US4149953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removing impurities from waste water
Assignee: R H BOULIGNY Inc
•
Filing: 1977-11-14
•
Granted: 1979-04-17
•
Expires: 1997-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A treating chamber operable as an electrolytic cell is provided, in which the electrodes have large surface areas relative to the volume of the electrolyte. The anode is composed of a quantity of aluminum particles and the cathode is composed of a quantity of iron particles disposed in close proximity to the aluminum. Waste water containing inpurities is introduced into the treating chamber and utilized as the electrolyte. An electric current is applied to the electrodes to dissolve aluminum and iron, and produce floc in the treating chamber. The impurities in the water are adsorbed and retained by the floc. The waste water may be continuously recirculated from the treating chamber to a holding chamber, or may be moved across the aluminum and iron electrodes in a continuous flow-through system at a predetermined flow rate. The floc containing the adsorbed impurities is separated from the water by conventional means. As an alternative, clean water containing normal dissolved solids may be introduced into the treatment chamber and utilized as the electrolyte. An electric current is applied to the aluminum and iron electrodes to produce floc. Floc-laden clean water is conveyed to a chamber containing waste water, and mixed therewith. Floc containing impurities adsorbed from the waste water then is separated from the water by conventional means.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Rojo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:33
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/46; C02F1/461; C02F1/46104; C02F1/46109; C02F1/46114; C02F1/463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
In apparatus for treating waste water electrolytically, a treating chamber operable as an electrolytic cell wherein: (a) the anode is particulate aluminum, (b) the cathode is particulate iron disposed in close proximity to the aluminum, (c) water containing dissolved solids is utilized as the electrolyte and (d) electrical means is connected to the aluminum anode and the iron cathode for applying an electric current to the anode and cathode to dissolve the aluminum and iron and produce floc in the treating chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
In apparatus for treating waste water electrolytically, a treating chamber operable as an electrolytic cell wherein: (a) the anode is particulate aluminum, (b) the cathode is particulate iron disposed in close proximity to the aluminum, (c) water containing dissolved solids is utilized as the electrolyte and (d) electrical means is connected to the aluminum anode and the iron cathode for applying an electric current to the anode and cathode to dissolve the aluminum and iron and produce floc in the treating chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particulate aluminum is in the form of aluminum shavings and the particulate iron is in the form of small ball-like elements of porous iron, said aluminum shavings and porous iron elements being loosely arranged in the treating chamber, whereby the anode and cathode have large surface areas relative to the volume of electrolyte.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the particulate iron comprises sponge iron balls approximately 0.5 to 1.0 centimeters in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: (a) the iron and aluminum occupy a volume less than the volume of the treating chamber and (b) the iron and aluminum have a comparative volumetric ratio of 30 to 70.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: (a) the iron and aluminum occupy a volume less than the volume of the treating chamber and (b) the iron and aluminum have a comparative weight ratio of approximately 75 to 25.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including: (a) inlet means for introducing water into the treating chamber and (b) outlet means for discharging floc and water from the treating chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further including: (a) conduit means for conveying waste water to the treating chamber, (b) a holding chamber, (c) conduit means for conveying waste water and floc containing impurities adsorbed from the waste water from the treating chamber to the holding chamber and (d) means associated with the holding chamber for separating floc containing adsorbed impurities from the waste water in said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further including: (a) an adsorption chamber having a quantity of petroleum by-products therein and (b) conduit means for conveying floc containing adsorbed impurities from the holding chamber to the adsorption chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further including: (a) conduit means for conveying clean water to the treating chamber, (b) a holding chamber for containment of waste water, (c) conduit means for conveying floc-laden clean water from the treating chamber to the holding chamber for mixture with the waste water in the holding chamber and (d) means associated with the holding chamber for separating floc containing impurities adsorbed from the waste water from the water in said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further including: (a) an adsorption chamber having a quantity of petroleum by-products therein and (b) conduit means for conveying floc containing adsorbed impurities from the holding chamber to the adsorption chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further including: (a) conduit means for conveying clean water to the treating chamber, (b) a mixing chamber, (c) conduit means for conveying waste water to the mixing chamber, (d) conduit means for conveying floc-laden clean water from the treating chamber to the mixing chamber for mixture with waste water in the mixing chamber, (e) a holding chamber, (f) conduit means for conveying waste water and floc containing impurities adsorbed from the waste water from the mixing chamber to the holding chamber and (g) means associated with the holding chamber for separating floc containing adsorbed impurities from the water in said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further characterized in that a plurality of treating chambers are arranged in a parallel flow system and conduit means are provided to divide incoming water to flow through each of said treating chambers at a predetermined flow rate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water, said apparatus including: (a) a treating chamber having a quantity of aluminum and a quantity of iron contained therein, said aluminum and said iron being arranged in proximate relationship and occupying a volume less than the volume of said treating chamber, said quantities of aluminum and iron in said treating chamber being in small particulate form; (b) inlet means for introducing said polluted water into said treating chamber for treating therein; (c) first electrically conducting means arranged to extend within the confines of said quantity of aluminum; (d) second electrically conducting means arranged to extend within the confines of said quantity of iron; (e) means for imposing an electrical potential across said first and second electrically conducting means to thereby cause impurities in said polluted water to be precipitated; and (f) means for separating said precipitated impurities from the remaining water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water, said apparatus including: (a) a treating chamber having a quantity of aluminum and a quantity of iron contained therein, said aluminum and said iron being arranged in proximate relationship and occupying a volume less than the volume of said treating chamber, said quantities of aluminum and iron in said treating chamber being in small particulate form; (b) inlet means for introducing said polluted water into said treating chamber for treating therein; (c) first electrically conducting means arranged to extend within the confines of said quantity of aluminum; (d) second electrically conducting means arranged to extend within the confines of said quantity of iron; (e) means for imposing an electrical potential across said first and second electrically conducting means to thereby cause impurities in said polluted water to be precipitated; and (f) means for separating said precipitated impurities from the remaining water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water as defined in claim 35, and further characterized in that said quantities of aluminum and iron are loosely arranged in said treating chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water as defined in claim 13, and further characterized in that said treating chamber includes outlet means leading therefrom, and in that said separating means includes a filter located in said outlet means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water as defined in claim 13, and further characterized in that said treating chamber includes outlet means, in that said separating means includes a holding chamber for receiving said precipitated impurities and said remaining water from said treating chamber outlet and for permitting said precipitated impurities to settle to the bottom of said holding chamber, and in that said holding chamber includes discharge means for removing said settled precipitated impurities therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water as defined in claim 16, and further characterized in that said settling chamber discharge means is connected to an adsorption chamber having a quantity of liquid petroleum by-products therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water as defined in claim 13, and further characterized in that the comparative volumetric ratio of said iron and said aluminum in said treating chamber is 30-to-70.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus for removing impurities from polluted water as defined in claim 13, and further characterized in that a plurality of treating chambers are arranged in a parallel flow system with said polluted water being divided to flow through said treating chamber at a predetermined flow rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2133895A
Cited
US2399289A
Cited
US3192146A
Cited
US3394064A
Cited
US3457152A
Cited
US3716459A
Cited
US3816276A
Cited
US3888756A
Cited
US3966571A
Cited
US4014766A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-16 | 1982-10-16 | 1983-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-16 | 1986-10-16 | 1987-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-16 | 1990-10-16 | 1991-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |