Activated Carbon Filter with Basic Salt for Water Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drinking water treatment systems fail to effectively enrich water with magnesium, maintain a basic pH, and filter out heavy metals and toxins, while also ensuring the water quality meets regulatory standards.

Innovation Solution

An activated carbon filter in block form is created by mixing finely ground activated charcoal with a basic reacting salt, which is then sintered with a binder to form a porous filter body that absorbs alkaline salts, increasing magnesium concentration, filtering, and adsorptively cleaning the water, while adjusting the pH to a basic level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a weakly acidic cation exchanger is used to enrich drinking water with magnesium, then the magnesium concentration increases, but the pH value drops below 6.5 and heavy metals are released

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnesium concentrationVSAvoidpH value and heavy metal release
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material consisting of activated carbon particles mixed with magnesium-containing basic salt particles. This composite structure allows the filter to simultaneously perform adsorption of contaminants and release of magnesium ions through ion exchange, while the basic salt neutralizes acidity and prevents heavy metal release from brass fittings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The filter body is constructed as a porous structure made by mixing activated carbon and basic salt particles with a binder, then sintering at temperatures between 50-200°C. This porous structure allows water to permeate while providing large surface area for adsorption and ion exchange reactions, enabling simultaneous filtration and mineral enrichment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Productivity

If activated carbon is sintered with organic binder to form block-shaped filter, then filtration efficiency improves, but the filter may release harmful substances and requires high processing temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidharmful substance release and processing temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sintering temperature parameter to a lower range of 50-200°C, which is sufficient to activate the binder and form a stable filter structure without decomposing the organic binder or releasing harmful substances. This temperature optimization maintains filtration efficiency while eliminating the harm of high-temperature processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The filter is designed as a disposable unit where the organic binder serves as a temporary binding agent during installation and use. After the filter's service life, the entire filter including the organic binder is discarded, eliminating the need for complex regeneration processes and avoiding contamination from repeated thermal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If basic salt is added to increase pH and magnesium content, then water quality improves, but the filter structure may become unstable and salt dissolution rate must be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH value and water qualityVSAvoidfilter structure stability and salt dissolution rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The filter uses a composite material where basic salt particles (such as magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, or magnesium oxide) are mixed with activated carbon and bound together. The binder holds the basic salt particles in place, preventing structural collapse, while controlling the dissolution rate of salt as water passes through the porous structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous structure created by mixing and sintering particles at 50-200°C provides controlled pathways for water flow. The porosity and surface area of this structure regulate the contact between water and basic salt, thereby controlling the dissolution rate and ensuring stable pH increase without rapid salt depletion or structural instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution significantly improves drinking water quality by increasing magnesium levels, filtering out heavy metals and toxins, and maintaining a stable pH within regulatory limits, ensuring safe and healthy drinking water.

Implementation Method 1

the activated carbon filter thus forms a porous, water-permeable filter solid that intrinsically absorbs the alkaline salt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

the water is filtered and purified through adsorptive action within the activated carbon filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

The pH value of the drinking water can also be shifted towards the alkaline side using the alkaline-reacting salt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectpH adjustment through salt dissolution:

Implementation Method 4

These substances can then be sintered in an oven using a binder to form a block-shaped activated carbon filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP3868718A1Device for treating drinking water
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 PERMA TRADE WASSERTECHN GMBH
  • EP3868718A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3868718A1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP3868718A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for treating drinking water with a treatment chamber (11) in which a material is arranged that absorbs a basic salt (22), wherein the treatment chamber (11) is associated with a water inlet (16) and a water outlet (15). To improve the treatment result, it is provided according to the invention that at least partially in the treatment chamber (11) an activated carbon filter in block form is held, wherein the solid (20) forming the activated carbon filter comprises at least activated carbon (21) and the basic salt (22).