Electroflocculation cell
AssigneeJ. M. Huber Corporation
InventorAlbert C. Kunkle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electroflocculation cell for the separation of clay particles from an aqueous suspension thereof, the cell being equipped with an anode and cathode separated by a first semipermeable membrane impermeable to clay particles which divides the cell into anode and cathode compartments. A second semipermeable membrane is provided in the anode compartment spaced from the anode and the first membrane. Upon application of a direct current to the anode and cathode, clay particles in a suspension fed to the area of the cell between the first and second membranes deposit electrophoretically on the second membrane. By avoiding contact of the clay deposit with the anode, contamination of the deposit by anode corrosion products is thereby avoided.
Claims27
A method of electrokinetically separating finely divided clay particles suspended in an aqueous medium comprising the steps of
- introducing a suspension of solid clay particles into an electrokinetic cell provided with an anode and a cathode, and two semi-permeable membranes impermeable to the clay particles separating the anode and cathode, the cathode and a first of said membranes forming a cathodic compartment in the cell, the anode and a second of said membranes forming an anodic compartment in the cell, the space between said first and second membranes constituting a slurry compartment in the cell;
- directing the particle suspension into the said slurry compartment;
- discharging solid particle depleted effluent from the said slurry compartment;
- adding and circulating through the cathodic compartment an electrolyte having a pH of from 2-7;
- adding and circulating through the anodic compartment an electrolyte to maintain a predetermined concentration therein;
- applying a direct current field between the anode and cathode to cause the solid particle to be electrophoretically deposited from the suspension onto the said second membrane overlaying the anode concomitantly with the aqueous portion of the suspension being caused to migrate electroosmotically through the said first semi-permeable membrane and into the cathode compartment;
- and
- removing the solid particles from the said second membrane overlaying the anode and the water from the cathode compartment.
A method of electrokinetically separating finely divided clay particles suspended in an aqueous medium comprising the steps of
- introducing an aqueous suspension of 40-65% solids clay particles into an electrokinetic cell provided with a Type 316 stainless steel anode and a Type 316 stainless steel cathode, and two semi-permeable membranes impermeable to clay particles separating the anode and cathode and having an air porosity of from 0.5 - 4.0 cubic feet per minute per square inch, the cathode and a first of said membranes spaced from 1/16 - 1/2 inch apart forming a cathodic compartment in the cell, the anode and a second of said membranes spaced from 1/16 - 1/2 inch apart forming an anodic compartment in the cell, the space between said first and second membranes spaced from 1 - 11/2 inches apart constituting a slurry compartment in the cell;
- directing the particle suspension into said slurry compartment;
- discharging solid particle depleted effluent from said slurry compartment;
- adding and circulating through the cathodic compartment an electrolyte having a pH of from 2 - 7;
- adding and circulating through the anodic compartment an electrolyte to maintain a predetermined concentration therein;
- applying a direct current field producing a current density of from 0.05 - 0.35 ampere per square inch of effective electrode area between the anode and cathode to cause the solid particle to be electrophoretically deposited from the suspension onto the said second membrane overlaying the anode concomitantly with the aqueous portion of the suspension being caused to migrate electroosmotically through the said first semi-permeable membrane and into the cathode compartment;
- and
- removing the solid particles from the said second membrane overlaying the anode and the water from the cathode compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.