Apparatus and process to treat waste water for pollution control and industrial reuse

Claim 2

The process described in claim 2, including the additional steps of initially determining the color of the waste water after said initial resistivity measurement and adjustment, and adjusting said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted waste water for controlling said first precipitation of materials from the waste water for adjusting the color of the water to a predetermined value.

Claim 3

The process described in claim 1, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said first precipitate material obtained from the waste water, removing the excess of said first precipitate material exceeding a predetermined measured quantity, and drying said removed excess first precipitate material and said removed foamed colloidal material for reclaiming valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 4

The process described in claim 1, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said second and third precipitate materials obtained from the waste water, removing the excess of said second and third precipitate materials exceeding predetermined measured quantities of each of said materials, and storing said excess of said second and third precipitate materials for use as said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted water.

Claim 5

The process described in claim 5, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said second and third precipitate materials stored for use as said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted water, removing the excess of said stored second and third precipitate materials exceeding a predetermined measured quantity, and drying said removed excess second and third precipitate material for reclaiming valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 6

The process described in claim 3, including the additional steps of performing a second measurement of resistivity of the water, performing a second determination of color of the water, measuring the volume and flow rate of waste water being treated, and generating said predetermined quantity of said preselected oxidant in response to said respective volume, flow rate and resistivity measurements and said color determination.

Claim 7

The process described in claim 7, wherein the step of generating said selected oxidant further generates preselected acid and caustic solutions for use in adjusting the pH of the waste water.

Claim 8

The process described in claim 1, including the additional step of allowing the water and said dissolved oxidant to stand quiesently for a predetermined time period for permitting said oxidant additional time in which to act on bacteria, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials and other pollutants prior to discharge.

Claim 9

The process described in claim 1, including the additional steps of providing a bubble curtain of compressed air through which the initially pH adjusted water mixed with said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate must pass for floating coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants to the surface of the water as a floating foam, removing said foam of coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants from the waste water surface prior to said waste water Being subjected to said electrical current, and drying said removed foamed colloidal materials for reclaiming valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 10

A waste water treatment process for removing colloidal, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials, inorganic materials and other pollutants from the water, comprising the steps of initially measuring the pH of the waste water, initially adjusting the pH of the waste water to a predetermined value in response to said initial measurement, initially mixing a predetermined quantity of a preselected floc precipitate with said pH adjusted waste water for causing a first precipitation of materials from the waste water, initially measuring the resistivity of the waste water, adjusting the resistivity of the waste water to a predetermined value in response to said initial resistivity measurement, initially determining the color of the waste water, adjusting said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted waste water for controlling said first floc precipitation of materials from the waste water for adjusting the color of the water to a predetermined value, subjecting the waste water to a predetermined density of electrical current flow between at least a pair of electrodes of preselected materials for electrostatically charging the colloidal materials in the waste water, said electrostatically charged colloidal materials coalescing and floating to the surface of the waste water by the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen bubbles evolved at said electrodes for forming a floating foam on the surface of the water, said electrical current flow between said electrodes releasing ions of the preselected electrode materials for causing a second floc precipitation of materials from the waste water and acting to destroy oxygen demanding organic materials, bacteria and viruses, said oxygen bubbles evolved from at least one electrode acting to oxidize organic odor and color causing materials in the water, removing the floating foamed colloidal material from the surface of the water, transferring the waste water and a portion of said second floc precipitate of materials to an area removed from the action of said electrical current for circulating the water through said portion of said second floc precipitate for causing a third floc precipitation of materials from the water, transferring said circulated water and a portion of said second and third floc precipitates through which the water has circulated to an area of substantial quiescence where said portion of said second and third floc precipitates causes a fourth floc precipitation of materials from the water, withdrawing the waste water substantially free of floc precipitate from said quiescent area, performing a second measurement of pH and resistivity and a second determination of color of the water, adjusting the pH of the water in response to said second pH measurement, dissolving a preselected oxidant in predetermined quantities with the water for further adjusting the resistivity and color of the water in response to said second measurement of resistivity and said second determination of color, said oxidant further killing bacteria and reducing the oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials remaining in the water.

Claim 11

The process described in claim 11, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said first floc precipitate material obtained from the waste water, removing the excess of said first floc precipitate material exceeding a predetermined measured quantity, and drying said removed excess first floc precipitate material and said removed foamed colloidal material for reclaiming valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 12

The process described in claim 11, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said second floc material Precipitate obtained from the water, measuring the excess of said second floc precipitate exceeding predetermined measured quantities of said material, and storing said excess of said second floc precipitate materials for use as said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted water.

Claim 13

The process described in claim 11, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said fourth floc precipitate of materials obtained from the water, removing the excess of said fourth floc precipitate materials exceeding a predetermined measured quantity of said fourth precipitate material, and storing said excess of said fourth floc precipitate with said second floc precipitate material for use as said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted water.

Claim 14

The process described in claim 14, including the additional steps of measuring the quantity of said second and fourth floc precipitate materials stored for use as said preselected floc precipitate initially mixed with said pH adjusted water, removing the excess of said stored second and fourth floc precipitate materials exceeding a predetermined measured quantity, and drying said removed excess second and fourth floc precipitate materials for reclaiming valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 15

The process as described in claim 11, including the additional steps of measuring the volume and flow rate of the waste water under treatment, and generating said predetermined quantity of said preselected oxidant in response to said respective volume, flow rate and second resistivity measurements and said second color determination.

Claim 16

The process as described in claim 16, wherein the step of generating said selected oxidant further generates preselected acid and caustic solutions for use in adjusting the pH of the waste water.

Claim 17

The process described in claim 11, including the additional step of allowing the water and said dissolved oxidant to stand quiescently for a predetermined time period for permitting said oxidant additional time in which to act on bacteria, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials and other pollutants prior to discharge.

Claim 18

The process described in claim 11, including the additional steps of providing a bubble curtain of compressed air through which the initially pH adjusted water mixed with said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate must pass for floating coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants to the surface of the water as a floating foam, removing said foam of coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants from the waste water surface prior to said waste water being subjected to said electrical current, and drying said removed foamed colloidal material for reclaiming valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 19

Apparatus for removing colloidal, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials, inorganic materials and other pollutants from waste water, comprising a preliminary treatment tank for initially admitting the waste water, first pH measurement means for measuring the pH of the waste water admitted into said tank, first pH adjustment means cooperating with said preliminary treatment tank for initially adjusting the pH of the waste water therein to a predetermined value in response to said first pH measurement, means cooperating with said preliminary treatment tank for initially mixing a predetermined quantity of a preselected floc precipitate with said pH adjusted waste water in said preliminary treatment tank for causing a first precipitation of materials from the waste water, means for discharging the waste water substantially free of said precipitate materials from said preliminary treatment tank, an electrode tank assembly for receiving said waste water from said preliminary treatment tank and subjecting the water to a predetermined density of Electrical current flow between at least a pair of electrodes of preselected materials for electrostatically charging the colloidal materials in the waste water, said electrostatically charged colloidal materials coalescing and floating to the surface of the waste water and the top surface of said electrodes by the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen bubbles evolved at said electrodes for forming a floating foam on the surface of the water and the top surface of said electrodes, said electrical current flow between said electrodes releasing ions of the preselected electrode materials for causing a second precipitation of materials from the waste water, said ions of the preselected electrode materials further acting to destroy oxygen demanding organic materials, bacteria and viruses, said oxygen bubbles evolved from at least one electrode further acting to oxidize organic odor and color causing materials in the water, wiping means for wiping the top surface of said electrodes for removing the floating foamed colloidal material from the surface of the water and the top surface of said electrodes, means for discharging the waste water and a portion of said second precipitate of materials from said electrode tank, a floc settling tank for receiving the waste water and said portion of said second precipitate of materials and allowing the water to quiescently accumulate with said portion of said second precipitate for causing a third precipitation of materials from the waste water, means for discharging the water substantially free of precipitate materials from said floc settling tank, a pH and oxidant adjustment tank for receiving the water substantially free of precipitate materials from said floc settling tank, second pH measurement means for measuring the pH of the water discharged from said floc settling tank, second pH adjustment means cooperating with said pH and oxidant adjustment tank for adjusting the pH of the water therein to a predetermined value in response to said second pH measurement, a source of a preselected oxidizing material, means for transferring a predetermined quantity of said oxidizing material to said pH and oxidant adjustment tank and dissolving said predetermined quantity of said preselected oxidant with the water for killing bacteria and reducing the oxygen demanding color, and odor causing organic material remaining in the water.

Claim 20

The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein said first pH adjustment means comprises a source of a preselected acid solution interconnected to said preliminary treatment tank, a source of a preselected caustic solution interconnected to said preliminary treatment tank, and a pair of pumps, one of which is disposed in the interconnection between said acid solution source and the other of which is disposed in the interconnection between said caustic solution source and said preliminary treatment tank, each of said pumps being operable by control circuit means responsive to said first pH measurement.

Claim 21

The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein said wiping means comprises a drive shaft having spaced chain sprockets and a drive sprocket disposed thereon, means cooperating with said drive sprocket to rotate said drive shaft, an idler shaft horizontally spaced from said drive shaft and having spaced chain sprockets disposed thereon in alignment with said chain sprockets of said drive shaft, a pair of chains, one of which is disposed between corresponding pairs of aligned chain sprockets on said drive and idler shafts for forming a pair of spaced parallel driven chains, a plurality of paddle blades, each having a flexible non-conducting blade edge, each of said blades being fixed horizontally between said parallel driven chains for continuous horizontal movement with said driven chains, and a frame assembly attached to said electrode tank for supporting said drive and idler shafts spaced aBove the top surface of said electrodes for allowing the non-conducting blade edges of said paddle blades to sweep longitudinally across the top surface of said electrodes and remove said floating foamed colloidal material.

Claim 22

The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein said means for discharging the waste water and a portion of said second precipitate materials from said electrode tank comprises a plurality of vertically spaced discharge pipes communicating with the interior of said electrode tank each having a valve means for controlling the flow of water and a portion of said second precipitate materials through each pipe from said electrode tank, and a discharge manifold receiving the waste water and controlled quantity of said second precipitate material for transfer to said floc settling tank.

Claim 23

The apparatus as described in claim 20, including an injection manifold receiving said waste water from said means for discharging said water substantially free of said precipitate materials from said preliminary treatment tank, and a plurality of vertically spaced injection pipes interconnecting said manifold and said electrode tank assembly for uniform distribution of the water over the entire height of the electrodes in said electrode tank assembly.

Claim 24

The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein said means for discharging the water substantially free of precipitate materials from said floc settling tank comprises a weir disposed at one end of said tank into which said quiescently accumulating water spills when the water has reached a preselected depth, and means for discharging the water from said weir.

Claim 25

The apparatus as described in claim 21, wherein said second pH adjustment means includes said sources of preselected acid and caustic solutions as utilized in said first pH adjustment means, interconnecting piping connecting each of said sources of acid and caustic solution to said pH and oxidant adjustment tank, and a pair of pumps, one of which is disposed in the interconnection between said acid source and the other of which is disposed in the interconnection between said caustic solution source and said pH and oxidant adjustment tank, said pumps operable by control circuit means responsive to said second pH measurement.

Claim 26

The apparatus described in claim 20, including first resistivity measurement means for measuring the resistivity of the waste water after the initial pH adjustment and first inorganic precipitate in said tank, and means for recycling a portion of the water substantially free of floc precipitate discharged from said floc settling tank into a mixing tank compartment of said preliminary treatment tank for adjusting the resistivity of the waste water to a predetermined value in response to said first resistivity measurement.

Claim 27

The apparatus described in claim 27, including first color measurement means for determining the color of the waste water discharged from said preliminary treatment tank, and means responsive to said color measurement means for adjusting said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate transferred from said floc precipitate source for initial mixing with said pH adjusted waste water in said preliminary treatment tank for controlling said first precipitation of materials from the waste water and adjusting the color of the water to a predetermined value.

Claim 28

The apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein said means responsive to said color measurement means for adjusting said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate utilized for initial mixing with the pH adjusted waste water comprises a source of said preselected floc precipitate interconnected with said preliminary treatment tank, and a pump disposed in said interconnection between said source of preselected floc precipitate and said preliminary treatment tank and operable by control circuit means responsive to saId first color measurement means.

Claim 29

The apparatus as described in claim 20, including first precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said first material precipitated in said preliminary treatment tank, means for removing the excess of said first precipitate material exceeding a predetermined quantity measured by said first precipitate measuring means, and means for receiving and drying said removed excess of said first precipitate material and said removed foamed colloidal material for allowing reclamation of valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 30

The apparatus as described in claim 20, including second precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said second material precipitated in said electrode tank, third precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said third material precipitated in said floc settling tank, means for removing the excess of said second and third precipitate materials from said electrode floc settling tanks when said second and third precipitates exceed a predetermined measured quantity as measured by said second and third precipitate measuring means, and transferring said excess of said second and third precipitate materials to said floc precipitate source for storage and reuse.

Claim 31

The apparatus as described in claim 31, including fourth precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said precipitate materials stored in said floc precipitate source, means for removing the excess of said stored precipitate materials exceeding a predetermined quantity measured by said fourth precipitate measuring means, and means for receiving and drying said removed excess of said precipitate material for reclamation of valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 32

The apparatus as described in claim 20, including means for measuring the volume and flow rate of the waste water, second resistivity measurement means for measuring the resistivity of the water discharged from said floc settling tank, second color determination means for determining the color of the water discharged from said floc settling tank, oxidant generating means for generating a predetermined quantity of said preselected oxidizing material in response to said volume, flow rate and said second resistivity measurement and said second color determination.

Claim 33

The apparatus as described in claim 33, wherein said oxidant generating means also generates a continuous supply of said preselected acid and caustic solutions, and further includes means for transferring said generated acid and caustic solutions to said sources for storage.

Claim 34

The apparatus as described in claim 20, further including a polishing pond for receiving the water discharged from said pH and oxidant adjustment tank for allowing the water and said dissolved oxidant to stand quiescently for a predetermined time period for permitting said oxidant additional time in which to act on bacteria, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials and other pollutants prior to discharge.

Claim 35

The apparatus as described in claim 20, further including a source of compressed air, porous means disposed in the bottom of said preliminary treatment tank for receiving air from said compressed air tank and producing a vertical bubble curtain within said preliminary treatment tank through which the initially pH adjusted water mixed with said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate must pass for floating coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants to the surface of the water as a floating foam, and sweeping means for sweeping the top surface of the waste water in said preliminary treatment tank for removing said foam of coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants from the waste water prior to the discharge of the waste water into said electrode tank.

Claim 36

The apparatus as described in claim 36, wherein said porous means comprises an elongated block Of porous material extending across the bottom of said preliminary treatment tank.

Claim 37

The apparatus as described in claim 36, wherein said sweeping means includes a drive shaft having spaced chain sprockets and a drive sprocket disposed thereon, means cooperating with said drive sprocket to rotate said drive shaft, an idler shaft horizontally spaced from said drive shaft and having spaced chain sprockets disposed thereon in alignment with said chain sprockets of said drive shaft, a pair of chains, one of which is disposed between corresponding pairs of aligned chain sprockets on said drive and idler shafts for forming a pair of spaced parallel driven chains, a plurality of paddle blades fixed horizontally between said parallel driven chains for continuous horizontal movement with said driven chains, and a frame assembly attached to said preliminary treatment tank for supporting said drive and idler shafts spaced above the surface of the water in said tank for allowing said paddle blades to sweep longitudinally across the water surface and remove said floating foamed colloidal material.

