Systems for treating water using iron
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsRajat S. Ghosh, Dennis Fulmer, Kevin Kitzman, John Smith
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Abstract
Systems and associated methods for treating contaminant-containing wastewater are provided. The systems generally include a reducing zone for reducing the oxidation-reduction potential of the water and a clean-up zone comprising zero valent iron for removing at least a portion of the contaminant from the contaminant-containing water. The systems are operable to remove one or more contaminants from the contaminant-containing water and are operable for extended durations without clogging due to the formation of iron hydroxides.
Claims8
An ex-situ system for treating contaminant-containing water, the system comprising:
- a first treatment zone comprising a reducing agent adapted to reduce the oxidation-reduction potential of contaminant-containing water flowing therethrough, wherein the first treatment zone comprises an iron-containing media present in an amount of less than about 10 wt % of the first treatment zone, wherein the treatment zone comprises a pH of at least about 5, wherein said first treatment zone is capable of reducing the oxidation-reduction potential of the contaminant-containing water to not greater than about 0 mV, and restricting Fe3+ and iron hydroxide production;
- and
- a second treatment zone downstream of the first treatment zone, the second treatment zone comprising at least 50 wt % zero valent iron for removing at least a portion of contaminants contained in the contaminant-containing water;
- wherein said second treatment zone is capable of corroding zero valent iron into Fe2+ using the contaminant-containing water, forming precipitates from the Fe2+ and contaminants of the contaminant-containing water, and removing precipitates from the water at a hydraulic loading of about 0.5 gpm/ft2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.