Treatment of a waste stream through production and utilization of oxyhydrogen gas

• US 9,187,347 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xogen Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xogen Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Van Vliet, David Ritchie, Alvarez-Vazquez, Hector
• Primary Examiner(s): Prince, Fred
• Application Number:
  US12/905,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 210/707, 210/748.01, 210/748.17, 210/776, 210/192, 210/252, 210/259, 204/194, 204/554, 204/571, 204/660, 205/633, 205/637
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/465 by electroflotation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4676 by electroreduction
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/006 Electrochemical treatment, e.g. electro-oxidation or electro-osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/12 by de-watering, drying or thickening
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/13 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46171 Cylindrical or tubular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/105 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/16 Nitrogen compounds, e.g. ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/305 Endocrine disruptive agents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/322 Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/001 Runoff or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/008 Originating from marine vessels, ships and boats, e.g. bilge water or ballast water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/20 from animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/28 from the paper or cellulose industry
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/343 from the pharmaceutical industry, e.g. containing antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/365 from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/003 : Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46125 : Electrical variables
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4617 : DC only
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46175 : Electrical pulses
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 : Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 : Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 : Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/24 : Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

Abstract

Methods and systems for reducing a redox active contaminant in a waste stream in a waste treatment system involve performing a unit process of the waste treatment system by contacting redox active contaminant in the waste stream with oxyhydrogen-rich gas generated on-site by an oxyhydrogen gas generator that implements water dissociation technology. The oxyhydrogen gas generator involves applying a pulsed electrical signal to a series of closely spaced electrodes that are submerged in the waste stream to produce oxyhydrogen-rich gas from a water component of the waste stream. Operation of the oxyhydrogen gas generator in the waste stream may accomplish one or more unit processes for waste treatment, such as oxidation, stripping, floatation, disinfection, conditioning, stabilization, thickening, and dewatering, among others.

Claims

1. A method for removing a pharmaceutical from a waste stream, comprising:

submersing two electrodes in the waste stream, the waste stream comprising a water component and the pharmaceutical, the electrodes bordering an interaction zone extending therebetween;

applying a pulsed electrical signal to at least one of the electrodes thereby generating oxyhydrogen gas from the water component,

the oxyhydrogen gas forming bubbles in the interaction zone that rise to a surface of the waste stream, wherein at least some of the bubbles contact the pharmaceutical as they rise through the waste stream;

oxidizing the pharmaceutical with an oxidant contained in the oxyhydrogen gas; and

transporting at least a portion of the treated pharmaceutical to the surface of the waste stream with the bubbles that contact the pharmaceutical.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pharmaceutical is selected from the group consisting of:

benzafibrate, carbamazepine, fluozetine, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the two electrodes comprise steel electrodes and wherein the method further comprises:

submersing two aluminum electrodes in the waste stream downstream of the steel electrodes, the aluminum electrodes bordering a second interaction zone extending therebetween; and

applying a pulsed electrical signal to at least one of the aluminum electrodes thereby generating oxyhydrogen gas from the water component, the oxyhydrogen gas forming bubbles in the second interaction zone that rise to a surface of the waste stream.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the two aluminum electrodes are spaced 1 mm or less apart.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the two aluminum electrodes are spaced about 1 mm to about 5 mm apart.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the two aluminum electrodes are spaced about 5 mm or more apart.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsed electrical signal has a mark-space ratio of between about 1:

1 and about 10;

1 and a pulse frequency of between about 10 to about 250 kHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the two electrodes are spaced 1 mm or less apart.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the two electrodes are spaced about 1 mm to about 5 mm apart.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the two electrodes are spaced about 5 mm or more apart.