Method and apparatus for decontaminating a liquid
First Claim
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1. A method for decontaminating a liquid of a contaminant having a vapor pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid, comprising the steps of:
- a) introducing a contaminated liquid, said liquid being selected from a group consisting of silicones, polydienes, epoxies, epoxides, phosphazenes, ethers, esters, caprolactones, sulfides, azalates, chlorinated alkanes and styrenes, into an inclined conduit at an upper portion of the conduit to form a thin film of liquid which flows along and through the inclined conduit, whereby the contaminant is volatilized; and
b) flowing a gas through the conduit and over the thin film of liquid to transport the contaminant, which has volatilized in the conduit, out of the conduit, thereby decontaminating the liquid.
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Abstract
A method for decontaminating a liquid of a contaminant having a vapor pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid. A contaminated liquid is directed through an inclined conduit. A gas is directed into the inclined conduit, whereby the gas contacts the liquid and transports the contaminant, which has volatilized in the inclined conduit, out of the inclined conduit, thereby decontaminating the liquid. The liquid is discharged from the inclined conduit.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for decontaminating a liquid of a contaminant having a vapor pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid, comprising the steps of:
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a) introducing a contaminated liquid, said liquid being selected from a group consisting of silicones, polydienes, epoxies, epoxides, phosphazenes, ethers, esters, caprolactones, sulfides, azalates, chlorinated alkanes and styrenes, into an inclined conduit at an upper portion of the conduit to form a thin film of liquid which flows along and through the inclined conduit, whereby the contaminant is volatilized; and b) flowing a gas through the conduit and over the thin film of liquid to transport the contaminant, which has volatilized in the conduit, out of the conduit, thereby decontaminating the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for decontaminating a liquid polymer of a solvent contaminant having a vapor pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid, comprising the steps of:
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a) introducing the contaminated liquid polymer, said liquid polymer being selected from a group consisting of silicones, polydienes, epoxides, phosphazenes, ethers, esters, caprolactones, sulfides, azalates, chlorinated alkanes and styrenes and has a glass transition temperature of about 15°
C. or less, through an inclined conduit to form a thin film of liquid which flows along the inclined conduit, whereby the solvent contaminant is volatilized; andb) flowing a gas through the conduit and over the thin film of the liquid polymer to transport the solvent contaminant, which has volatilized in the conduit, out of the conduit, thereby decontaminating the liquid polymer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for decontaminating a liquid of a contaminant having a vapor pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid, comprising the steps of:
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a) introducing a contaminated liquid said liquid being selected from a group consisting of silicones, polydienes, epoxies, epoxides, phosphazenes, ethers, esters, caprolactones, sulfides, azalates, chlorinated alkanes and styrenes, into an upper conduit at an upper portion of the upper conduit to form a first thin film of liquid which flows along and through the upper conduit, whereby the contaminant is volatilized; b) flowing a gas through the upper conduit and over the first thin film of liquid to transport the contaminant, which has volatilized in the upper conduit, out of the upper conduit, thereby at least partially decontaminating the liquid; c) discharging the partially decontaminated liquid from a lower portion of the upper conduit into a middle conduit at an upper portion of the middle conduit to form a second thin film of liquid which flows along and through the middle conduit, whereby contaminant is volatilized; d) flowing a gas through the middle conduit and over the second thin film of the partially decontaminated liquid to transport the contaminant, which has volatilized in the middle conduit, out of the middle conduit, thereby further decontaminating the liquid; e) discharging the further partially decontaminated liquid from a lower portion the middle conduit into a lower conduit at an upper portion of the lower conduit to form a third thin film of liquid which flows along and through the lower conduit, whereby the contaminant is volatilized; and f) flowing a gas through the lower conduit and over the third thin film of the further partially decontaminated liquid to transport the contaminant, which has volatilized in the lower conduit, out of the lower conduit, thereby decontaminating the liquid.
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Specification