Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic material treatment – Water – sewage – or other waste water
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-05-29
Phasge, Arun S. (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic material treatment
Water, sewage, or other waste water
C205S759000, C205S760000, C205S761000, C204S269000, C204S270000, C204S275100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238546
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the electrochemical treatment of effluent water to remove suspended solids and dissolved particles and provide discharge water within environmental requirements. The invention includes design of an electrochemical cell suitable for such treatment.
BACKGROUND ART
A wide variety of chemical and mechanical processes have been developed in an effort to control pollution from effluent streams in various industries. Impurities in the streams include suspended solids and dissolved particles. Both chemical and mechanical methods have been employed to cause the impurities to coalesce to permit removal by filters, centrifuges, separators, and clarifiers. The goal of the processes is to remove sufficient impurities to allow the effluent liquid to be discharged into the environment with an acceptable amount of adverse impact.
Efforts to treat water by use of electricity to coalesce and remove impurities have existed for many years. One such effort is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,814 which issued to David M. A. Metzler, on Mar. 19, 1992.
Past efforts to achieve coalescence of contaminants in effluent streams without the use of added chemicals have met with some success, but have also had problems with efficiency, cost, flexibility and disposal of the coalesced materials. In addition, many systems require batch processing rather than continuous processing. Accordingly, there is a need for a novel system which can remove impurities from effluent streams and can operate as a continuous process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Water with dissolved, suspended, or disbursed contamination is introduced into a treatment cell which contains a plurality of plate-type electrodes forming long narrow channels in a chamber through which the contaminated water must flow. Alternate electrodes may have surface irregularities, such as slight corrugations, running perpendicular to the direction of water flow. Such irregularities disrupt laminar flow of the liquid and permit an electron flux to concentrate along the ridges nearest the adjacent plates for increased intensity of electron flow. Such irregularities are preferred for treatment of an effluent with high amounts of contamination. The water moves perpendicular to the flow of electricity. Water flow and electron flow (amperage) are kept constant for a given application. Voltage is allowed to fluctuate based on the instantaneous conductivity of the water. This input of energy to the contaminated water causes a number of physical and chemical reactions to take place which destabilize the contaminated water and cause the contaminants to change form to aid in their removal from the water.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4036726 (1977-07-01), Gale et al.
patent: 4329211 (1982-05-01), Plantes et al.
Knieper Louis H.
Noyes Daniel G.
Tipton Gary A.
Harrison & Egbert
Phasge Arun S,.
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