US4569739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrofilter using an improved electrode assembly
Assignee: Dorr Oliver Inc
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Filing: 1984-12-31
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Granted: 1986-02-11
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Expires: 2004-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for dewatering or separating particles from a liquid or a colloidal suspension which comprises the use of an electrofilter with separated, submerged electrodes wherein the electrode used for collecting the solid particles comprises an assembly of an ion-selective membrane shell, coated with or having bonded on its interior, a conductive metal composite catalyst layer, and a conductive structural material core such as graphite within the shell. The electrode assembly does not require the use of an electrolytic solution within the shell, but may be operated with one. A direct current is applied to the electrofilter so that the particles in the suspension will migrate towards the electrode assembly and form a caked deposit or slurry layer on the outside of the membrane. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly can be removed from the electrofilter cell so that the dewatered or separated solids may be removed from the outside surfaces of the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter R. Klinkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:21
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/42; B01D61/56; B01D57/00; B01D57/02; C; C25; C25B; C25B9/00; C25B9/17; C25B9/19; C25B9/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An electrofiltration device for dewatering or separating particles in a slurry, dispersion, or colloidal suspension comprising a treatment vessel for containing a slurry, dispersion or colloidal suspension to be treated, an electrode and a counter-electrode within said treatment vessel, said electrode and counter-electrode being spaced apart and defining a treatment zone therebetween, wherein said electrode is an electrode assembly comprising a U-shaped ion-selective membrane shell including a catalytic material coating bonded to its interior, wherein the catalytic material is a metal selected from the group consisting of Periodic Table Group VIIIB metals, Periodic Table Group IB metals, highly oxidation resistant valve metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, and an electric current distributor which contacts said catalytic coating to distribute current to said coating, said distributor also providing support for said U-shaped shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An electrofiltration device for dewatering or separating particles in a slurry, dispersion, or colloidal suspension comprising a treatment vessel for containing a slurry, dispersion or colloidal suspension to be treated, an electrode and a counter-electrode within said treatment vessel, said electrode and counter-electrode being spaced apart and defining a treatment zone therebetween, wherein said electrode is an electrode assembly comprising a U-shaped ion-selective membrane shell including a catalytic material coating bonded to its interior, wherein the catalytic material is a metal selected from the group consisting of Periodic Table Group VIIIB metals, Periodic Table Group IB metals, highly oxidation resistant valve metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, and an electric current distributor which contacts said catalytic coating to distribute current to said coating, said distributor also providing support for said U-shaped shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrofiltration device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises an ion exchange resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrofiltration device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electric current distributor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of graphite, resin impregnated graphite, and polymeric resin impregnated graphite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrofiltration device according to claim 1 further comprising means for preventing buildup of particles on the surface of the solid polymeric electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrofiltration device according to claim 4 wherein said means for preventing buildup of particles comprises means for flowing concentrated feed material onto the surface of the solid polymeric electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrofiltration device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a liquid porous membrane around said counter-electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrofiltration device in accordance with claim 6 further comprising means for maintaining a pressure differential across the liquid porous membrane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrofiltration device in accordance with claim 6 further comprising means for removing liquid between said counter-electrode and said liquid porous membrane.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for the dewatering or separating of particles in a particle containing liquid comprising providing an electrofiltration device comprising at least one polymeric electrode assembly, wherein said assembly comprises an ion-selective membrane comprising a catalytic material and an electric current distributor, wherein said membrane contacts said electric current distributor, and at least one counter-electrode; adding a particle containing solution to said electrofiltration device; and applying an electric current to said electrode assembly and said counter-electrode.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for the dewatering or separating of particles in a particle containing liquid comprising providing an electrofiltration device comprising at least one polymeric electrode assembly, wherein said assembly comprises an ion-selective membrane comprising a catalytic material and an electric current distributor, wherein said membrane contacts said electric current distributor, and at least one counter-electrode; adding a particle containing solution to said electrofiltration device; and applying an electric current to said electrode assembly and said counter-electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising collecting particles on said solid polymeric electrode assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising removing the collected particles from said solid polymeric electrode assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising preventing the buildup of particles on the surface of said solid polymeric electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the particles are prevented from building up on the surface of said solid polymeric electrode by flowing concentrated feed material parallel to the surface of said solid polymeric electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising maintaining a pressure differential across a liquid porous cathode membrane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a catalytic material selected from the group consisting of Periodic Table Group VIIIB metals, Periodic Table Group IB metals, highly oxidation resistant valve metals, and metal oxides and attaching said catalytic material to said solid polymeric electrode assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising providing means for the continuous addition of said particle containing solution and means for removing the liquid separated from said particles containing solution, and adding said particle containing solution to said electrofiltration device while removing said separated liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a liquid-porous membrane at said counter-electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method claim 17 further comprising providing means for removing liquid separated from said particle containing liquid between said counter-electrode and said liquid/porous membrane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising continuously adding said particle containing liquid to said electrofiltration device and withdrawing the liquid separated from said particle containing liquid, wherein said particle containing liquid is added at the same rate at which said separated liquid is withdrawn.
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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) | 1989-02-10 | 1989-08-12 | 1990-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-10 | 1993-08-12 | 1994-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-10 | 1997-08-12 | 1998-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |