Device and Method for Removing Foreign Matter from Process Solutions

• US 20070256940A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blasberg Werra Chemie GmbH
• Original Assignee: Blasberg Werra Chemie GmbH
• Inventors: Schwarz, Reinhard, Schiffer, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/659,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/765
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46 by electrochemical methods
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/425 using cation exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/20 Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46115 Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: C25C 7/00 Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells for the production of aluminium C25C3/06 - C25C3/22
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 21/22 by ion-exchange

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for removing foreign matter from process solutions. Said device comprises an electrolytic system having at least one cell divided up by at least two current-carrying dividing walls which define at least one connecting chamber, and at least one anode and one cathode compartment. An auxiliary cycle (51) is guided through the connecting compartment (5), a cation exchanger (8) being disposed therein. The invention also relates to a method for removing foreign matter form process solutions, whereby the process solution (1*) is supplied to an anode compartment (2) of an inventive device, a voltage is supplied to the electrodes (3, 9) of the electrolytic system, solution is taken from the at least one connecting compartment (5) and is applied to a strongly acid H⁺ cation exchanger (8) and the solution running off from the cation exchanger is supplied to at least one connecting compartment (5). The invention also relates to a method for regenerating a cation exchanger whereby first cations bound by the cation exchanger (8) are removed by treatment with anionic complexing agents and the cation exchanger (8) is then readjusted to the H⁺ charged state by adding a regenerant acid.

Claims

1. Device for removing foreign substances from process solutions, containing an electrolysis system having a cell divided by at least two semi-permeable partitions, by means of which at least one connection space is formed, having at least one anode space and one cathode space, wherein an auxiliary circuit (51) is passed through the connection space (5), in which circuit a cation exchanger (8) is disposed.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the partitions (4, 7) is a porous diaphragm or a cation exchanger membrane.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein a semi-permeable partition (4, 7) is disposed on both sides of at least one anode (3) and one cathode (9).

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the anode (3) is equipped with diaphragms (4) on both sides, and the cathode (9) is equipped with cation exchanger membranes (7) on both sides, in each instance.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cation exchanger (8) is connected with distribution pipes having a tuyere system (13) on the run-off side, which pipes are disposed on the cell (1).

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one pump is provided for the anolyte and/or catholyte supply, which pump is connected with a tuyere system (13).

7. Method for removing foreign substances from process solutions, wherein the process solution (1*) is passed to an anode space (2) of a device according to claim 1, an electrical voltage is applied at the electrodes (3, 9) of the electrolysis system, solution is removed from at least one connection space (5) and applied to a highly acidic cation exchanger (8) in the H⁺ charge, and the solution running off from the cation exchanger (8) is passed back to at least one connection space (5).

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the solution that runs off from the cation exchanger (8) is distributed in at least one connection space (5) by way of distribution pipes having a tuyere system (13).

9. Method for regenerating a cation exchanger, wherein first, cations bound by the cation exchanger (8) are removed by means of treatment with anionic complex forming agents, and subsequently, the cation exchanger (8) is converted back to the H⁺ charge by means of applying a regeneration acid.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein flouride as an anionic ligand is used as the complex forming agent.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the flouride is alkali metal or ammonium flouride, preferably sodium flouride.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein the waste water partial streams resulting from the treatment are treated with milk of lime.