Abstract:
The method of the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus involves preparing a waste drain dosing batch of bioremedial bacteria in one chamber of the apparatus while dispensing another batch from a second chamber, and alternately switching the chamber functions. The enhanced replication bioremedial apparatus comprises a bioremedial pellet dispensing wheel, an aqueous replication chamber for growing bioremedial bacteria and a dispenser for recharging pellets and water to the chamber and bioremedial bacteria to a waste drain. The method of the invention involves preparing an initial amount of dosing mixture equal to twice the amount needed for a planned unit of dosing time. After dosing for unit time the chamber is recharged with water and pellets to the original volumn. The chamber bacterial residue stimulates replication of the added bacteria thereby producing highly efficacious levels of cell populations for bioremedial operations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/582,665, filed Jun. 25, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1 Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for applying bioremediation bacteria to a drainage system. More specifically, the invention is directed to a dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method for applying bioremediation bacteria on a continuous basis to a waste drain to break down grease or fat. In another aspect, the invention comprises an enhanced replication bioremediation apparatus and method (system  100 ) that applies high cell counts of bioremediation bacteria repeatedly and frequently to targeted destinations, typically a waste drain.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Commercial and non-commercial operations engaged in mass preparation of food for human consumption generate a considerable amount of food waste, such as fats, grease, starches, and cellulose. Food waste is often mixed with water in a waste disposal unit operably attached to a sink. Sometimes hot water from a sink faucet is used as a carrier to dispose of fat and grease. Hot water may be mixed with unwanted grease and fat and the mixture is then directed to a drain for disposal. This is a common practice in food establishments, such as restaurants, bakeries, schools, prisons, resorts, hotels, distilleries, dairies, tanneries, breweries, ships (especially cruise ships), airports, delis, caterers, hospitals, vitamin manufacturers, butchers, canneries, etc. However, using hot water to dispose of fat and grease merely moves the problem downstream; when the hot water cools, the fat and grease drop out and build up to cause more serious problems, such as drain blockages, back-up, and objectionable odors. The hot water also causes problems because naturally occurring bacteria, which might breakdown the fat and grease to innocuous by-products, such as carbon dioxide and water, are killed upon contact with hot water, leaving fat and grease to build up. Using harsh chemicals, such as bleach, also harms the otherwise helpful, naturally occurring fat-digesting bacteria. Plumbing problems, such as back-ups, lead to additional costs, especially when intervention is required by, e.g., a plumbing firm.  
         [0006]     Bioremediation is the term used to describe the use of microorganisms such as bacteria to break down undesirable substances, such as fats and grease. Left unchecked, grease build up in a drain line can lead to poor drainage issues and obnoxious smells emanating from the drain or waste line. Grease fouling of waste lines and drains is a particular problem in fast food restaurants that prepare and sell meat products.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,083, issued to Pappas et al. on Jul. 6, 1993, describes a method for bioremediation of grease traps. The &#39;083 method comprises the steps of mechanically removing solid materials, such as plastic items, food particles and the like, from entrances to all drain lines and the drain lines themselves terminating in the grease traps; securing loose drain line covers and replacing broken covers; preventing the flow of all chemicals which are detrimental to the growth of endemic bacterial microorganisms into the drain lines and grease traps; adjusting the pH of the water effluent in the grease traps by introducing a basic material, such as baking soda, into the grease traps and mixing or stirring the water, which stimulates the endemic native bacteria resident in the grease trap; and adding endemic bacterial microorganisms to one or more of the drain lines for ultimate introduction into the grease traps and bio-digesting grease in the drain lines and grease traps. The &#39;083 bioremediation method does not teach or suggest a continuous system of bacterial dosing based on the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method of the present invention.  
         [0008]     U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0023875, published Feb. 28, 2002, describes a method and apparatus for clearing wastewater pipes and/or grease traps clogged with grease, with the method comprising the steps of: providing a dry agent comprising bacteria and enzymes; mixing the dry agent with an amount of water sufficient to cause in situ production of an aqueous mixture; maintaining the aqueous mixture in an activator vessel structure to activate the aqueous mixture for a time sufficient to form an aqueous solvent for cleaning or clearing fatty residues and/or grease; and contacting the wastewater pipes and/or grease traps containing fatty residues and/or grease with the aqueous solvent to dissolve the grease and/or fatty residues, thus cleaning the wastewater pipes and/or grease traps by bio-digesting fatty residues and/or grease deposited in the wastewater pipes and/or grease traps. The &#39;875 publication does not teach or suggest a continuous system of bacterial dosing based on the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method of the present invention.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,055, issued to S. De Lucia on Mar. 22, 1966, describes a process and composition for enhancing bacterial action in wastewater by providing an enzyme pellet construction configured to dissolve at variable rates in order to provide immediate and lasting bacteria action. The &#39;055 process and composition does not teach or suggest a continuous system of bacterial dosing based on the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method of the present invention.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,191, issued to Kiplinger et al. on Jan. 1, 2002, describes an automated system and method for cultivating bacteria in a fluid medium and thereafter selectively discharging the fluid medium, wherein an initial supply of the selected strain or strains of bacteria is combined with nutrients and water in a biogenerator in the presence of air to promote mixing and bacterial cultivation. The system and method utilize a vortex created by recirculation of the fluid medium to achieve aeration and mixing without substantial foaming. The system and method are particularly useful for supplying bacteria to control grease accumulation in restaurant grease traps. The system and method use a biogeneration chamber that has a cylindrical sidewall and surface on the inner side. Further, the chamber has a top and a conical bottom. The top has inlet ports and a vent port. There is also an outlet port in the conical bottom. The conical bottom also has an orifice and recirculated fluid inlet port that is directed tangentially along the inside surface of the sidewall to create a downwardly spiraling vortex in the biogeneration chamber. The &#39;191 system and method does not teach or suggest a continuous system of bacterial dosing based on the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method of the present invention.  
         [0011]     BESTechnologies, Inc. of Sarasota, Fla. developed a consortium of multiple strains of bioremediation bacteria for clearing fats and greases from drains in conjunction with the lab at Iowa State University. BESTechnologies marketed the consortium, at least as of March 2003, in the form of a freeze-dried powder. The bacteria are delivered using what is referred to as “The Bladder Bag System.” The customer is furnished with enough powder for a thirty-day supply. The powder is mixed with five gallons of water in a bag to activate the bacteria and form a “dosing material.” The dosing material is delivered from the bag to the drain by a peristaltic pump and control circuit that draws a small amount of the dosing material every two hours and dispenses it through a small, flexible plastic tube into the drain line that typically leads to a grease trap.  
         [0012]     While effective in keeping drain lines clear, there are some problems with the bladder bag system. Servicing the system is inconvenient and time consuming. The bag must be changed every thirty days. Using the mixture requires the addition of five gallons of water (approximately forty pounds). Moreover, the bacteria colony count maximizes within the first day or so and then steadily diminishes throughout the monthly cycle. Consequently, there is a need for an apparatus and system that will dispense a dosing material of bioremediation bacteria while the colony count is still relatively high. There is a further need for a device that will mix and dispense the dosing material with a minimum amount of time and effort for maintenance.  
         [0013]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a continuous system of bacterial dosing based on the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method or the enhanced replication bioremediation apparatus and method of the present invention that solves the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     (i) The dual chamber bioremediation apparatus applies bioremediation bacteria to a waste drain on a continuous basis. The apparatus operates upon a medium that includes a consortium or mixture of multiple strains of bioremediation bacteria together with appropriate nutrients that has been compressed into pellet form. A thirty-day supply of pellets is mounted in a cartridge and loaded into a pellet dispenser. A pan or other container with a dividing wall defines first and second chambers. Sufficient water for preparing a twenty-four hour supply is drawn into the first chamber and a pellet is dispensed into the first chamber. The dosing material in the first chamber is allowed to germinate for twenty-four hours to form a dosing material. A measured quantity of the dosing material is dispensed by a peristaltic pump at predetermined time intervals, such as every two hours, throughout the succeeding twenty-four hour period. Simultaneously, a second pellet is dropped into the second chamber with sufficient water for a twenty-four hour supply of dosing material an allowed to germinate. Thereafter the first and second chambers alternate between germinating a batch of dosing material and dispensing a batch of dosing material. The cartridge is replaced monthly to maintain the supply of pellets.  
         [0015]     The method for applying continuous bioremediation bacteria to a waste drain comprises the steps of: (a) providing a dosing material of active bioremediation bacteria in a first chamber; (b) dispensing active bioremediation bacteria from the first chamber into a drain line while simultaneously preparing a dosing material of active bioremediation bacteria in a second chamber; and (c) dosing the drain line with active bioremediation bacteria from the second chamber in response to exhaustion of the active bioremediation bacteria in the first chamber, and upon exhaustion of the active bioremediation bacteria in the second chamber repeating steps (a), (b) and (c). In this manner, a continuous supply of active bioremediation bacteria is supplied to a drain line in sufficient numbers to keep the drain lines free of fats, grease, and other biological waste.  
         [0016]     (ii) The enhanced replication bioremediation apparatus and method (system  100 ) of the invention applies high cell counts of bioremediation bacteria repeatedly and frequently to targeted destinations, typically a waste drain. Enhanced replication means that the method and apparatus of the invention substantially increases the rate of bioremediation bacteria cell division over bioremedial processes known in the art. The resulting increased population of bioremedial bacteria cells is regularly delivered in measured doses to a targeted destination to free that destination of offending organic matter.  
         [0017]     The system  100  operates using a medium that includes a mixture or consortium of multiple strains of bioremediation bacteria together with appropriate nutrient, a binding agent and other lesser ingredients that have been compressed into a pellet. The dispenser pellets or medium may be obtained from Best Technologies, Inc., 7329 International Place, Sarasota, Fla. 34240 USA. A supply of pellets, typically enough to last for one month, is loaded and sealed into a cartridge and placed into the dispenser. A replication chamber located below the pellet cartridge has sufficient capacity to hold a two-day supply of dosing material. On day one of the monthly service cycle two pellets are dropped from the pellet wheel through a tower on the replication chamber cover and into a replication chamber below. A forty-eight hour supply of water is also drawn into the replication chamber. The replication process begins immediately, although it takes a day or so for the cell count of the bioremediation bacteria to replicate to near maximum concentration. A measured quantity of the resulting dosing material is dispensed by a peristaltic pump or other suitable pump at predetermined time intervals, typically every two hours throughout the succeeding twenty-four hours. At the end of each 24-hour period after refilling the replication chamber, approximately half of the dosing material will have been dispensed from the replication chamber. At this time, and repeating every 24 hours thereafter through the service cycle, typically 31 days, with the replication chamber approximately half-full of dosing material, an additional pellet and enough water is added to bring the level of dosing material in the replication chamber to full. It has been discovered and is most notable that by controlling dispensing events so that a meaningful amount of dosing material, e.g., preferably about one-half or between one-third and two-thirds, remains in the replication chamber when another pellet and additional water is added, the remaining dosing material serves as seed bacteria which enhances the replication process. The result is a much higher concentration of bioremediation bacteria than would be the case if the replication chamber were to be emptied completely before the addition of a pellet and water.  
         [0018]     Given time, bioremediation bacteria have a tendency to mutate. However, because of the dilution that takes place when water is added as well as the addition of a new pellet containing the original strains each day, the bioremediation bacteria strains within the replication chamber remain relatively the same throughout the service cycle. When monthly service is performed, dosing material remaining in the replication chamber is removed and a new cycle begins, starting with a 48-hour supply of water and two new pellets. This insures that desirable strains continue to be the dominant strains indefinitely. The cartridge is typically replaced monthly to maintain the necessary supply of pellets.  
         [0019]     The method for applying bioremediation bacteria repeatedly and frequently to a waste drain comprises the steps of: (a) maintaining a dosing material by drawing the dosing material down to about half empty before adding a pellet containing additional bioremediation bacteria and nutrient and refilling the chamber to full by adding water. In this manner, a supply of active bioremediation bacteria is dispensed repeatedly and frequently to a drain line in sufficient numbers to keep the drain line free of waste products.  
         [0020]     These and other features of the present invention will be readily apparent upon consideration of the following specification and drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 through 11  relate to the embodiment of the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus and method of the invention.  FIGS. 12-28  relate to the embodiment of the enhanced replication and bioremediation apparatus and method of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a dual chamber bioremediation apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a dual chamber bioremediation apparatus according to the present invention with the housing broken away and partially in section.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the electronic control circuitry of the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a dual chamber bioremediation apparatus according to the present invention with the housing cover removed.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a section view drawn along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a chart representing the average cell count of bacteria grown in a bladder bag system of the prior art from days  1 - 9 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a chart representing the average cell count of bacteria grown in a bladder bag system of the prior art from days  10 - 17 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a chart representing the average cell count of bacteria grown in a bladder bag system of the prior art from days  18 - 25 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a chart representing the average cell count of bacteria grown in a bladder bag system of the prior art from days  26 - 30 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a chart representing the average cell count of bacteria grown in the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus of the present invention from days  1 - 30 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a chart representing the average cell counts of bacteria grown in the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus of the present invention from day&#39;s  1 - 30  representing growth in all three-test vessels.  
         [0000]     —Enhanced Replication Bioremediation Apparatuses and Method  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is an environmental perspective view of a battery powered enhanced replication chamber bioremediation apparatus and method according to the present invention, using a 5-gallon reservoir as the water source.  
         [0034]      FIG. 13  is an environmental perspective view of a transformer powered enhanced replication chamber bioremediation apparatus and method according to the present invention using a pressurized water line as the water source.  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of the electrical system for an enhanced replication bioremediation apparatus and method according to the invention  
         [0036]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective of a battery-powered dispenser  200  (reservoir not shown) as viewed from the left front.  
         [0037]      FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective of a transformer powered dispenser  200 , plumbed to a pressurized water line (pressurized water line not shown), as viewed from the left rear.  
         [0038]      FIG. 17  is a perspective of the control module with the face of the pellet wheel, the pump cover and the right pump omitted.  
         [0039]      FIG. 18  shows a modified block diagram of the plumbing layout.  
         [0040]      FIG. 19  through  28 , inclusive (ten figures) illustrate in drawing form the 10 ways the invention can be configured to meet the specific needs of the end-user.  
     
    
       [0041]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0000]     1. The Dual Chamber Bioremediation Apparatus and Method  
         [0042]     FIGS.  1 - 11 :  
         [0043]     The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for applying bioremediation bacteria to a drainage system. More specifically, the invention is directed to an apparatus and method for applying bioremediation bacteria on a continuous basis to a waste drain to break down grease and/or fat. The apparatus is a dual chamber media generator and dispensing system, designated as  100  in the drawings.  FIG. 1  shows the system  100  being used under a kitchen sink connected to a waste drain such as pipes P.  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  100  comprises a pail  200 , a preparation container  300  and a dispenser device  400 . The top of the pail  200  holds and supports the container  300 . The dispenser  400  rests on top of the container  300  and sandwiches the container  300  between itself and the pail  200 . The pail  200  is a five-gallon bucket, which serves as a water reservoir for the dispenser  400 . However, the pail  200  is not essential to the apparatus  100 , and the dispenser  400  may draw water from any other water source, e.g., pressurized tap water, or any other water reservoir.  
         [0045]     The preparation container  300  is a dual chambered pan or other container having a partition or dividing wall defining a first chamber  320  and a second chamber  340  for selectively preparing or holding and dispensing a bioremediation dosing mixture. Each chamber  320 ,  340  is generally about half the diameter of the pail  200  and about 1½″ deep, preferably holding about  610  ml of water or dosing material. The dual chambers  320 ,  340  permit the preparation of the dosing material and the dispensation of the dosing material at various times to occur simultaneously. Thus, when one chamber is dispensing the dosing mixture into the waste drain, the other chamber is receiving a pellet and water from the water source and preparing the dosing mixture for the next day.  
         [0046]     The system  100  is controlled and operated by controls disposed in the dispenser  400 . Viewing  FIG. 3  in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the dispenser  400  includes switches  460  (e.g., an on-off switch, a manual override switch, a micro switch), an indicator light  416 , a fuse  418 , a peristaltic dispensing pump  420 , a peristaltic water pump  430 , a diverter valve  440 , a pellet cartridge  450  which holds freeze-dried bacteria pellets  452 , a small gear motor  458 , a power source  462  and a control logic circuit  410 . The control logic circuit  410  generates control instructions, and is in operable communication with the dispensing pump  420 , the water pump  430 , the diverter valve  440 , and the gear motor  458 , as well as a timer memory  448 , via a communication bus  436 . The dispenser  400  is preferably about 5½″ high and 11¼″ in diameter, but the dispenser  400  can have different dimension to function in different work locations.  
         [0047]     The control logic circuit  410  may be realized as any number of devices and circuit configurations, but ideally includes a programmable central processing unit, such as a microprocessor, micro controller, programmable logic controller, or the like. The power source  462  used to run the system  100  can be 12V DC supplied by eight D-cell batteries or, alternatively, 115V AC using a step-down transformer rectified to provide (for example) 12V DC. The power source  462  used in the present invention is eight D-cell batteries in a battery holder that is strapped down to the dispenser  400  to prevent the batteries from accidentally falling out and pulling the terminals out of the dispenser  400 . When the apparatus is run from an AC power source, the timer may include a lithium backup battery in case of power failure.  
         [0048]     The dispenser  400  can optionally include an air pump  412 , to aerate the dosing mixture and help with bacterial reproduction, a heater  414  controlled by a thermostat or thermistor that warms water pumped into the container  300  to a temperature ideal for bacteria growth and reproduction and an air compressor  426  that atomizes the dosing mixture.  
         [0049]     The system  100  serves to generate the active bioremediation dosing mixture for a future day and contemporaneously dispense dosing mixture that was prepared the day before. The dosing mixture is prepared by adding a pellet  452  to water. The pellet  452  is manufactured from a mixture or consortium of multiple strains of vegetative, non-pathogenic, non-spore forming bacteria and, in certain applications, particular strains of spore forming bacteria that are freeze-dried and pulverized into a powder. The freeze-dried powdered bacteria is then combined with powdered nutrients and other lesser components and compressed into the pellet  452 . The pellet  452  is preferably about ½″ in diameter and about 5/16″ wide, but can vary in size depending on how much of the pellet  452  is required to work in a specific application e.g. high volume applications or low volume applications. The dormant bioremediation bacteria contained within the pellet  452  becomes activated when the pellet  452  is added to water and allowed to proliferate. The powdered nutrients and other components contained in the pellet  452  provide nourishment to the growing bacteria, providing a high bacteria count in a single 24-hour period.  
         [0050]     The dispenser  400  stores about thirty to thirty-one pellets  452  in the wheel cartridge  450 . Alternatively, if the system  100  were designed The dispenser  400  stores about thirty to thirty-one pellets for high volume application then the wheel cartridge  450  could be designed to hold larger pellets  452 , and smaller pellets  452  in low volume applications. Each pellet  452  is heat sealed in its own cavity by aluminum foil tape  454  or any suitable tape that blocks moisture from passing through to the pellet  452  to prevent pellet deterioration. The cartridge  450  sits on the outer periphery of the pan  300  just between the two chambers  320 ,  340  and is zigzag shaped. The shape of the wheel cartridge  450  is designed to allow one pellet  452  to sit over and fall into the only one of the chambers  320 ,  340  at one time. The cartridge  450  is preferably about 5″ in diameter and about 1″ thick, but can be made to have different dimensions based on the requirements of the system  100 .  
         [0051]     The chambers  320 ,  340  separate the dosing mixture made the previous day from water that will be used contemporaneously to prepare dosing mixture for the subsequent day. Chambers  320 ,  340  will alternate between functioning as a dispensing chamber that dispenses dosing material made in the previous cycle and as a generating chamber that receives water and the pellet  452  to make the dosing material. The pellet  452  is expelled from the cartridge  450  into the generating chamber by the movement of the gear motor  458 . As the gear motor  458  turns, a take up reel  456  is propelled to turn, thereby winding the tape  454  off of the cartridge  450  and onto the reel  456  exposing one pellet  452 . The gear motor  458  is controlled by switch  460 , which is preferably a micro switch. The gear motor  458  runs for about twenty seconds per day and rotates at a speed of about 2 rpm. The cartridge  450  rotates about 11° to 11.8° once per day for each pull of the tape  454 .  
         [0052]     Referring now to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , as mentioned above, the system  100  might use water from any source to prepare the dosing mixture. Here, the pail  200  stores five gallons of water that is eventually pumped into the container  300  and dispensed out to the waste drain. To fill the pail  200  with water, a user lifts a hinged lid  405  on the dispenser  400  and a fill flap  472  sitting over the opening of an extension body  474 . The extension body  474  forms a conduit from the top of the dispenser  400  into the cavity of the pail  200 . A distance D must be maintained between the bottom of the pan  300  and the topmost level of the water stored in the pail  200 .  
         [0053]     The distance D is created and maintained by draining excess water out of the pail  200  through a filler body  464  before it can reach the pan  300 . The filler body  464  is a tube-like structure that forms a drain port on the side of the pail  200 . The filler body  464  is chemically bonded to the extension body  474 . The user will know when to stop filling the pail  200  with water when excess water starts draining out of the filler body  464 . If distance D is not maintained, and excess water is allowed to fill the pail  200  and reach the bottom of the pan  300 , then the pan  300  would be dislodged from the top of the pail  200 , causing it to float and interrupt the proper functioning of the system  100 .  
         [0054]     Once the system  100  is connected to a water source, such as the five gallons of water in the pail  200 , the dispenser  400  can start to fill the container  300  with water in the designated generating chamber and dispense dosing material from the designated dispensing chamber.  
         [0055]     The system  100  runs in 24-hour cycles. Each cycle begins once a day at a designated time, e.g., midnight. On the first day, water will be pumped into the designated generating chamber from the pail  200  but will not dispense dosing material from that chamber. Dosing material is normally dispensed after having completed at least one 24-hour cycle within which the pellet mixes with water in the chamber, becomes activated, feeds on the nutrients, and proliferates to form colonies of bioremediation bacteria in aqueous solution, thereby constituting the dosing material. After the first cycle the system  100  will both generate and dispense dosing material to the pipes P or other waste drain systems.  
