Methods for reducing and separating emulsions and homogeneous components from contaminated water
First Claim
1. A method of separating highly emulsified and/or immiscible components mixed in a fluid, which comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing a coalescer comprising a plurality of spaced apart plates, each plate having corrugations running along the plate forming crests and valleys, said plate having bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components;
(b) adding oil metabolizing microorganisms to the fluid to break the emulsion; and
(c) passing the fluid through the coalescer to separate the immiscible constituents of the waste stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the reduction and separation of highly emulsified and/or immiscible components mixed in a fluid, particularly useful for treating waste water contaminated with oils and oily emulsions, as from depleted oil wells, vehicle washing stations, and meat rendering plants. The system is operative for reducing the amount of organic and inorganic contaminants, and is particularly suitable for reducing the amount of oil, with oil-consuming microorganisms, and separating oil that is not consumed within the system from the water so that the oil may be recycled and the water discharged into wetlands or sanitary sewers without further treatment. The system comprises a multi-stage, recirculating series of treatment tanks. In a first stage, the fluid is recirculated through a treatment loop where the fluid is aerated and then passed through a coalescer. Organic metabolizing microorganisms that contribute to de-emulsification and contaminant reduction within the system are introduced, together with a superoxygenated catalyst containing microorganism nutrients. The coalescer is preferably a horizontal stack of evenly spaced apart polypropylene plates with sinusoidal corrugations running along the plane of the plates. In subsequent treatment stages, the fluid is recirculated through filters prior to discharge from the system.
42 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method of separating highly emulsified and/or immiscible components mixed in a fluid, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) providing a coalescer comprising a plurality of spaced apart plates, each plate having corrugations running along the plate forming crests and valleys, said plate having bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components; (b) adding oil metabolizing microorganisms to the fluid to break the emulsion; and (c) passing the fluid through the coalescer to separate the immiscible constituents of the waste stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27)
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22. A method of separating immiscible components mixed in a fluid, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) aerating the fluid; (b) adding oil metabolizing microorganisms to the fluid; (c) providing a coalescer which comprises a plurality of horizontal, spaced apart plates, each plate having corrugations running along the plate forming crests and valleys, said plate having bleed holes for passage of the immiscible components; (d) passing the fluid at least once through the coalescer; and (e) subsequently filtering the fluid through a filtration media. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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30. A method of separating highly emulsified and/or immiscible components mixed in a fluid, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) introducing fluid to be cleaned into a first treatment tank; (b) providing a coalescer; (c) prior to filtering the fluid, moving the fluid from the first treatment tank through the coalescer; (d) removing cleaned fluid from the coalescer; (e) removing the immiscible component from the fluid proximal to coalescer. (f) filtering the cleaned fluid removed from the coalescer; and (g) recirculating the cleaned fluid through a prior treatment stage. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 52, 53, 54)
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45. A method of separating highly emulsified and/or immiscible components mixed in a fluid, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) introducing uncleaned fluid into a first treatment tank; (b) aerating the fluid; (c) adding oil metabolizing microorganisms to the fluid; (d) providing a coalescer; (e) passing the fluid through the coalescer at least once prior to filtration of the fluid; (f) removing partially cleaned fluid from the coalescer into a second treatment tank; (g) accumulating partially cleaned fluid in the second treatment tank; (h) removing fluid from the second treatment tank; (i) filtering the fluid; and (j) discharging the filtered fluid. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56)
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Specification