# US 2014/0190896 A1 · Method for treating industrial waste > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190896 A1 - Document ID: US20140190896A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/236,317 - Filed: 2012-08-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-03 - Assignees: Evocra Pty Limited - Inventors: Michael David Dickson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190896A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/5236: {using inorganic agents} - C02F 1/24: by flotation (C02F1/465 takes precedence) - C02F 9/00: Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage - C02F 1/004: {using large scale industrial sized filters} - C02F 1/008: {Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F} - C02F 1/5245: {using basic salts, e.g. of aluminium and iron} - C02F 1/62: Heavy metal compounds - C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) - C02F 1/78: with ozone {(C02F1/4672 takes precedence)} - C02F 2101/20: Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds - C02F 2101/306: {Pesticides} - C02F 2101/32: Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil - C02F 2103/10: from quarries or from mining activities - C02F 2103/16: from metallurgical processes, i.e. from the production, refining or treatment of metals, e.g. galvanic wastes - C02F 2209/001: Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control - C02F 2209/003: Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process - C02F 2209/04: Oxidation reduction potential [ORP] - C02F 2209/06: pH - 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 Disclosed herein is a method for removing contaminants from an industrial fluid waste. The method comprises the steps of ozofractionating the industrial fluid waste, whereby contaminants are oxidised and a foam fractionate is formed; and separating at least a portion of the foam fractionate and any precipitate from the ozofractionated fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing contaminants from an industrial fluid waste, comprising: ozofractionating industrial fluid waste, whereby contaminants are oxidised and a foam fractionate is formed; and separating at least a portion of the foam fractionate and any precipitate from the ozofractionated fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial fluid waste is ozofractionated by causing a foam comprising ozone to pass through the industrial fluid waste. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial fluid waste is caused to flow through a chamber whilst a foam comprising ozone is caused to rise from a bottom portion of the chamber to a top portion of the chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial fluid waste is caused to flow through a chamber from a top portion of the chamber to a bottom portion of the chamber whilst a foam comprising ozone is caused to rise from the bottom portion of the chamber to the top portion of the chamber. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising a preliminary step of monitoring parameters of the industrial fluid waste and using the parameters to determine ozofractionation conditions. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein any precipitate is separated from the ozofractionated fluid by allowing the precipitate to settle and decanting the supernatant water. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 A method for removing dissolved metals from mine waste water, comprising: ozofractionating mine waste water, whereby species containing metals precipitate; and separating the precipitated metal species from the ozofractionated water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the mine waste water is ozofractionated by causing a foam comprising ozone to pass through the mine waste water. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the mine waste water is caused to flow through a chamber from a top portion of the chamber to a bottom portion of the chamber whilst a foam comprising ozone is caused to rise from the bottom portion of the chamber to the top portion of the chamber. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of a foam fractionate formed during ozofractionation is removed from the surface of the ozofractionated water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising a preliminary step of monitoring parameters of the mine waste water and using the parameters to determine ozofractionation conditions. ### Claim 18 (canceled) ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the precipitated metal species are separated from the ozofractionatd water by allowing the precipitated metal species to settle and decanting the supernatant ozofractionated water. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising a further step of monitoring parameters of the ozofractionated water and adding a further treating agent to the ozofractionated water. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the further treating anent is a pH adjusting agent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the pH adjusting agent is a basic agent. ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the further treating agent sequesters metal species that precipitate when the pH adjusting agent is added. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the further treating agent causes the pH of the ozofractionated water to become between about 8.5 and about 9.5. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the parameters of the ozofractionated water that are monitored include the pH and the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the ozofractionated water. ### Claim 28 (canceled) ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising separating metal species that precipitate when the further treating agent is added. ### Claim 30 (canceled) ### Claim 31 (canceled) ### Claim 32 (canceled) ### Claim 33 A system for treating acid mine drainage, comprising: an ozofractionator adapted to receive and ozofractionate acid mine drainage under conditions determined from measured parameters of the acid mine drainage; a storage tank for receiving the ozofractionated acid mine drainage, whereby metal species that precipitated during ozofractionation are allowed to settle; and means for removing supernatant ozofractionated acid mine drainage from the storage tank and, if measured parameters of the supernatant ozofractionated acid mine drainage are within acceptable environmental limits, discharging the supernatant ozofractionated acid mine drainage.