US4004994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical removal of contaminants
Assignee: Stauffer Chemical Co
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Filing: 1974-05-16
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Granted: 1977-01-25
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Expires: 1994-05-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for electrochemically removing ions and other contaminants from an aqueous liquid by passing the liquid to be treated into the base of a vertically disposed treatment zone, said zone being formed by a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode and at least one internal electrode which is axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode. The electrodes are connected to a source of direct current and have contained between them, in the treatment zone, a solid particulate bed forming a medium of low electrical conductivity through which the current passes while the liquid to be treated is passed into the base of the treatment zone with sufficient pressure to transport it upward through the treatment zone. The liquid, free of the ions or other contaminants sought to be removed, is then removed from the top of the treatment zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph M. Andrus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:05
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/46; C02F1/461; C02F1/46104; C02F1/46109; C02F1/46114; C02F1/467; C02F1/4672; C02F1/4674; C02F2101/00; C02F2101/10; C02F2101/16; C02F2101/18; C02F2101/20; C02F2101/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/911; Y10S210/912; Y10S210/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for the removal of ionic contaminants for aqueous solutions which comprises: a. a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode; b. an internal electrode, axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode; c. a particulate bed comprising carbonaceous particles disposed between and in contact with said cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode, said particulate bed retained in disposition between said electrodes by retaining means thereby forming a medium of lower electrical conductivity between said electrodes; d. a source of direct current which is in electrical communication with said cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode in such manner as to induce a potential difference between said electrodes across said bed; e. a base header and a top header fitted over the ends of said cylindrical electrode thereby forming a closed system; f. input means in open communication with the base of said cylindrical electrode such that the solution to be treated can be continuously introduced into said cylindrical electrode; and g. output means in open communication with the top of said cylindrical electrode such that the treated solution can be continuously removed from said cylindrical electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for the removal of ionic contaminants for aqueous solutions which comprises: a. a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode; b. an internal electrode, axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode; c. a particulate bed comprising carbonaceous particles disposed between and in contact with said cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode, said particulate bed retained in disposition between said electrodes by retaining means thereby forming a medium of lower electrical conductivity between said electrodes; d. a source of direct current which is in electrical communication with said cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode in such manner as to induce a potential difference between said electrodes across said bed; e. a base header and a top header fitted over the ends of said cylindrical electrode thereby forming a closed system; f. input means in open communication with the base of said cylindrical electrode such that the solution to be treated can be continuously introduced into said cylindrical electrode; and g. output means in open communication with the top of said cylindrical electrode such that the treated solution can be continuously removed from said cylindrical electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said particulate bed comprises carbonaceous particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous particles are from 0.5 to 4.0 mm. in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which additionally contains a perforated base diffuser plate and a perforated top diffuser plate mounted within said cylindrical electrode thereby forming a treatment zone bounded peripherally by the cylindrical electrode, the base diffuser plate, the internal electrode and the top diffuser plate, said diffuser plates being constructed of a non-conducting material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claimm 4 wherein the perforations in said diffuser plates are of uniform size and are uniformly distributed over the surface of said diffuser plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 5 which additionally contains a retaining screen fitted over each of the diffuser plates said screen having a mesh size less than the particle size of the particulate bed and being constructed of a non-conductive material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of removing ionic contaminants from aqueous solution comprising: a. continuously feeding said solution into the base of a vertical treatment zone formed by a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode and an internal electrode axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode, said treatment zone additionally containing a particulate bed comprising carbonaceous particles disposed between and in contact with said cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode, said particulate bed retained in disposition between said electrodes by retaining means thereby forming a medium of lower electrical conductivity between said electrodes, in such a manner that the solution rises vertically through said bed while applying an electrical potential across said bed sufficient to maintain a current density of at least 10 amps/cu. ft. of bed, and b. continuously removing said solution from the top of said treatment zone.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of removing ionic contaminants from aqueous solution comprising: a. continuously feeding said solution into the base of a vertical treatment zone formed by a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode and an internal electrode axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode, said treatment zone additionally containing a particulate bed comprising carbonaceous particles disposed between and in contact with said cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode, said particulate bed retained in disposition between said electrodes by retaining means thereby forming a medium of lower electrical conductivity between said electrodes, in such a manner that the solution rises vertically through said bed while applying an electrical potential across said bed sufficient to maintain a current density of at least 10 amps/cu. ft. of bed, and b. continuously removing said solution from the top of said treatment zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said carbonaceous particles have a diameter from about 0.5 to about 4.0 mm.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of reducing hexavalent chromium in an aqueous solution to its trivalent state which comprises: a. continuously feeding said solution to a vertical treatment zone formed by a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode and an internal electrode axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode, said treatment zone containing a particulate bed comprising carbonaceous particles disposed between and in contact with cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode, said particulate bed retained in disposition between said electrodes by retaining means thereby forming a medium of lower electrical conductivity between said electrodes, in such a manner that the solution rises vertically through said bed while applying an electrical potential across said bed sufficient to maintain a current density of at least 10 amps/cu. ft. of bed, and b. continuously removing said solution from the top of said treatment zone.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of reducing hexavalent chromium in an aqueous solution to its trivalent state which comprises: a. continuously feeding said solution to a vertical treatment zone formed by a vertically disposed cylindrical electrode and an internal electrode axially disposed within said cylindrical electrode, said treatment zone containing a particulate bed comprising carbonaceous particles disposed between and in contact with cylindrical electrode and said internal electrode, said particulate bed retained in disposition between said electrodes by retaining means thereby forming a medium of lower electrical conductivity between said electrodes, in such a manner that the solution rises vertically through said bed while applying an electrical potential across said bed sufficient to maintain a current density of at least 10 amps/cu. ft. of bed, and b. continuously removing said solution from the top of said treatment zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said carbonaceous particles have a diameter from about 0.5 to 4.0 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the pH of the effluent is adjusted to a pH in the range from about 1.5 to about 2.5 prior to being fed into the treatment zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said electrical potential is sufficient to maintain a current density in the range from about 15 to about 25 amps/cu. ft. of bed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said solution is fed into said treatment zone at a flow rate up to about 50 gal/hr./cu. ft. of bed.
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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) | 1980-01-25 | 1980-07-26 | 1981-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-07-26 | 1985-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-26 | 1989-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |