Use of adsorbents and metering and dispensing units for adsorbents for this use

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an adsorbent in a facility for treating liquids to remove dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances. The present invention also relates to a dosing unit for the adsorbent for this use. In order to achieve an improved method for removing dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances in liquids using an adsorbent, in the present invention a water-soluble dosing unit containing an adsorbent is metered into said liquid to be treated to remove dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances depending on the amount of dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances to be removed, and the adsorbent is released. When metered into the liquid to be treated, the dosing unit disintegrates or disperses and releases the adsorbent, which, due to its extremely large surface area, is able to bind large amounts of dissolved organic / inorganic substances.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the use of an adsorbent in a facility for treating a liquid to remove dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances. The present invention also relates to a metering supply unit (Dosiereinheit) of an adsorbent for this use.

[0002] In particular, the present invention aims to remove dissolved organic substances such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), or trace substances or trace impurities (e.g., pharmaceuticals, industrial and household chemicals), and / or inorganic substances such as phosphates, ammonium compounds or metals, and relates to the use of an adsorbent in a facility for treating a liquid (municipal wastewater or industrial wastewater, drinking water, groundwater, lake / sea and river water, rainwater, mixed water and surface runoff water).

Background Art

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method for removing dissolved substances in water from water that is drinking water, surface water, process water or wastewater, which is used in process preparation in the chemical industry as well as in water and wastewater technology, preferably in drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment, and a device for performing this method. An adsorbent, particularly powdered activated carbon, is used to adsorb dissolved substances in water.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for precipitating phosphates from phosphate-containing water using iron hydroxide.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes a method and an apparatus for removing minute impurities in a purification plant for treating wastewater, particularly having a reactor with an inlet opening for wastewater, a contact zone where granular activated carbon interacts with the wastewater, a supernatant zone, and a subsequent outlet opening for the purified wastewater.

[0006] A method for removing impurities from water, particularly groundwater and drinking water, is known from Patent Document 4, and this method The steps include adding submicron-range powdered activated carbon (sPAC) to the inflow of water to be treated, • The step of mixing sPAC with the water to be treated. The steps include introducing a mixture of sPAC and water into an sorbent reactor for processing, The steps include: leaving the mixture in the sorbing reactor for a sufficient residence time so that sPAC can adsorb impurities in the water; The steps include: transferring the mixture from the sorbent reactor to a high-speed ceramic membrane filter unit operating in cross-flow filtration using a return pump, wherein the treated water is discharged as permeate and the sPAC is returned to the sorbent reactor as retaining liquid; Includes.

[0007] Patent Document 5 relates to an adsorption system, particularly one based on aggregates, comprising a plurality of adsorbent particles, wherein the adsorbent particles are fixed, particularly attached, to a binder carrier and connected to the adsorption system, particularly the adsorbent, via the binder carrier, and the adsorbent particles include a first particulate adsorbent material and a second particulate adsorbent material different from the first particulate adsorbent material. This type of adsorption system is used in the field of filter technology.

[0008] Patent document 6 discloses an apparatus for processing an aqueous liquid by contacting a fluidized bed with solidified carbon in powder form.

[0009] Patent document 7 describes a method for treating water to reduce the content of organic and harmful substances, and this method is • A first step in which the water to be treated is brought into contact with a granular adsorbent, and the contact time between the water and the granular adsorbent is 5 to 20 minutes. Next, a second step is to purify the mixture of water and adsorbent material from the first step, thereby obtaining purified water on one side and used granular adsorbent material on the other. This includes the following: In this case, the adsorbent material consists of aggregates of activated carbon particles, the aggregates having an average size of 20 μm to 1000 μm and an iodine value of more than 1000 mg / g.

[0010] Patent Document 8 discloses a method for treating water for the purpose of reducing the content of organic matter and harmful substances, the method comprising the steps of bringing the water to be treated into contact with an adsorption granular material in a contact container equipped with a stirrer, and subsequently purifying the water coming out of the container, thereby obtaining purified water and slurry, the adsorption granular material consisting of aggregates of activated carbon particles, the aggregates having an average size of 200 μm to 600 μm and 800 to 1000 m 2 It has a specific surface area of ​​ / g.

[0011] Adsorption structures based on aggregates, each containing a plurality of granular, preferably spherical, adsorbent particles, the manufacture of these aggregates, and their use are described in Patent Document 9. In this case, the adsorbent particles of each aggregate are interconnected, preferably via a thermoplastic organic polymer, particularly a binder, or the adsorbent particles of each aggregate are bonded and / or adhered to a thermoplastic organic polymer, particularly a binder. The adsorption structures are used to adsorb toxic substances, harmful substances, and odors, particularly from gases or airflows, or from liquids, particularly water.

[0012] Patent document 10 describes a method for producing a filler-containing polymer-bound support mass, a support mass obtained according to this method, and its use. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102013006985 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 0530396 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 3957608 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2020 / 118513 [Patent Document 5] European Patent Application Publication No. 2536497

Patent Document 6

Patent Document 7

Patent Document 8

Patent Document 9

Patent Document 10

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for removing dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances in a liquid using an adsorbent.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a water-soluble metering supply unit containing an adsorbent being metered into the liquid to be treated in order to remove the dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances according to the amount of the dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances to be removed, the adsorbent being released, and the adsorbent consisting of particles of a powdered adsorbent having a particle size d 50 of 0.1 to 1000 μm, preferably 0.5 to 500 μm, particularly preferably 1 to 100 μm.

[0016] In the form of a metering supply unit, the adsorbent is not associated with any risk of explosion. Therefore, the adsorbent can be stored and handled without problems. When metered into the liquid to be treated, the metering supply unit disintegrates or disperses and releases the adsorbent, and the adsorbent can bind a large amount of dissolved organic / inorganic substances because of its extremely large surface area.

[0017] Although not exclusive, the preferred fields of use of the adsorbent are wastewater treatment, especially in chemical / biological systems (membrane bioreactor systems, SBR systems, single-stage or two-stage activated sludge processes, processes using aerobic and / or anaerobic granules, etc.), and / or subsequent chemical / biological systems (such as those known as the fourth purification stage).

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite, polymer adsorbent, iron oxide, iron hydroxide, silica gel, or a mixture thereof.

[0019] In principle, any adsorbent capable of adsorbing dissolved, preferably organic / inorganic substances is suitable. These may be, for example, anthropogenic organic micropollutants (active pharmaceutical ingredients, X-ray contrast agents, substances from body care and cleaning products, biocides, flame retardants, perfluorinated chemicals, etc.), and / or organic carbon compounds, and / or inorganic substances such as phosphates, ammonium compounds or metals. The adsorbent can be composed of activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite, polymer adsorbent, iron oxide, iron hydroxide (such as β-FeOOH (akaganeite), etc.) or silica gel, and mixtures thereof. The raw material of the adsorbent exists in powder and / or suspension form (for example, in the case of activated carbon: powdered activated carbon (PAC) and / or ultrafine powdered activated carbon (sPAC)), and consists of substances compatible with dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances or liquid matrices.

[0020] The metering supply unit can be in the form of pellets produced by pressing / freeze-drying / 3D printing / casting / extruding the powder / suspension adsorbent. This type of pellet can be prepared from the powder adsorbent alone, for example, by applying pressure / freeze-drying and / or by adding binders and / or disintegrants, which must be selected such that they are released when the adsorbent comes into contact with the liquid.

[0021] The metering and dispensing unit may also exist in the form of a capsule, in which case a rigid or flexible water-soluble sheath encloses the powder adsorbent.

[0022] Similarly, the metering and dispensing unit can exist in the form of a pod, in which a rigid or flexible water-soluble sheath encloses the suspended adsorbent.

[0023] In this regard, the adsorbent can also exist in a foamed form.

[0024] The form, size, and composition of the metering and feeding unit and its possible sheaths are adapted so that the reaction between the adsorbent in the liquid matrix and the substance to be removed proceeds optimally according to each process. The metering and feeding unit can be introduced within the process chain, for example, at a location with high turbulence or high energy input to facilitate the release and uniform distribution of the adsorbent.

[0025] However, the timing of release can be intentionally controlled by the structure of the metering and feeding unit, for example, by the selection of its sheath, to ensure continuous feeding of the adsorbent. It is simply necessary to ensure that the metering and feeding unit does not disintegrate upon contact with the liquid or organic / inorganic material. Process-related units (such as agitators or disintegrators) can also be intentionally implemented or used to assist in the release of the adsorbent. Furthermore, the liquid to be treated can be pre-released externally and then intentionally introduced into the process flow using a separate unit.

[0026] An advanced form of the present invention lies in a metering and dispensing unit that includes additives.

[0027] In this regard, according to the present invention, the additive is selected from the group consisting of metal salts, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, polymers, and binders or disintegrants.

[0028] The additive is particularly useful for the aggregation of adsorbents, for assisting the release of adsorbents after the metering and dispensing unit has come into contact with the liquid, and for separating adsorbents in separation processes such as the sedimentation and / or suspension and / or filtration of dissolved substances (phosphates, metals, etc.), and / or for assisting the aforementioned deposition processes.

[0029] A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a metal salt containing divalent or trivalent iron and aluminum salts.

[0030] It is advantageous to select the polymer from cationic, anionic, and nonionic polymers.

[0031] The binder (for the aggregation of the adsorbent) or disintegrant (for assisting the release of the adsorbent) is preferably selected from biodegradable materials (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, (microcrystalline) cellulose, carrageenan, starch, starch esters, glucose, lactose, saccharose, maltodextrin, polyacrylic acid, colloids, albumin, etc.) or non-biodegradable materials (salts, etc.). The binder or disintegrant is preferably selected from readily biodegradable compounds. The readily biodegradable compounds can then serve as nutrients for downstream processes for separation, intended to support biological processes.

[0032] In the context of the present invention, the additive can exist in both crystalline and powder forms.

[0033] In the case of additives in solid form, the additive may exist as an additive coating on the adsorbent, or as a sheath of the adsorbent that dissolves upon contact with the liquid, or it may be substantially homogeneously distributed within the adsorbent.

[0034] Alternatively, the additive may also exist in liquid and / or suspension form.

[0035] The scope of the present invention also covers a metering and dispensing unit for use in a method according to the present invention, the metering and dispensing unit being water-soluble and comprising at least one adsorbent selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite, polymer adsorbents, silica gel, or mixtures thereof, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of metal salts, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, polymers, and binders or disintegrants, the adsorbent forming a hollow metering and dispensing unit that encloses the additive.

[0036] Similarly, the scope of the invention also covers a metering and dispensing unit for use in a method, the metering and dispensing unit being water-soluble and comprising at least one adsorbent selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite, polymer adsorbents, silica gel, or mixtures thereof, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of metal salts, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, polymers, and binders or disintegrants, the additive forming a hollow metering and dispensing unit that encloses the adsorbent.

[0037] In the case of liquid additives, a hollow metering and dispensing unit can be formed from an adsorbent, which encloses the liquid additive. When the adsorbent is released, the liquid additive contained within it is also released.

[0038] Conversely, to form a metering and dispensing unit, the adsorbent can be present in liquid or foam form and sealed within a sheath of solid additives.

[0039] The present invention also relates to a metering and dispensing unit for use according to the present invention, the metering and dispensing unit being water-soluble and comprising an adsorbent selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, bentonite, zeolite, polymer adsorbents, silica gel, or mixtures thereof, and an additive selected from the group consisting of metal salts, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, polymers, and binders or disintegrants.

[0040] It is within the scope of the present invention that the additive exists in powder form, preferably in the form of an additive coating on an adsorbent, or in the form of an adsorbent sheath that dissolves upon contact with a liquid, or is substantially homogeneously distributed within the adsorbent.

[0041] Alternatively, it is advantageous that the additive exists in liquid form, preferably with a hollow adsorbent encapsulating the liquid additive.

[0042] An example of an embodiment of the metering and dispensing unit is described in more detail below. 1. Measuring and dispensing unit in pill form • Adsorbent: PAC containing 80% grinding fine powder <40μm; 500mg activated carbon / pill • Additives: Polyvinylpyrrolidone, alginate • Preparation of pills by pressurizing a powder adsorbent mixed with additives under high pressure. 2. Capsule-type weighing and dispensing unit: Adsorbent: ○ PAC containing 80% grinding fine particles <40 μm; 100 mg / capsule Bentonite containing 80% grinding fine particles <40 μm; 100 mg / capsule • Additives: Gelatin Preparation: The additive is in the form of a capsule containing a powdered adsorbent. 3. Measuring and dispensing unit consisting of an adsorbent coated with a water-soluble additive: Adsorbent: sPAC containing 80% grinding fine powder <5μm; 200mg / capsule Bentonite containing 80% grinding fine particles <40 μm; 50 mg / capsule • Additives: Polyvinyl alcohol; iron(II) chloride, starch Preparation: The powdered adsorbent is pressurized under high pressure, and a coating consisting of additives is applied to the pressurized adsorbent.

[0043] Figures 1 to 5 show embodiments of the weighing and dispensing unit according to the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0044] [Figure 1] This shows a weighing and dispensing unit in the form of pills. [Figure 2] This shows a metering and dispensing unit in capsule form. [Figure 3] This shows a metering and dispensing unit for adsorbent / additive compounds in the form of a water-soluble sheath. [Figure 4] This shows a metering and dispensing unit in the form of an additive casing filled with liquid adsorbent. [Figure 5] This shows foaming adsorbent / additive compounds. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0045] As can be seen from Figure 1, the metering and dispensing unit can exist in the form of a pill prepared by compressing the adsorbent 1 with optionally a binder and optionally further additives.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a metering and dispensing unit in the form of a capsule. This can be either a rigid or flexible capsule. In this case, the powder adsorbent 1 is contained within a capsule consisting of one or more water-soluble additives 2. Upon contact with water, the capsule dissolves, releasing the adsorbent 1 and one or more additives 2.

[0047] Figure 3 shows a metering and dispensing unit in the form of a compound consisting of an adsorbent 1 and one or more solid additives 2, the compound surrounded by a water-soluble sheath 3, as known from dishwasher tubs. The sheath 3 may also consist of further additives.

[0048] Figure 4 shows a metering and dispensing unit in the form of a liquid adsorbent 1 surrounded by a solid casing consisting of one or more additives 2. Conversely, one or more liquid additives can also be surrounded by a solid casing consisting of an adsorbent.

[0049] Figure 5 shows that foaming adsorbent / additive compounds may also exist.

Claims

1. The use of an adsorbent in a facility for treating a liquid to remove dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances, wherein the water-soluble metering and dispensing unit contains an adsorbent selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, polymer adsorbents, iron oxide, iron hydroxide, silica gel, or mixtures thereof, which is capable of adsorbing dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances, and an additive selected from the group consisting of divalent or trivalent iron and aluminum salts, iron oxide, iron hydroxide, polymers, and binders or disintegrants, which is metered and dispensed into the liquid to be treated in accordance with the amount of dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances to be removed, and when metered and dispensed into the liquid to be treated, the metering and dispensing unit disintegrates or disperses the adsorbent and releases it, the adsorbent having a particle size d ５０ The method of use is characterized by consisting of powder adsorbent particles ranging from 0.1 to 500 μm in size.

2. The use according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adsorbent consists of powder adsorbent particles having a particle size d 50 of 1 to 100 μm.

3. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer is selected from cationic, anionic, and nonionic polymers.

4. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the additive exists in a solid form.

5. The use according to claim 4, characterized in that the additive exists in the form of an additive coating on the adsorbent, or in the form of a sheath of the adsorbent that dissolves upon contact with a liquid, or is substantially homogeneously distributed within the adsorbent.

6. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the additive exists in liquid form.

7. The use according to claim 6, characterized in that a hollow adsorbent containing the liquid additive is present.

8. The metering and dispensing unit comprises at least one adsorbent (1) selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, polymer adsorbents, silica gel, or mixtures thereof, which is water-soluble and capable of adsorbing dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances, and at least one additive (2) selected from the group consisting of divalent or trivalent iron and aluminum salts, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, polymers, and binders or disintegrants, wherein the adsorbent (1) forms a hollow sheath that encloses the additive (2), a metering and dispensing unit for use in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The metering and dispensing unit comprises at least one adsorbent (1) selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, polymer adsorbents, silica gel, or mixtures thereof, which is water-soluble and capable of adsorbing dissolved organic and / or inorganic substances, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of divalent or trivalent iron and aluminum salts, iron oxides, iron hydroxides, polymers, and binders or disintegrants, wherein the additive (2) forms a hollow sheath that encloses the adsorbent (1), a metering and dispensing unit for use in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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