Oxidation process

Abstract

Treatment of an aqueous solution to yield a product is more desirable for disposal by an advanced oxidation process. Ozone is mixed with the solution, and maintaining at an elevated pressure for a time. The process may include recirculation past injector that injects ozone into the solution. Influent may be sewage, septage, leachate, ballast, and so on. The process disinfects and / or denutrifies the effluent. It may include (a) back-to-back processing of batches (b) overlapping processing with a previously treated batch (c) off-gassing (d) repetitive high pressure and low pressure cycles (e) post processing steps, such as retention without addition of ozone for a period of time to permit flocculates longer to form (f) post process filtering to remove flocculates (g) simultaneous post-processing of one batch while another batch is being processed. The process may include the treatment of solutions containing pharmaceuticals.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit under such of 35 USC 11, 119, 120 as may be applicable on the basis of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 535,483 filed Sep. 16, 2011, the specification and drawings of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to the field of wastewater processing. In particular, the invention relates to the treatment of sewage, septage, leachate, pharmaceutical waste streams, ship ballast, or any of them in combination, so that the treated effluent is more desirable for disposal.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]This description relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of water. In particular, the method and apparatus may be used to treat aqueous solutions to make those aqueous solutions more desirable or fit for disposal, either back to the environment or to render such aqueous solutions more fit for further treatment in other treatment facilities.[0004]In the field of water treatm...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The process significantly reduces pathogens, nutrients, and emerging contaminants, achieving a higher level of disinfection and denitrification, making the treated wastewater more suitable for disposal or further treatment, thereby improving water quality.

Problems solved by technology

There are many other fluids which are not suitable for general disposal back to the atmosphere.

It is this last group, individual private residences, or isolated resorts, with which we are particularly concerned because existing technologies have limited performance and a complete lack of supervision.

These systems provide little disinfection (pathogens) and limited denutrification (carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen).

However, a number of jurisdictions are either banning outright or severely restricting the amount of septage that can be spread on the ground.

The result has been increased contamination of wells with pathogens and overload of water bodies with nutrients.

While these systems were tested on sewage and provided acceptable results, they were expected to process septage, and the results were not very good.

Leachate can be a significant source of what is termed “pollution”, that is, material being released to the environment which is not acceptable in the environment.

However, in most cases, the pharmaceutical is not completely metabolized in the body.

Often these pharmaceuticals, whether as primary products or as secondary products, are not effectively treated in some sewage treatment plants.

Existing technology, both traditional and enhanced, have little chance of effectively reducing these compounds in a timely way.

Without new technology, collectively the uncontrolled discharge from these private residential OWTS, will become the largest contributor of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) to the environment.

Where there are a concentration of septic systems such as in rural homes or cottages surrounding a lake or river, there may eventually be an overload of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds released by the septic systems into the ground water and ultimately, the lake or river.

As development around a localized water resource occurs, there will ultimately become a point at which the natural environment will not be able to safely handle the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen released from the septic systems.

When the presence of these nutrients increases, certain plant species such as algae or phytoplankton can grow above normal levels which in turn causes problems for the other species trying to grow around them.

Excessive algae growth blocks sunlight from the vegetation beneath the water's surface which can cause massive die off of plant species.

It also produces a significant amount of organic material that also uses up valuable oxygen as it decomposes and contributes to foul smelling and tasting water.

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