Hypochlorite-Enzyme CYA Removal for Chlorine Lock in Water

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Solution Overview

Problem

The accumulation of cyanuric acid (CYA) and its metabolite biuret in water systems leads to 'chlorine lock', reducing the effectiveness of chlorine as a disinfectant and requiring costly and wasteful partial draining of water to manage, with existing methods being inefficient and environmentally unfriendly.

Innovation Solution

A method involving enzymatic degradation of CYA to biuret using CYA amidohydrolase, followed by treatment with hypochlorite to eliminate both CYA and biuret, utilizing microbial cell cultures, cell extracts, or soluble protein fractions, and hypochlorite solutions to maintain effective chlorine levels without water displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cyanuryl chloride is continuously added to stabilize chlorine, then chlorine degradation by sunlight is reduced, but cyanuric acid accumulates and causes chlorine lock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechlorine stabilityVSAvoidcyanuric acid concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the water system by introducing a pH shift mechanism. Alkali metal cyanamate is added to raise pH, which triggers the decomposition of cyanuric acid. This parameter change (pH increase) enables the system to eliminate accumulated CYA without losing the stabilizing benefits of controlled cyanuryl chloride addition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts or removes the harmful substance (cyanuric acid) from the water system through chemical decomposition. By adding alkali metal cyanamate and raising pH, the system selectively targets and breaks down CYA molecules, separating them into harmless components (ammonia and carbonate/bicarbonate) that can be easily removed through standard filtration and biological processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If partial draining is performed to remove cyanuric acid, then chlorine lock is resolved, but water and operational time are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection functionVSAvoidwater loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful accumulated cyanuric acid into beneficial harmless substances. Through pH-induced decomposition, CYA is transformed into ammonia and carbonate/bicarbonate ions, which are naturally occurring components of water systems. This allows the system to resolve chlorine lock while retaining all the water, turning a problem substance into benign byproducts that require no special disposal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach (physical draining and removal of water) with a chemical approach (in-situ decomposition). Instead of using mechanical systems to pump out and discard water containing CYA, the invention uses chemical reactions to break down CYA molecules directly in the water, eliminating the need for water removal and reducing both water loss and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If hypochlorous acid is used for water purification, then disinfection effectiveness is high, but rapid decomposition occurs under UV radiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidchlorine half-life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by proactively managing cyanuric acid levels before they can cause chlorine lock. Through continuous or periodic addition of alkali metal cyanamate and pH adjustment, the system prevents CYA accumulation that would otherwise trap chlorine. This preliminary prevention maintains both disinfection effectiveness and chlorine availability without requiring reactive measures like draining.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 reduces CYA and biuret levels, maintaining optimal chlorine disinfection capacity while minimizing water waste and operational downtime, using environmentally friendly and cost-effective enzymatic and chemical treatments.

Implementation Method 1

providing an agent to the liquid that biodegrades CYA to biuret

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic degradation: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

CYA amidohydrolase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

providing an effective amount of a hypochlorite to the biuret-containing liquid, thereby eliminating the biuret

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS12497310B2Hypochlorite-mediated single enzyme methods for cyanuric acid removal from water

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 HARLEV ILANA

AI summary

Described herein are methods for eliminating biuret from an environment such as a body of water, through treatment with an effective amount of a hypochlorite. Additionally described herein are methods of eliminating biuret resulting from enzymatic degradation of CYA in an aqueous solution.