Process and apparatus for removal of impurities from liquids

A system for removing an impurity from a liquid containing the same comprising:

• a vessel holding a quantity of particulate, water-insoluble material which acts to remove the impurity by chemical reaction, ion exchange or adsorption, the material contained in the vessel with the liquid being treted for removal of the impurity from the liquid, the vessel having multiple, small openings in a wall thereof,
• a packed layer of particulate, finely-divided filter material, inert with respect to the impurity being removed, in each of the openings in the vessel wall,
• means for retaining the layer of filter material in each of the openings,
• means for feeding the liquid containing the impurity to be treated into the vessel into contact with the particulate, water-insoluble material and then through the particulate, finely-divided filter material in each of the openings in the vessel wall,
• means in the vessel for repeatedly sweeping over the inner surfce of the vessel and openings in which the filter material is retained to prevent blinding of the filter material, and
• means for maintaining a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vessel to aid in passage of the liquid through the filter material retained in the openings.

A system for removing an impurity contained in small quantities in an aqueous solution comprising:

• an outer housing having a discharge opening therein,
• a cylindrical vessel mounted in the housing having spaced end walls connected by a cylindrical wall with a thickness of from 1/4 to 1/2 inches, the cylindrical wall having multiple openings therein around its circumferential surface ranging in size from 1/8 to 1/2 inches in diameter,
• a quantity of a particulate, water-insoluble material which acts to remove the impurity by chemical reaction, ion exchange or adsorption, the material contained in the vessel in the aqueous solution being treated for removal of the impurity in the aqueous solution,
• a packed, finely-divided, particulate filter material imbedded in the multiple openings of the cylindrical wall of the vessel,
• a woven material covering the outer surface of the cylindrical wall of the vessel and the multiple openings therein having a mesh size sufficient to prevent passage therethrough of the finely-divided filter material imbedded in the multiple openings of the cylindrical shell,
• means for feeding the aqueous solution containing the impurity to be treated into the vessel into contact with the particulate, water-insoluble material and then through the particulate finely-divided filter material in each of the openings in the vessel wall,
• a series of blades extending substantially the length of the vessel mounted on a rotatable shaft axially positioned within the vessel for repeatedly sweeping directly adjacent the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the vessel and over the openings therein to prevent blinding of the filter material and to mix the particulate, water-insoluble material within the vessel,
• means for maintaining a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the vessel to aid in passage of the aqueous solution through the filter material retained in the multiple openings thereof, and
• power means connected to the shaft for rotation thereof.