Continuous separation process
AssigneeAluminum Company of America
InventorsLawrence L. Fox, Nelson J. Merrick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a continuous process for removing an organic compound from water including passing an influent of water and organic compound through a filter bed of hard, substantially non-porous, inorganic particles to separate the organic compound and form a water effluent of reduced organic amounts, washing the particles to remove the organic compound and form a concentrated organic effluent, and recycling washed particles to the filter bed. The continuous process includes washing at a washing rate sufficient to shear organic compounds from solid filter media particles.
Claims20
A continuous physical separation process for purifying water contaminated with low level concentrations of PCB's without replacement or disposal of filter bed media comprising:
- (a) passing water contaminated with low level concentrations of PCB's in the range of about 1-20 ppb through a filter bed of hard, substantially non-porous, inorganic particles to separate said PCB's and form contaminated particles and purified water of reduced PCB's concentration;
- (b) hydraulically shearing said contaminated particles to remove said PCB's and form decontaminated particles and a concentrated PCB's effluent;
- and
- (c) recycling said decontaminated particles to said filter bed.
A continuous process for removing low level concentrations of PCB from water comprising:
- (a) passing contaminated water containing PCB's in an amount of 1 to 20 ppb through a filter bed of filter media particles having a size in the range of about 0.9-0.95 mm at a uniformity coefficient of less than about 1.5 to separate PCB and form contaminated particles and purified water effluent having less than about 1.0 PCB part per billion;
- (b) hydraulically shearing the contaminated particles by contacting with a portion of said contaminated water to form a concentrated PCB effluent;
- (c) washing said decontaminated particles in a portion of said purified water to remove residual PCB's;
- (d) mixing said residual PCB's with said concentrated PCB effluent;
- and
- (e) recycling decontaminated particles to the filter bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.