A Method Of Separation
OwnerDavid John Burns, Anthony Lindsay Morrisoninventors
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Abstract
A method of separating trace amounts of amphiphilic substances from water which is contaminated with the substances, the method comprising the steps of: admitting an amount of the water, which includes an initial concentration of the substances, into a chamber via an inlet thereinto: —introducing a flow of gas into the chamber, wherein said introduced gas induces the water in the chamber to flow, and produces a froth layer which is formed at, and which rises above, an interface with the said flow of—controlling the water content of the froth layer which rises above the interface to influence the concentration of the substances therein; and—removing at least some of the froth layer from an upper portion of the chamber.
Claims32
A method of separating trace amounts of amphiphilic substances from water which is contaminated with the substances, the method comprising the steps of:
- admitting an amount of the water, which includes an initial concentration of the substances, into a chamber via an inlet thereinto, the chamber being, at least in part, conically shaped by having a progressively smaller internal cross-sectional area when moving in an upward direction over its vertical height;
- introducing a flow of gas into the chamber, wherein said introduced gas forms gas bubbles and induces the water in the chamber to flow, to produce a froth layer which is formed at, and which rises above, an interface with the said flow of water and of introduced gas in the chamber, the froth layer including an amount of water and also a concentrated amount of the substances when compared with their initial concentration;
- and
- removing at least some of the froth layer from an upper portion of the chamber,
- wherein in use, the method involves operably controlling the location of the interface at a vertical height in the conically shaped part of the chamber, to result in conditions where:
- the rising air bubbles experience crowding and coalescence in the water below the interface, enhancing formation of the froth layer, to thereby influence recovery of the substances therein;
- and
- the cross-sectional flow path of the froth layer which rises above the interface becomes confined near the upper portion of the chamber, resulting in drainage of water from the froth layer to thereby influence the concentration of the substances therein.
(canceled)
The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the further step comprises the use of said second chamber when arranged to extend above the conically shaped chamber in a vertically upward direction.
(canceled)
11-13. (canceled)
Apparatus for separating trace amounts of amphiphilic substances from water which is contaminated with these substances, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber having an inlet which is arranged in use to admit thereinto an amount of the contaminated water which includes an initial concentration of the substances, the chamber being, at least in part, conically shaped by having a progressively smaller internal cross-sectional area when moving in an upward direction over its vertical height;
- a gas introduction device which in use admits gas into the chamber, wherein the introduced gas forms gas bubbles and induces the water in the chamber to flow, to produce a froth layer which is formed at, and which rises above, an interface with the said flow of water and introduced gas in the chamber, the froth layer including an amount of water and also a concentrated amount of the substances when compared with their initial concentration;
- and
- a removal device in use for removing at least some of the froth layer from an upper portion of the chamber,
- wherein the apparatus is arranged in use with the interface operably located at a vertical height in the conically shaped part of the chamber resulting in conditions where:
- the rising air bubbles experience crowding and coalescence in the water below the interface, enhancing formation of the froth layer thereat;
- and
- the cross-sectional flow path of the froth layer which rises above the interface is confined near the upper portion of the chamber, resulting in drainage of water from the froth layer, to thereby influence the concentration of the substances therein.
18-19. (canceled)
(canceled)
25-33. (canceled)
An apparatus for separating trace amounts of an amphiphilic substance from water which is contaminated with the substance, the apparatus comprising:
- a conical chamber, configured with a progressively smaller, circular internal cross-sectional shape when moving in a vertical direction up a central vertical axis thereof;
- and
- the chamber having an inlet which is arranged in a lowermost region thereof, and arranged in use to admit thereinto an amount of the contaminated water which includes an initial concentration of the substance;
- a gas introduction device which in use admits gas into the chamber, the introduced gas for inducing water to flow within the chamber, and for producing a froth layer which is formed at, and which rises above an interface with the said flow of water and introduced gas in the chamber, the froth layer including an amount of water and also a concentrated amount of the substance when compared with its initial concentration;
- wherein the apparatus is arranged in use to confine the froth layer near an uppermost narrow width portion of the chamber, and in so doing, to control the water content of the froth layer, which rises above the interface and passes through the narrow width portion, to influence the concentration of the substance therein;
- and
- a device for removing at least some of the froth layer from the upper portion of the chamber.
35-38. (canceled)
A method of separating amounts of primary and secondary amphiphilic substances from water which is contaminated initially with a mixture of said substances, the primary amphiphilic substances being of relatively longer molecular hydrocarbon chain lengths=>C8 compared with the secondary amphiphilic substances=<C6, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a flow of gas into a vessel containing the contaminated water, aiming to produce a froth layer which rises above an interface with said water and gas flow, so that the froth layer includes an amount of water and a concentrated amount of the primary amphiphilic substances when compared with its initial concentration, which is then removed;
- and
- continuing to introduce the flow of gas into the vessel containing the contaminated water, to allow a steady-state enrichment of the amphiphilic compounds to occur in the surface meniscus region of the flotation vessel;
- and then
- introducing an upward, volumetric displacement of some of the water within the flotation vessel, to thereby release any remaining primary amphiphilic substances, and a concentrated amount of the secondary amphiphilic substances when compared with its initial concentration, which is then removed from the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.