Innovative Bioreactor Technology for Treating Industrial Residues

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bioreactor to facilitate chemical reactions that break down harmful compounds found in industrial residues
The patent introduces a method that could revolutionize waste treatment processes by effectively neutralizing reducible compounds found in industrial residues. The patented method uses iron-based materials within the bioreactor to facilitate chemical reactions that break down harmful compounds. The presence of iron creates a conducive environment for microorganisms to thrive, accelerating the degradation of residues and enabling a highly effective treatment process (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).

February 11, 2025 | Originally published by US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) on January 15, 2025

VICKSBURG, Miss. – The “Method for Treating Reducible Compound Residues Using Iron-Containing Bioreactor” provides a sustainable solution for managing industrial waste by utilizing iron’s unique properties in bioreactors.

Filed in September 2017 and granted in September 2024, the patent was developed by two researchers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Dr. Heather Marie Knotek-Smith, research engineer, and David Smith, research ecologist, both with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), developed this patent that introduces a method that could revolutionize waste treatment processes by effectively neutralizing reducible compounds found in industrial residues.

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