US4076615A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and system for treating waste water
Assignee: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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Filing: 1975-10-06
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Granted: 1978-02-28
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Expires: 1995-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A process of treating raw or primary waste water using a powdered, activated carbon/aerated biological treatment system is disclosed. Effluent turbidities less than 2 JTU (Jackson turbidity units), zero TOC (total organic carbon) and in the range of 10 mg/l COD (chemical oxygen demand) can be obtained. An influent stream of raw or primary waste water is contacted with an acidified, powdered, activated carbon/alum mixture. Lime is then added to the slurry to raise the pH to about 7.0. A polyelectrolyte flocculant is added to the slurry followed by a flocculation period -- then sedimentation and filtration. The separated solids (sludge) are aerated in a stabilization sludge basin and a portion thereof recycled to an aerated contact basin for mixing with the influent waste water stream prior to or after contact of the influent stream with the powdered, activated carbon/alum mixture.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas E. Olesen
- 👤 Alan J. Shuckrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:59
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1205; C02F3/1215; C02F3/121; C02F3/1226; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An improved process for the removal and degradation of dissolved organic pollutants in waste water containing such using a combined powdered, activated carbon/aerated biological treatment process with relatively short retention time, comprising: 1. contacting an influent waste water stream containing the organic pollutants in an aerated contact vessel with an oxygen-containing gas and a slurry containing an acidified mixture of powdered, activated carbon and alum for adsorption of organic pollutants in the waste water on the carbon and coagulation of the adsorbed carbon particles by the alum, the activated carbon and alum added in amounts to the influent waste water stream to give at least 50 mg/l carbon and 100 mg/l alum, 2. adjusting to the pH of the treated influent waste water stream to cause precipitation of the alum as aluminum hydroxide, 3. adding a polyelectrolyte flocculant to the treated influent waste water stream as an aid in effecting solid-liquid separation, 4. effecting solid-liquid separation into sludge and a supernatant, 5. aerating the sludge by discharge of an oxygen-containing gas therethrough for metabolism of the adsorbed organics therein, 6. thermally regenerating a portion of the sludge to oxidize the organics absorbed on the carbon contained in the sludge for reactivation of the carbon and to convert aluminum hydroxide contained in the sludge to alumina, 7. recycling a part of the aerated sludge to the aerated contact basin for contact with the influent waste water stream, 8. acidifying another part of the thermally regenerated sludge with sulfuric acid to convert the alumina therein to alum, and 9. recycling the acidified and thermally regenerated sludge portion containing reactivated carbon and alum for contact with the incoming influent wste water stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
An improved process for the removal and degradation of dissolved organic pollutants in waste water containing such using a combined powdered, activated carbon/aerated biological treatment process with relatively short retention time, comprising: 1. contacting an influent waste water stream containing the organic pollutants in an aerated contact vessel with an oxygen-containing gas and a slurry containing an acidified mixture of powdered, activated carbon and alum for adsorption of organic pollutants in the waste water on the carbon and coagulation of the adsorbed carbon particles by the alum, the activated carbon and alum added in amounts to the influent waste water stream to give at least 50 mg/l carbon and 100 mg/l alum, 2. adjusting to the pH of the treated influent waste water stream to cause precipitation of the alum as aluminum hydroxide, 3. adding a polyelectrolyte flocculant to the treated influent waste water stream as an aid in effecting solid-liquid separation, 4. effecting solid-liquid separation into sludge and a supernatant, 5. aerating the sludge by discharge of an oxygen-containing gas therethrough for metabolism of the adsorbed organics therein, 6. thermally regenerating a portion of the sludge to oxidize the organics absorbed on the carbon contained in the sludge for reactivation of the carbon and to convert aluminum hydroxide contained in the sludge to alumina, 7. recycling a part of the aerated sludge to the aerated contact basin for contact with the influent waste water stream, 8. acidifying another part of the thermally regenerated sludge with sulfuric acid to convert the alumina therein to alum, and 9. recycling the acidified and thermally regenerated sludge portion containing reactivated carbon and alum for contact with the incoming influent wste water stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 wherein lime is added to the water stream after addition of the carbon/alum slurry to raise the pH of the water being treated to cause precipitation of the alum as aluminum hydroxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the acidified slurry of powdered, activated carbon and aluminum has a pH of about 4 or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 including, after effecting solid-liquid separation, filtering the separated water stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
An improved process for removal of insoluble and soluble organic materials from waste water containing the same, the process utilizing a combination of powdered, activated carbon and aerated biological treatment with relatively short retention time, comprising: 1. contacting a waste water stream in an aerated contact vessel with an oxygen-containing gas and an acidified mixture of powdered, activated carbon and alum, added in amounts to the influent stream to give at least 50.0 mg carbon and 100 mg alum per liter of waste water for adsorption of organic materials in the waste water on the carbon and coagulation of the adsorbed carbon particles, 2. adjusting the pH of the treated water to about 7.0, causing precipitation of alum as aluminum hydroxide, 3. adding a polyelectrolyte flocculant to the treated water as an aid in effecting solid-liquid separation, 4. effecting solid-liquid separation into sludge and a supernatant,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
