Fresh Ferric Hydroxide Flocculant Generation for Water Purification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purification processes produce acids and salts during the generation of hydroxides, leading to adverse health effects and high operational costs due to the need for ion-exchange resin and reverse osmosis systems, which are costly and require frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the fresh generation of ferric hydroxide through oxidation and hydrolysis reactions of ferrous carbonate or ferrous hydroxide precursors, without producing acids or salts, using oxidizing substances like oxygen, air, or hydrogen peroxide, to effectively settle suspended matters and adsorb organic impurities, and an apparatus incorporating a flocculation sedimentation tank and oxidizing substance-feeding device to facilitate this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aluminum salts or iron salts are used for hydrolysis to generate hydroxide colloids, then suspended matters can be settled, but acids are produced which shift the chemical equilibrium left and reduce purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful acid byproduct into a beneficial component by using carbonated water (containing carbonic acid) as the reaction medium. The carbonic acid provides the necessary acidic environment for hydrolysis without creating harmful side effects, as the carbonic acid is naturally present and can be easily removed through degassing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter by using carbonated water with a specific pH range (3-5) to optimize the hydrolysis reaction. This parameter change allows complete hydrolysis of metal salts to form colloids while avoiding the accumulation of harmful acids that would shift the equilibrium left.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ion-exchange resin or reverse osmosis is used to remove salts and acidic compounds, then water quality can be improved, but equipment cost and operational cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful acid component through natural degassing of carbonic acid from carbonated water during the reaction process. This eliminates the need for complex ion-exchange resin or reverse osmosis systems, as the acid is removed through simple thermal or pressure-based degassing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbonated water as a temporary, inexpensive reaction medium that can be easily discarded after use. The carbonic acid in the carbonated water performs the necessary chemical function and then decomposes naturally, leaving no harmful residues that would require expensive treatment systems.
3Reliability
If large amounts of alkaline oxidizing agent are added for disinfection, then water can be disinfected, but salt content in treated water increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of salt accumulation into a benefit by using carbonated water as the reaction medium. The carbonic acid naturally present in carbonated water reacts with the alkaline oxidizing agent, neutralizing it and forming harmless carbon dioxide and water, thereby avoiding salt accumulation while maintaining effective disinfection.
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
This approach reduces the need for costly neutralization and desalination processes, lowers equipment costs, improves water quality, and enhances human health by avoiding acid and salt contamination, while maintaining effective flocculation and sedimentation without generating new pollutants.
Implementation Method 1
A method involving the fresh generation of ferric hydroxide through oxidation and hydrolysis reactions of ferrous carbonate or ferrous hydroxide precursors
Implementation Method 2
the ferric hydroxide co-settles with suspended matters and/or impurities in the water
Implementation Method 3
a method for water purification through fresh generation of a flocculant
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a method for water purification through fresh generation of a flocculant, including the following steps: (1) mixing a water-purifying agent precursor with a liquid, exciting a resulting mixture, and adding an excited mixture to water to be purified; and/or mixing the water-purifying agent precursor directly with the water to be purified, and exciting a resulting mixture, so that the water-purifying agent precursor undergoes a reaction to produce ferric hydroxide and the ferric hydroxide co-settles with suspended matters and/or impurities in the water to be purified, where the exciting includes addition of an oxidizing substance; and (2) subjecting a mixture obtained in step (1) to SLS to obtain purified water. This method can effectively settle suspended matters in water and adsorb some organic impurities without producing acids and salts during fresh generation of hydroxides, ensuring water-drinking health and reducing the adverse effects of recycling of industrial water.