Ozone-Plasma Water Treatment for PFAS Concentrate Breakdown

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water treatment systems are inefficient in treating recalcitrant organic compounds like PFAS, require long retention times, and lack effective methods to concentrate and process adsorbed substances, leading to decreased filtration capacity and energy inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A water treatment apparatus that includes a storage tank, ozone water mixing tank, and pulse plasma discharge tank, utilizing activated carbon or ion exchange resin to concentrate and decompose recalcitrant organic compounds through ozone treatment and pulse plasma discharge, breaking interatomic bonds with higher energy than hydroxyl radicals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If raw water is supplied to a water treatment apparatus after pretreatment, then water quality is improved, but the retention time becomes long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater qualityVSAvoidretention time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and concentrates the substance to be treated from the water to be filtered using filtration (activated carbon or ion exchange resin) before treatment. By separating and concentrating the target substance in advance, the subsequent plasma discharge treatment becomes more efficient, reducing the retention time while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary concentration of the substance to be treated through filtration before the main treatment step. This preliminary action of concentrating the target substance ensures that the plasma discharge operates on a more concentrated feed, thereby reducing the overall retention time required for effective treatment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If substances to be treated are treated at low concentrations using high-energy methods, then water quality is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater qualityVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and concentrates the substance to be treated from the water to be filtered using filtration (activated carbon or ion exchange resin) before treatment. By separating and concentrating the target substance in advance, the subsequent plasma discharge treatment becomes more efficient, reducing the retention time while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the concentration parameter of the substance to be treated by concentrating it through filtration before plasma discharge treatment. This parameter change from low concentration to concentrated form makes the high-energy plasma discharge method energy-efficient, as the energy is focused on treating a smaller volume of concentrated contaminant rather than large volumes of dilute water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If adsorption filter tank is used for filtration, then water quality is improved, but filtration capacity decreases over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater qualityVSAvoidfiltration capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies this principle to the adsorbent (activated carbon or ion exchange resin) by periodically regenerating it after it has adsorbed substances to be treated. The regeneration process restores the adsorption capacity of the filter media, allowing it to be reused and maintaining continuous filtration capacity without permanent loss of performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

Through the regeneration process, the invention maintains the continuous useful action of the adsorbent. The filter media can be regenerated and reused multiple times, ensuring continuous filtration capacity over extended periods rather than requiring replacement after single-use saturation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Productivity

If pulse plasma is supplied to concentrated effluent mixed with ozone water, then decomposition efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecomposition efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the water treatment process into distinct functional stages: filtration/concentration stage, ozone water mixing stage, and pulse plasma discharge stage. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system manageability and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses ozone water as an intermediary substance that bridges the filtration stage and the plasma discharge stage. The ozone water mixes with the concentrated effluent to enhance the decomposability of the substance to be treated before plasma discharge, acting as a mediator that improves decomposition efficiency while keeping the system relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 apparatus achieves efficient decomposition of recalcitrant organic matter in a shorter time frame, regenerates adsorbents, and reduces energy consumption by concentrating and treating substances before pulse plasma discharge, making the effluent reusable.

Implementation Method 1

supplying pulse plasma to a mixed liquid of the concentrated effluent of the substance to be treated and the ozone water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma discharge: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

breaking interatomic bonds with higher energy than hydroxyl radicals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

mixing, with ozone water, concentrated effluent of the substance to be treated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOzone dissolution: Ozone

Implementation Method 4

oxidation potential of a hydroxyl radical

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 5

utilizing activated carbon or ion exchange resin to concentrate and decompose recalcitrant organic compounds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4722167A1Water treatment apparatus and water treatment method
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 MEIDENSHA CORP
  • EP4722167A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4722167A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4722167A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A water treatment apparatus 1 is provided with a storage tank 2 for water to be filtered, an ozone water mixing tank 6, and a pulse plasma discharge tank 7. The storage tank 2 for water to be filtered stores water to be filtered that contains a substance to be treated that is subjected to filtration. The ozone water mixing tank 6 is for mixing, with ozone water, concentrated effluent of substance to be treated in which the substance to be treated separated from the water to be filtered by the filtration is concentrated. The pulse plasma discharge tank 7 is for supplying pulse plasma to the mixed liquid of the concentrated effluent of substance to be treated and the ozone water.