         [0056]     The control logic circuit  410  governs which chamber  320  or  340  will serve as the generating chamber and which serves as the dispensing chamber. The designated generating chamber receives water from the pail  200  via the water pump  430 , while the designated dispensing chamber dispenses dosing material via the dispensing pump  420 . Separate gear motors, typically 12V , drive both the dispensing pump  420  and the water pump  430  at about 125 rpm, pumping 1.18 ml/revolution.  
         [0057]     The water pump  430  makes about 517 revolutions to pump the designated generating chamber with 610 ml of water. Therefore, at 125 rpm, pump  430  will run about 4.1-6 minutes each day. The dispensing pump  420 , on the other hand, is on and off many times during the 24-hour period anywhere between about thirty seconds to one minute every two hours per day. The schedule for dispensing the dosing material into the drain is programmed into the control logic circuit  410 . Ideally the pump  420  is programmed to discharge 51 ml of dosing material twelve times a day, once every two hours. The dispensing pump  420  turns off in about 20 seconds after about 52 revolutions. The system  100  is unable to dispense all of the dosing material out of the designated dispensing chamber, and as a result, a small amount of dosing material is left in the chambers for the next cycle.  
         [0058]     When the control logic circuit  410  designates the generating chamber to be chamber  320 , the water pump  430  draws 610 ml of water up from the pail  200  through a weighted filter or strainer  478 , a tube  480 , a filter head  475 , and into an inlet port  432  of the water pump  430 . The water is then pumped out an outlet port  434  of the water pump  430  through one exit end of a T-connector  428  and into a common port  442  of the diverter valve  440 . The T connector  428  has two exit ends: one exit end connects to the common port  442  and a second exit end connects to an inlet port  422  of the dispensing pump  420 . The T-connector  428  therefore connects the diverter valve  440  to both dispensing pump  420  and water pump  430 .  
         [0059]     Once water enters the diverter valve  440  through the common port  442 , it can travel out one of two diverter exit ports  444 ,  446 , either a normally open diverter exit port  444 , or a normally closed diverter exit port  446 , depending on which port  444 ,  446  is designated open by the control logic circuit  410 . The diverter valve  440  is used to direct the routing of water into, or the drawing of dosing material out of, the chambers  320 ,  340 . The diverter  440  is solenoid actuated and, as mentioned above, is controlled by the control logic circuit  410  to be active or deactivated.  
         [0060]     If the diverter  440  is deactivated, then water exits the normally open port  444  and enters chamber  320  via a filter head  476 . However, if diverter  440  is activated by the control logic circuit  410 , the normally open port  444  is closed and water passes through the normally closed port  446 , which is now open, into the chamber  340  via a filter head  477 . The diverter  440  ensures that only one chamber  320 ,  340  receives water at one time.  
         [0061]     In the present example, after water enters the common port  442 , it leaves the exit port  444 , travels through the filter head  476  and into the designated generating chamber, in this case chamber  320 . As soon as chamber  320  is filled, the control logic  410  turns off the water pump  430 , and directs the switch  460 , e.g., the micro switch or an optic switch, to turn on the gear motor  458 . The movement of the gear motor  458  propels both the reel  456  and the cartridge  450  to turn consequently releasing the pellet  452  to prepare the dosing material for the next 24-hour cycle.  
         [0062]     As the chamber  320  is fermenting dosing material for the next cycle, chamber  340  is ready to dispense its previously prepared dosing material via the dispensing pump  420 . The dispensing pump  420  is turned on to dispense dosing material after the water pump  430  is turned off, since only one pump can operate at any one time. The pump that is turned off serves as a check valve for the pump that is designated on. Accordingly, here the water pump  430  serves as a check valve for the operating dispensing pump  420 .  
         [0063]     To pump the dosing material out of the second chamber  340 , the control logic circuit not only turns on the dispensing pump  420  and turns off the water pump  430 , but also activates the diverter  440  so that the normally closed exit port  446  is open and the normally open exit port  444  is closed. The dosing material, therefore, is drawn out of the second chamber  340  through filter head  477 , up the exit port  446 , out the common port  442  and through the end of the T-connector  428  that is connected to the inlet port  422  of the dispensing pump  420 . The dosing mixture is finally dispensed out to the pipes P or the drains via a dosing line  438  connected to an outlet port  424  of the dispensing pump  420 .  
         [0064]     The method of dispensing the dosing mixture via the dosing line  438  can be accomplished in numerous ways, such as by using peristaltic motion, air pressure or water pressure. A venturi device is used to dispense the bacteria by air or water pressure. If air pressure is used as the dispensation method, the dosing mixture is forced through an atomizer nozzle and dispensed in a fog. When water pressure is used, water is dispensed either in a spray form, a solid stream, or drops.  
         [0065]     Generally the method for applying continuous bioremediation bacteria to the waste drain requires the dosing material to be prepared in the generating chamber while contemporaneously dosing the waste drain with active bioremediation bacteria mixture, prepared in the previous cycle, from the now designated dispensing chamber. After nearly all of the dosing material has been dispensed from the dispensing chamber into the pipes P the roles of the chambers switch wherein the previous cycle&#39;s generating chamber becomes the next cycle&#39;s dispensing chamber, and the previous cycle&#39;s dispensing chamber becomes the next cycle&#39;s generating chamber. The steps repeat after exhaustion of the dosing mixture from the dispensing chamber.  
         [0066]     The system  100  is unique in its capacity to ferment/brew dosing material contemporaneously while dispensing dosing material made the previous day. This is unlike current bioremediation methods that require commercially available bacteria based products to be poured into drains. In this situation, problems exist, such as long waiting periods before use or requiring long activation times prior to the bacteria becoming activated. Here the bacteria degenerate before use or may only become active when flushed downstream.  
         [0067]     As noted above, current bioremediation methods use an automated system called a bladder bag system (BBS). The BBS periodically injects a small amount of once prepared dosing material into drain lines, therefore continually restoring bacteria upstream. The BBS uses batches of dosing material that was prepared once prior to the start of a cycle; the cycle can be any period such as two to four weeks. A bacteria count test was conducted on the BBS, which showed the dosing material injected late in the cycle only contained a fraction on the amount of live active bacteria that existed early in the cycle.  
         [0068]     An experiment was conducted to compare the growth and presence of bacteria between the bioremediation bladder bag system and the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus  100  of the present invention over the course of thirty days.  
       Experiment  
       [0069]     The experiment used three bladder bags to represent the BBS and three 1 L flasks to simulate the system  100 . All six vessels were kept in a lab at room temperature of generally between 21° C. and 25° C. The bladder bags were kept in the lab in five gallon buckets, hydrated with five-gallons of water and capped. The caps were only removed once a day to extract samples and therefore reduce the likelihood of contamination.  
         [0070]     The three 1 L flasks represent the container  300 . The flasks were wrapped in parafilm to reduce the possibility of contamination and were only unwrapped once a day to take samples. Each of the three flasks was prepared once daily by measuring the exact amount of ingredients in the pellet and adding the ingredients and 610 mL of water to each flask. The experiments reused the same flasks throughout the entire test period to simulate the conditions of the system  100 .  
         [0071]     Samples were taken, at the same time each day from all six experiments and plated. After samples were taken from each flask, much of the dosing material in the flasks was discarded. However, the flasks retained a small amount of dosing material in the bottom of each flask to replicate the actual conditions of the system  100 . During the normal operation of the system  100 , neither chamber  320 ,  340  completely drains the dosing material at the end of each cycle.  
         [0072]     The six samples were all serially diluted in sterile DI water and 1% weight/volume peptone solution, dispensed on to Difco plate count agar using the Spiral Biotech Autoplate 4000 and then incubated at 30° C. for 18-24 hours. After incubation, the plates were manually counted to analyze for bacterial proliferation yielding data shown in Tables 1 and 2, and  FIGS. 6-11 .  
       Results  
       [0073]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Day 
                 Bag #1 
                 Bag #2 
                 Bag #3 
                 Pellet #1 
                 Pellet #2 
                 Pellet #3 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                     4.40 × 10 11   
                 1.00 × 10 10   
                     1.40 × 10 10   
                 3.14 × 10 10   
                 1.42 × 10 10   
                 9.44 × 10 10   
               
               
                 2 
                     8.00 × 10 11   
                 8.00 × 10 11   
                     8.00 × 10 10   
                 4.48 × 10 11   
                 1.58 × 10 11   
                 5.82 × 10 11   
               
               
                 3 
                     1.20 × 10 12   
                 7.40 × 10 11   
                     9.60 × 10 11   
                 1.50 × 10 11   
                 4.30 × 10 11   
                 1.70 × 10 11   
               
               
                 4 
                 NC 
                 4.54 × 10 12   
                     8.16 × 10 12   
                 1.68 × 10 11   
                 3.22 × 10 11   
                 9.20 × 10 10   
               
               
                 5 
                 NC 
                 6.48 × 10 12   
                     1.60 × 10 12   
                 3.20 × 10 10   
                 1.20 × 10 12   
                 1.72 × 10 11   
               
               
                 6 
                     5.00 × 10 12   
                 5.56 × 10 12   
                     1.92 × 10 12   
                 4.04 × 10 11   
                 6.84 × 10 11   
                 2.08 × 10 11   
               
               
                 7 
                     4.06 × 10 12   
                 2.26 × 10 12   
                     2.02 × 10 12   
                 8.24 × 10 11   
                 1.16 × 10 12   
                 7.28 × 10 11   
               
               
                 8 
                     1.84 × 10 12   
                 1.74 × 10 12   
                     4.00 × 10 11   
                 2.42 × 10 11   
                 4.36 × 10 11   
                 3.70 × 10 11   
               
               
                 9 
                     4.40 × 10 11   
                 NC 
                 NC 
                 NC 
                 NC 
                 NC 
               
               
                 10 
                     4.00 × 10 10   
                 1.98 × 10 11   
                     5.60 × 10 10   
                 4.20 × 10 11   
                 4.28 × 10 11   
                 1.70 × 10 11   
               
               
                 11 
                     1.28 × 10 10   
                 1.94 × 10 10   
                     6.60 × 10 10   
                 1.48 × 10 11   
                 6.36 × 10 11   
                 5.44 × 10 11   
               
               
                 12 
                     1.08 × 10 10   
                 5.40 × 10 10   
                     1.30 × 10 10   
                 1.94 × 10 11   
                 3.46 × 10 11   
                 4.98 × 10 11   
               
               
                 13 
                     1.44 × 10 10   
                 1.46 × 10 10   
                     1.70 × 10 10   
                 2.36 × 10 11   
                 2.90 × 10 11   
                 4.02 × 10 11   
               
               
                 14 
                     1.12 × 10 10   
                 4.26 × 10 10   
                     2.14 × 10 10   
                 2.60 × 10 10   
                 5.12 × 10 11   
                 1.24 × 10 12   
               
               
                 15 
                 NC 
                 1.60 × 10 10   
                     1.52 × 10 10   
                 2.36 × 10 11   
                 3.14 × 10 11   
                 3.92 × 10 11   
               
               
                 16 
                 1.78 × 10 9   
                 1.00 × 10 9       
                 6.60 × 10 9   
                 2.74 × 10 11   
                 2.26 × 10 11   
                 2.80 × 10 11   
               
               
                 17 
                 2.60 × 10 8   
                 5.40 × 10 8       
                 1.32 × 10 9   
                 2.22 × 10 11   
                 3.34 × 10 11   
                 3.46 × 10 11   
               
               
                 18 
                 2.70 × 10 8   
                 6.20 × 10 8       
                 9.40 × 10 8   
                 2.44 × 10 11   
                 3.24 × 10 11   
                 2.92 × 10 11   
               
               
                 19 
                 1.94 × 10 8   
                 5.20 × 10 8       
                 5.80 × 10 8   
                 2.84 × 10 11   
                 3.62 × 10 11   
                 3.54 × 10 11   
               
               
                 20 
                 2.16 × 10 8   
                 3.40 × 10 8       
                 4.20 × 10 8   
                 2.74 × 10 11   
                 4.42 × 10 11   
                 3.66 × 10 11   
               
               
                 21 
                 5.40 × 10 7   
                 4.40 × 10 8       
                 6.40 × 10 8   
                 2.28 × 10 11   
                 2.36 × 10 11   
                 4.40 × 10 11   
               
               
                 22 
                 6.80 × 10 7   
                 2.80 × 10 8       
                 6.20 × 10 8   
                 1.06 × 10 12   
                 2.38 × 10 11   
                 8.04 × 10 11   
               
               
                 23 
                 6.40 × 10 7   
                 2.80 × 10 8       
                 1.40 × 10 8   
                 6.80 × 10 11   
                 2.78 × 10 11   
                 8.12 × 10 11   
               
               
                 24 
                 7.20 × 10 7   
                 4.60 × 10 8       
                 8.20 × 10 7   
                 2.48 × 10 11   
                 6.52 × 10 11   
                 2.64 × 10 11   
               
               
                 25 
                 4.20 × 10 7   
                 3.60 × 10 8       
                 7.60 × 10 7   
                 2.38 × 10 11   
                 5.32 × 10 11   
                 2.56 × 10 11   
               
               
                 26 
                 5.40 × 10 7   
                 1.80 × 10 8       
                 5.80 × 10 7   
                 4.32 × 10 11   
                 3.68 × 10 11   
                 2.86 × 10 11   
               
               
                 27 
                 8.20 × 10 7   
                 9.40 × 107  
                 6.60 × 10 7   
                 3.46 × 10 11   
                 3.20 × 10 11   
                 4.84 × 10 11   
               
               
                 28 
                 5.00 × 10 7   
                 6.80 × 107  
                 2.60 × 10 7   
                 2.18 × 10 11   
                 3.58 × 10 11   
                 6.56 × 10 11   
               
               
                 29 
                 2.40 × 10 7   
                 2.00 × 10 7       
                 1.20 × 10 7   
                 2.22 × 10 11   
                 7.24 × 10 11   
                 5.72 × 10 11   
               
               
                 30 
                 1.80 × 10 7   
                 1.20 × 10 7       
                 8.00 × 10 6   
                 2.38 × 10 11   
                 6.48 × 10 11   
                 9.52 × 10 11   
               
               
                   
               
               
                   * “NC” signifies that no plate counts were taken that day *    
               
               
                   * Measured in CFUs/mL    
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0074]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Day 
                 Average for Bags 
                 Average for Pellets 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                     1.55 × 10 11   
                 4.67 × 10 10   
               
               
                 2 
                     5.60 × 10 11   
                 3.96 × 10 11   
               
               
                 3 
                     9.67 × 10 11   
                 2.50 × 10 11   
               
               
                 4 
                     6.35 × 10 12   
                 1.94 × 10 11   
               
               
                 5 
                     4.04 × 10 12   
                 4.68 × 10 11   
               
               
                 6 
                     4.16 × 10 12   
                 4.32 × 10 11   
               
               
                 7 
                     2.78 × 10 12   
                 9.04 × 10 11   
               
               
                 8 
                     1.33 × 10 12   
                 3.49 × 10 11   
               
               
                 9 
                 NC 
                 NC 
               
               
                 10 
                     9.80 × 10 10   
                 3.39 × 10 11   
               
               
                 11 
                     3.27 × 10 10   
                 4.43 × 10 11   
               
               
                 12 
                     2.59 × 10 10   
                 3.46 × 10 11   
               
               
                 13 
                     1.53 × 10 10   
                 3.09 × 10 11   
               
               
                 14 
                     2.51 × 10 10   
                 5.93 × 10 11   
               
               
                 15 
                     1.56 × 10 10   
                 3.14 × 10 11   
               
               
                 16 
                 3.13 × 10 9   
                 2.60 × 10 11   
               
               
                 17 
                 7.07 × 10 8   
                 3.01 × 10 11   
               
               
                 18 
                 6.10 × 10 8   
                 2.87 × 10 11   
               
               
                 19 
                 4.31 × 10 8   
                 3.33 × 10 11   
               
               
                 20 
                 3.25 × 10 8   
                 3.61 × 10 11   
               
               
                 21 
                 3.78 × 10 8   
                 3.01 × 10 11   
               
               
                 22 
                 3.23 × 10 8   
                 7.01 × 10 11   
               
               
                 23 
                 1.61 × 10 8   
                 5.90 × 10 11   
               
               
                 24 
                 2.05 × 10 8   
                 3.88 × 10 11   
               
               
                 25 
                 1.59 × 10 8   
                 3.42 × 10 11   
               
               
                 26 
                 9.73 × 10 7   
                 3.62 × 10 11   
               
               
                 27 
                 8.07 × 10 7   
                 3.83 × 10 11   
               
               
                 28 
                 4.80 × 10 7   
                 4.11 × 10 11   
               
               
                 29 
                 1.87 × 10 7   
                 5.06 × 10 11   
               
               
                 30 
                 1.27 × 10 7   
                 6.13 × 10 11   
               
               
                   
               
               
                   * “NC” signifies that no plate counts were taken that day *    
               
               
                   * Measured in CFUs/mL    
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0075]     The cell counts for the bladder bags were initially high, reaching 10 12  CFUs/mL, but dropped to 10 7  CFUs/mL toward the end of the test period. The largest decrease in growth occurred around mid-month. On the other hand, the cell counts for the simulated system  100  were lowest on the first day of the month, with the count for the remaining portion of the month being in the range of 10 10  or 10 12 , but being generally consistent at 10 11  CFUs/mL, (see  FIG. 10 ). The overall picture of colonial growth for the pellets is a sinusoidal wave, (see  FIG. 11 ).  
         [0076]     The experiments were conducted in a controlled, generally constant environment with some fluctuations due to changes in air condition of the testing environment, location of experiment vessels, human error and inability to calculate the water left over in the flasks used to simulated the system  100 .  
         [0077]     The system  100 , in comparison to the BBS, showed consistently higher cell counts throughout the course of one month due to the daily preparation and proliferation of dosing material. The BBS showed a decrease in cell count from 10 12  to 10 7 , being especially apparent during the last two weeks of the month, due to bacterial aging and nutrient depletion.  
         [0078]     The value of the dual chamber bioremediation apparatus  100  is displayed in its effectiveness in maintaining high bacteria counts due to the brewing of dosing mixture one day prior to its dispensation.  
         [0079]     Other advantages of the system  100  include ease in servicing, where a spent cartridge must simply be replaced and only the pan  300  needs to be cleaned. Also, unlike current bioremediation devices on the market, the system  100  deters users from diluting the dosing mixture to spread out its use over a cycle, since the dosing mixture must be made new each day and the amount of bioremediation bacteria dispensed is controlled in the form of a pellet  452 . Furthermore, the system  100  is programmable, allowing the user to vary times and amounts of dosing mixture to be dispensed during a 24 hour cycle. In addition, unlike commercially made bioremediation mixtures that may have a long shelf life before use, the system  100  is prepared one day before use allowing the bioremediation bacteria to grow and reach generally peak proliferation prior to use.  
         [0080]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.  
         [0081]     Higher bacteria counts may be achieved by adding water and the pellet  452  into the first chamber  320  every day, causing it to overflow into the second chamber  340  thereby designating the second chamber  340  as the dispensing chamber. For example, during day one, a day&#39;s supply of water and the pellet  452  would be dispensed into the first chamber  320 . On day two, another day&#39;s supply of water and another pellet  452  would be added to the first chamber  320  causing it to overflow into the second chamber  340 . At this point, both chambers  320 ,  340  would be full. Dispensing would then take place throughout day two. On day three, a third pellet  452  and a third day&#39;s supply of water would be added to the first chamber  320 , again causing the first chamber  320  to overflow into the second chamber  340 . At this point, the second chamber  340  is empty because its contents were dispensed on day two. This sequence would continue throughout the thirty-day cycle.  
         [0082]     Modifications must be made to the system  100  to allow the system  100  to work with the overflow method just described. For instance, the wheel cartridge  450  would not be zigzag shaped and, as a result, the pellets  452  dispensed into the pan  300  would always fall into the first chamber  320 . Also, a notch would have to be formed in a wall separating the chambers  320 ,  340  so the dosing mixture would spill over from the first chamber  320  to the second chamber  340 . Additionally, the control logic circuit  410  would be programmed to always draw water from the water source into the first chamber  320  and always dispense the dosing mixture out of the second chamber  340 .  
         [0000]     Enhanced Replication and Bioremediation Apparatus and Method  
         [0083]     FIGS.  12  to  28  relate to the enhanced replication and bioremediation apparatus and method embodiments of the invention. FIGS.  19 - 28  relate to ten different configurations in which the system can operate to meet the user&#39;s needs.  
         [0084]     The apparatus of the enhanced replication and bioremediation invention is virtually identical to the apparatus described for the dual chamber bioremediation invention except for the critical difference that the dual chambers of the dual chamber bioremediation invention are replaced by a single larger chamber sufficient to hold a forty-eight hour dosing supply of bioremediation dosing media. One critical element of the enhanced replication apparatus and method is the discovery that when only a twenty-four hour amount of dosing is withdrawn from the chamber that was initially filled with a forty-eight hour supply of dosing material,the rate of bacteria replication is substantially increased when a fresh pellet and a fresh 24 hour supply of water is added to fill the chamber, replacing the withdrawn dosing media. The result is a very high bacterium remediation count in the measured dosing media passed into the waste drain.  
         [0085]     Ten Various Configurations to Meet Different Needs  
         [0086]     The dispenser can be configured in any of 10 ways to best meet the specific need of the end-user as summarized below and explained in greater detail as follows:  
         [0087]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 19  include a transformer, a water line, pump  351 , and before and after dispense flush.  
         [0088]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 20  include a transformer, a water line, pump  351 , before and after dispense flush and addition of oxygen via air pump.  
         [0089]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 21  include a transformer, a water line, pump  351 , and treatment of two drains.  
         [0090]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 22  include a transformer, a water line, pump  351 , treat two drains and add oxygen by air pump.  
         [0091]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 23  include a battery, a water line, and a pump  351 .  
         [0092]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 24  include a battery, a water reservoir, two pumps  351  and  349 .  
         [0093]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 25  include a transformer, a water reservoir, and two pumps  351  and  349 .  
         [0094]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 26  include a transformer, a water reservoir, two pumps  351  and  349  and an air pump for oxygen addition.  
         [0095]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 27  include a transformer, a water reservoir, two pumps  351  and  349  and treatment of two drains.  
         [0096]     The elements of the configuration of  FIG. 28  include a transformer, a water reservoir, two pumps  351  and  349 , treatment of two drains and addition of oxygen by an air pump.  
         [0097]     The dispenser  200  can be powered by battery pack  307  or by a wired power source such as an 110 vac, 60-hertz wall outlet through the use of a step-down transformer with the dispenser operating on a lower voltage, such as 24 vac. It can be configured to enable it to operate in locations outside the U.S. when the available power source may be 220V and/or the current 50-hertz, for example, by selecting the appropriate step-down transformer. It should be noted that certain electrical components are common to both battery powered and transformer-powered configurations, but others are not.  
         [0098]     Except when a component is specific to one or the other, no distinction is made since such information is not relevant to the explanations and illustrations. The dispenser can be configured to use a reservoir (such as a 5-gallon bucket) or to use a pressurized water line for its water source.  
         [0099]     When the power source is a wall outlet, it can also:  
         [0100]     a. be configured with a small heater to keep the dosing material at the ideal temperature for the bioremediation bacteria to multiply. This is especially useful in colder climates where the dispenser might be located in a cold area that would otherwise result in slower operations;  
         [0101]     b. be configured with an air pump to add oxygen to the dosing material, thereby accelerating replication activity;  
         [0102]     c. be configured with a diverter valve that enables the dispenser to alternately dispense dosing material to two separate targeted  
         [0103]     d. be configured with a pre-dispense and/or post-dispense capability, when the water source is a pressurized line, which allows tap water to be directed to the targeted destination (typically a drain line) either before the dispensing event to flush out any waste chemicals in the line that would be harmful to the soon to be dispensed bacteria or after the dosing event to move the dosing material further down line. This is sometimes beneficial if, as examples, the drain line traverses a long distance before reaching the grease trap. It is desirable that the leading edge of the dosing material reach the grease trap, thereby leaving a trail of bioremediation bacteria the entire length of the drain line that is being treated or when the drain line being treated is seldom used and would therefore be relatively dry, thus the need to inject water to help carry the dosing material further downstream. Either or both of the flushes (pre-dispense or post-dispense) can be disabled by turning off either or both of the dipswitches located on the control module.  
         [0104]     As noted earlier, current bioremediation methods use an automated system called a bladder bag system. This system periodically injects a small amount of once prepared dosing material into drain lines, thereby continually restoring bioremediation bacteria at the treatment site. The bladder bag system uses batches of dosing material prepared prior to the start of a cycle; the cycle can be any period such as two or four weeks. A bioremediation bacteria count test was conducted on the bladder bag system, which showed a given volume of the dosing material injected late in the cycle contained only a fraction of the amount of live bioremediation bacteria that existed in the same volume of dosing material that was dispensed early in the cycle.  
         [0000]     Operational Sequences and Interaction of Key Components Under the Ten Different Configurations  
         [0105]     The operational matters are applicable to both battery pack  307  and transformer  303 -powered dispenser  200  ( Fig.13 ). Referring to  FIG. 15  an  FIG. 16 , replication chamber  321  is filled when control module  370  causes gear motor  345  to be energized which in turn drives peristaltic pump  349  causing it to draw water from reservoir  150  (not shown), through said peristaltic pump  349 . Since peristaltic pump  351  is stationary and therefore acts as a check valve, it dispenses the water into replication chamber  321 . Liquid level detector  323  (not shown) senses when replication chamber  321  is full and sends a signal to control module  370  (not shown).  
         [0106]     The following operational matters are applicable to both battery pack  307  and transformer  303  powered dispenser  200 . An alternate means of filling replication chamber  321  is when a connection is made to a pressurized water line, referring to  FIG. 20 . Control module  370  causes 2-way NC valve  311  to be opened allowing water to flow through 2-way NC valve  311  and into replication chamber  321 . Liquid level detector  323  senses when replication chamber  321  is full and sends a signal to control module  370 , which de-energizes 2-way valve  311 , allowing it to close. When this method is used, peristaltic pump  349  is omitted from dispenser  200  with the inlet of peristaltic pump  323  connected by tube  581  to fill/dispense tube  330 .  
         [0107]     The following operational matters are applicable to transformer  303  powered dispenser  200  only. Referring to  FIG. 22 , air pump  317  is optional, but used when there is a need to boost the bio-remediation bacteria counts by adding oxygen to the dosing material. Air pump  317  (not shown) is energized by control module  370  only when no other components with a high current draw, e.g. gear motors ( FIG. 16 )  343 ,  345 ,  347 , valves  311 ,  313 ,  315  ( FIG. 19 ) and heater  325 , are energized. When air pump  317  is not used, branch wye fitting  567  is omitted and tube  581  leading from fill/dispense tube  330  ( FIG. 19 ) to the next fitting either connector  563  at the inlet of peristaltic pump  351  or barbed wye connector  565 , depending on the configuration is continuous and one piece.  
         [0108]     The operational matter is applicable to both battery pack  307  and transformer  303  powered dispenser  200 . To dispense dosing material from replication chamber  321 , control module  370  energizes gear motor  347  causing it to drive peristaltic pump  351  and since peristaltic pump  349  is stationary and therefore acts as a check valve, draws dosing material from replication chamber  321  and dispenses it into the drain line.  
         [0109]     The operational matters are applicable only to transformer  303  powered dispenser  200  that is connected to a pressurized water line ( FIG. 21 ). Diverter valve  315  is optional installed only when there is a need to alternatively treat two different lines. This option is sometimes needed when two separate drain lines, both needing treatment, are near to each other and join into a common line before reaching the grease trap. When this option is installed, the output of peristaltic pump  351  is attached to the inlet port of diverter valve  315  and the outputs of diverter valve  315  are alternated by control module  370  from one dosing event to the next.  
         [0110]     The operational matter are applicable only to transformer  303  powered dispenser  200  that is connected to a pressurized water line ( FIG. 20 ). Pre-dispense and post-dispense flushing of the drain line is an option that requires 2-way NC valve  313  ( FIG. 20 ). Either or both of the flushing events can be disabled by placing the controlling dip switch or switches  381 ,  383 , located on control module  370 , into the “off” position. Just prior to the dosing event, control module  370  opens 2-way NC valve  313  for a predetermined time (typically  10  seconds), allowing water from the pressurized line to flow directly to the drain line. Immediately after the dosing event, control module  370  energizes 2-way NC valve  313  for a pre-determined time (typically 5 seconds), allowing water from the pressurized line to flow directly to the drain line.  
         [0111]     Referring to  FIG. 24 , a preferred configuration of the apparatus of the invention is illustrated. The apparatus employs a water reservoir of about five-gallon capacity and is battery powered. Two peristaltic pumps ( 354 ) are connected to the feed tube  581  attached to the pumps by wye diverter  565 .  
         [0112]     The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for applying bioremediation bacteria repeatedly and frequently to a targeted destination, typically a waste drain or drainage system to break down grease and fatty residue, sugar, starch, cellulose and other waste products generated by processing food products.  
         [0000]     Pellet Replication System  
         [0113]     Control module  370  energizes gear motor  343  causing said motor to rotate take-up reel  367  which, being permanently bonded to the loose end of moisture barrier film  365 , pulls the film around a fulcrum pin and onto take-up reel  367 . This action causes pellet wheel  361  to rotate, uncovering pellets  363  one at a time. The program within control module  370  is such that on day one of the  31 -day service cycle, gear motor  343  is de-energized after two pellets  363  have been allowed to drop into replication chamber  321  below. Every day thereafter throughout the remainder of the service cycle (typically 31 days), only one pellet  363  is allowed to drop into replication chamber  321 . Following the dropping of pellet(s)  363 , replication chamber  321  is filled by one of two ways: a. 2-way fill valve  311  is opened and tap water flows into replication chamber  321  or; b. gear motor  345  is energized by control module  370  causing peristaltic pump  345  to draw water from reservoir  150  and into replication chamber  321 .  
         [0114]     Regardless of which method is used, when liquid level detector  323  senses that replication chamber  321  is full, it sends a signal to control module  370  that in turn de-energizes the controlling device (2-way valve  311  or gear motor  345 ), stopping the water flow. Later, (typically two (2) hours) after replication chamber  321  has been filled, and continuing on a regular basis (typically every 2 hours), control module  370  will cause a dosing event to take place. The dosing event may be as simple as gear motor  347  being energized thereby driving peristaltic pump  351 , causing dosing material to be dispensed directly into the targeted destination (typically a drain line) or (when transformer  303  powered and the 2-drain option is installed as part of the dispensing system, through the 2-drain diverter valve to the targeted destination. When the flushing option is installed and dip switch  381  in the “on” position, control module  370  causes 2-way valve  313  to be energized which opens the valve allowing pressurized tap water to flow directly into the targeted destination (typically a drain line). After a pre-determined time (programmed into control module  370 ), said control module  370  causes 2-way valve  313  to be de-energized, allowing it to return to the closed position, stopping the water flow. Control module  370  then causes the gear motor  347  that drives peristaltic pump  351  to be energized, thereby driving said peristaltic pump  351  and causing dosing material to be drawn from replication chamber  321  through foot filter  331 , filler tube  330  and plastic tubing  591  to the targeted destination, typically a drain line. When the 2-drain option is installed, tube  581  from the output of peristaltic pump  351  is connected to diverter valve  315  which is then energized every second dosing event, thereby directing the dosing material alternately between two different targeted destinations, (typically two different drain lines). Control module  370  controls the amount of dosing material dispensed by counting the number of revolutions made by peristaltic pump  351  and when the programmed number is attained, gear motor  347  that drives peristaltic pump  351  is de-energized.  
       Experiment  
       [0115]     An experiment was conducted to compare growth and presence of bioremediation bacteria between the bladder bag system and the enhanced replication bioremediation apparatus and method of the present invention over the course of thirty days.  
         [0116]     The experiment used three bladder bags to represent the bladder bag system and three flasks with a capacity of &gt;1.2 L to simulate system  100 . All six vessels were kept in a lab at room temperature. The bladder bags were kept in the lab in five gallon buckets, hydrated with five-gallons of water and capped. The caps were removed only once a day to extract samples and therefore reduce the likelihood. The three flasks that simulated replication chamber  321  were wrapped in Para film to reduce the possibility of contamination and were unwrapped only once a day to take samples. On day 1, 1.2 L of tap water was placed in each flask along with the exact amount of ingredients in two pellets. Approximately twenty-four hours later and every 24 hours thereafter throughout the 30-day test cycle, samples were extracted from each flask, then enough of the dosing material was discarded to leave 610 mL in each flask, followed by the exact amount of the addition of enough tap water to bring the volume of material in each flask back to 1.2 L. The experiments reused the same flasks throughout the entire test period to simulate the conditions.  
         [0117]     Samples were taken at the same time each day from all six experiments and plated. The six samples were all serially diluted in sterile DI water and 1% weight/volume peptone solution, dispensed on to Difco plate count agar using the Spiral Biotech Autoplate 4000 and then incubated at 30° C. for 18-24 hours. After incubation, the plates were manually counted to analyze for bacterial proliferation yielding data. The results of the experiment are shown on the page following.  
                                                     DAY   BLADDER BAG   MGDS simulation                                1   Not enough growth to count   1.00E+07       2   5.60E+11   1.000E+10        3   9.67E+11   1.00E+11       4   6.35E+12   1.00E+12       5   4.04E+12   5.64E+12       6   4.16E+12   5.16E+12       7   2.78E+12   4.36E+12       8   1.33E+12   4.88E+12       9   1.24E+11   5.52E+12       10   9.80E+10   1.00E+13       11   3.27E+10   1.00E+13       12   2.59E+10   2.08E+12       13   1.53E+10   1.94E+12       14   2.51E+10   5.93E+11       15   1.56E+10   3.14E+11       16   3.13E+09   2.64E+12       17   7.07E+08   2.84E+12       18   6.10E+08   2.20E+12       19   4.31E+08   1.00E+13       20   3.25E+08   2.26E+12       21   3.78E+08   1.22E+12       22   3.23E+08   4.56E+12       23   1.61E+08   4.52E+12       24   2.05E+08   3.16E+12       25   1.59E+08   3.42E+11       26   9.73E+07   3.62E+11       27   8.07E+07   1.00E+13       28   4.80E+07   2.66E+12       29   1.87E+07   3.32E+12       30   1.27E+07   1.18E+12                  
 
         [0118]     The cell counts for the bladder bags were initially high, reaching 1012 CFUs/mL, but dropped to 107 CFUs/mL toward the end of the test. The largest decrease in growth occurred around mid month. On the other hand, the cell counts for the simulated system  100  with enhanced replication were lowest on the first day of the month, with the count for the remaining portion of the month being in the range of 1010 or 1013, but being generally consistent at 1012 CFUs/mL. The overall picture of colonial growth for the pellets is a sinusoidal wave. The experiments were conducted in a controlled, generally constant environment with some fluctuations due to changes in air condition of the testing environment, location of experiment vessels, human error and inability to calculate the water left over in the flasks. The system  100  with enhanced replication, in comparison to the bladder bag system, showed consistently higher cell counts throughout the course of one month due to the daily preparation and proliferation of dosing material. The bladder bag system showed a decrease in cell count from 1012 to 107, being especially apparent during the last two weeks of the month, due to bacterial aging and nutrient depletion.  
         [0119]     The bioremediation bacteria used in the system  100  is manufactured from a consortium of multiple strains of vegetative, non-pathogenic, non-spore forming bacteria and, in certain applications, particular strains of spore forming bacteria that are freeze-dried and pulverized into a powder. The freeze-dried powdered bacteria is then combined with powdered nutrients and other lesser components and compressed into pellet form. The pellet is preferably about ½″ in diameter and about 5/16″ wide, but can vary in size depending on how much of the pelletized material is required to work in a specific application e.g. high volume designed for high volume applications then the wheel cartridge could be designed to hold larger pellets, and smaller pellets in low volume applications. The cartridge is preferably about 5″ in diameter and about 1″ thick, but can be made to have different dimensions based on the requirements of the system  100 .  
         [0120]     Although there are spore form bacteria strains that are very effective at bioremediation, they are used only to supplement the non-spore strains used in the system  100 , simply because of their non-predictability as to when they can be enticed to come out of dormancy and become effective bioremediators. Commercially available bacteria based products can be poured into drains. Problems exist in such a scenario, including uncertainty that a spore form bacteria can be enticed to come out of dormancy and even if they do, an unpredictability factor as to how long the waiting periods before use or requiring long activation times prior to the bacteria becoming active. The risk is that the bacteria degenerate before use or may only become active after they have been carried far downstream.  
         [0121]     A volume 8 ½″w×11″h×4 ½″d incorporates a chamber large enough to contain a 2-day supply of dosing material. A pellet wheel dispenses pellets containing a freeze-dried medium of multiple strains of bacteria and nutrients into the chamber. Water is drawn into the chamber and the media is allowed to germinate and proliferate colonies of bacteria for up to twenty-four hours to form a dosing material.  
         [0122]     Simultaneously, dosing material is dispensed from the chamber into a drain line of a food preparation establishment at timed intervals to break up fats and grease in the drain, thereby preventing blockages. Additional pellet containing bacteria, nutrient and ingredients along with enough water to bring the chamber to full, said remaining dosing material acts as seed bacteria with the result that the replication process is enhanced, resulting in a much higher concentration of bio-remediation bacteria in the dosing material when it is dispensed from the replication chamber and into the targeted destination than it would be without this enhancement. The method involves enriching a current batch of bioremediation bacteria while simultaneously dispensing from the same chamber.  
         [0123]     The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.