17757results about "Water treatment compounds" patented technology

The present invention is directed to various sets of unit operations for treating aqueous effluents and logic for designing and effecting the treatment. The unit operations include stabilization of subterranean waters, sequential oxidation steps to alter selected target materials, oxidation to break up emulsions prior to removal of the emulsion components, and intense oxidation to break up difficult-to-remove organic target materials.

An apparatus and method produces nitrate ions on-site from water, natural gas and air extracted in proximity to the apparatus. The apparatus generates nitrate ions and brings the nitrate ions into contact with an aqueous system. Hydrogen sulfide present in the aqueous system is removed and the production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is eliminated by introducing into the system nitrate ions, whereby denitrifying microorganisms, using nitrate, outcompete the sulfate-reducing bacteria for the available carbon nutrients, thus preventing the SRB from producing hydrogen sulfide. Nitrate ions generated by the apparatus and added to the aqueous system which contains the denitrifying microorganisms can enhance oil recovery by means of microbial enhanced oil recovery mechanisms.

A process for producing biodiesel has been invented by first extracting lipids from the sludges generated during primary and / or biological treatment of municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastewaters using primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments followed by the transesterification of the extracted lipids using transesterification conversion into alcohol-based esters. The resulting products from this process include biodiesel, glycerol, lipid-free proteins, various other useful chemicals and an aqueous-based substrate well suited for optimized digestion within subsequent biological digestion (either aerobic or anaerobic). The lipids extracted from the sludges containing high levels of microorganisms are phospholipids which can also be directly used as lecithin. The extraction of the lipids from the sludges will be performed using chemical extraction techniques with the transesterification of the extracted lipids accomplished using basic, acidic, and / or a combination of the two transesterification techniques.

Disclosed herein is a nanostructured material comprising defective carbon nanotubes chosen from impregnated, functionalized, doped, charged, coated, and irradiated nanotubes, and combinations thereof. The defective carbon nanotubes contain a defect which is a lattice distortion in at least one carbon ring. Also disclosed is a method of purifying fluids, such as liquids, including water, as well as gases, including the air using, this nanostructured material.

The invention is a fibrous structure for fluid streams that is a mixture of nano alumina fibers and second fibers arranged in a matrix to create asymmetrical pores and to which fine, ultrafine, or nanosize particles such as powdered activated carbon are attached without the use of binders. The fibrous structure containing powdered activated carbon intercepts contaminants from fluid streams. The invention is also a method of manufacturing and using the fibrous structure.

The present invention relates to carbon-carbon composite material comprising a carbonaceous carrier and nanosize carbon structures (e.g. CNT or CNF), wherein the nanosize carbon structures are grown on the carbonaceous carrier. The carrier may be porous, as in activated carbon or consists of carbon black particles. In accordance with the invention, nanocarbon growth in the pores of porous carriers can be realized. The process for the manufacture of a this carbon-carbon-composite material comprises the steps of treating a carbonaceous carrier material with a metal-containing catalyst material, said metal being capable of forming nanosize carbon structures, and growing nanosize carbon structures by means of a CVD (chemical vapour deposition) method on the treated carrier in a gas atmosphere comprising a carbon-containing gas, followed by an optional surface modification step. This process allows optimising porosity, hydrodynamical properties and surface chemistry independently from each other, which is particularly beneficial in respect of the use of the composite for water purification. Carbon black-based composites are particularly useful for filler applications.

Modified polysaccharide polymers for use as anti-scalant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The modified polysaccharides are also useful in detergent formulations, water treatment, dispersants and oilfield applications and as fiberglass binders. Such applications include a modified polysaccharide having up to about 70 mole % carboxyl groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU and up to about 20 mole % aldehyde groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU. The applications can also include a blend of modified polysaccharides and other synthetic polymers.

A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation includes magnetically conditioning the fluid by applying a conditioning magnetic field to enhance the precipitation of solute particles for coagulation; adding a coagulant to the fluid before, during, or after application of the conditioning magnetic field to coagulate the increased available solute particles to form colloids; and collecting the colloids for removal from the fluid.

An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor / controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water. An electrochemical cell manual mounting system permits the cell to be secured in place for operation and manually removed for maintenance, repair or replacement by the user without special tools or training.

The invention provides a water purification system and method for combining ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and photocatalysis in a helical reactor geometry that maximizes both the photocatalytic efficiency and the germicidal dosage of the ultraviolet irradiation in deactivation of microbes and the destruction of contaminant organic compounds.

A photocatalyst nanocomposite which can be used to destroying biological agents includes a carbon nanotube core, and a photocatalyst coating layer covalently or ionically bound to a surface of the nanotube core. The coating layer has a nanoscale thickness. A method of forming photocatalytic nanocomposites includes the steps of providing a plurality of dispersed carbon nanotubes, chemically oxidizing the nanotubes under conditions to produce surface functionalized nanotubes to provide C and O including groups thereon which form ionic or covalent bonds to metal oxides, and processing a metal oxide photocatalyst sol-gel precursor in the presence of the nanotubes, wherein a nanoscale metal oxide photocatalyst layer becomes covalently or ionically bound to the nanotubes.

Ceramic nanofibers contain nanosize metal catalyst particles on the surface thereof. The catalyst-ceramic nanofibers when supported as by larger fibers form a medium that effectively catalyze various reactions as in fluid flow processes.

Contemplated remediation devices include a substantially completely hydrophobic, non-porous, and carbonaceous, and most preferably nanostructured material enclosed in a retaining structure. In further preferred aspects, the material inside the retaining structure adsorbs a contaminant from a medium located outside the retaining structure. Especially preferred nanostructured materials comprise graphene, while preferred contaminants include optionally substituted hydrocarbons, organic solvents, and acids.

Sewage waste digestive bacteria and enzymes are incorporated into a slow release material and delivered to the site of the waste to digest the solid waste. The slow release material is made heavy so the enzymes and bacteria will be delivered to the sludge in the bottom of a sewage digester chamber and made fat soluble so that the enzymes and bacteria will be delivered to the grease in the waste system to be digested. This selective delivery system prevents the enzymes and bacteria from being diluted in grey water rendering them less effective and discharged from the sewage system without digesting waste.

A filtering apparatus comprises a microporous membrane and an actuator. The membrane is positioned to traverse across the hollow interior of a conduit used for the transport of molecules in bulk. In one example, the pores of the membrane comprise a plurality of open-ended carbon nanotubes. The actuator comprises a transducing material such as a polyvinyledene fluoride film that is operatively positioned in contact with the membrane and is capable of propagating acoustic vibration onto the membrane at a particular frequency so as to hasten the movement of the molecules through the membrane. Similarly, a method of filtering water comprises the steps of: (a) sifting molecules of water through the membrane, the pores of the membrane comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and (b) propagating acoustic vibration onto the microporous membrane at a libration frequency of ice so as to hasten movement of the water molecules within the carbon nanotubes.

A method of synthesizing a doped carbonaceous material includes mixing a carbon precursor material with at least one dopant to form a homogeneous / heterogeneous mixture; and subjecting the mixture to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain the doped carbonaceous material. A method of purifying water includes providing an amount of the doped carbonaceous material in the water as a photocatalyst; and illuminating the water containing the doped carbonaceous material with visible light such that under visible light illumination, the doped carbonaceous material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs) and has high electron affinity, which react with oxygen and water adsorbed on its surface forming reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, that, in turn, decompose pollutants and micropollutants.

The invention provides a zero-discharge treatment method of salt-containing organic wastewater. The method comprises the following steps that biochemical treatment and filtering treatment are performed on wastewater; then, membrane concentration is performed; pure-water-producing high-organic-matter-content membrane concentration concentrated water and optional low-organic-matter-content membrane concentration concentrated water are obtained; the high-organic-matter-content membrane concentration concentrated water is used for high-grade oxidation treatment; high-grade oxidation produced water is used for regulation treatment to obtain high-grade oxidation outlet water; the obtained high-grade oxidation outlet water is subjected to evaporation treatment; or the obtained high-grade oxidation outlet water and the low-organic-matter-content membrane concentration concentrated water are mixed under the condition that the low-organic-matter-content membrane concentration concentrated water exists in the step, and then, the evaporation treatment is carried out; external discharge concentration liquid of an evaporator and / or high-salt-content high-organic-matter-content wastewater discharged during the tank brushing of the evaporator are conveyed back into a high-grade oxidation treatment unit; after the liquid is mixed with the high-organic-matter-content membrane concentration concentrated water, the high-grade oxidation treatment is carried out. The wastewater treatment method is stable and reliable; the long-period and stable operation of an evaporation system can be ensured; the zero discharge of the industrial wastewater is realized.

Provided herein composition and methods for nanoporous membranes comprising single walled, double walled, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix material. Average pore size of the carbon nanotube can be 6 nm or less. These membranes are a robust platform for the study of confined molecular transport, with applications in liquid and gas separations and chemical sensing including desalination, dialysis, and fabric formation.

Disclosed is a novel method for treatment of wastewater containing organic contaminant materials by oxidatively decomposing the contaminant materials by a radical reaction involving hydroxyl radicals. The method comprises passing the wastewater through a wastewater treatment conduit (6) comprising a straightly tubular member (6) and a radical generating part consisting of a truncated pyramidal or conical tubular member (1) having an inner surface layer of titanium dioxide to serve as a positive electrode and connected to the upstream end of the straightly tubular member and a negative electrode rod (4) coaxially held relative to the truncated tubular member and applying a pulsed DC voltage having a rectangular wave form at a specified frequency. The efficiency of wastewater treatment can be improved by providing an ultrasonic part consisting of a truncated tubular member similar (7) to the above and connected to the downstream end of the straightly tubular member and an ultrasonic vibrator (8) mounted thereon to emit pulsed ultrasonic waves.

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for treating a liquid by providing a wave energy source and creating a thin film of the liquid whirling around the wave energy source such that one or more wave energies irradiate the liquid. Likewise, the present invention provides a method of treating a liquid by providing three zones of wave energy and passing the liquid through the three zones of wave energy.

The invention is a device for purifying drinking water that has at least one fibrous structure. Preferably, there is an upstream and downstream fibrous structure. Each fibrous structure is a mixture of nano alumina fibers and second fibers arranged in a matrix to create asymmetric pores and to which fine, ultrafine, or nanosize particles are attached. Preferably, the device has an upstream antimicrobial for sterilization of retained microbes. The device is substantially more efficient at removing soluble contaminants such as halogens from a fluid stream than those previously available and is also able to retain turbidity, bacteria, and virus.

The present invention relates to a method for zero-release treatment of brine waste water, comprising: (1) pretreatment; (2) reverse osmosis treatment; (3) advanced oxidation treatment; (4) biochemical treatment; (5) electrodialysis concentration; (6) circulating crystallization. Compared with the prior art, the method for zero-release treatment of brine waste water provided in the present invention realizes zero release or near zero release of waste water, improves salt recovery efficiency, can recover high-quality sodium sulfate, mirabilite and sodium chloride, and turns crystalline salts into a resource; the membrane treatment unit can operates stably in the process for a long operation period at a low cost, and the entire process has high economic efficiency.

The treatment apparatus is pressurized and operates on a continuous flow of fluids which are subjected to hydrodynamic waves, acoustic ultrasonic waves in combination with injected ozone and electro chemical treatment. The treatment system provides a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling fluids as contaminated as frac water, used to stimulate gas production from shale formations, as well as other types of fluids having various levels of contaminants such as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and suspended solids. The calcium carbonate scaling tendency is reduced to an acceptable level without the use of acids, ion exchange materials, or anti scaling chemicals which is of economical and environmental significance and benefit. The treatment apparatus is modular in construction and compact in overall configuration. The treatment apparatus and associated equipment and electrical power generator is sized and configured to be mounted within a truck trailer body.

A method for preparing highly stabilized and dispersible zero valent iron nanoparticles and using the nanoparticles as a remediation technology against inorganic chemical toxins in contaminated sites. The method employs a composition containing select polysaccharides (starch or cellulose) as a stabilizer for the iron nanoparticles in a liquid carrier, and results in suspensions of iron nanoparticles of desired size and mobility in water, brine, soils or sediments. The stabilizer facilitates controlling the dispersibility of the iron nanoparticles in the liquid carrier. An effective amount of the composition is delivered to a contaminated site so that the zero valent iron nanoparticles can remediate one or more toxins such as an arsenate, a nitrate, a chromate, or a perchlorate in the contaminated site.

A method dewatering thin stillage process streams generated in the processing of grain to ethanol comprising adding to the process streams an effective coagulating and flocculating amount of an anionic copolymer comprising acrylic acid sodium salt, methacrylic acid sodium salt or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt to form a mixture of water and coagulated and flocculated solids; and separating the water from the coagulated and flocculated solids using a dewatering device.

Methods and devices are disclosed for converting predominantly organic waste materials, such as sludge, into useful byproducts.

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for treating a liquid by providing a wave energy source and creating a thin film of the liquid whirling around the wave energy source such that one or more wave energies irradiate the liquid. Likewise, the present invention provides a method of treating a liquid by providing three zones of wave energy and passing the liquid through the three zones of wave energy.

The invention is directed to a wastewater treatment system having an anoxic biological treatment zone, an aerobic biological treatment zone and a separator. The concentration of oxygen in streams within the system is strategically managed for improved removal of nutrient from the wastewater. A source of biodegradable carbon may be introduced to reduce the concentration of oxygen within the system. An effective treatment time under anoxic or aerobic conditions may further be varied.

The invention discloses a composite with an adsorption-visible light catalytic degradation synergistic effect and a preparation method and application thereof. The preparation method includes the specific steps that firstly, a bismuth oxyiodide / bismuth oxychloride composite nano-particle loaded activated carbon fiber composite ACF@BiOIxCl1-x is synthesized; then, the fiber surface is grafted with polyethyleneimine, and the end composite PEI-g-ACF@BiOIxCl1-x is obtained. The composite can rapidly adsorb pollutants in water, and meanwhile the pollutants are efficiently degraded with a photocatalyst loaded on the surface of the composite; besides, the purpose of recycling and reusing the photocatalyst is achieved, the comprehensive treatment capability of the composite is improved, the service life of the composite is prolonged, and the use cost is lowered.