Nanoparticle Flocculant for Sludge Water Sedimentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water cleaning methods using precipitating and flocculating agents are inefficient, requiring extensive time and resources for large-scale water purification, as they struggle to effectively sediment suspended particles due to mutual repulsion and low density.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating synthetic nanoparticles based on metal oxides, such as nanostructured iron oxide, into the flocculant and flocculant matrix to enhance charge equalization and agglomeration of suspended particles, thereby accelerating sedimentation and reducing the need for additional cleaning aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional precipitating and flocculating agents are used, then water purification can be achieved, but the process requires considerable time and large sedimentation basins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional flocculants with nanoscale precipitating agents (metal oxides, hydroxides, or carbonates with particle sizes of 1-100 nm). This composite approach creates a synergistic effect where the nanoscale particles provide rapid initial precipitation while the flocculants form larger aggregates, significantly accelerating the sedimentation process and improving purification performance within reduced timeframes.
2Productivity
If conventional flocculants are used, then suspended particles can be aggregated, but the process requires significant quantities of chemicals and large infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the scale and physical state of precipitating agents from macroscopic to nanoscale dimensions (1-100 nm). This size parameter change dramatically increases the surface area and reactivity of the precipitating agents, enabling highly efficient particle aggregation with minimal chemical quantities. The nanoscale particles can effectively interact with suspended particles at very low concentrations, reducing the overall amount of chemicals required while maintaining or improving purification efficiency.
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
Significantly improves sedimentation speed and cleaning performance, allowing for reduced usage of precipitating and flocculating agents, and enables efficient phase separation of solids and liquids, with nanoparticles being retained in the solid phase for disposal or further processing.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the large surface area of the nanoparticles, flocculants lead to increased charge equalization between the suspended particles, which significantly accelerates the agglomeration of the suspended particles
Implementation Method 2
Due to the large surface area of the nanoparticles, flocculants lead to increased charge equalization between the suspended particles
Implementation Method 3
Flocculants and flocculant agents cause the suspended particles to clump together into larger flocs, giving them a greater density, which ultimately leads to sedimentation
Data Source
AI summary
The precipitating and flocculating agent for cleaning of digested sludge water that occurs in dehydrating clarification sludge, comprises mixture of metal based precipitating agent, and precipitating and flocculation agents. The mixture is dosed in synthetic nano particles on the basis of aluminum oxide and/or iron oxide. A quantity of 1 mu g of nano particle is dosed in one liter of mixture. An independent claim is included for a method for cleaning of digested sludge water.