# US 10,370,273 B2 · Methods and compositions for treating water-containing systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,273 B2 - Document ID: US10370273B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/628,047 - Filed: 2015-02-20 - Published: 2015-06-11 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-10 - Assignees: Blue Earth Labs, LLC - Applicants: Blue Earth Labs, LLC - Inventors: Douglas R. Vineyard; Eric W. Christensen; Jason Peters - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370273B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/76: with halogens or compounds of halogens {(C02F1/4674 takes precedence)} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/4674: {with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine} - C02F 1/686: {Devices for dosing liquid additives} - C02F 1/72: by oxidation {(C02F1/4672 takes precedence)} - C02F 2209/001: Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control - C02F 2303/20: Prevention of biofouling - C02F 2303/22: Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention (C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence) - C02F 2305/02: Specific form of oxidant - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract Methods and compositions for improving water quality by reducing chlorine demand, decreasing disinfection by-products and controlling deposits in water systems include adding low concentrations of supplemental oxidants, for example, RE-Ox® to the systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reducing deposits in a water-containing system or apparatus utilizing an activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants, the method comprising: supplying said activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants to the water-containing system or apparatus to provide an initial amount of from 1 to 50 parts supplemental oxidants per billion parts water in said water-containing system or apparatus, and oxidizing organic components in said deposits with said supplemental oxidants. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the water-containing system or apparatus contains potable water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants has a pH in a range of from about 5 to about 7.5. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said supplying of the activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants to the water-containing system or apparatus is performed after water in said water-containing system or apparatus is disinfected with a primary disinfectant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, further comprising supplying primary disinfectant to the water-containing system or apparatus, wherein the supplying of said activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants to the water-containing system or apparatus is performed at the same facility as said supplying of primary disinfectant to the water-containing system or apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing said activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants in at least one container, and transporting said at least one container to a treatment facility associated with said water-containing system or apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water-containing system or apparatus comprises a drinking water distribution system, and the supplemental oxidant concentration is from 1 to 25 parts per billion in said drinking water distribution system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water-containing system or apparatus comprises a drinking water distribution system, and the supplemental oxidant concentration is from 1 to 12.5 parts per billion in said drinking water distribution system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said supplying of activated sodium hypochlorite solution to the water-containing system or apparatus is performed on a substantially continuous basis using a pump. ### Claim 10 A method for reducing deposits in a water-containing system or apparatus, utilizing liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants produced by flowing salt brine solution through at least a portion of at least one flow electrode module comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion-permeable material arranged between the anode and the cathode, while electric power is applied between the anode and the cathode to electrolyze said salt brine solution, the method comprising: supplying said liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants to the water-containing system or apparatus to provide an initial amount of from 1 to 50 parts supplemental oxidants per billion parts water in said water-containing system or apparatus, and oxidizing organic components in said deposits with said supplemental oxidants. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one flow electrode module comprises a first passage between the anode and the ion-permeable material, and comprises a second passage between the cathode and the ion-permeable material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein the anode comprises a center anode, the ion-permeable material surrounds the center anode, the cathode comprises an outer cathode surrounding the ion-permeable material, the first passage comprises an inside passage, and the second passage comprises an outside passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the salt brine solution is flowed serially through the outside passage between the ion-permeable material and the outer cathode, and then through the inside passage between the ion-permeable material and the center anode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants has a pH in a range of from about 5 to about 7.5. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein said supplying of liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants to the water-containing system or apparatus is performed after water in said water-containing system or apparatus is disinfected with a primary disinfectant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, further comprising supplying primary disinfectant to the water-containing system or apparatus, wherein the supplying of said liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants to the water-containing system or apparatus is performed at the same facility as said supplying of primary disinfectant to the water-containing system or apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, further comprising storing said liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants in at least one container, and transporting said at least one container to a treatment facility associated with said water-containing system or apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein said water-containing system or apparatus comprises at least a portion of a water distribution or water recirculation system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein the water-containing system or apparatus contains potable water. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein the salt brine solution consists essentially of a sodium chloride solution, and said liquid comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants embodies an activated sodium hypochlorite solution comprising a plurality of different supplemental oxidants. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the water-containing system or apparatus comprises a drinking water distribution system, and the supplemental oxidant concentration is from 1 to 25 parts per billion in said drinking water distribution system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the water-containing system or apparatus comprises a drinking water distribution system, and the supplemental oxidant concentration is from 1 to 12.5 parts per billion in said drinking water distribution system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said supplying of activated sodium hypochlorite solution to the water-containing system or apparatus is performed on a substantially continuous basis using a pump.