Claim 38

Apparatus for removing colloidal, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials, inorganic materials and other pollutants from waste water, comprising a preliminary treatment tank for initially admitting the waste water, first pH measurement means for measuring the pH of the waste water admitted into said tank, first pH adjustment means cooperating with said preliminary treatment tank for initially adjusting the pH of the waste water therein to a predetermined value in response to said first pH measurement, a source of a preselected floc precipitate, means interconnected between said preliminary treatment tank and said source of preselected floc precipitate for controlling the quantity of said floc precipitate mixed with said waste water in said preliminary treatment tank for causing a first precipitation of materials from the waste water, means for discharging the waste water substantially free of said precipitate materials from said preliminary treatment tank, means for measuring the volume and flow rate of the waste water, first color determination means for determining the color of the waste water discharged from said preliminary treatment tank, control circuit means responsive to said first color determination means for controlling said means interconnected between said preliminary treatment tank and said floc precipitate for adjusting the color of the waste water to a predetermined value, an electrode tank assembly for receiving said waste water from said mixing tank and subjecting the water to a predetermined density of electrical current flow between at least a pair of electrodes of preselected materials for electrostatically charging the colloidal materials in the waste water, said electrostatically charged colloidal materials coalescing and floating to the surface of the waste water and the top surface of said electrodes by the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen bubbles evolved at said electrodes for forming a floating foam on the surface of the water and the top surface of said electrodes, said electrical current flow between said electrodes releasing ions of the preselected electrode materials for causing a second precipitation of materials from the waste water, said ions of the preselected electrode materials further acting to destroy oxygen demanding organic materials, bacteria and viruses, said oxygen bubbles evolved from at least one electrode further acting to oxidize organic odor causing materials in the water, wiping means for wiping the top surface of said electrodes for removing the floating foamed colloidal material from the surface of the water and the top surface of said electrodes, means for discharging the waste water and a portion of said second precipitate of materials from said electrode tank, a floc settling tank for receiving thE waste water and said portion of said second precipitate of materials, circulating the water through said second precipitate for causing a third precipitation of materials and thereafter allowing the water and a portion of said third precipitate to quiescently accumulate with said portion of said third precipitate for causing a fourth precipitation of materials from the waste water, means for discharging the water substantially free of any precipitate materials from said floc settling tank, a pH and oxidant adjustment tank for receiving the water substantially free of precipitate materials from said floc settling tank, second pH measurement means for measuring the pH of the water discharged from said floc settling tank, second pH adjustment means cooperating with said pH and oxidant adjustment tank for adjusting the pH of the water therein to a predetermined value in response to said second pH measurement, a source of a preselected oxidizing material, means for transferring a predetermined quantity of said oxidizing material to said pH and oxidant adjustment tank and dissolving said predetermined quantity of said preselected oxidant with the water for killing bacteria and reducing the oxygen demanding and odor causing organic material remaining in the water.

Claim 39

The apparatus as described in claim 39, wherein said first pH adjustment means comprises a source of a preselected acid solution interconnected to said preliminary treatment tank, a source of a preselected caustic solution interconnected to said preliminary treatment tank, and a pair of pumps, one of which is disposed in the interconnection between said acid solution source and the other of which is disposed in the interconnection between said caustic solution source and said preliminary treatment tank, each of said pumps being operable by control circuit means responsive to said first pH measurement.

Claim 40

The apparatus as described in claim 40, wherein said electrode tank comprises a rectangular tank structure having an integral bottom and open top, a plurality of rectangular spaced-apart electrodes vertically oriented and disposed within said tank structure with opposite ends of successive ones of said electrodes contacting opposite walls of said tank structure for providing an alternating baffled path for the waste water moving through said electrode tank and to provide the waste water maximum exposure time to the current between adjacent electrodes, and control circuit means connected to each of said electrodes for controlling the density of electrical current flow between said electrodes in response to said volume, flow rate and color measurements.

Claim 41

The apparatus as described in claim 41, wherein said wiping means comprises a drive shaft having spaced chain sprockets and a drive sprocket disposed thereon, means cooperating with said drive sprocket to rotate said drive shaft, an idler shaft horizontally spaced from said drive shaft and having spaced chain sprockets disposed thereon in alignment with said chain sprockets of said drive shaft, a pair of chains, one of which is disposed between corresponding pairs of aligned chain sprockets on said drive and idler shafts for forming a pair of spaced parallel driven chains, a plurality of paddle blades, each having a flexible non-conducting blade edge, each of said blades being fixed horizontally between said parallel driven chains for continuous horizontal movement with said driven chains, a frame assembly attached to said electrode tank for supporting said drive and idler shafts spaced above the top edge surface of said electrodes for allowing the non-conducting blade edges of said paddle blade to sweep longitudinally across the top edge surface of said electrodes and remove said floating foamed colloidal material.

Claim 42

The apparatus as described in claim 42, wherein said means for discharging the waste water and a portion of said second precipitate of materials from said electrode tank comprises a plurality of vertically spaced discharge pipes communicating with the interior of said electrode tank each having a valve means for controlling the flow of water and a portion of said second precipitate materials through each pipe from said electrode tank, and a discharge manifold receiving the waste water and controlled quantity of said second precipitate material for transfer to said floc settling tank.

Claim 43

The apparatus as described in claim 43, including an injection manifold receiving said waste water from said means for discharging said water substantially free of said precipitate materials from said preliminary treatment tank, and a plurality of vertically spaced injection pipes interconnecting said manifold and said electrode tank assembly for uniform distribution of the water over the entire height of the electrodes in said electrode tank assembly.

Claim 44

The apparatus as described in claim 44, wherein said floc settling tank comprises a rectangular tank structure having an integral bottom, a first partition plate fixed between opposite side walls of said tank structure and adjacent one end of said tank for defining a first vertical compartment, the bottom end of said plate spaced from said bottom of said tank and spaced a greater distance from said one end of said tank than the top end of said plate, a second partition plate fixed between opposite side walls of said tank structure and spaced from said first plate toward the other end of said tank for defining a second vertical compartment between said first and second plates, the bottom end of said second plate sealingly fixed to said bottom of said tank with the top end of said second plate spaced downwardly from the top edges of the side walls of said tank, said top end of said second plate slanting slightly toward said one end of said tank, a third partition plate fixed vertically between opposite side walls of said tank structure and spaced from said second plate toward the other end of said tank for defining a third vertical compartment between said second and third plates and a fourth compartment between said third plate and the other end of said tank, the bottom end of said third plate spaced from said bottom of said tank for permitting communication between said third and fourth compartments, a T-shaped pipe disposed in said first compartment with the cross-part of the T-shaped pipe being positioned adjacent said tank bottom and having apertures facing said one end for discharging the waste water and said second precipitate into the bottom of said first compartment where the water circulates through said second precipitate and up into said second compartment for causing a third precipitation of said materials, said water filling said second compartment and gently spilling over the top end of said second plate into said third compartment and carrying a portion of said third precipitate into said third compartment, said water filling said third and fourth compartments and passing through said accumulated portion of said third precipitate present in said third and fourth compartments for causing a fourth material precipitation to occur in said third and fourth compartments.

Claim 45

The apparatus as described in claim 45, wherein said means for discharging the water substantially free of precipitate materials from said floc settling tank comprises a weir disposed at said other end of said tank at a preselected height into which said accumulating water spills when the water has reached said preselected height, and means for discharging the water from said weir.

Claim 46

The apparatus as described in claim 46, wherein said second pH adjustment means includes said sources of preselected acid and caustic solutions as utilized in said first pH adjustment means, interconnecting piping connecting each of said sources of acid and caustic solution to said pH and oxidant adjuStment tank, and a pair of pumps, one of which is disposed in the interconnection between said acid solution source and the other of which is disposed in the interconnection between said caustic solution source and said pH and oxidant adjustment tank, said pumps operable by control circuit means responsive to said second pH measurement.

Claim 47

The apparatus described in claim 47, including first resistivity measurement means for measuring the resistivity of the waste water after the initial pH adjustment and first inorganic floc precipitate in said tank, and means for recycling a portion of the water substantially free of floc precipitate discharged from said floc settling tank into a mixing tank compartment of said preliminary treatment tank for adjusting the resistivity of the waste water to a predetermined value in response to said first resistivity measurement.

Claim 48

The apparatus as described in claim 48, wherein said means responsive to said color measurement means for adjusting said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate utilized for initial mixing with the pH adjusted waste water comprises a pump disposed in said interconnection between said source of preselected floc precipitate and said preliminary treatment tank and operable by said control circuit means responsive to said first color measurement means.

Claim 49

The apparatus as described in claim 49, including first precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said first material precipitated in said preliminary treatment tank, means for removing the excess of said first precipitate material exceeding a predetermined quantity measured by said first precipitate measuring means, and means for receiving and drying said removed excess of said first precipitate material for allowing reclamation of valuable minerals and other inorganic materials therefrom.

Claim 50

The apparatus as described in claim 50, including second precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said second material precipitated in said electrode tank, third precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said fourth material precipitated in said floc settling tank, means for removing the excess of said second and fourth precipitate materials from said electrode and floc settling tanks when said second and fourth precipitates exceed a predetermined quantity measured by said second and third precipitate measuring means, and transferring said excess of said second and fourth precipitate materials to said floc precipitate source for storage and reuse.

Claim 51

The apparatus as described in claim 51, including fourth precipitate measuring means for measuring the quantity of said precipitate materials stored in said floc precipitate source, means for removing the excess of said stored precipitate materials exceeding a predetermined quantity measured by said fourth precipitate measuring means, and means for receiving and drying said removed excess of said precipitate materials for reclamation of valuable minerals and other materials therefrom.

Claim 52

The apparatus as described in claim 52, including second resistivity measurement means for measuring the resistivity of the water discharged from said floc settling tank, second color determination means for determining the color of the water discharged from said floc settling tank, and oxidant generating means for generating a predetermined quantity of said preselected oxidizing material in response to said volume, flow rate and said second resistivity measurement and said second color determination.

Claim 53

The apparatus as described in claim 53, wherein said oxidant generating means also generates a continuous supply of said preselected acid and caustic solutions, and further includes means for transferring said generated acid and caustic solutions to said sources for storage.

Claim 54

The apparatus as described in claim 54, further including a polishing pond for receiving the water discharged from said pH and oxidant adjustment tank for allowing the water and said dissolved oxidant to stand quiescently for a predetermined time period for permitting said oxidant additional time in which to act on bacteria, oxygen demanding and odor causing organic materials and other pollutants prior to discharge.

Claim 55

The apparatus as described in claim 39, further including a source of compressed air, porous means disposed in the bottom of said preliminary treatment tank for receiving air from said compressed air tank and producing a vertical bubble curtain within said preliminary treatment tank through which the initially pH adjusted water mixed with said predetermined quantity of said preselected floc precipitate must pass for floating coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants to the surface of the water as a floating foam, and sweeping means for sweeping the top surface of the waste water in said preliminary treatment tank for removing said foam of coalesced colloidal material and other pollutants from the waster water prior to the discharge of the waste water into said electrode tank.

Claim 56

The apparatus as described in claim 56, wherein said porous means comprises an elongated block of porous material extending across the bottom of said preliminary treatment tank.

Claim 57

The apparatus as described in claim 57, wherein said sweeping means includes a drive shaft having spaced chain sprockets and a drive sprocket disposed thereon, means cooperating with said drive sprocket to rotate said drive shaft, an idler shaft horizontally spaced from said drive shaft and having spaced chain sprockets disposed thereon in alignment with said chain sprockets of said drive shaft, a pair of chains, one of which is disposed between corresponding pairs of aligned chain sprockets on said drive and idler shafts for forming a pair of spaced parallel driven chains, a plurality of paddle blades fixed horizontally between said parallel driven chains for continuous horizontal movement with said driven chains, and a frame assembly attached to said preliminary treatment tank for supporting said drive and idler shafts spaced above the surface of the water in said tank for allowing said paddle blades to sweep longitudinally across the water surface and remove said floating foamed colloidal material.