Effluent Polymer Dispersion Using Gas and Static Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for treating effluent containing contaminants such as solids, fats, greases, and oils from agricultural, industrial, sewage, and mining operations are inefficient in separating and recovering valuable components like tallow, often damaging polymers with high shearing forces and failing to achieve uniform dispersion.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a polymer uniformly dispersed in an aqueous solvent, facilitated by a combination of gas and static mixing elements, generates a float comprising solids, water, and a mixture of fats, oils, and greases, allowing gentle dispersion without shearing, using polymers like FLOPAM, ULTIMER, SEDIFLOC, and POLYCHEMIE FL2949, and inorganic coagulants like ULTRAFLOC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high shearing forces are used to disperse polymer in aqueous solvent, then dispersion speed is improved, but polymer integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispersion speedVSAvoidpolymer integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing process is segmented into multiple stages using sequential mixing elements with progressively smaller impeller diameters and adjusted speeds, allowing gentle initial dispersion followed by finer distribution without excessive shearing at any single stage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamically adjustable impeller speeds and configurations, where mixing elements operate at different rotational speeds optimized for their specific function, enabling controlled shear application that disperses polymer effectively while preserving molecular integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If conventional mixing methods are used to mix polymer and aqueous solvent, then mixing efficiency is improved, but uniform dispersion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoiduniform dispersion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing system is divided into multiple sequential mixing elements, each contributing to progressive dispersion. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high mixing efficiency and uniform distribution by distributing the mixing function across multiple controlled stages rather than relying on a single intense mixing event

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each mixing element is designed with specific local characteristics (impeller type, diameter, speed, positioning) optimized for its particular role in the dispersion sequence, creating locally appropriate mixing conditions that collectively achieve uniform global dispersion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Effectively separates effluent into solids, water, and a mixture of fats, oils, and greases, preserving polymer integrity and enabling recovery of tallow with quality meeting American Fats and Oils Association standards, while avoiding high shearing damage.

Implementation Method 1

combining a gas with the polymer and the aqueous solvent, whereby the gas may be effective to disperse the polymer within the aqueous solvent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

flowing the gas-polymer-aqueous solvent mixture through a mixing chamber comprising static mixing elements disposed therein, whereby the static mixing elements may be effective to further disperse the polymer within the aqueous solvent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

combining the dispersion and the effluent to generate a float comprising solids, water, and a mixture of fats, oils, and greases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Implementation Method 4

using polymers like FLOPAM, ULTIMER, SEDIFLOC, and POLYCHEMIE FL2949, and inorganic coagulants like ULTRAFLOC

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlocculation: Flocculation

Implementation Method 5

separating the solids and the water from the mixture of fats, oils, and greases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity gradient: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20260054232A1Effluent Treatment System

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 RKM IP HLDG LLC

AI summary

A dispersion for use with an effluent treatment system, and methods of making and using such a dispersion, whereby the dispersion includes a polymer substantially uniformly dispersed within an aqueous solvent. The dispersion can be generated by (i) combining a gas with the polymer and the aqueous solvent, whereby the gas may be effective to disperse the polymer within the aqueous solvent and provide a gas-polymer-aqueous solvent mixture; and (ii) flowing the gas-polymer-aqueous solvent mixture through a mixing chamber comprising static mixing elements disposed therein, whereby the static mixing elements may be effective to further disperse the polymer within the aqueous solvent.