Compositions and methods for treating and purifying water with a combination of aluminum-derived, chlorine-derived and sodium-derived compounds - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable composition for treating and / or purifying water in accordance with the regulations in force. The composition allows for rapid treatment of water with a safe composition in small doses of additives without consuming electrical energy. A method for treating and purifying water using the formulation according to the present invention is also provided. The present invention relates to compositions, methods and kits for use in treating and / or purifying water for agricultural or industrial use. The composition is easily portable for personal or household use.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to compositions, methods and kits for use in the treatment and / or purification of water for agricultural or industrial uses, which compositions are easily portable for personal or home use. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The availability of sufficient and quality water is the basis for all biological processes, for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystems, for human health and for the functioning of primary and secondary production.

[0003] Potable water, or water suitable for human consumption, is water that may be taken directly and safely for drinking or for preparing food.

[0004] Internationally, the World Health Organization has developed a series of guidelines on water quality (especially drinking water), the safe use of wastewater, and safe recreational water environments.

[0005] In Chile, drinking water is water that complies with the physical, chemical and bacteriological requirements established in the NCH 409 / 1 standard, which guarantee its disinfection, harmlessness and suitability for human consumption.

[0006] In the European Union, Regulation 98 / 83 / EU establishes maximum and minimum limits for the content of minerals and various ions, as well as pathogens.

[0007] According to the WHO, climate change, increasing water scarcity, population growth, demographic changes and urbanization pose permanent challenges for water supply systems. Between now and 2025, half of the world's population will live in water-scarce areas. All this can further limit access to water and the possibility of obtaining drinking water, without considering possible natural and social disasters.

[0008] In urban areas, water filtration is carried out in treatment plants that are specifically designed according to the water source that feeds the plant and the local regulatory requirements. In the case of industries, some of them have their own treatment plants.

[0009] However, in rural areas, isolated regions or places where water resources are limited, the need to treat water is addressed in a less industrialized manner.

[0010] Examples are portable treatments of water, including portable devices and systems for treating water obtained from lakes, rivers or wells, to reagent mixtures for personal or domestic use, which allow disinfection of water in situations where access to potable water is not possible. The devices and / or reagents can be made commercially or at home.

[0011] Portable compositions are used in emergency or catastrophic situations, but also in non-hazardous situations, such as outdoor activities away from urban drinking water sources. The most well-known methods for treating water in extreme conditions are boiling and disinfection with chlorine, as well as the use of filters, activated carbon, ozone disinfection, ultraviolet purification, among others. The choice of each method depends on the initial state of the water to be treated and the resources available at the time of treatment.

[0012] On the other hand, natural ecosystems and agriculture are the largest consumers of freshwater on Earth, with water use for agricultural purposes accounting for 70% of water withdrawals globally.

[0013] The demand for water by various sectors involves meeting the needs of ecosystems, the needs of human populations, the needs of agriculture and the needs of industry. The ability to better utilize natural water sources and to make wastewater useful by treatment and its reuse are important economic and environmental issues that underscore the need to improve the efficiency and productivity of water use and to continue to innovate methods for treating, cleaning and purifying available water.

[0014] In the prior art, there are various formulations or options for treating water that strive to meet the minimum requirements for water to be suitable for human consumption in terms of microbiological and drinkable quality. For example, document WO03011769A2 describes a water treatment composition comprising a main coagulant compound, a disinfectant and an oxidant system, the preferred composition further comprising one or more flocculants, a cationic coagulant aid, a water-soluble alkali, a water-insoluble silicate and a food additive or nutrient source. It is a complex formulation containing at least eight components, and amounts ranging from 50 mg to 2000 mg of the composition, preferably 500 mg, must be added per liter of water to be purified, which limits its portability.

[0015] Similarly, document WO2002000557A2 presents a composition comprising a main coagulant and a bridging flocculant, the ratio between the two being 10:1 to 100:1. The preferred composition also comprises one or more cationic coagulant aids, a microbiocidal disinfectant, a water-soluble alkali, a water-insoluble silicate, and a food additive or nutrient source. Although it is indicated that low concentrations of the composition can be used, the examples describe the use of 500mg to 620mg of the composition per liter of water to be treated. Document US5681475A describes a portable composition for purifying small volumes of water, which contains an organochlorine compound as a disinfectant-cleaning agent, a solid inorganic metal salt as a coagulant-precipitant, a solid alkali as a dispersing-buffering agent, a primary colloidal flocculant, a secondary colloidal flocculant, cellulose as an agglomeration matrix and prefilter, and an ion-exchange absorbent.It thus concerns a formulation requiring at least seven compounds formulated in a 600 mg tablet, which allows the treatment of only one liter of water.

[0016] Regarding water disinfection compositions, Procter & Gamble and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) published an informative literature (2013), in which home treatment with the commercial composition produced by P&G is presented as a reliable option. However, it has certain limitations in terms of implementation, since it requires a bucket for 10 liters of water, a piece of cotton cloth and a second container, in addition to being expensive considering the small volume of water to be treated. According to the WHO evaluation, the product achieves a two-star performance in terms of microbial reduction (50% of the maximum standard). The product is provided in 4 g sachets to treat 10 L of water.

[0017] Marois-Fiset JT et al. (2016), Laboratory evaluation of a new coagulant / disinfectant point-of-use water treatment product for emergencies, addresses the efficacy of a formulation that contains ferric sulfate as a coagulant and calcium hypochlorite as a disinfectant in addition to other undisclosed ingredients. The authors show that the disinfection time is about 22 minutes, but the water tastes better after 1 hour of application of the formulation. Each Pureit® sachet contains 2.5 g of the composition to treat 10 L of water. Despite the availability of various commercial portable formulations, not all of them ensure the use of compounds suitable for human health at reduced concentrations. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0018] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 03011769 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2002000557 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 5,681,475 [Non-patent literature]

[0019] [Non-Patent Document 1] Marois-Fiset JT et al. (2016), Laboratory evaluation of a new coagulant / disinfectant point-of-use water treatment product for emergencies Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0020] The treatment and / or purification of water for agricultural and industrial applications is a perennial need. Although portable water treatment solutions are specialized, they are viable for application in an almost universal manner. Thus, there remains a need for improved formulations that overcome the limitations of current options in terms of performance, portability, cost and effectiveness. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1]Figure 1. Images of the treatment of a water sample obtained from the Biobío River with the composition of the invention. A. Water sample obtained from the Biobío River. Before treatment. pH=7, turbidity 520 NTU, conductivity 209 μS / cm, TOC 2.56 mg / L. B. Sample after 30 minutes of treatment with the composition of the invention. 0.5x dosage: pH=7.6, turbidity 18.3 NTU, conductivity 268 μS / cm, TOC 3.22 mg / L 1.0x dosage: pH=7.5, turbidity 16.6 NTU, conductivity 290 μS / cm, TOC 4.13 mg / L 1.5x dosage: pH=7.5, turbidity 10.3 NTU, conductivity 319 μS / cm, TOC 5.05 mg / L. Water sample after 30 minutes subjected to 3.0x dosage. pH=7.5, turbidity 2.4NTU, conductivity 822μS / cm, TOC 10.04mg / L.

[0022] [Diagram 2] Figure 2. Effect of the composition of the present invention (CW Reagent) on the flotation of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2).

[0023] [Diagram 3] Figure 3. Effect of the composition of the present invention (CW Reagent) on the flotation of molybdenite (MoS2). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention provides compositions for the treatment of clear water in a treatment plant or system or in domestic use conditions. The water to be treated includes fresh water obtained from rivers, streams, ponds or lakes, or polluted drinking water.

[0025] In particular, the compositions of the invention make it possible to treat and purify water for agricultural or industrial use according to the parameters set out in the water quality standards, for example, by using the compositions of the invention, water is purified and disinfected in the pH range according to the Chilean standard NCh409.

[0026] The advantages of the present invention include, inter alia, its high treatment and purification capacity using a minimum proportion of reagents, together with its rapid action (which makes it possible to obtain drinking water in 20 to 30 minutes).

[0027] Another advantage of the present invention is the possibility of using the composition or reagent mixture according to the invention by applying it with or without electrical energy (manually), in other words it is possible to carry out mixing or stirring steps without consuming electrical energy.

[0028] The present invention further does not include ferric sulfate, since this component is highly harmful to human health.

[0029] The composition of the present invention can be used in batch and continuous processes. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is in the form of a unit dose and is used to treat and purify small volumes of contaminated or non-potable water batches. A small volume of water corresponds to a volume of about 0.1 liter to 100 liters, preferably 1 liter to 20 liters, for immediate consumption in household or personal use or for short-term storage and consumption. However, the composition according to the present invention allows for treating larger volumes of 100 liters to 1000 liters or more, with the addition of the composition of the present invention in an amount necessary to treat the required volume of water.

