Methods and stabilized compositions for reducing deposits in water systems

• US 9,370,590 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Earth Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blue Earth Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Peters, Jason E., O'Connor, Stephen D., Yu, Chang-jun
• Primary Examiner(s): STELLING, LUCAS A
• Application Number:
  US14/143,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20140377131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/03 Electric current
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 11/06 Hypochlorites
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4674 with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4693 electrodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4616 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/10 as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A stabilized mixed oxidant solution may be produced by flowing a starting solution (e.g., salt brine, hypochlorous acid, and/or sodium hypochlorite) through a flow-through electrochemical module including first and second passages separated by an ion permeable membrane while electric power is applied between an anode and cathode in electrical communication with the first and second passages, respectively. An initially acidic anolyte solution received from the first (anode) passage is stabilized by elevating pH to yield a stabilized mixed oxidant solution. Methods of using the mixed oxidant solution are further provided.

Claims

1. A method for promoting disinfection and reduction of deposits in a water-containing system utilizing (a) a primary disinfectant and (b) a mixed oxidant solution comprising a plurality of different oxidants produced by flowing at least one starting solution including at least one of salt brine, hypochlorous acid, and sodium hypochlorite through at least one flow-through electrochemical module comprising a first passage and a second passage separated by an ion permeable membrane while electric power is applied between (i) an anode in contact and electrical communication with the first passage and (ii) a cathode in contact and electrical communication with the second passage, wherein a first solution or first portion of the at least one starting solution is flowed through the first passage to form an anolyte solution having an acidic pH, and a second solution or second portion of the at least one starting solution is simultaneously flowed through the second passage to form a catholyte solution having a basic pH, and contacting the anolyte solution with a hydroxide solution to attain a pH value of at least 9.0 to yield said mixed oxidant solution, wherein production of the mixed oxidant solution comprises at least one of the following items (i) and (ii):

(i) no portion of the hydroxide solution is flowed through the at least one flow-through electrochemical module, and (ii) the at least one starting solution comprises at least one of hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite, the method comprising;

blending the primary disinfectant and the mixed oxidant solution, and supplying an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system;

or

co-injecting the primary disinfectant and the mixed oxidant solution, and supplying an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising blending the primary disinfectant and the mixed oxidant solution, and supplying an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising co-injecting the primary disinfectant and the mixed oxidant solution, and supplying an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidant solution comprises at least one of the following characteristics:

a total chlorine value of at least about 3,000 ppm;

an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) value in a range of from 600 mV to 800 mV; and

a ratio of Na+ (in g/L according to Method EPA 300.0) to Cl−

(in g/L according to Method EPA

     6010) of at least about 1.5.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidant solution comprises each of the following characteristics:

a total chlorine value of at least about 3,000 ppm;

an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) value in a range of from 600 mV to 800 mV; and

a ratio of Na+ (in g/L according to Method EPA 300.0) to Cl−

(in g/L according to Method EPA

     6010) of at least about 1.5.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supplying of an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system elevates mixed oxidant concentration in the water-containing system by 1 ppb to 100 ppb relative to water present in the water-containing system prior to the supplying of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supplying of an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system elevates mixed oxidant concentration in the water-containing system by 0.2 ppm to 0.6 ppm relative to water present in the water-containing system prior to the supplying of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primary disinfectant comprises sodium hypochlorite.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primary disinfectant comprises hydrogen peroxide.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water-containing system comprises a water distribution system.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water-containing system comprises a drinking water distribution system.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water-containing system comprises water lines within a building.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water-containing system comprises a water recirculation system.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water-containing system comprises one of the following:

an aquaculture system, a hydroponic food production system, a cooling water system, and a wastewater system.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one starting solution comprises salt brine.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one starting solution comprises at least one of hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidant solution comprises a pH value of at least about 10.5.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidant solution comprises a pH value of at least about 12.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supplying of an effective amount of primary disinfectant and mixed oxidant solution to the water-containing system comprises (i) supplying said mixed oxidant solution comprising a plurality of different oxidants to the water-containing system during an initial treatment period at a first ratio of mixed oxidant solution comprising a plurality of different oxidants to water to be treated, followed by (ii) supplying said mixed oxidant solution comprising a plurality of different oxidants to the water-containing system during a subsequent maintenance period at a second ratio of mixed oxidant solution comprising a plurality of different oxidants to water to be treated, wherein the second ratio is substantially lower than the first ratio.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein during production of the mixed oxidant solution, no portion of the hydroxide solution is flowed through the at least one flow-through electrochemical module.

21. A method for producing a mixed oxidant solution comprising a plurality of different oxidants, the method comprising:

flowing at least one starting solution through at least one flow-through electrochemical module comprising a first passage and a second passage separated by an ion permeable membrane while electric power is applied between (i) an anode in contact and electrical communication with the first passage and (ii) a cathode in contact and electrical communication with the second passage, wherein a first solution or first portion of the at least one starting solution is flowed through the first passage to form an anolyte solution having an acidic pH, and a second solution or second portion of the at least one starting solution is simultaneously flowed through the second passage to form a catholyte solution having a basic pH; and

contacting the anolyte solution with a hydroxide solution to attain a pH value of at least about 9.0 to yield said mixed oxidant solution; and

wherein the at least one starting solution comprises at least one of salt brine, hypochlorous acid, and sodium hypochlorite; and

wherein the method comprises at least one of the following items (i) and (ii);

(i) no portion of the hydroxide solution is flowed through the at least one flow-through electrochemical module; and

(ii) the at least one starting solution comprises at least one of hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein no portion of the hydroxide solution is flowed through the at least one flow-through electrochemical module.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one starting solution comprises at least one of hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite.

24. A method for promoting disinfection and reduction of deposits in a water-containing system, the method comprising supplying an effective amount of the mixed oxidant solution produced using the method of claim 21 to the water-containing system.