AU2005100765B4

AU2005100765B4 - Clinoptilolite Algae Control

Info

Publication number: AU2005100765B4
Application number: AU2005100765A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Walters
Original assignee: ALGON SOUTH COAST; STRONG NEVILLE
Current assignee: ALGON SOUTH COAST
Priority date: 2005-09-18
Filing date: 2005-09-18
Publication date: 2006-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-18
Also published as: AU2005100765A4; WO2007030859A1

Description

P:\WPDOCS\GXS\LNM\IOO6kspm\WALTERS JOHN24 Muc11 12660251 Iinnowlimodoc-05/04/06 -1- WATER PURIFIER Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to purifying and cleaning water to improve its support of marine animals and cleanliness for human consumption. In particular applications, the invention is used to control the growth of impurities such as algae, and to remove other impurities such as excess chlorine and nitrates from water in swimming pools, fish tanks, ponds and dams.

Background to the Invention Algae are a common problem in bodies of water such as for example swimming pools, fish tanks, ponds and dams, as are other impurities such as nitrates, phosphates, ammonium ions and phosphate ions. They interfere with and pollute ecosystems and reduce the amount of marine and other life which may be supported by the body of water.

It is known to purify water with zeolite including those from the heulandite family, in particular clinoptilolite, which, when placed in water, all act as a filter for various impurities such as ammonium ions and nitrate ions, as well as other harmful impurities.

One patent application, publication WO 85/04390, describes beds of zeolite which are used for ion-exchange in sewage which flows over the beds. However, the zeolite quickly becomes exhausted and must be regenerated by the addition of regenerating solution to the beds, in the form of potassium salts. This is expensive and time consuming and also provides the opportunity for potassium salts to contaminate the environment.

After the zeolite becomes exhausted, a shovel or other labour intensive device is used to remove the zeolite so as to replace it with a fresh batch.

P:\WPDOCS\CXS\LNMOO6\spcc\WALTERS JOHN\24 Much12660231 _i ovalw.doc.05/04/06 -2- The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a water purification apparatus including: a selected quantity of a zeolite powder or a selected quantity of zeolite grains; and a bag or container inside which the selected quantity of zeolite powder or grains is disposed, the bag or container including walls which are at least partially constructed from filter elements which retain the selected quantity of zeolite powder or grains within the bag or container while being adapted to allow water to pass therethrough when in use.

Preferably the zeolite powder or zeolite grains is selected from the family of heulandite or clinoptilolite so as to facilitate ion exchange between contaminated water within which the bag or container is disposed in use and the heulandite or clinoptilolite.

Preferably the bag or container is a sock or sack made from cotton or nylon or polyester, or a blend of two or more of those materials.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of purifying water which comprises the steps of: providing a bag or container which includes walls which are at least partially constructed from filter elements; providing a selected quantity of zeolite and/or heulandite and/or clinoptilolite; placing the selected quantity of zeolite and/or heulandite and/or clinoptilolite in the bag or container; and placing the bag in a contaminated body of water.

Preferably the method includes directing contaminated water through the bag for greater efficiency of decontamination.

P:\WPDOCS\GXS\NM\2006'spec\WALTERS JOHN\24 Muh_12660251 _innovwim.doc.05i4/6 -3- Preferably the method includes sprinkling a supplementary selected quantity of zeolite and/or heulandite and/or clinoptilolite onto a surface of the body of water so as to provide a type of deflocculant, or to facilitate decontamination of water in the body of water.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments In order to enable a clearer understanding, the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to drawings and description of a preferred embodiment. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water-permeable sack filled with clinoptilolite according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a water-permeable elongate sock filled with clinoptilolite according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is suitable for use in dams.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a water purification apparatus generally indicated at 10 including a bag or container 12 which has opposed walls 14 and 16 and has stitching 18 which seals ends 15 and 17. The walls 14 and 16 are constructed from filter material in the form of a cotton/nylon blend sack 22. The filter material 20 is adapted to inhibit powder or grains from passing through the walls 14 and 16, but to allow water through the walls 14 and 16.

Zeolite and/or Heulandite and/or Clinoptilolite (not shown) is disposed within the sack 22 before the ends 15 and 17 are sealed. This material is inside the sack 22 so as to extract ions and other salts and impurities from a body of water into which the water purification apparatus 10 may be installed when in use.

P:\WPDOCS\GXS\LNMU06\pc WALTES JOKN\24 Mrch_ 12660251- 66-o60iw.doc-0504/06 -4- For increased efficiency when in use, the sack 22 should be placed in a flow of water in the contaminated body of water.

The sacks may be any suitable size or shape they are square in plan view as shown in Figure 1, or elongate as shown in Figure 2.

In operation, after some months, the zeolite loses its ability to remove ions and pollutants from the body of water, a condition known as "exhaustion". When the zeolite is exhausted, the sack may simply be picked up, removed from the body of water and replaced with another sack for continued purification. The water purification apparatus is placed in a flow of water, such as a filter outlet and the like, so as to gain exposure to all the water in a body.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are applied as a quilt on a floor of a body of water, a sausage of apparatus across a weir, or sacks may be piled up like sandbags to provide a barrier to flow, so that the flow must be filtered by the zeolite or clinoptilolite.

Preferred embodiments may be placed in spa baths, swimming pools, rainwater tanks, bird baths, grey water treatment plants, and the like.

The clinoptilolite sacks of preferred embodiments of the present invention provide great advantages over the prior art, wherein the powder is not free to move about the body of water and thus it will not become suspended in solution, clouding the water, nor will it clog filters, become lost in discharge pipes or become lodged in the swimming costumes of water users. The water in spa baths need not be drained after a spa bath, because the zeolite will keep filtering it. This is a great water-saving feature of the present invention.

Finally, when the sack becomes exhausted, it is simply picked up, removed and replaced with another one. This occurs once every three months or so, depending on the proportions used (see example below for tested proportions).

P:NWPDOCS\GXS\LNMN200ftpm'%WALTERS JOHN\24 Mdch_12660251_innovtin.dom-05/04/06

EXAMPLE

Test results have shown that the zeolite continues to filter ions from a body of water for three months, provided that efficient ratios are maintained. It has been demonstrated that one kilogram of clinoptilolite powder will treat a body of water 1500 litres for up to three months.

If the body of water includes extremely bad pollution, a method to accelerate the filtering of pollutants is by placing the sack in the water, ensuring the sack is located in a flow of water, as well as sprinkling or broadcasting a secondary amount of clinoptilolite across the surface of the water (the powder will eventually sink to the floor of the water body) so as to provide a kind of deflocculant.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

19-05-'06 16:29 FROM-DCC SYDNEY +61292621080 T-213 P009/010 F-207 P:\WPDOCS'GXESNM'29OOatlAWALTERSI JOH4M hIUli5tiHoaa&ln-at- l S-6- The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A water purification apparatus including: a selected quantity ofa clinoptilolite powder or a selected quantity of clinoptilolite grains; and a bag or container into which the \0 selected quantity of clinoptilolite powder or grains is disposed, the bag or container o being in the form of a sock which includes walls which allow water to pass through, _but retain the clinoptilolite powder and/or grains. 2. A water purification apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sock is constructed from cotton or nylon or polyester, or a blend of two or more of those materials. 3. A method of purifying water which comprises the steps of: providing quantity of clinoptilolite; placing the selected quantity of clinoptilolite in the sock; and placing the sock in a contaminated body of water so that the clinoptilolite may be easily removed when it becomes exhausted. COMS ID No: SBMI-03646250 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:31 Date 2006-05-19 19-05-'06 16:30 FROM-DCC SYDNEY +61292621080 T-213 P010/010 F-207 tAWX)O5lXiUao'spKc\*At6A )OtHfl4 )mfctl&I25UMll~ 1idC df.-IDSr 0 7 0-7- ci 4. The method of purifying water according to claim 4 wherein the method includes the step of sprinkling a supplementary selected quantity clinoptilolite onto a surface of the body of water so as to provide a type ofdeflocculant, or to facilitate decontamination of the body of water. Va o 5. A water purification apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference 0 -to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 19 th day of May, 2006 JOHN WALTERS AND NEVILLE JAMES STRONG by-their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE COMS ID No: SBMI-03646250 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:31 Date 2006-05-19