Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Chemical treatment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-25
2001-07-17
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Chemical treatment
C210S192000, C210S244000, C204S194000, C204S232000, C204S271000, C204S275100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261464
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to water disinfecting systems, and more particularly, to a device for generating disinfecting solutions to be added to potentially contaminated water to render that water potable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Maintaining the sterility of drinking water supplies is a major factor in reducing the health risks to human populations. While large metropolitan water systems can make use of highly toxic chlorine gas for sterilizing drinking water, such systems are impractical in remote locations, which lack highly trained personnel and the equipment to maintain the systems. There are many settings in which sophisticated systems are not practical. For example, campers or military personnel in the field cannot be expected to operate such a system to provide potable drinking water from streams or other potentially contaminated water sources. To be effective in such rural settings, a system must be capable of running for long periods of time with little or no maintenance. In addition, the raw materials required by the system must be readily available.
Systems based on the electrolytic production of chlorine and/or other chloro-oxygen species based germicidal agents are particularly attractive for use in the present invention. These systems require only electricity and common salt as raw materials. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,208 to Gram, et al. entitled
Electrolvtic Method and Cell for Sterilizing Water
, which is incorporated herein by reference. The system of the present invention utilizes an electrolytic cell to generate an oxidant solution including chlorine in the form of hypochlorous acid and other chloro-oxygen species. Other embodiments of the present invention produce an oxidant solution that is predominantly sodium hypochlorite. The oxidant solution is produced from a brine solution using common salt. This oxidant solution may be added directly to the drinking water at a dilution ratio compatible with the concentration of the oxidant produced in the device and the demand of the water. The oxidant produced is more effective at inactivation of micro-organisms than is conventional chlorination technology, including chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hypochlorite. At adequate dilution ratios, the water is sterilized without causing the water to become unpalatable. This technology is particularly attractive because of its simplicity and long maintenance free operation time. Studies have been conducted to demonstrate the micro-organism inactivation effectiveness of the oxidant, commonly referred to as mixed-oxidant solution. Linda V. Venczel, Michael Arrowood, Margaret Hurd, and Mark D. Sobsey with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. have conducted research and published a paper entitled,
Inactivation of Cryptospordium parvum Oocysts and Clostridium Perfringens Spores by a Mixed
-
Oxidant Disinfectant and by Free Chlorine
, published in
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
, Apr. 1997, p. 1598-1601.
The systems based on mixed-oxidant production have been used successfully in rural communities with small water supplies to larger municipal water systems treating millions of gallons per day. These larger systems are not well suited for use by individual campers and personnel in the field who must treat small quantities of water on a daily basis. The mixed oxidant systems designed to date are applicable to large quantities of water and are large and heavy. In addition, these systems require quantities of electrical power that are not practical at the mesoscale, or individual person level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an apparatus to treat a a substance, the apparatus comprising a portable electrolytic cell for generating oxidation/reduction products, the products to be subsequently added to the substance. The apparatus preferably comprises a syringe-like configuration. Preferably, the electrolytic cell comprises a plurality of plates, more preferably an anode and a cathode. Preferably the adode comprises a catalytic material, more preferably a titanium substrate preferably with an oxide coating, more preferably at least one metal selected from the group VIII elements of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and most preferably wherein the oxide coating comprises ruthenium.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cathode is disposed within the anode, alternatively where the anode is disposed adjacent to the cathode and preferably comprises an outer housing for the anode, preferably wherein at least one of the anode or cathode comprises a metallic, plastic, ceramic, silicone, or a non-conducting material. The preferred embodiment also preferably comprises a pocket clip for attachment to the user's pocket. The electrolytic cell preferably comprises a delivery mechanism for adding oxidation/reduction products to the substance, and preferably comprises a power source comprising an electrical, electro-mechanical, or chemical generator. The power source preferably additionally comprises a generator to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus comprises a reservoir, preferably a salt reservoir, and more preferably a refillable or disposable reservoir. Preferably, the chamber comprises a reservoir. A preferred embodiment further comprises an electrolyte storage compartment comprising a self-sealing cap. The cap comprises an elastomer or a mechanical check valve.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a deposit-removing apparatus, preferably a scraper and/or a shaft comprising break-away segments. The apparatus also preferably comprises a circuit for measuring total dissolved solids (TDS) in the substance to be treated, preferably an electrical circuit included in an integral circuit, and preferably further comprises a visually readable, audible, or tactile indicator for completion of electric charge in the substance, most preferably a vibratory indicator. The apparatus preferably additionally comprises a temperature measuring device.
The present invention is also a method for treating a substance using an oxidant generator comprising the steps of creating oxidation/reduction products in a portable electrolytic cell for holding an electrolyte, and releasing the products onto a substance for treating. Preferably, the oxidants are released onto a fluid, and more preferably the oxidants are released for decontaminating. The oxidants are preferably created by passing water through a porous salt chamber to be collected in the cell, preferably by passing an electric current through an electrolyte, and more preferably by generating an electric current from an anode to a cathode, and alternatively in an electrolytic cell comprising a plurality of plates. Preferably the anode comprises a catalytic material, preferably a titanium substrate. The anode preferably further comprises an oxide coating, and preferably comprises at least one metal selected from the Group VIII materials in the Periodic Table of the Elements, and more preferably comprises ruthenium oxide. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oxidation/reduction products are created in a reservoir.
Broadly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved oxidant generator.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oxidant generator that may be carried conveniently by a single person and utilized to sterilize small quantities of drinking water.
A primary advantage of the present invention is the small size and light weight of the apparatus.
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to measure total dissolved solids in the sample with the same apparatus to treat the water.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to treat a larger volume of water using a portable apparatus.
A further advantage of the present invention is the use of a safe-to-produce solution to disinfect a water su
Cushman Timothy A.
Herrington Rodney E.
Hickerson John K.
Mitchke Curtis M.
White John F.
Hoey Betsey Morrison
Miox Corporation
Ownbey Nancy E.
Pangrle Brian J.
Peacock Deborah A.
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