APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS

• US 20090107919A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Molycorp Minerals LLC (Oaktree Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: Chevron USA Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Burba, John L. III, Witham, Richard D.
• Application Number:
  US11/932,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20090107919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/691
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/0207 Compounds of Sc, Y or Lanthanides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/06 comprising oxides or hydroxides of metals not provided for in group B01J20/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28004 Sorbent size or size distribution, e.g. particle size
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28007 with size in the range 1-100 nanometers, e.g. nanosized particles, nanofibers, nanotubes, nanowires or the like carbon nanostructures B01J20/205
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28014 characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28026 Particles within, immobilised, dispersed, entrapped in or on a matrix, e.g. a resin
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2803 Sorbents comprising a binder, e.g. for forming aggregated, agglomerated or granulated products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28033 Membrane, sheet, cloth, pad, lamellar or mat
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28042 Shaped bodies; Monolithic structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2805 Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28057 Surface area, e.g. B.E.T specific surface area
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3007 Moulding, shaping or extruding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3021 Milling, crushing or grinding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3028 Granulating, agglomerating or aggregating
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3042 Use of binding agents; addition of materials ameliorating the mechanical properties of the produced sorbent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3078 Thermal treatment, e.g. calcining or pyrolizing
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3204 Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3206 Organic carriers, supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3236 containing metal, other than zeolites, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, sulphides or salts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3425 of sorbents or filter aids comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3433 : of sorbents or filter aids other than those covered by B01J20/3408 - B01J20/3425
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3441 : Regeneration or reactivation by electric current, ultrasound or irradiation, e.g. electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, UV, light, microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/345 : using a particular desorbing compound or mixture elution or regeneration of stationary phases in liquid chromatography B01D15/08
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3466 : with steam
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3483 : by thermal treatment not covered by groups B01J20/3441 - B01J20/3475, e.g. by heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/42 : Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic materials materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/56 : Use in the form of a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/66 : Other type of housings or containers not covered by B01J2220/58 - B01J2220/64
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/281 : using inorganic sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/30 : Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/306 : Pesticides

Abstract

Apparatus, process and article for treating an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant. The process includes contacting an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant with an aggregate composition comprising an insoluble rare earth-containing compound to form a solution depleted of chemical contaminants. The insoluble rare earth-containing compound can include one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium. A suitable insoluble cerium-containing compound can be derived from a cerium carbonate, cerium oxalate and/or a cerium salt. The aggregate composition can include more than 10.01% by weight of the insoluble rare earth-containing compound, and in a particular embodiment consists essentially of one or more cerium oxides, and optionally a binder and/or flow aid. Although intended for a variety of fluid treatment applications, such applications specifically include removing or detoxifying chemical contaminants in water.

Claims

1. A process for treating an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant, the process comprising:

contacting an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant with an aggregate composition comprising an insoluble rare earth-containing compound to form an aqueous solution depleted of the chemical contaminant.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the steps of:

separating the aqueous solution depleted of the chemical contaminant from the aggregate composition; and

sensing the aqueous solution depleted of chemical contaminant; and

evaporating residual aqueous solution from the aggregate composition; and

intermittently replacing the aggregate composition.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution contacts the composition at a temperature less than about 100°

C.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution contacts the composition at a temperature above about 100°

C. and at a pressure adequate to maintain at least a portion of the aqueous solution in a liquid phase.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution is contacted with the aggregate composition by one or more of:

flowing the aqueous solution through the aggregate composition;

distributing the aggregate composition over the surface of the aqueous solution; and

submerging a fluid permeable container enclosing the aggregate composition in the aqueous solution.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the aggregate composition is disposed in a container and the aqueous solution contacts the aggregate composition by flowing through the composition.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the container is adapted to be removable and the process further comprises intermittently replacing the removable container.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the aggregate composition comprises a flowable particulate disposed in one or more of a fixed bed, fluidized bed, stirred tank and filter.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises a cerium-containing compound derived from one or more of thermal decomposition of a cerium carbonate, decomposition of a cerium oxalate and precipitation of a cerium salt.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises a cerium oxide.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the aggregate composition consists essentially of one or more cerium oxides, and optionally, one or more of a binder and flow aid.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein the aggregate composition comprises more than 10.01% by weight of the insoluble rare earth-containing compound

14. The process of claim 1, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises particulates having a mean surface area of at least about 1 m²/g.

15. The process of claim 1, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises particulates having a mean particle size of greater than about 23 nm.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the chemical contaminant comprises one or more of an organosulfur agent, an organophosphorous agent or a mixture thereof.

17. The process of claim 1, wherein the aggregate composition comprises aggregated particulates having a mean aggregate size of at least about 1 μ

m.

18. An apparatus for treating an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant, the apparatus comprising:

a container having a fluid flow path for an aqueous solution; and

an aggregate composition disposed in the fluid flow path, the aggregate composition comprising an insoluble rare earth-containing compound for removing or detoxifying a chemical contaminant in the aqueous solution.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprises one or more of:

a filter disposed downstream of the composition; and

a visual indicator for indicating when the composition should be replaced; and

a sensor for sensing an effluent flowing out of the container.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the container is adapted to be removed from the apparatus, the container having an inlet and an outlet with each of the inlet and the outlet adapted to be sealed when removed from the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the container comprises one or more of a fixed bed, fluidized bed, stirred tank or filter.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the container comprises a fluid permeable outer wall encapsulating the composition.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises a cerium-containing compound derived from one or more of thermal decomposition of a cerium carbonate, decomposition of a cerium oxalate and precipitation of a cerium salt.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises a cerium oxide.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the aggregate composition consists essentially of one or more cerium oxides, and optionally, one or more of a binder and flow aid.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the aggregate composition comprises more than 10.01% by weight of the insoluble rare earth-containing compound

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound comprises particulates having a mean surface area of at least about 1 m²/g.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the insoluble rare earth-containing compound is a particulate having a mean particle size of greater than about 25 nm.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the aggregate composition comprises aggregated particulates having a mean particle size of at least about 1 μ

m.

31. An article comprising:

a container having one or more walls defining an interior space; and

a flowable aggregate composition disposed in the interior space, the aggregate composition comprising an insoluble rare earth-containing compound;

wherein the container bears instructions for use of the flowable aggregate composition to treat an aqueous solution containing a chemical contaminant.