Patent US4595509A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4595509A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Continuous separation process
Assignee: Alcoa Corp
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Filing: 1984-08-09
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Granted: 1986-06-17
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Expires: 2004-08-09
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a continuous process for removing an organic compound from water including passing an influent of water and organic compound through a filter bed of hard, substantially non-porous, inorganic particles to separate the organic compound and form a water effluent of reduced organic amounts, washing the particles to remove the organic compound and form a concentrated organic effluent, and recycling washed particles to the filter bed. The continuous process includes washing at a washing rate sufficient to shear organic compounds from solid filter media particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence L. Fox
- 👤 Nelson J. Merrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:32
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/28; C02F1/281; B; B01; B01D; B01D41/00; B01D41/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/908; Y10S210/909; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/83
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A continuous physical separation process for purifying water contaminated with low level concentrations of PCB's without replacement or disposal of filter bed media comprising: (a) passing water contaminated with low level concentrations of PCB's in the range of about 1-20 ppb through a filter bed of hard, substantially non-porous, inorganic particles to separate said PCB's and form contaminated particles and purified water of reduced PCB's concentration; (b) hydraulically shearing said contaminated particles to remove said PCB's and form decontaminated particles and a concentrated PCB's effluent; and (c) recycling said decontaminated particles to said filter bed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A continuous physical separation process for purifying water contaminated with low level concentrations of PCB's without replacement or disposal of filter bed media comprising: (a) passing water contaminated with low level concentrations of PCB's in the range of about 1-20 ppb through a filter bed of hard, substantially non-porous, inorganic particles to separate said PCB's and form contaminated particles and purified water of reduced PCB's concentration; (b) hydraulically shearing said contaminated particles to remove said PCB's and form decontaminated particles and a concentrated PCB's effluent; and (c) recycling said decontaminated particles to said filter bed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said PCB's have low solubility in water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 2 wherein said PCB's have high molecular weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 1, said shearing comprising contacting at least a portion of said contaminated water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 4 comprising recycling said concentrated PCB's effluent to said pre-treating step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 5 wherein said filter particle has a size in the range of about 0.9-0.95 mm at a uniformity coefficient of less than about 1.5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 6 wherein said particles are composed essentially of silica.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 7 wherein said shearing comprises ultrasonically shocking said contaminated particles to shear the PCB's.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 7, said silica having a substantially round, smooth surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 9 wherein said shearing comprises washing at a turbulent flow rate sufficient to shear the PCB's from silica particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 10 wherein said contaminated water passes through said filter bed at a filtering flow rate that will avoid shearing of PCB's from said particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 11 wherein said filtering flow rate is a predetermined rate, lower than a particulate removal flow rate, based on PCB concentration and filter size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 11 further comprising an equalization tank upstream from the filter bed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 13 further comprising adding chlorine to the equalization tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 14 wherein said clarification includes either a flocculating clarifier or an upflow sludge blanket clarifier to break any emulsion and to remove oil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 1 further comprising pre-treating water containing more than said low level concentration of PCB's through one or more chemical or physical process steps to precipitate said PCB and reduce PCB concentration to less than about 20 ppb, including emulsion breaking, sedimentation, coagulation, flocculation, clarification to remove oil, sediments, and other foreign materials.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said low level concentration of PCB's comprises less than about 8.0 ppb.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 15 wherein said contaminated water is passed upflow through said filter bed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
130 words
A continuous process for removing low level concentrations of PCB from water comprising: (a) passing contaminated water containing PCB's in an amount of 1 to 20 ppb through a filter bed of filter media particles having a size in the range of about 0.9-0.95 mm at a uniformity coefficient of less than about 1.5 to separate PCB and form contaminated particles and purified water effluent having less than about 1.0 PCB part per billion; (b) hydraulically shearing the contaminated particles by contacting with a portion of said contaminated water to form a concentrated PCB effluent; (c) washing said decontaminated particles in a portion of said purified water to remove residual PCB's; (d) mixing said residual PCB's with said concentrated PCB effluent; and (e) recycling decontaminated particles to the filter bed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
A continuous process for removing low level concentrations of PCB from water comprising: (a) passing contaminated water containing PCB's in an amount of 1 to 20 ppb through a filter bed of filter media particles having a size in the range of about 0.9-0.95 mm at a uniformity coefficient of less than about 1.5 to separate PCB and form contaminated particles and purified water effluent having less than about 1.0 PCB part per billion; (b) hydraulically shearing the contaminated particles by contacting with a portion of said contaminated water to form a concentrated PCB effluent; (c) washing said decontaminated particles in a portion of said purified water to remove residual PCB's; (d) mixing said residual PCB's with said concentrated PCB effluent; and (e) recycling decontaminated particles to the filter bed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A continuous process as set forth in claim 19 wherein shearing the contaminated particles comprises washing at an agitated or turbulent flow rate sufficient to shear PCB's from said contaminated particles.
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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) | 1989-06-16 | 1989-12-16 | 1990-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-16 | 1993-12-16 | 1994-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-16 | 1997-12-16 | 1998-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |