Apparatus for removal of organic material from water

An apparatus for the oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in an ultrapure water stream, comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet being disposed at opposed ends of a flow path defined within said reaction chamber;
• flow controlling means in fluid communication with said inlet, for providing substantially uniformly dispersed flow of a stream of water from said inlet, through said reaction chamber along said flow path, and out through said outlet;
• one or more solid metallic members of substantially uniform cross-section having surfaces of a photocatalytic material disposed within said reaction chamber along said flow path, said photocatalytic material being effective to promote oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in a water stream in contact with said surfaces when said surfaces are exposed to radiation of a predetermined wavelength;
• a source of radiation including radiation of said predetermined wavelength disposed so as to irradiate said surfaces of a photocatalytic material within said chamber;
• means for effectively applying an electric potential between said one or more solid members and said water stream;
• and
• means for completing an electric circuit including said one or more solid members and said water stream, such that an electric current flows in said water stream;
• wherein said source of radiation is an elongated lamp disposed in the center of said chamber and surrounded by a plurality of said solid members having photocatalytic surfaces exposed to said flow path.

An apparatus for the oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in an ultrapure water stream, comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet being disposed at opposed ends of a flow path defined within said reaction chamber;
• flow controlling means in fluid communication with said inlet, for providing substantially uniformly dispersed flow of a stream of water from said inlet, through said reaction chamber along said flow path, and out through said outlet;
• one or more solid metallic members of substantially uniform cross-section having surfaces of a photocatalytic material disposed within said reaction chamber along said flow path, said photocatalytic material being effective to promote oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in a water stream in contact with said surfaces when said surfaces are exposed to radiation of a predetermined wavelength;
• a source of radiation including radiation of said predetermined wavelength disposed so as to irradiate said surfaces of a photocatalytic material within said chamber;
• means for effectively applying an electric potential between said one or more solid members and said water stream;
• means for completing an electric circuit including said one or more solid members and said water stream, such that an electric current flows in said water stream;
• and flow diffuser means for providing substantially uniform flow of water through said reaction chamber,
• said flow diffuser means comprising a manifold plate separating said reaction chamber into a plenum portion in flow communication with said inlet and a reactor portion containing said solid members having surfaces of a photocatalytic material, said manifold plate defining a plurality of parallel water flow passageways extending between said plenum portion and said reactor portion of said chamber.

An apparatus for the oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in an ultrapure water stream, comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet being disposed at opposed ends of a flow path defined within said reaction chamber;
• flow controlling means in fluid communication with said inlet, for providing substantially uniformly dispersed flow of a stream of water from said inlet, through said reaction chamber along said flow path, and out through said outlet;
• one or more solid metallic members of substantially uniform cross-section having surfaces of a photocatalytic material disposed within said reaction chamber along said flow path, said photocatalytic material being effective to promote oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in a water stream in contact with said surfaces when said surfaces are exposed to radiation of a predetermined wavelength;
• a source of radiation including radiation of said predetermined wavelength disposed so as to irradiate said surfaces of a photocatalytic material within said chamber;
• means for effectively applying an electric potential between said one or more solid members and said water stream;
• and
• means for completing an electric circuit including said one or more solid members and said water stream, such that an electric current flows in said water stream;
• wherein said solid members are elongated sheet-like members extending substantially between opposed ends of said chamber, and wherein said source of radiation is an elongated lamp disposed in the center of said reaction chamber and said elongated sheet-like members extending substantially between opposed ends of said chamber are curved to define substantially semi-cylindrical surfaces exposed to said water stream and generally coaxial with said lamp.

An apparatus for the oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in an ultrapure water stream, comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet being disposed at opposed ends of a flow path defined within said reaction chamber;
• flow controlling means in fluid communication with said inlet, for providing substantially uniformly dispersed flow of a stream of water from said inlet, through said reaction chamber along said flow path, and out through said outlet;
• one or more solid metallic members of substantially uniform cross-section having surfaces of a photocatalytic material disposed within said reaction chamber along said flow path, said photocatalytic material being effective to promote oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in a water stream in contact with said surfaces when said surfaces are exposed to radiation of a predetermined wavelength;
• a source of radiation including radiation of said predetermined wavelength disposed so as to irradiate said surfaces of a photocatalytic material within said chamber;
• means for effectively applying an electric potential between said one or more solid members and said water stream;
• means for completing an electric circuit including said one or more solid members and said water stream, such that an electric current flows in said water stream;
• and
• means in fluid communication with said outlet of said reaction chamber for removal of CO.sub.2, dissolved acids, and ionized organics from the water stream.

In combination, means for removing CO.sub.2, dissolved acids, and ionized organic species from an ultrapure water stream, and a reactor for oxidizing organics in a water stream to CO.sub.2, ionizing non-oxidized organics, and forming acids from partially oxidized organics, said reactor comprising:

• a reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet being disposed at opposed ends of a flow path defined within said reaction chamber;
• flow controlling means in fluid communication with said inlet, for providing substantially uniformly dispersed flow of a stream of water from said inlet, through said reaction chamber along said flow path, and out through said outlet;
• one or more solid metallic members of generally uniform cross-section and having surfaces of a photocatalytic material disposed within said reaction chamber along said flow path, said photocatalytic material being effective to promote oxidation and/or ionization of organic materials in a water stream in contact with said surfaces when said surfaces are exposed to radiation of a predetermined wavelength;
• a source of radiation including radiation of said predetermined wavelength disposed so as to irradiate said surfaces of a photocatalytic material within said chamber;
• means for effectively applying an electric potential between said one or more solid members and said water stream;
• and
• means for completing an electric circuit including said one or more solid members and said water stream, such that an electric current flows in said water stream.