Method and apparatus for fluid purification

• US 20060043026A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sui-Chun Law, Yiu-Wai Chan
• Original Assignee: Sui-Chun Law, Yiu-Wai Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Yiu-Wai, Law, Sui-Chun
• Application Number:
  US11/202,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/758
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/104 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/804 UV light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/38 Removing components of undefined structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/75 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/281 using inorganic sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/72 by oxidation C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for fluid purification with a good purification effect. The working principle of the purification method is that, when a fluid containing organic pollutants and inorganic impurities flows through an oxidizing reagent generating device and a molecular sieve, wherein said oxidizing reagent generating device is located at an upstream position of said molecular sieve, the oxidizing agents generated by said oxidizing reagent generating device, organic pollutants and inorganic impurities of the fluid are adsorbed into the pores of said molecular sieve, in which said organic pollutants of the fluid are oxidized and decomposed by said oxidizing agents. With this invention, it is not necessary to replace the molecular sieve frequently.

Claims

1. A method for fluid purification, comprising following steps:

making a fluid containing organic pollutants and inorganic impurities to flow through an oxidizing reagent generating device and a molecular sieve, wherein said oxidizing reagent generating device is located at an upstream position of said molecular sieve;

allowing the oxidizing agents generated by said oxidizing reagent generating device, organic pollutants and inorganic impurities of the fluid to be adsorbed into the pores of said molecular sieve, in which said organic pollutants of the fluid are oxidized and decomposed by said oxidizing agents.

2. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve comprises (Si^IV—

O—

Al^III—

O—

Si^IV)⁻

H⁺ or (Si^IV—

O—

Al^III—

O—

Si^IV)⁻

M⁺, an alumino-silicate with negatively charged, hydrophilic framework containing ion exchange sites or acid sites.

3. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may contain chemical with composition as (Si^IV—

O—

Si^IV—

O—

Si^IV), a silicate with neutral charged, hydrophobic framework containing no ion exchange sites or acid sites.

4. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may contain chemical with composition as (Al^III—

O—

P^V—

O—

Al^III), an aluminophosphate with neutral charged, hydrophilic framework containing no ion exchange sites or acid sites.

5. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains mixed organic-inorganic oxide framework, which may be made by mixing organic template during the process of synthesis.

6. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains active sites, such as acid sites or redox-active sites, for catalyzing the decomposition reaction of the organic pollutants of the fluid.

7. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains transition metal integrated during ion exchange process or during synthesis.

8. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains hybrid organic-inorganic oxide framework, wherein said hybrid organic-inorganic oxide framework having organic compounds which may form crystalline structure of said framework, or may form templates for supporting some of the nano-pores of said molecular sieve.

9. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may be selected from activated carbon, microporous and nanoporous oxide materials or other high porosity materials of the like.

10. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may be selected from the mixture of activated carbon with microporous and nanoporous oxide materials or other similar high porosity materials.

11. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve has similar hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity as the oxidizing agents generated by said oxidizing reagent generating device;

and the pores of said molecular sieve have similar shape and orientation as the molecules of the oxidizing agents generated by the oxidizing reagent generating device.

12. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, said molecular sieve contains two-dimension or three-dimension oxide framework.

13. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, the oxidizing agents generated by said oxidizing reagent generating device are homogeneous or heterogeneous in comparing with the nature of the fluid.

14. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, when the fluid is a liquid, the oxidizing agents generated by said oxidizing reagent generating device may be either in the form of liquid or gas, may be either homogenerous or heterogenerous as the fluid, or may be combination thereof.

15. The method for fluid purification according to claim 1, wherein, when the fluid is a gas, a water scrubbing device is further installed at the upstream position of said molecular sieve.

16. The method of fluid purification according to claim 15, wherein, disinfectant or oxidizing agent is further added into the solution in the water scrubbing device.

17. An apparatus for fluid purification, comprising:

a housing having an outlet and an inlet for the fluid;

an oxidizing reagent generating device;

a molecular sieve; and

a circulating device;

wherein said oxidizing reagent generating device, molecular sieve and circulating device are installed inside said housing, and wherein said oxidizing reagent generating device is located at an upstream position of said molecular sieve, and wherein said circulating device facilitates said fluid to flow from upstream to downstream.

18. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, said fluid is a water flow;

said circulating device is a water pump which pumps water of said water flow from upstream to downstream.

19. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, said fluid is an air flow, said circulating device is an exhaust fan which extracts air of said air flow from upstream to downstream.

20. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, a water scrubbing device is further installed at an upstream position of said molecular sieve.

21. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, said oxidizing reagent generating device may be either an ozone generator or an ionizer.

22. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, further includes a pre-filter installation at an upstream position of said molecular sieve.

23. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 22, wherein, the pre-filter may be selected from a cellulose fiber, a HEPA filter, an aluminum filter frame or an electrostatic precipitator or the mixture of thereof.

24. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 22, wherein, a heater, a thermal storage device, a UV light or a dehumifier may be further installed at an upstream position of the pre-filter.

25. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may contain chemical with composition as (Si^IV—

O—

Al^III—

O—

Si^IV)⁻

H⁺ or (Si^IV—

O—

Al^III—

O—

Si^IV)⁻

M⁺, an alumino-silicate with negatively charged, hydrophilic framework containing ion exchange sites or acid sites.

26. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may contain chemical with composition as (Si^IV—

O—

Si^IV—

O—

Si^IV), a silicate with neutral charged, hydrophobic framework containing no ion exchange sites or acid sites.

27. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may contain chemical with composition as (Al^III—

O—

P^V—

O—

Al^III), an aluminophosphate with neutral charged, hydrophilic framework containing no ion exchange sites or acid sites.

28. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the molecular sieve contains mixed organic-inorganic oxide framework, which may be made by mixing organic template during the process of synthesis.

29. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains active sites, such as acid sites or redox-active sites, for catalyzing the decomposition reaction of the organic pollutants of the fluid.

30. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains transition metal integrated during ion exchange process or during synthesis.

31. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve contains hybrid organic-inorganic oxide framework, wherein said hybrid organic-inorganic oxide framework having organic compounds which may form crystalline structure of said framework, or may form templates for supporting some of the nano-pores of said melocular sieves.

32. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may be selected from activated carbon, microporous and nanoporous oxide materials or other high porosity materials of the like.

33. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 17, wherein, the material of said molecular sieve may be selected from the mixture of activated carbon and microporous and nanoporous oxide materials or other similar high porosity materials mixed with activated carbon.

34. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 22, wherein, a control unit with particulate sensing unit shall be integrated when the electrostatic precipitator is used as the pre-filter;

and a by-passing unit for the fluid purification shall be activated automatically to prevent the molecular sieve from surface-clogging with particulates when the particulates level of the in-take fluid is too high, wherein said by-passing unit shall automatically turn off when the particulates level of the in-take fluid is back to normal level.

35. The apparatus for fluid purification according to claim 23, wherein, a control unit with particulate sensing unit shall be integrated when the electrostatic precipitator is used as the pre-filter;

and a by-passing unit for the fluid purification shall be activated automatically to prevent the molecular sieve from surface-clogging with particulates when the particulates level of the in-take fluid is too high, wherein said by-passing unit shall automatically turn off when the particulates level of the in-take fluid is back to normal level.