Peroxygen Solution Processing via Enzymatic and Reducing Agent Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peroxygen solutions used in decontamination and bleaching processes pose a challenge as high residual concentrations can inhibit or kill beneficial microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment processes, necessitating a method to reduce peroxygen compounds without increasing total dissolved solids.
Innovation Solution
A multi-step method involving the addition of an enzyme followed by a reducing agent to degrade peroxygen compounds, with the enzyme degrading hydrogen peroxide and the reducing agent degrading peracids, ensuring at least 0.1 parts of peroxygen compounds are degraded by the enzyme for every 1 part degraded by the reducing agent, thereby reducing peroxygen concentrations to safe levels for reuse or disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a reducing agent is used to degrade peracids in peroxygen solutions, then the peroxygen compound concentration is reduced, but the total dissolved solids increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is divided into two distinct stages: first, an enzyme degrades hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen; second, a reducing agent degrades peracids. This segmentation allows the reducing agent to be used only when necessary for peracid removal, minimizing its overall consumption and the resulting TDS increase.
Solution Approach 2:
An enzyme acts as an intermediary substance that selectively degrades hydrogen peroxide without affecting peracids. This intermediary step reduces the hydrogen peroxide concentration before the reducing agent is applied, thereby reducing the amount of reducing agent needed and the associated TDS increase.
2Ease of manufacture
If high concentrations of peroxygen compounds are discharged into biological wastewater treatment processes, then disposal is simplified, but the microorganisms in the treatment process are inhibited or killed
Solution Approach 1:
The method transforms the chemical parameters of the waste solution by converting hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen through enzymatic degradation, and peracids to their corresponding carboxylic acids through reduction. These parameter changes reduce the toxicity and oxidative stress on microorganisms, enabling safe biological treatment.
3Productivity
If only a reducing agent is used to treat peroxygen solutions, then peracids are degraded, but the treatment process is less efficient and requires more chemical additives
Solution Approach 1:
The enzyme performs the hydrogen peroxide degradation automatically through its catalytic function, without requiring additional chemical additives. This self-service capability eliminates the need for stoichiometric amounts of chemical reagents that would otherwise be required to degrade hydrogen peroxide, thereby improving treatment efficiency and reducing overall chemical consumption.
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 method effectively reduces peroxygen compound concentrations, allowing treated solutions to be safely reused or discharged into biological wastewater treatment processes without substantial increases in total dissolved solids, thus preventing harm to microorganisms and maintaining environmental compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
an enzyme is added and then a reducing agent is added. The enzyme and reducing agent degrade the peroxygen compounds in the solution
Implementation Method 2
a reducing agent is added. The enzyme and reducing agent degrade the peroxygen compounds in the solution
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a multi-step method for processing peroxygen solutions for reuse or disposal. The method uses an enzyme and a reducing agent.