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US 2003/0164308 A1Published application
Electroionic water disinfection apparatus
AssigneeBioelectromagnetics, Inc.
InventorsKenneth J. Schlager, Stephen H. Gorski
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AssigneeBioelectromagnetics, Inc.
InventorsKenneth J. Schlager, Stephen H. Gorski
Estimating the term…
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the disinfection of water and wastewater contaminated with bacteria and other microorganisms. The apparatus includes an electrolytic flow cell including electrodes forming a part of flow pipe or open channel through which water or wastewater passes. The electrodes are formed of iron, stainless steel, carbon or copper and connected to a power supply voltage in the range of 20 to 100 volts and establishing a current in the range of 1 to 6 amperes. Disinfection results from either metal ions impacting microbial cells or through the generation of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and hypochlorous acid. When the electrodes are copper, toxic metal contamination limits are established through proper design of the flow cell. An ultrasonic transducer is connected to the electrodes and enhances hydroxyl radical generation.
A disinfection flow cell assembly for disinfection of water including wastewater and/or potable water wherein the water passes through a flow line at a rate in the range of 10 gallons per minute to 70,000 gallons per minute comprising spaced electrodes as wide as 8 feet in distance constructed to form a part of said flow line with the water passing therethrough, said electrodes having contact surfaces formed of material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, iron, iron alloy product and copper, a power supply connection to said electrodes and operable to create an ionic current flow between said electrodes and operable to create a current density for disinfection of the water or wastewater at flow rates on the order of 10-70,000 gallons per minute, said power supply connection establishing voltages in the range of 1-200 volts and current densities in the range of 0.2-50.0 ma/cm2.
A method for electronically disinfecting water including potable water and wastewater, comprising passing said water through a passageway having opposed electrodes of stainless steel, iron, or iron based metal forming opposed outer wall of said passageway, supplying a DC voltage in the range of 1 to 200 volts across said electrodes and establishing current flow between the electrodes with a current density in the range of 0.2 to 50.0 milliamperes/cm2 through the water passing through said electrodes, said current being established in a range of 1 milliamperes to 10 amperes and creating ions of the material of said electrodes and operable for removal of E. coli and other pathogens from said water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.