Mediated electrochemical oxidation of biological waste materials
First Claim
1. A process for treating and oxidizing biological waste, comprising circulating ions of mediator oxidizing species in an electrolyte through an electrochemical cell and affecting anodic oxidation of reduced forms of reversible redox couples into oxidized forms, contacting the ions with the biological waste in an anolyte portion of the electrolyte in a primary oxidation process, involving superoxidizer ions, having an oxidation potential above a threshold value of 1.7 volts at 1 molar, 25°
- C. and pH1, wherein when said superoxidizers are present there is a free radical oxidizer driven secondary oxidation process, adding energy from an energy source to the anolyte portion and augmenting the secondary oxidation processes, breaking down hydrogen peroxide and ozone in the anolyte portion into hydroxyl free radicals, and increasing an oxidizing effect of the secondary oxidation processes, wherein the mediator oxidizing species arc selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
(b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
(c.) Type I heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation into Type I isopolyanions as heteroatoms any element selected from the group consisting of the elements listed in Table II either singly or in combination thereof, or (d.) hereropolyanions complex anion redox couples containing at least one heteroatom type element contained in both Table I and Table II below or (e.) combinations of the mediator oxidizing species from any or all of (a.), (b.), (c.) and (d.)
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mediated electrochemical oxidation to treats, oxidizes and destroys biological waste, medical, infectious, pathological, animal, sanitary, mortuary, ship, veterinary, pharmaceutical and combined waste. Electrolytes contain oxidized forms of reversible redox couples produced. Oxidized forms of redox couples are produced by anodic oxidation or reaction with oxidized forms of other redox couples. Oxidized species of the redox couples oxidize the biological waste molecules and are reduced and reoxidized. The redox cycle continues until all oxidizable waste and intermediate reaction products have undergone oxidation. Temperatures between ambient and 100° C. avoid formation of dioxins or furans.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A process for treating and oxidizing biological waste, comprising circulating ions of mediator oxidizing species in an electrolyte through an electrochemical cell and affecting anodic oxidation of reduced forms of reversible redox couples into oxidized forms, contacting the ions with the biological waste in an anolyte portion of the electrolyte in a primary oxidation process, involving superoxidizer ions, having an oxidation potential above a threshold value of 1.7 volts at 1 molar, 25°
- C. and pH1, wherein when said superoxidizers are present there is a free radical oxidizer driven secondary oxidation process, adding energy from an energy source to the anolyte portion and augmenting the secondary oxidation processes, breaking down hydrogen peroxide and ozone in the anolyte portion into hydroxyl free radicals, and increasing an oxidizing effect of the secondary oxidation processes, wherein the mediator oxidizing species arc selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
(b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
(c.) Type I heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation into Type I isopolyanions as heteroatoms any element selected from the group consisting of the elements listed in Table II either singly or in combination thereof, or (d.) hereropolyanions complex anion redox couples containing at least one heteroatom type element contained in both Table I and Table II below or (e.) combinations of the mediator oxidizing species from any or all of (a.), (b.), (c.) and (d.) - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- C. and pH1, wherein when said superoxidizers are present there is a free radical oxidizer driven secondary oxidation process, adding energy from an energy source to the anolyte portion and augmenting the secondary oxidation processes, breaking down hydrogen peroxide and ozone in the anolyte portion into hydroxyl free radicals, and increasing an oxidizing effect of the secondary oxidation processes, wherein the mediator oxidizing species arc selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
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41. Apparatus for treating and oxidizing biological waste materials comprising an electrochemical cell, an aqueous electrolyte disposed in the electrochemical cell, a hydrogen or hydronium ion-permeable or selective membrane, disposed in the electrochemical cell for separating the cell into anolyte and catholyte chambers and separating the electrolyte into aqueous anolyte and catholyte portions, electrodes further comprising an anode and a cathode disposed in the electrochemical cell respectively in the anolyte and catholyte chambers and in the anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte, a power supply connected to the anode and the cathode for applying a direct current voltage between the anolyte and the catholyte portions of the electrolyte, and oxidizing of the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion with a mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process wherein the anolyte portion further comprises a mediator in aqueous solution for producing reversible redox couples used as oxidizing species and the electrolyte is an acid, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution, farther comprising an ultrasonic source connected to the anolyte for augmenting secondary oxidation processes by heating hydrogen peroxide containing electrolyte to 4800°
- C., at 1000 atmospheres for dissociating hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl free radicals and thus increasing concentration of oxidizing species and rate of waste destruction and for irradiating biological cell membranes in biological waste materials to momentarily raise the temperature within the biological cell membranes to above several thousand degrees, causing biological cell membrane failure, creating greater exposure of biological cell contents to oxidizing species in the anolyte, and an ultraviolet source connected to the anolyte chamber for decomposing hydrogen peroxide and ozone into hydroxyl free radicals as secondary oxidizers and increasing efficiency of the process by recovering energy through the oxidation of the biological waste materials in the anolyte chamber by the secondary oxidizers.
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42. Apparatus for treating and oxidizing biological waste materials comprising an electrochemical cell, an aqueous electrolyte disposed in the electrochemical cell, a hydrogen or hydronium ion-permeable or selective membrane, disposed in the electrochemical cell for separating the cell into anolyte and catholyte chambers and separating the electrolyte into aqueous anolyte and catholyte portions, electrodes further comprising an anode and a cathode disposed in the electrochemical cell respectively in the anolyte and catholyte chambers and in the anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte, a power supply connected to the anode and the cathode for applying a direct current voltage between the anolyte and the catholyte portions of the electrolyte, and oxidizing of the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion with a mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process wherein the anolyte portion further comprises a mediator in aqueous solution for producing reversible redox couples used as oxidizing species and the electrolyte is an acid, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution, further comprising an ultrasonic source connected to the anolyte for augmenting secondary oxidation processes by heating hydrogen peroxide containing electrolyte to 4800°
- C., at 1000 atmospheres for dissociating hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl free radicals and thus increasing concentration of oxidizing species and rate of waste destruction and for irradiating biological cell membranes in biological waste materials to momentarily raise the temperature within the biological cell membranes to above several thousand degrees, causing biological cell membrane failure, creating greater exposure of biological cell contents to oxidizing species in the anolyte, and an ultrasonic source connected to the anolyte for augmenting secondary oxidation processes by heating hydrogen peroxide containing electrolyte to 4800°
C., at 1000 atmospheres for dissociating hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl free radicals and thus increasing concentration of oxidizing species and rate of waste destruction and for irradiating cell membranes in biological materials to momentarily raise the temperature within the cell membranes to above several thousand degrees, causing cell membrane failure, and creating greater exposure of cell contents to oxidizing species in the anolyte.
- C., at 1000 atmospheres for dissociating hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl free radicals and thus increasing concentration of oxidizing species and rate of waste destruction and for irradiating biological cell membranes in biological waste materials to momentarily raise the temperature within the biological cell membranes to above several thousand degrees, causing biological cell membrane failure, creating greater exposure of biological cell contents to oxidizing species in the anolyte, and an ultrasonic source connected to the anolyte for augmenting secondary oxidation processes by heating hydrogen peroxide containing electrolyte to 4800°
- 43. A biological waste destruction system, comprising a housing constructed of metal or high strength plastic surrounding an electrochemical cell, with electrolyte and a foraminous basket, an AC power supply with a power cord, a DC power supply connected to the AC power supply, the DC power supply providing direct current to the electrochetnical cell, a control keyboard for input of commands and data, a monitor screen to display the systems operation and functions, an anolyte reaction chamber with a basket, status lights for displaying information about the status of the treatment of the biological waste material, an air sparge for introducing air into a catholyte reservoir below a suiface of a catholyte, a CO2 vent incorporated into the housing to allow for CO2 release from the anolyte reaction chamber, an atmospheric vent facilitating the releases of gases into the atmosphere from the catholyte reservoir, a hinged lid for opening and depositing the biological waste in the basket in the anolyte reaction chamber, a locking latch connected to the hinged lid, and in the anolyte reaction chamber an aqueous acid, alkali, or neutral salt electrolyte and mediated oxidizer species solution in which an oxidizer form of a mediator redox couple initially may be present or may be generated electrochemically after introduction of the waste and application of DC power to the electrochemical cell.
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45. A biological waste oxidizing process, comprising an operator engaging an ‘
- ON’
button on a control keyboard, a system controller which contains a microprocessor, running a program and controlling a sequence of operations, a monitor screen displaying process steps in proper sequence, status lights on the panel providing status of the process, opening a lid and placing the biological waste in a basket as a liquid, solid, or a mixture of liquids and solids, retaining a solid portion of the waste and flowing a liquid portion through the basket and into an anolyte reaction chamber, activating a locking latch after the waste is placed in the basket, activating pumps which begins circulating the anolyteand a catholyte, once the circulating is established throughout the system, operating mixers, once flow is established, turning on thermal control units, and initiating anodic oxidation and electrolyte heating programs, energizing an electrochemical cell to electric potential and current density determined by the controller program, using programmed electrical power and electrolyte temperature ramps for maintaining a predetermined waste destruction rate profile as a relatively constant reaction rate as more reactive waste components are oxidized, thus resulting in the remaining waste becoming less and less reactive, thereby requiring more and more vigorous oxidizing conditions, activating ultrasonic and ultraviolet systems in the anolyte reaction chamber and catholyte reservoir, releasing CO2 from the biological waste oxidizing process in the anolyte reaction chamber, activating air sparge and atmospheric vent in a catholyte system, monitoring progress of the process in the controller by cell voltages and currents, monitoring CO2, CO, and O2 gas composition for CO2, CO and oxygen content, decomposing the biological waste into water and CO2, the latter being discharged out of the CO2 vent, air sparging drawing air into a catholyte reservoir, and discharging excess aw out of an atmospheric vent, determining with an oxidation sensor that desired degree of waste destruction has been obtained, setting the system to standby, and executing system shutdown using the controller keyboard system operator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
- ON’
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48. A process for treating and oxidizing biological waste materials comprising disposing an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell, separating the electrolyte into an anolyte portion and a catholyte portion with an ion-selective membrane, semipermeable membrane, microporous polymer, porous ceramic, or glass flit, applying a direct current voltage between the anolyte portion and the catholyte portion, placing the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion, and oxidizing the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion with a mediated electrochernical oxidation (MEO) process, wherein the anolyte portion further comprises oxidizing species as a mediator in aqueous solution and the electrolyte is an acid, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution, and wherein the mediator oxidizing species are selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
- (b) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
(c.) Type I heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation into Type I isopolyanions as heteroatoms any element selected from the group consisting of the elements listed in Table II either singly or in combination thereof, or (d.) heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples containing at least one heteroatom type element contained in both Table I and Table II below or (e.) combinations of the mediator oxidizing species from any or all of(a.), (b.), (c.), and (d.) - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
- (b) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
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51. A process for treating and oxidizing biological waste materials comprising disposing an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell,separating the electrolyte into an anolyte portion and a catholyte portion with an ion-selective membrane, semipermeable membrane, microporous polymer, porous ceramic, or glass frit, applying a direct current voltage between the anolyte portion and the catholyte portion, placing the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion, and oxidizing the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion with a mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process, wherein the anolyte portion further comprises oxidizing species as a mediator in aqueous solution and the electrolyte is an acid, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution, and wherein the mediator oxidizing species are selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
- (b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I, or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
(c.) Type I heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation into Type I isopolyanions as heteroatoms any element selected from the group consisting of the elements listed in Table II either singly or in combination thereof, or (d.) heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples containing at least one heteroajom type element contained in both Table I and Table II below or (e.) combinations of the mediator oxidizing species from any or all of (a.), (b.), (c.), and (d.) - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
- (b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I, or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
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54. Apparatus for treating and oxidizing biological waste materials comprising an electrochemical cell, an aqueous electrolyte disposed in the electrochemical cell, a semi permeable membrane, ion selective membrane, microporous membrane, porous ceramic or glass fit membrane disposed in the electrochemical cell for separating the cell into anolyte and catholyte chambers and separating the anolyte and catholyte portions, electrodes further comprising an anode and a cathode disposed in the electrochemical cell respectively in the anolyte and catholyte chambers and in the anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte, a power supply connected to the anode and the cathode for applying a direct current voltage between the anolyte and the catholyte portions of the electrolyte, and oxidizing of the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion with a mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process wherein the anolyte portion further comprises a mediator in aqueous solution for producing reversible redox couples used as oxidizing species and the electrolyte is an acid, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution, wherein the mediator oxidizing species are selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
- (b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
(c.) Type I heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation into Type I isopolyanions as heteroatoms any element selected from the group consisting of the elements listed in Table II either singly or in combination thereof, or (d.) heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples containing at least one heteroatom type element contained in both Table I and Table II below or (e.) combinations of the mediator oxidizing species from any or all of (a.), (b.), (c.), and (d.)
- (b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
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55. Apparatus for treating and oxidizing biological waste materials comprising an electrochemical cell, an aqueous electrolyte disposed in the electrochemical cell, a semi permeable membrane, ion selective membrane, microporous membrane, porous ceramic or glass frit membrane disposed in the electrochemical cell for separating the cell into anolyte and catholyte chambers and separating the anolyLe and catholyte portions, electrodes further comprising an anode and a cathode disposed in the electrochemical cell respectively in the anolyte and catholyte chambers and in the anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte, a power supply connected to the anode and the cathode for applying a direct current voltage between the anolyte and the catholyte portions of the electrolyte, and oxidizing of the biological waste materials in the anolyte portion with a mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process wherein the anolyte portion further comprises a mediator in aqueous solution for producing reversible redox couples used as oxidizing species and thc electrolyte is an acid, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution, wherein the mediator oxidizing species are selected from the group consisting of (a.) simple ion redox couples described in Table I as below;
- (b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I, or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
(c.) Type I heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation into Type I isopolyanions as heteroatoms any element selected from the group consisting of the elements listed in Table II either singly or in combination thereof, or (d.) heteropolyanions complex anion redox couples containing at least one heteroatom type element contained in both Table I and Table II below or (e.) combinations of the mediator oxidizing species from any or all of (a.), (b.), (c.), and (d.) - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
- (b.) Type I isopolyanions complex anion redox couples formed by incorporation of elements in Table I, or mixtures thereof as addenda atoms;
Specification