Water treatment method by ballasted flocculation, settling, and prior adsorbent contact
First Claim
1. A method for removing impurities from an aqueous stream, the method comprising:
- directing the aqueous stream into an adsorbent contact zone and contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone so that impurities in the aqueous stream are adsorbed onto the adsorbent material;
directing the aqueous stream containing the adsorbent material to a ballasted flocculation zone and mixing a ballast with the adsorbent material in the ballasted flocculation zone to form sludge containing ballast and the adsorbent material;
separating the aqueous stream from the sludge to produce treated water and settling the sludge in a settling zone;
separating ballast from the sludge, directing the separated ballast to the ballasted flocculation zone, and directing the sludge and the adsorbent material to a transition zone;
measuring the concentration of the adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone; and
adding adsorbent material to the aqueous stream if the value of the measured concentration of the adsorbent material in the absorbent contact zone is below a predetermined threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for removing impurities from an aqueous stream. The method includes directing the aqueous stream into an adsorbent contact zone and contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone so that impurities in the aqueous stream are adsorbed onto the adsorbent material. The aqueous stream and the adsorbent material is then directed to a ballasted flocculation zone where the adsorbent material is mixed with ballast to form sludge. The aqueous stream is then separated from the sludge to produce treated water and the sludge is settled in a settling zone. The ballast is then separated from the sludge and directed to the ballasted flocculation zone while the sludge and the adsorbent material are directed to a transition zone. In addition, the method requires measuring the concentration of the adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone and adding adsorbent material to the aqueous stream if the value of the measured concentration of the adsorbent material in the absorbent contact zone is below a predetermined threshold value.
24 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for removing impurities from an aqueous stream, the method comprising:
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directing the aqueous stream into an adsorbent contact zone and contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone so that impurities in the aqueous stream are adsorbed onto the adsorbent material; directing the aqueous stream containing the adsorbent material to a ballasted flocculation zone and mixing a ballast with the adsorbent material in the ballasted flocculation zone to form sludge containing ballast and the adsorbent material; separating the aqueous stream from the sludge to produce treated water and settling the sludge in a settling zone; separating ballast from the sludge, directing the separated ballast to the ballasted flocculation zone, and directing the sludge and the adsorbent material to a transition zone; measuring the concentration of the adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone; and adding adsorbent material to the aqueous stream if the value of the measured concentration of the adsorbent material in the absorbent contact zone is below a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for removing impurities from an aqueous stream, the method comprising:
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directing the aqueous stream into an adsorbent contact zone and contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone so that impurities in the aqueous stream are adsorbed onto the adsorbent material; directing the aqueous stream containing the adsorbent material to a ballasted flocculation zone and mixing a ballast with the adsorbent material in the ballasted flocculation zone to form sludge containing ballast and the adsorbent material; separating the aqueous stream from the sludge to produce treated water and settling the sludge in a settling zone; separating ballast from the sludge, directing the separated ballast to the ballasted flocculation zone, and directing the sludge and the adsorbent material to a transition zone; measuring a parameter of the aqueous stream prior to directing the aqueous stream to the adsorbent contact zone; measuring the same parameter of the treated water; and adding adsorbent material to the aqueous stream if the values of the measured parameters indicate that adsorbent material should be added to the aqueous stream in order to maintain the concentration of the adsorbent material in the adsorbent contact zone in the range of approximately 0.5 g/L and approximately 10 g/L. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification