US5053142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for treating polluted material
Assignee: Conor Pacific Environmental Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1988-02-15
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Granted: 1991-10-01
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Expires: 2008-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A method for treating polluted material such as industrial waste water or polluted water from other sources, sewage or sewage sludge or other forms of sludge, or polluted soil, to degrade oxidizable substances therein, comprising subjecting the polluted material to a wet oxidation process in a reactor so as to decompose and / or modify oxidizable substances therein and optionally improve the filterability of solids when present in the material, the material optionally being pretreated so as to facilitate the wet oxidation process, the wet oxidation process being performed to such an extent, optionally with subsequent substantial removal of heavy metals, that the decomposed and / or modified substances remaining after the wet oxidation and the optional removal of heavy metals are substantially biodegradable, if necessary separating the material into a solid and a liquid phase, and optionally subjecting the material or the liquid phase to a biodegradation process.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil Sorensen
- 👤 Jorgen Jensen
- 👤 Erik Rasmussen
- 👤 Bror S. Jensen
- 👤 Belinda Bjerre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:41
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/08; B; B09; B09C; B09C1/00; B09C1/08; C02F11/00; C02F11/06; C02F11/08; C02F9/00; C02F1/00; C02F1/42; C02F1/52; C02F1/66; C02F1/72; C02F1/722; C02F1/725; C02F1/76; C02F1/78; C02F11/02; C02F2101/00; C02F2101/10; C02F2101/20; C02F2101/22; C02F2101/30; C02F2209/00; C02F2209/06; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y02W10/40; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/911; Y10S210/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for treating polluted soil so as to decompose or modify oxidizable polluting substances therein, and improve the filterability of solids present therein, wherein the polluted soil is in the form of an aqueous suspension and is subjected to wet oxidation in a reactor, the wet oxidation being achieved by an oxidizing agent which is added to the aqueous suspension of the polluted soil in an amount which is at least sufficient to decompose or modify the oxidizable substances, the wet oxidation being performed to such an extent that the decomposed or modified substances remaining after the wet oxidation are substantially biodegradable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for treating polluted soil so as to decompose or modify oxidizable polluting substances therein, and improve the filterability of solids present therein, wherein the polluted soil is in the form of an aqueous suspension and is subjected to wet oxidation in a reactor, the wet oxidation being achieved by an oxidizing agent which is added to the aqueous suspension of the polluted soil in an amount which is at least sufficient to decompose or modify the oxidizable substances, the wet oxidation being performed to such an extent that the decomposed or modified substances remaining after the wet oxidation are substantially biodegradable.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for treating polluted soil so as the decompose or modify oxidizable polluting substances therein, and improve the filterability of solids present therein, wherein the polluted soil is in the form of an aqueous suspension and is subjected to wet oxidation in a tubular reactor through which said suspension flows with a substantially continuous turbulent flow, having a Reynolds number of at least 4,000, the wet oxidation being achieved by an oxidizing agent which is added to the aqueous suspension of the polluted soil in an amount which at least sufficient to decompose or modify the oxidizable substances, the wet oxidation being performed to such an extent that the decomposed or modified substances remaining after the wet oxidation are substantially biodegradable.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for treating polluted soil so as the decompose or modify oxidizable polluting substances therein, and improve the filterability of solids present therein, wherein the polluted soil is in the form of an aqueous suspension and is subjected to wet oxidation in a tubular reactor through which said suspension flows with a substantially continuous turbulent flow, having a Reynolds number of at least 4,000, the wet oxidation being achieved by an oxidizing agent which is added to the aqueous suspension of the polluted soil in an amount which at least sufficient to decompose or modify the oxidizable substances, the wet oxidation being performed to such an extent that the decomposed or modified substances remaining after the wet oxidation are substantially biodegradable.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the suspension of treated material after wet oxidation is separated into a solid and a liquid phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the polluted material contains heavy metals and the method further comprises substantially removing said heavy metals from the separated liquid phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the resulting separated liquid phase is subjected to a biodegradation process.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed in a substantially horizontally arranged reactor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed in a substantially horizontally arranged reactor comprising a single tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed in a substantially horizontally arranged reactor comprising a plurality of interconnected tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed in a substantially horizontally arranged plug flow tubular reactor comprising a single tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed in a substantially horizontally arranged plug flow tubular reactor comprising a plurality of interconnected tubes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the concentration of solids in the aqueous suspension is in the range of 10-60% (weight/volume).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the concentration of solids in the aqueous suspension is in the range of 40-60% (weight/volume).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the concentration of solids in the aqueous suspension is about 50% (weight/volume).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the size of substantially all of the solid particles in the aqueous suspension is at the most about 2 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of: an oxygen-containing gas, hydrogen peroxide, a percarbonate, a peroxodisulphate, a permanganate, a peracetate, a phpochlorite and chlorine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas containing more than 20% of oxygen by volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas containing more than 80% of oxygen by volume.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas containing 100% of oxygen by volume.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas and is added in an amount corresponding to an oxygen amount of at least 100% of that calculated on the basis of the COD value of the polluted material to be treated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas and is added in an amount corresponding to an oxygen amount in the range of about 105-200% of that calculated on the basis of the COD value of the polluted material to be treated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas and is added in an amount corresponding to an oxygen amount in the range of 110-160% of that calculated on the basis of the COD value of the polluted material to be treated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oxidizing agent is an oxygen-containing gas and is introduced into the reactor through several inlets located at different positions in the reactor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aqueous suspension of polluted material in the reactor is first heated in a heating zone of the reactor to a temperature which is sufficient for initiating the decomposition or modification of oxidizable substances in the material, then maintained in a reaction zone of the reactor at a temperature at which the decomposition or modification proceeds until substances remaining after the wet oxidation are substantially biodegradable, and then cooled in a cooling zone of the reactor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an oxidation catalyst is added to the polluted material to be subjected to wet oxidation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow of the suspension through the reactor has a Reynolds number of at least 10,000.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow of the suspension through the reactor has a Reynolds number of at last 20,000.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow of the suspension through the reactor has a Reynolds number of at least 30,000.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow of the suspension through the reactor has a Reynolds number of at most 100,000.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow of the suspension through the reactor has a Reynolds number of at most 80,000.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow of the suspension through the reactor has a Reynolds number of at most 60,000.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate of the suspension through the reactor is in the range of 1.2-2.2 m/s.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate of the suspension through the reactor is in the range of 1.4-2.0 m/s.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the flow rate of the suspension through the reactor is in the range of 1.7-1.8 m/s.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding time of the polluted material in the reactor under oxidizing conditions is in the range of 5-60 min.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding time of the polluted material in the reactor under oxidizing conditions is in the range of 10-50 min.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding time of the polluted material in the reactor under oxidizing conditions is in the range of 20-40 min.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed at a temperature in the range of 150°-300° C. and at a pressure, which is at least sufficient to prevent boiling of the liquid in the suspension.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wet oxidation is performed at a temperature in the range of 200°-260° C. and at a pressure, which is at least sufficient to prevent boiling the liquid in the suspension.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pH-regulating agent is added to the polluted material to be subjected to wet oxidation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 39, wherein the pH-regulating agent is a base selected from the group consisting of: alkali metal hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates; alkali earth metal hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates; ammonia; and organic bases.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the polluted soil in the form of an aqueous suspension is subjected to wet oxidation in a reactor at a temperature in the range of 150° C. to 300° C.
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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) | 1994-09-30 | 1995-04-01 | 1995-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-30 | 1999-04-01 | 1999-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-30 | 2003-04-01 | 2003-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |