Pressurizing-depressurizing cycles for removal of contaminants in environmental samples
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorP. K. Andy Hong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of removing contaminants from slurry samples is set forth. The method includes the utilization of repeated pressurizing and depressurizing steps to disrupt solidified particles in solid-containing slurries thereby increasing decontamination efficiency. An expansion fluid is injected into the slurry sample sufficient to create microbubbles when the slurry sample is depressurized. The micro bubbles mechanically disrupt the solidified particles increasing contaminant exposure. The microbubbles also provide for increased interfacial regions where contaminants can accumulate at gas-liquid thin films that are in close proximity to and can be effectively removed using a suitable expansion fluid and optional decontamination agents.
Claims34
A method of removing contaminants from a contaminated sample of industrial wastewater, comprising:
- a) pressurizing the contaminated sample of industrial wastewater;
- b) injecting an expansion fluid into the contaminated sample;
- c) depressurizing the sample such that the expansion fluid forms microbubbles in the contaminated sample, wherein the microbubbles convert at least a portion of contaminants in the industrial wastewater to at least one product;
- d) repeating the steps of pressurizing and depressurizing at least once;
- wherein the sample is maintained within a common vessel through the pressurizing, depressurizing, and repeating steps.
A method of removing contaminants from a contaminated slurry sample of industrial wastewater, comprising:
- a) pressurizing the contaminated slurry sample of industrial wastewater by injecting an expansion fluid to at least 50 psi, said sample containing at least one contaminant, said expansion fluid being a reactive or nonreactive gas, which includes one or more decontaminating compounds selected from the group consisting of oxidizing agents, reducing agents, phase transfer agents, extraction agents, and combinations thereof;
- b) depressurizing the slurry sample to a second pressure which is at least 10 psi lower than the first pressure such that the injected expansion fluid forms microbubbles in the contaminated sample causing any solid particulates in the sample to fracture thereby exposing contaminants contained therein to the at least one decontaminating compound and increasing decontaminating efficiency;
- and
- c) repeating the steps of pressurizing and depressurizing from 2 to 200 times;
- wherein the sample is maintained within a common vessel through the pressurizing, depressurizing, and repeating steps.
A method of removing contaminants from a contaminated sample of produced water from oil or gas extraction, comprising:
- pressurizing the contaminated sample of produced water from oil or gas extraction, wherein the sample contains hydrocarbons;
- injecting an expansion fluid comprising ozone into the contaminated sample;
- depressurizing the sample such that the expansion fluid forms microbubbles in the contaminated sample, wherein the microbubbles convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to at least one ozonation product of hydrocarbons;
- repeating the steps of pressurizing and depressurizing at least once;
- and
- filtering the at least one ozonation product of hydrocarbons from the sample,
- wherein the sample is maintained within a common vessel through the pressurizing, depressurizing, and repeating steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.