[0030] The unit dosage of the composition ranges between 20 mg and 700 mg per liter of water to be treated, preferably between 25 mg and 100 mg per liter of water to be treated, more preferably between 35 mg and 75 mg per liter.

[0031] The composition of the present invention is in a form including, inter alia, a powder formulation, a granular formulation or a tablet formulation in an amount sufficient to treat a given volume of contaminated water. In a preferred embodiment, the form is an easily dissolved powder formulation.

[0032] The composition according to the invention comprises: 55%-82% coagulant selected from aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminate; a disinfectant selected from chlorine-based disinfectants (preferably calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite) at 2% to 10%; 15% to 30% of an alkalizing agent selected from hydrated lime and sodium carbonate; 1% to 5% flocculant selected from anionic polyacrylamide and activated starch Including, Its disinfectant to coagulant ratio is 1:10 to 1:15, and its flocculating agent to alkalizing agent ratio is 1:5 to 1:10.

[0033] If necessary, the flocculant to coagulant ratio is in the range of 1:20 to 1:30.

[0034] There is further provided a method for treating and purifying water using the composition of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of: adding one or more doses of a composition according to the present invention to the water to be treated and mixing or stirring for about 1 to about 5 minutes until the composition is completely dissolved in the water. The mixing step can be performed by any manual or mechanical mixing method (e.g., by an agitator with blades connected to a wind-driven system). ii. decanting the flocs and solids present in the water and allowing the mixture to stand for 5 to 30 minutes; and iii. Physically separating the solid material from the drinking water by transferring the top layer of water to another container either directly or through a filtering means and discarding the bottom layer containing the sediment.

[0035] Optionally, steps 1 to 3 can be repeated if the water is cloudy or not completely clear after decanting and / or separating the solid material. There is further provided a kit for treating and purifying water, the kit comprising: a. one or more doses of a composition according to the invention; and b. A means for physically separating solid materials from drinking water Includes.

[0036] The unit dosage comprises between 20 mg / L and 700 mg / L, preferably between 25 mg and 100 mg of the composition per liter of water to be treated, preferably between 35 mg / L and 75 mg / L.

[0037] The unit dose is formulated according to the volume to be treated, which may be for the treatment of 1 L (water bottle), 15 L (household), or other volumes, for example, for the treatment of 100 L to 1000 L.

[0038] The separating means is selected from filter fabrics made of cotton, polyester, wool or other natural or synthetic fibers, or mixtures thereof.

[0039] (use)

[0040] The invention makes it possible to purify water quickly and safely for human consumption. Furthermore, the compositions according to the invention make it possible to treat water for agricultural or industrial use. In both cases, the cleanliness and disinfection parameters required by the regulations in force are met.

[0041] In industrial applications, the option exists to treat process water for mining, where the use of water treated with the present invention allows for greater mineral recovery relative to minerals obtained using previously untreated process water.

[0042] Preferred uses for the present invention therefore include the treatment of water for use in mining, agriculture, drinking water and waste water treatment, among others.

[0043] The compositions according to the invention can be incorporated as part of a process in the desalination of water, or as a pre-desalination step. When using the compositions of the invention in salt water, the water quality is improved by precipitation of impurities, making the reverse osmosis process more efficient. EXAMPLES

[0044] (Example) The following examples are provided to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, but in no way limit the invention to those described in those examples. Example 1: Composition according to the invention A batch of the invention is prepared according to the following composition: [Table 5]

[0045] The compositions were measured out in unit doses to treat 15 liters of water at the following doses: [Table 6]

[0046] (Example 2: Treatment of water obtained from a river)

[0047] The treatment of the water obtained from the river was measured through measurements of pH, conductivity and turbidity of the treated water, as well as dissolved organic carbon (TOC). The compositions of the present invention in their dosage amounts were added to the water obtained from the Biobío River.

[0048] pH measurements were performed with a HANNA pH·conductivity meter and turbidity measurements were performed with a HACH 2100 N turbidity meter; whereas TOC measurements were performed with a Shimadzu TOC-L instrument.

[0049] Tables 1-4 show the pH, turbidity, conductivity and TOC results for the various dosages evaluated.

[0050] [Table 1]

[0051] [Table 2]

[0052] [Table 3]

[0053] [Table 4]

[0054] Figure 1 shows the effect of using the above composition: Figure 1A shows an untreated sample; Figures 1B and 1C show the effect after 30 minutes of treatment for various doses of the above composition.

[0055] The dosages shown as 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 3 correspond to an added amount of 50 mg / L unit dosage.

[0056] The results show that the composition according to the invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the turbidity of water obtained from the Biobío River, from an initial value of 520 NTU to a minimum value of 2.4 NTU.

[0057] Their pH, conductivity and TOC values ​​tend to increase as the above compositions are added, which may be related to the chemical nature of the compositions.

[0058] Example 3: Treatment of process water used in copper and molybdenum mineral flotation processes The effectiveness of the composition of the present invention (CW Reagent) for the treatment of process water used in copper and molybdenum mineral flotation processes was evaluated. The resulting evaluation parameters were the amount of pure chalcopyrite (CuFeS) as a result of pre-treating the process water with the CW Reagent (Composition). 2) minerals and molybdenite (MoS 2 ) increased mineral recovery.

[0059] Tests were carried out on a small scale in a Partridge and Smith cell, adjusting the pH to 10 with lime, 40 mg / L MIBC foam, conditioning with flotation reagent for 3 minutes, 136 cm 3 / min nitrogen flow and flotation for 5 minutes. Flotation tests were conducted using process water obtained from a concentrator plant processing minerals with high clay content; the water was used untreated and treated with CW reagent (composition) at 1x, 1.5x and 3x (i.e., unit dose amount) from which clear water was obtained for the experiments.

[0060] Figures 2 and 3 show the results of chalcopyrite and molybdenite recovery versus the amount of CW reagent used to pre-treat the process water. The results show that at a dosage of 1.0x, an 11 percentage point increase in chalcopyrite recovery and a 15 percentage point increase in molybdenite recovery are achieved. A decrease in recovery is observed at higher dosages of CW reagent. The results show a beneficial effect on copper and molybdenum recovery. Example 4: Comparison of the effects of compositions of the present invention on water samples obtained from various sources [Table 7]

[0061] [Table 8]

[0062] Example 5: Comparative Results

[0063] A single dose of the composition (P&G Purifier Of Water) was obtained, which contains 0.5% powdered disinfectant and has Public Health Institute (ISP) registration D-704 / 21.

[0064] A mixture was prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions by adding 4 g of the product to 10 liters of water to be treated.

[0065] Additionally, a dosage of 0.75 g of the composition of the present invention was added to 15 liters of water to be treated. [Table 9]

[0066] The dosages added in both cases were those that made it possible to obtain drinking water in compliance with NCH 409, such that the compositions according to the invention required only one-eighth the amount of product compared to alternative commercial purification compositions.

Claims

1. 55% to 82% coagulant; 2% to 10% disinfectant; 15% to 30% of an alkalizing agent; and 1% to 5% flocculant A composition for treating and purifying water, comprising:

2. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of disinfectant to coagulant is from 1:10 to 1:

15.

3. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of flocculant to alkalizing agent is from 1:5 to 1:

10.

4. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the coagulant is selected from aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminate.

5. 2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the disinfectant is selected from chlorine-based disinfectants.

6. 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the disinfectant is calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite.

7. 2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the alkalizing agent is selected from hydrated lime and sodium carbonate.

8. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the flocculant is selected from anionic polyacrylamides and activated starches.

9. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the composition is prepared into a powder formulation, a granule formulation or a tablet formulation.

10. The composition according to claim 9, characterized in that the composition is a formulation in tablet form.

11. 1. A method for treating and purifying water, comprising: i. adding one or more doses of the composition of any one of claims 1 to 8 to the water and mixing; ii. decanting the flocs and solids present in the water; and iii. Physically separating solid materials from drinking water A method comprising:

12. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the mixing in step i is carried out with the aid of electrical energy or manually (without the aid of electrical energy).

13. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the composition is added in a proportion between 20 mg / L and 700 mg / L, preferably between 25 mg / L and 100 mg / L.

14. A kit for treating and purifying water, comprising: a. one or more doses of a composition for treating and purifying water; b. A means for physically separating solid materials from drinking water; Including, Each of the amounts used is 55% to 82% coagulant; 2% to 10% disinfectant; 15% to 30% of an alkalizing agent; and 1% to 5% flocculant; Including, The ratio of the disinfectant to the flocculating agent is 1:10 to 1:15, and the ratio of the coagulating agent to the alkalizing agent is 1:5 to 1:10.

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