An improved process for removal of insoluble and soluble organic materials from waste water containing the same, the process utilizing a combination of powdered, activated carbon and aerated biological treatment with relatively short retention time, comprising: 1. contacting a waste water stream in an aerated contact vessel with an oxygen-containing gas and an acidified mixture of powdered, activated carbon and alum, added in amounts to the influent stream to give at least 50.0 mg carbon and 100 mg alum per liter of waste water for adsorption of organic materials in the waste water on the carbon and coagulation of the adsorbed carbon particles, 2. adjusting the pH of the treated water to about 7.0, causing precipitation of alum as aluminum hydroxide, 3. adding a polyelectrolyte flocculant to the treated water as an aid in effecting solid-liquid separation, 4. effecting solid-liquid separation into sludge and a supernatant,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
discharging the supernatant as an effluent stream, 6. aerating the sludge by discharge of an oxygen-containing gas therethrough to permit metabolism of adsorbed organics, 7. thermally regenerating a part of the aerated sludge to oxidize the organic materials adsorbed in the carbon to reactivate the carbon contained therein, and to convert aluminum hydroxide contained therein to alumina, 8. acidifying the thermally regenerated part of the sludge with sulfuric acid to convert the alumina therein to alum, 9. recycling a portion of the aerated sludge for contact with the influent stream in the aerated contact vessel, and 10. recycling the acidified and thermally regenerated sludge containing alum and activated carbon for contact with the incoming influent waste water stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
discharging the supernatant as an effluent stream, 6. aerating the sludge by discharge of an oxygen-containing gas therethrough to permit metabolism of adsorbed organics, 7. thermally regenerating a part of the aerated sludge to oxidize the organic materials adsorbed in the carbon to reactivate the carbon contained therein, and to convert aluminum hydroxide contained therein to alumina, 8. acidifying the thermally regenerated part of the sludge with sulfuric acid to convert the alumina therein to alum, 9. recycling a portion of the aerated sludge for contact with the influent stream in the aerated contact vessel, and 10. recycling the acidified and thermally regenerated sludge containing alum and activated carbon for contact with the incoming influent waste water stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 5 including filtering the supernatant after solid-liquid separation and before discharge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
284 words
An improved process for the removal of insoluble and soluble organic pollutants from waste water containing the same, the process utilizing a combination of powdered, activated carbon and aerated biological treatment, comprising: 1. contacting the influent waste water containing the organic pollutants with an oxygen-containing gas and an acidified mixture of powdered, activated carbon and alum in an aerated contact vessel, the carbon and alum added in amounts to the influent stream to give at least 50 mg carbon and 100 mg alum per liter of waste water, 2. discharging the treated water into a second aerated vessel for contact with an oxygen-containing gas, 3. adjusting the pH of the treated water in the second contact vessel to about pH 7.0, causing precipitation of alum as aluminum hydroxide, 4. adding a polyelectrolyte flocculant to the treated water in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 5 mg flocculant per liter of waste water being treated, 5. effecting solid-liquid separation of the treated water into sludge and a supernatant, 6. discharging the supernatant as effluent, 7. aerating the sludge in an aeration vessel by discharge by an oxygen-containing gas therethrough for metabolism of organics adsorbed on the carbon, 8. recycling a portion of the aerated sludge to the first and second contact basins for contact with the influent stream being treated, 9. thermally regenerating another portion of the sludge to oxidize the organics adsorbed on the carbon, reactivate the carbon and convert aluminum hydroxide contained in the sludge to alumina, 10. acidifying the thermally regenerated portion of the sludge with sulfuric acid to convert alumina contained therein to alum, and 11. recycling the acidifid reactivated carbon/alum mixture for contact and mixing with the influence waste water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
284 words
An improved process for the removal of insoluble and soluble organic pollutants from waste water containing the same, the process utilizing a combination of powdered, activated carbon and aerated biological treatment, comprising: 1. contacting the influent waste water containing the organic pollutants with an oxygen-containing gas and an acidified mixture of powdered, activated carbon and alum in an aerated contact vessel, the carbon and alum added in amounts to the influent stream to give at least 50 mg carbon and 100 mg alum per liter of waste water, 2. discharging the treated water into a second aerated vessel for contact with an oxygen-containing gas, 3. adjusting the pH of the treated water in the second contact vessel to about pH 7.0, causing precipitation of alum as aluminum hydroxide, 4. adding a polyelectrolyte flocculant to the treated water in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 5 mg flocculant per liter of waste water being treated, 5. effecting solid-liquid separation of the treated water into sludge and a supernatant, 6. discharging the supernatant as effluent, 7. aerating the sludge in an aeration vessel by discharge by an oxygen-containing gas therethrough for metabolism of organics adsorbed on the carbon, 8. recycling a portion of the aerated sludge to the first and second contact basins for contact with the influent stream being treated, 9. thermally regenerating another portion of the sludge to oxidize the organics adsorbed on the carbon, reactivate the carbon and convert aluminum hydroxide contained in the sludge to alumina, 10. acidifying the thermally regenerated portion of the sludge with sulfuric acid to convert alumina contained therein to alum, and 11. recycling the acidifid reactivated carbon/alum mixture for contact and mixing with the influence waste water.
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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) | 1981-02-27 | 1981-08-29 | 1982-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-27 | 1985-08-29 | 1986-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-27 | 1989-08-29 | 1990-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |