US 4,948,511 A · Method for extracting dissolved organic pollutants from aqueous streams

Abstract

A method for economically creating useful thermal energy and decontaminating an aqueous stream containing dissolved organic pollutants which may be present in total concentration of 1 or 2 weight percent or as low as even less than 10 ppm. The stream of contaminated water is extracted with a once-through countercurrent stream of substantially water-immiscible, non-polar mixed C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 hydrocabons to dissolve and remove organic pollutants and create a treated water stream which meets environmental standardes for re-use or for discharge to a municipal treatment facility or to the environment. The contaminated mixed hydrocarbon stream is transferred to an on-site power or heat-generating facility where it and its contaminants are burned at a temperature of at least about 1000.degree. F. and a residence time of at least about 1 second to oxidize the contaminants and generate useful thermal energy, e.g., by creating steam which is expanded through a turbine to create electrical power via an interconnected electrical generator.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method suitable for the extraction from a contaminated water stream of a wide variety of dissolved organic pollutants to render such stream suitable for reuse or for discharge to the environment or to another treatment method for removing different contaminants, which method comprises the steps of

pretreating a first stream of contaminated water to remove suspended solids therefrom,
contacting said pretreated first stream of contaminated water with a countercurrent second stream of substantially water-immiscible, non-polar mixed hydrocarbons of chain lengths between about C.sub.10 and C.sub.20 which second stream extracts particular dissolved organic pollutants of interest and removes same from said first stream to create a treated water stream which meets environmental standards for re-use or for discharge to a municipal treatment facility or to the environment and which contains less than 10 ppm total of dissolved organic pollutants;
separating a treated water stream containing not more than 10 ppm of dissolved organic pollutants of concern and a contaminated mixed hydrocarbon stream from said countercurrent contacting step;
transferring said contaminated mixed hydrocarbon stream to a power or heat-generating facility and burning said stream and its contaminants at a temperature of at least about 1000.degree. F. and a residence time of at least about 1 second;
and
either directing said treated stream for re-use, or discharging said treated water stream to the environment or to a subsequent treatment facility.

3 more elements

A method for economically creating useful thermal energy by combusting a contaminated solvent stream obtained from extraction treatment of a contaminated water stream containing dissolved organic pollutants which treatment renders such water stream suitable for reuse or for discharge to the environment or to another treatment method for removing different contaminants, which method comprises the steps of

pretreating a first stream of contaminated water to remove suspended solids therefrom,
contacting said pretreated first stream of contaminated water with a countercurrent second stream of substantially water-immiscible, non-polar mixed hydrocarbons of chain lengths between about C.sub.10 and C.sub.20 which second stream in a single pass extracts particular dissolved organic pollutants of interest and removes same from said first stream to create a treated water stream which meets environmental standards for re-use or for discharge to a municipal treatment facility or to the environment and which contains less than 10 ppm total of dissolved organic pollutants;
separating a treated water stream containing not more than 10 ppm of dissolved organic pollutants of concern and a contaminated mixed hydrocarbon stream from said countercurrent contacting step;
transferring said contaminated mixed hydrocarbon stream following said single pass through said countercurrent contacting step to an on-site power or heat-generating facility and burning said stream and its contaminants at a temperature of at least about 1000.degree. F. and a residence time of at least about 1 second;
monitoring to detect specific contaminant levels of dissolved organic pollutants in said treated water stream and adjusting the relative rate of flow of said second stream entering said countercurrent contacting step responsive to the levels detected;
and
either directing said treated stream for re-use, or discharging said treated water stream to the environment or to a subsequent treatment facility.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for extracting dissolved organic pollutants from aqueous streams

Life of this patent

Method for extracting dissolved organic pollutants from aqueous streams

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19