US3767046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid purification method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-06
•
Granted: 1973-10-23
•
Expires: 1991-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A batch of an aqueous liquid to be purified is charged into a treating vessel where the batch is subjected to an electrical treatment by passing an electric current through a cathode and soluble anode to cause the substances contained in the liquid which are to be removed to precipitate into particles forming a floating sludge on the liquid. If desired, reagents such as acids, alkalis or hydrogen peroxide may be added to the batch of liquid. The precipitation or flocculation is favored by thoroughly and intensely stirring the aqueous liquid bath during the electrical treatment in the closed vessel as well as thereafter and before the precipitated substances are separated from the aqueous liquid after removal from the vessel, as well as by retaining a residual portion of the treated liquid in the vessel as an addition for the subsequent batch to be treated therein. It is preferred to use a direct current obtained from a polyphase rectification.
Inventors
- 👤 K Hartkorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:43
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/46; C02F1/461; C02F1/465; C02F1/463; C02F1/24; C02F1/467; C02F1/4672; C02F1/66; C02F1/72; C02F1/722; C02F1/46104; C02F1/46109; C02F2001/46119; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/46; C02F2201/461; C02F2201/46105; C02F2201/4612; C02F2201/46125; C02F2201/4613; C02F2201/4616
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
17 words
closing the vessel to prevent liquid inflow or outflow and to maintain the aqueous liquid batch stationary,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the precipitated substances are separated by sedimentation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the precipitated substances are separated by flotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
passing an electric current through a cathode and a soluble anode immersed in the aqueous liquid batch in the vessel to subject the liquid to an electrical treatment causing the substances in the liquid to precipitate into particles forming a floating sludge on the liquid,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
thoroughly stirring the aqueous liquid batch during the electrical treatment in the closed vessel to mix the floating sludge with the liquid,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of subjecting electric current from a current supply network to polyphase rectification to obtain a current having a ripple frequency in excess of that of the current from the supply network, and supplying the high-frequency direct current to the cathode and anode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a series of said vessels are sequentially charged with respective ones of said aqueous liquid batches, the respective batches being sequentially subjected to said electrical treatment and stirring, and being sequentially opened in such timed sequence that a substantially continuous flow of treated aqueous liquid comes from the series of vessels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
opening the vessel after the electrical treatment has been concluded to permit a major portion of the treated aqueous liquid batch to flow out of the vessel while a residual portion of the treated liquid is retained in the vessel as an addition for the subsequent batch to be treated in the vessel, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
separating the precipitated substances from the major portion of the aqueous liquid removed from the vessel to recover the purified liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of double electrodes are immersed in the aqueous liquid batch, each double electrode comprising two outer cathodes and an intermediate anode arranged therebetween, the electric current being passed through the cathodes and anode of said double electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of immersing in the aqueous liquid batch also an insoluble anode, electrolysis producing nascent oxygen at the insoluble anode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7, wherein direct current is supplied to the soluble anode and alternating current is simultaneously supplied to the insoluble anode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the cathode and the anode extend vertically in the aqueous liquid batch, the liquid being subjected to the electrical treatment in the interspaces between the cathode and anode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reversing the polarity of the cathode and anode at intervals during the electrical treatment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of varying the harmonic frequency of the current passed through the liquid during the electrical treatment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of sampling physico-chemical parameters of the liquid batch under electrical treatment, producing control signals responsive to the sampled parameters, and varying the harmonic frequency of the current passed through the liquid during the electrical treatment in response to the control signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of subjecting electric current from a current supply network to polyphase rectification to obtain a current having a ripple frequency in excess of that of the current from the supply network, supplying the high-frequency ripple containing direct current to the cathode and anode, and switching the number of the phases in the rectification to vary the harmonic frequency of the current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of sampling physico-chemical parameters of the liquid batch under electrical treatment, producing control signals responsive to the sampled parameters, and adding reagents to the liquid under treatment in response to the control signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding sulfuric acid to the liquid batch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a chloride to the liquid batch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding hydrogen peroxide to the liquid batch before it is subjected to the electrical treatment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding hydrogen peroxide to the liquid batch after it has been subjected to the electrical treatment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of thoroughly stirring the treated aqueous liquid batch together with the formed sludge, as the major portion of the batch is permitted to flow out of the vessel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of thoroughly stirring the treated aqueous liquid batch after the electrical treatment and before the precipitated substances are separated therefrom.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the major portion of the treated aqueous liquid batch is conveyed into a receptacle wherein it is thoroughly stirred, and the precipitated substances are then removed from the liquid in a subsequent vessel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20, wherein precipitated substances separated from a previous batch are admixed with the treated aqueous liquid batch.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding to the batch in the vessel precipitated substances separated from a previous batch, the precipitated substances including carrier particles consisting of the soluble material of the anode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cleaning the cathode and anode during the electrical treatment with a fluid medium under high pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |