies with biochar are disclosed. An example system includes an anchor, a float, and an attachment line extending between the anchor and the float. One or more porous container is provided on the attachment line. The porous container has biochar therein. The container with the biochar is provided into a water body and maintained on the attachment line between the anchor and the float. The biochar in the porous container sequesters contaminants in the water body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of contaminant removal from water bodies with biochar, comprising: loading biochar into a porous container; providing the porous container with the biochar into a water body; sequestering contaminants in the water body by the biochar in the container; removing the porous container from the water body after the biochar has been loaded with nutrients, thereby physically removing the sequestered contaminants from the water body; and providing the biochar loaded with nutrients for a secondary purpose.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary purpose is amending the soil.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary purpose is increasing plant health, growth and yields.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary purpose is protecting nutrients in the biochar from being washed away by precipitation and/or shrinkage by evaporation.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container with biochar, after being removed from the water and applied to land, is a time-release capsule making the nutrients available throughout a growing season.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the container with biochar supports increased microbial community for living soil conditions and water retention of the soil for drought tolerance.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing the container in a collection basin below ground adjacent a field.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing nutrient pollution from field runoff.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing and replacing the container as needed and then adding the charged container to a field for improved plant yield.",
    "10. A system for contaminant removal from water bodies with biochar, comprising: an anchor; a float; an attachment line extending between the anchor and the float; a porous container on the attachment line, the porous container having biochar therein; wherein the container with the biochar is provided into a water body and maintained on the attachment line between the anchor and the float, the biochar in the porous container sequestering contaminants in the water body.",
    "11. The system of claim 10, wherein the porous container is a mesh bag.",
    "12. The system of claim 10, wherein the porous container is removably attached to the attachment line.",
    "13. The system of claim 10, wherein the porous container is configured to be removed from the water body to physically remove the sequestered contaminants from the water body.",
    "14. The system of claim 13, wherein the porous container is configured to be replaced with another porous container after removal.",
    "15. The system of claim 12, wherein the porous container is configured to be exposed to natural currents in the water body for sequestration.",
    "16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of porous containers on a single attachment line.",
    "17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of attachment lines.",
    "18. The system of claim 10 wherein contaminants sequestrated by the biochar include at least one of: turbidity, algae, solids, soluble phosphorus, insoluble phosphorus, phosphate, ammonia, nitrate, nitrogen, aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, tin, vanadium, selenium, and zinc."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Nutrient (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution in water bodies (e.g., rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, retention ponds) is a major pollution problem. Nutrients may run off farmland and other fields (e.g., grazing), land inhabited by wildlife, and even land in urban areas (e.g., where lawn fertilizers are used or pet waste is left). These nutrients may cause high levels of algae and other plant growth. This growth takes oxygen and sunlight out of the ecosystem. The water then becomes unsafe for humans and animals and causes so-called “dead” zones where fish cannot survive.\n\nFIG. 1 shows an example system for contaminant removal from water bodies using biochar.\n\nFIG. 2 shows another example system for contaminant removal from water bodies using biochar.\n\nFIG. 3 shows an example system for contaminant removal from water bodies using biochar, wherein loaded porous containers are removed.\n\nFIG. 4 shows an example system for contaminant removal from water bodies using biochar, wherein porous containers are replaced.\n\nIt has been reported that algae blooms begin to flourish when phosphorus levels reach about 0.05 to about 0.1 ppm. Physically removing nutrients from the waterways enables the ecosystems to return to normal and safe conditions with improved water clarity.\n\nNutrient loading is made up of three main constituents: soluble and insoluble phosphorus, nitrogen and algae/plant growth. The algae/plant growth consumes a significant amount of phosphorus but as algae/plants seasonally die and decay, it returns the phosphorus back to the water for renewed use the following year.",
  "cpc": [
    "C02F 1/286",
    "B01D 29/114",
    "C02F 1/283",
    "C02F 2101/103",
    "C02F 2101/105",
    "C02F 2101/16",
    "C02F 2101/163",
    "C02F 2101/20",
    "C02F 2101/203",
    "C02F 2101/22",
    "C02F 2103/007",
    "C02F 2201/002",
    "C02F 2201/008",
    "C05G 3/0094",
    "C05G 3/04",
    "C05G 3/40",
    "C05G 3/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01D 29/11",
    "C02F 1/28",
    "C05G 3/00",
    "C05G 3/80"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BIOCHAR NOW LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William T. Beierwaltes",
    "II James G. Gaspard"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-01",
  "publication_date": "2018-01-30",
  "grant_date": "2018-01-30",
  "priority_date": "2015-02-06",
  "application_number": "US-201615012226-A",
  "family_id": "56564564",
  "cited_by_count": 13,
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