Water purification composition, kit and method employing the same

A water purification kit comprising a package of at least one 600 mg water purification tablet of the following composition:

• (a) an organo-chlorine compound serving as a disinfectant-sanitizing agent;
• (b) a solid inorganic metal salt having a trivalent cation serving as a coagulant-precipitate agent;
• (c) a solid alkali which is highly soluble in water and highly effervescent in the presence of an acid serving as a dispersion-buffer agent.
• (d) a solid anionic polymeric hydrophilic primary colloid flocculant which is incompatible with the trivalent cations in solution and when dispersed in water, forms a primary sol which is rapidly precipitated together with the coagulated impurities in the water by the trivalent cations;
• (e) a solid cationic, polymeric hydrophilic secondary colloid flocculant, capable when dispersed in the water of forming a secondary sol to assist the primary sol in the aggregation of the coagulated impurities, the proportions of the primary and secondary colloid flocculants in the composition being such that when the composition is used to purify the intended volume of water, the colloids together do not interfere with coagulant dispersal, chlorination of or floc formation in the water;
• (f) a long fiber cellulose serving as an agglomeration matrix and pre-filter for absorbing flocs and trapping debris and cysts;
• (g) a bulk ion exchange absorbent having high absorption of water, a high exchange capacity for cations and rapid absorption of organic and inorganic compounds, said components (a)-(g) totaling 100% by weight of said composition;
• and
• (h) a cloth filter.

A method for the batchwise purification and clarification for drinking purposes of a relatively small predetermined volume of contaminated water, comprising the steps of:

• (a) adding a predetermined effective amount of a water purification composition, in unit dosage form to said predetermined volume of contaminated water, said composition including:
• (i) an organo-chlorine compound serving as a disinfectant-sanitizing agent;
• (ii) a solid inorganic metal salt having a trivalent cation serving as a coagulant-precipitate agent;
• (iii) a solid alkali which is highly soluble in water and highly effervescent in the presence of an acid serving as a dispersion-buffer agent;
• (iv) a solid anionic polymeric hydrophilic primary colloid flocculant which is incompatible with the trivalent cations in solution and when dispersed in water, forms a primary sol which is rapidly precipitated together with the coagulated impurities in the water by the trivalent cations;
• (v) a solid cationic, polymeric hydrophilic secondary colloid flocculant, capable when dispersed in the water of forming a secondary sol to assist the primary sol in the aggregation of the coagulated impurities, the proportions of the primary and secondary colloid flocculants in the composition being such that when the composition is used to purify the intended volume of water, the colloids together do not interfere with coagulant dispersal, chlorination of or floc formation in the water;
• (vi) a long fiber cellulose serving as an agglomeration matrix and pre-filter for absorbing flocs and trapping debris and cysts;
• and
• (vii) a bulk ion exchange absorbent having high absorption of water, a high exchange capacity for cations and rapid absorption of organic and inorganic compounds;
• said components (a)-(g) totaling 100% by weight of said composition.
• (b) stirring said water to disperse said composition therein and to flocculate and coagulate suspended solid impurities therein;
• (c) allowing said previously stirred water to stand;
• and
• (d) thereafter filtering said water through a filtering cloth to remove said impurities and to obtain purified water suitable for human consumption.