Advanced filtration technique for fluid purification
First Claim
1. A method for recovering a decontaminated effluent after photocatalytic decontamination of a contaminated fluid, comprising:
- forming a slurry by mixing a contaminated fluid with photocatalytic particles having an agglomeration property;
exciting the photocatalytic particles of the slurry to render a treated slurry that includes a decontaminated fluid and agglomerated photocatalytic particles;
directing the treated slurry into a filter unit that includes at least one separation element, each separation element having an inner surface defined by a channel extending through a substrate, each separation clement having a plurality of pores which derive from the inner surface and extend through the substrate;
passing the treated slurry through a separation element under certain conditions designed to induce the agglomerated photocatalytic particles to accumulate and form a layer at or near the inner surface of the separation element; and
recovering the decontaminated fluid through the plurality of pores of the separation element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for fluid purification is disclosed herein. In accordance with the present invention, an improved technique for recovering a decontaminated effluent after photocatalytic decontamination of a contaminated fluid is achieved. A slurry is formed by mixing a contaminated fluid with photocatalytic particles having an agglomeration property, and the photocatalytic particles are excited to render a treated slurry that includes a decontaminated fluid and the photocatalytic particles. The treated slurry is directed into a filter unit that includes at least one separation element. Each separation element has an inner surface defined by a channel extending through a substrate, and a plurality of pores which derive from the inner surface and extend through the substrate. The treated slurry is passed through the separation element and the agglomerated photocatalytic particles are allowed to form a layer at or near the inner surface of the separation element. Decontaminated effluent can then be recovered through the plurality of pores of the separation element. The treated slurry is preferably degassified in a tank before it is presented to the filter unit. Further, the amounts of recovered decontaminated effluent is preferably limited based on the level of treated slurry in the tank.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for recovering a decontaminated effluent after photocatalytic decontamination of a contaminated fluid, comprising:
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forming a slurry by mixing a contaminated fluid with photocatalytic particles having an agglomeration property; exciting the photocatalytic particles of the slurry to render a treated slurry that includes a decontaminated fluid and agglomerated photocatalytic particles; directing the treated slurry into a filter unit that includes at least one separation element, each separation element having an inner surface defined by a channel extending through a substrate, each separation clement having a plurality of pores which derive from the inner surface and extend through the substrate; passing the treated slurry through a separation element under certain conditions designed to induce the agglomerated photocatalytic particles to accumulate and form a layer at or near the inner surface of the separation element; and recovering the decontaminated fluid through the plurality of pores of the separation element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for fluid purification, comprising:
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a system for treating contaminated fluids by a photocatalytic process, the system being operable to render a treated slurry which includes a decontaminated effluent and photocatalytic particles having an agglomeration property; a filter unit including at least one separation element, each separation element having an inner surface defined by a channel extending through a substrate and a plurality of pores which derive from the inner surface and extend through the substrate, each of the plurality of pores being larger than individual ones of the photocatalytic particles, the filter unit being operable to separate the treated slurry into decontaminated effluent and a residual slurry, the decontaminated effluent being recovered after passing through the plurality of pores of a separation element; and a pump to return the residual slurry to the treatment system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification