EP3197835A1

EP3197835A1 - Process for waste water clarification and separation of contaminants and phosphorous compounds from the waste water

Info

Publication number: EP3197835A1
Application number: EP15843543.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bengt-Åke KARLSSON
Original assignee: Tb-Lager
Current assignee: Tb-Lager
Priority date: 2014-09-25
Filing date: 2015-09-17
Publication date: 2017-08-02
Also published as: SE538149C2; EP3197835A4; SE1451133A1; WO2016048218A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a process for clarification of waste water (2) as well as separation of contaminants and phosphorous compounds (1) from waste water (2). According to the process, wood ashes or other ashes (3) are mixed in the waste water (2) and/or electrolysis is started in the mixture or in the waste water (2) for providing partitioning and separation of impurities and phosphorous compounds from the polluted liquid (2).

Description

Process for waste water clarification and separation of contaminants and phosphorous compounds from the waste water .

The present invention concerns a process for waste water clarification and separation of

contaminants and phosphorous compounds from the waste water .

The invention also concerns a plant for accomplishing a said process for waste water clarification and separation of contaminants and phosphorous compounds from the waste water.

The main object of the present invention is to find a simple, environmental -friendly and efficient process for providing waste water clarification and separation of contaminants and phosphorous compounds from the waste water, e.g. from individual waste water

treatment plants or in connection with other similar clarification plants and without needing to utilize chemicals or other unnecessary and costly agents therefor, with the risk of pollution.

Said object is enabled by a process of the above-mentioned kind, which essentially is characterized in that wood ashes or other ashes are mixed into the waste water and/or electrolysis is started in the mixture or in the waste water, whereby partitioning and separation take place.

The invention is described below,

reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1-6 show schematically the course of events in the clarification of waste water in different steps and frequencies in a container, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a pouring stage of ashes into the liquid that is desired to be clarified,

Fig. 2 shows the course of events in the electrolytic treatment of the liquid,

Fig. 3 shows the formation of a cake of impurities on the surface of the liquid,

Fig. 4 shows course of events of

precipitation of said cake against the bottom of the container,

Fig. 5 shows clarified water in the container, and

Fig. 6 shows withdrawal of clarified water and impurity lying at the bottom of the container, respectively, before the cake of impurities has settled,

Figs. 7-12 show the plant as well as different parts included in the same and the use thereof, wherein

Fig. 7 shows in perspective an example of a plant with a plastic container,

Fig. 8 shows a further example of a plant in active initial position, and with the container formed of glass,

Fig. 9 shows the plant with included source of power,

Figs. 10-11 show the plant in active position with cake of the impurity situated at the surface-shown,

Fig. 12 shows the plant in the final clarification position with bottom deposits shown and the removal of the surface cake, Fig. 13 shows plant in operation, and Fig. 14 shows a diagram using an

experimental reactor.

By a plurality of experiments, it has turned out that ashes, viz. common firewood ashes from the combustion of fir, pine, and deciduous wood of different types, and that easily is obtained from fires in, e.g., wood stoves, constitute nature's own catalyst for the conversion and/or change of the properties of different substances in a biochemical way. By additional assistance of electrolysis, similar to effect obtained from thunder in nature in the open air, it is now possible to provide, by means of said catalyst, a partitioning of undesired ingredients in, e.g., waste water. The experiments clearly show that the ashes are a requirement for being able to accomplish the process with the desired result, i.e., clarification of the liquid in question. Without ashes, no partitioning takes place of included parts of the liquid in a reasonable period of time but instead it takes place in nature's own way during a long period of time by clearing and settling.

Also other kinds of ashes than wood ashes may be utilized, for instance ashes from lignite and/or hard coal .

By measurement of resistance, it has also been noticed that clean water (potable) has a considerably higher resistance than waste water by virtue of the impact of different salts and impurities. It has also turned out that the resistance is changed in varying ways by the impact of the content. Gas bubbles at the cathode and which indicates oxygen have been possible to be observed. At the anode, it has been possible to notice the formation of white threads (beard) and a fine-meshed web, which may indicate the formation of amino acids, proteins , or the like.

Experiments have also been made using electrodes of different materials to a certain extent, where electrodes of iron have turned out to be best. In experiments using electrodes of the type brass solder, it could be noticed that a green verdigris -like part was formed at the anode as a part of the floating cake.

In experiments with sewage from the 2nd compartment of a three -compartment septic tank using electrodes of iron in electrolysis, it could directly be noticed that the liquid blackened. Probably, iron oxide was formed in some reaction in connection with the

electrolysis. The liquid became clear after a certain time as well as that a floating cake had been formed of different ingredients of the liquid. This floating cake then settles for a longer period of time in different steps. Between the floating cake as well as some residues at the bottom, the liquid became clear fairly soon.

In the experiments, 12 V D.C. has been used and common firewood ashes from mostly fir and

deciduous tree which have been added simultaneously with the connection of the source of power. Containers for the experiments have been larger glass jars in order to minimize extraneous substances as well as to be able to see and observe possible changes.

Based on observation in experiments according to the above, with attempts to description, later a biochemical reactor has been developed based on observations of repeatable experiments intended for the examination of the liquid between the floating cake and the settled material at the bottom. At a first run in said reactor, drinking water was used, for cleaning as well as for testing. The liquid blackened as above as well as became clear fairly soon. The floating cake was highly insignificant (potable water) . The discharged liquid in the container became crystal clear as well as that a certain brown sediment has been formed. After later experiments, maybe it could be questioned if this was the phosphorus dissolved in the water as well as possible residues of iron.

The next experiment involved sewage from the second compartment in a cesspool. The liquid blackened in the same way as previous experiments using ashes.

During this experiment, a smaller quantity of ashes was used, the operation being prolonged counted in time. In the morning, the liquid had become clear and could be drawn off into a larger glass jar for observations after the operation. After a few hours, a progressing operation could be observed, with flocculation in the liquid. The colour began to change to green. After a few hours, the liquid was dark green. Three days after the drawing off into the glass jar, the liquid had become entirely clear as well as that a brownish-yellow sediment had been formed. The time has to be checked in more detail between drawing off and finished precipitation, since the surprise posed a problem. In later literature studies, the

phenomenon indicates a conversion of phosphorus in the liquid, phosphorylation in an environment with iron oxide, which would give the green colour. Based on the above observations, we maintain being able to, by means of ashes as catalyst in an electrolytic operation, remove

contaminants as well as precipitation of phosphorus and phosphorous compounds from our biochemical reactor. The experiments have provided the possibility of demonstrating the impact of the sewage treatment works on the

environment (recipient) by studies from outgoing

(clarified sewage) as well as the impact thereof on the fouled material at the anode which has turned out to be highly sensitive to, for instance, ferrous sulphate. This immediately resulted in a blackening and shrivelled web similar to dead sea beds which are observable in the sea outside municipal sewage treatment works.

By skimming, there are possibilities to remove the floating cake of impurities from liquid.

Further options are provided to produce different

fractions from the floating cake by a biochemical reaction being in progress with a precipitation of different layers for a longer time, starting at the bottom of the cake. The third option is, according to the above description, to collect the liquid directly after clearing from the black colour as well as allow the self-sustaining operation in this liquid carry out conversion as well as precipitation of phosphorus and phosphorous compounds. The precipitated material can then be removed from the operation. Bottom sediments from non-active parts of the ashes, etc., can be removed mechanically from the operation.

The black colour from the beginning of the operation as well as the clearing part may be utilized for the regulation of the execution of the operation. The colour of the clear liquid after the reactor as well as the green colour in the operation, was cleared after the conversion of phosphorus and the precipitation may be utilized in the regulation of the operation.

According to the invention, a process for clarification and separation of contaminants 1 from waste water 2 comprises that wood ashes or other ashes 3 are mixed into the waste water 2 as well as electrolytic treatment is started of said mixture 4. Thereby,

partitioning and biochemical separation of undesirable impurities take place. In that connection, wood ashes or other ashes 3 obtained from a wood stove or any other suitable fireplace or source of combustion are utilized.

For the electrolytic treatment, electrodes 5, 6 of iron are utilized, whereby the mixture 4 first blackens in the utilized vessel 7, so as to, after a certain time, clear. In that connection, a floating cake 8 has been formed above the water 2 of containing impurities and phosphorous compounds 1 in the waste water 2. After a certain time, clarified water 9 is discharged from the vessel 7 after said cake 8, with impurities 1 therein, has settled and that residues 11 thereof have been formed at the bottom 10 of the vessel 7 utilized in said process. Alternatively, it is possible by skimming, not shown but generally known, to remove the cake 8 before settling of the same takes place for subsequent treatment. This may be effected at one single stage or successively as the cake 8 is about to be formed, alternatively filtering may be utilized when the cake has settled/settles for obtaining different parts of the contents.

It is suitable to clarify sewage received after coarse screening in so-called three-compartment septic tanks, in sewage treatment works, or in other, similar plants. In that connection, sewage is used from the third compartment of a said three-compartment septic tank for clarification. After a certain time from the mixing- in of wood ashes or other ashes 3 and electrolysis of the mixture 4, the sewage clears after the formation of a floating cake 8 of impurities and phosphorous

compounds 1 and settling of the same or return to previous step, similar to active sludge operation for subsequent sludge suction so that discharge of clarified sewage 9 takes place separated from the remaining residues 11 of impurities at the bottom 10 of the compartment or other utilized vessel in which said clarification is provided. Since the liquid 2 in the vessel 7 changes colour, it is possible to control the process according to the colours formed during the progress of the process.

Removal of the floating cake 8 on the liquid 2 in the vessel 7 takes place by the following measures:

A) the floating cake 8 is skimmed off, or

B) different fractions are produced from the floating cake 8 by a biochemical reaction being in progress with a precipitation of different layers of impurities and phosphorous compounds for a certain time starting at the bottom of the floating cake, or

C) the liquid 2 is withdrawn directly after clearing from dark coloured liquid and then a self-sustaining operation in this liquid 2 is allowed to carry out conversion as well as precipitation of phosphorus and phosphorous compounds whereupon the precipitated material is removed and bottom sediments 11 from the non- active part of the ashes 3 and other contents are mechanically removed from the vessel 7.

After splitting of sewage constituting a greyish-black liquid as well as with floating impurities in the reactor 7¹ by electrodes of iron, electrical voltage has been measurable across the electrodes after disconnection of the source of power. A voltage of 0,6 V gives with a half life of the voltage in one hour 0,29-0,30 V. A polarity reversal has also been observable on certain occasions.

The black formed sediment in the

precipitation container 7² (transparent glass container) after drawing off from the reactor has after about 4 months been transformed into the same yellow sediment as the one early precipitated. Also layers of the earliest precipitation having a bluish-grey colour have been transformed to yellow sediments, in a previous run in the experimental reactor. Using electrodes of iron and sea water (salt water) , blue settling could be noticed, which was transformed into the same yellow sediment in a short time (hours) .

Voltage across the electrodes in the reactor can be noticed without supplied current, with drinking water in experiments using 0,30 V. By conduction between the electrodes (closed electric circuit) , a slow splitting of the content of the water will take place, which results in precipitation and settling of, among other things, phosphorus.

With sewage in the reactor and with iron electrodes, without addition of current or any other means, a voltage of 0,14-0,18 V has been measured. It has been observed that after a few hours, the liquid has assumed a greyish-black colour, which implies that the clarification operation that has begun is the same

operation as is previously described but at a very low rate .

In a subsequent operation in a settling container 7², e.g., a glass aquarium, after the operation in the reactor 7¹ with impurities, when this liquid is transferred in the settling container, the self-sustaining operation is in progress as previously also before clearing, which provides a flocculation of the impurities included with settling ll² of, on one hand, the yellow, and on the other hand the black contents at the bottom of the container. This sediment ll² is the nutrients of the liquid, which in this way can be taken care of for

subsequent use in ecocycles. A thin film is formed on the surface of the liquid after the completed self-sustaining operation with the precipitation of nutrients and

represents for the nature not normally included

constituents since these do not settle. These not normally included parts, which float on the surface of the liquid after the self-sustaining operation, may then either be skimmed or filtered off from the sediment (nutrients) and the clarified liquid which upon analysis had turned out to meet high requirements of clarification.

Experiments using different voltages from 6 to 53 V D.C. have clearly shown that higher voltage gives shorter splitting time and conversion time

(precipitation time) in the self-sustaining operation but a higher energy consumption since the amperage increases P

= U · I. Energy consumption per run in the reactor is seen in Fig. 14.

Experiments using alternating current have clearly shown that the self-sustaining transformation operation and thereby the precipitation and the settling are obstructed by alternating current, wherein a black remarkable veil and colour lasts. This ought to give rise to thoughts on the situation of electrosensitive persons.

Summary: Based on experiments,

measurements, analyses by accredited analysis business and observations during and after experiments cannot be appreciated in another way than that nature's process is an electrical nuclear process. Other areas where measurable half -lives (the transformation operation in the reactor if the liquid is not drawn off into settling containers directly after disconnection of external source of power) or where precipitated sediment in the

transformation operation (the black sediment and the greyish-blue sediment after 4 months have been transformed to the same yellow sediment) are not known.

Thus, the results show, after experiments, measurements, analyses and observations, that an increase of the natural electrical voltage (clearing) can be accelerated by an external source of power where higher voltage provides, on one hand, faster splitting in the liquid but also a faster transformation operation with settling of substances normally occurring in nature since according to the description it is proven that nature's own transformation operation can be shortened in time or be influenced by supplying an external source of power or influenced by supplying, for instance, ashes, great possibilities are opened within, above all, the

environmental area, where now, as a first step, sewage clarification with return of nutrients in ecocycles is under development.

A plant 20 particularly suitable for accomplishing a process according to the invention to provide clarification of liquid 2 and separation of contaminants 1 from waste water 2 comprises the following: A vessel 7 formed of preferably glass or another

chemically neutral material. Electrodes 5, 6 for the electrolytic treatment of the waste water 2 receivable in said vessel 7 as well as wood ashes or other ashes 3, preferably as powder form separation means for impurities 1 in waste water 2 for a limited period of time. Said electrodes 5, 6 for the electrolytic treatment consist of iron. The firewood ashes 3 are from coniferous or deciduous wood. If other ashes 3 are

utilized, this may, e.g., be from lignite and/or hard coal. The electricity for the electrolytic treatment is preferably direct current in experiments obtained from preferably 12 V, for instance a car battery 21. The vessel 7 for the plant 20 has preferably at least one part that is transparent from outside. The plant 20 may comprise means 22 for the discharge of clarified liquid 9 from said vessel 7, before the cake 8 has begun to settle

biochemically, for instance a tap that is arranged at the lower portion of the vessel but on a level 23 above an area 24 at the bottom 10 of the vessel 7 where deposits of impurities 1 are formed.

Analysis has shown that by utilizing ashes, Coliform bacteria (bacterium coli) have decreased substantially, up to 2/3.

Most economically is to run the

electrolysis at about 12 V. Another voltage gives other merits, e.g., that the operation runs faster.

Function and nature of the invention should have been clearly understood from the above- mentioned and also with knowledge of what is shown in the drawings but the invention is naturally not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an

equivalent technique, without departing from the

protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Claims

T175 P1PCT LG/KOE

C l a i m s 1. Process for waste water clarification and separation of contaminants and phosphorous compounds (1) from waste water (2) , characterized in that wood ashes or other ashes (3) are mixed into the waste water (2) and/or electrolysis is started in the mixture (4) or in the waste water (2) whereby partitioning and separation take place.

2. Process according to claim 1,

characterized in that wood ashes or other ashes (3) from wood stove or another source of combustion are utilized.

3. Process according to any one of claims 1-

2, characterized in that electrodes (5, 6) of iron are utilized in the electrolytic treatment whereby the mixture (4) first blackens in the vessel utilized in the execution of the process so as to after a certain time clear and that a floating cake (8) is formed of containing

impurities and phosphorous compounds (1) in the waste water (2) . 4. Process according to claim 3,

characterized in that, after a certain time, clarified water (9) is discharged after said cake (8) with

impurities and phosphorous compounds has settled and residues (11) have been formed at the bottom (10) of the vessel utilized in said process, or that, before settling takes place, the cake (8) with impurities is removed by skimming at a stage or successively as it is formed or by filtering when the cake (8) has settled/settles for obtaining different parts of the contents.

5. Process according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that sewage is collected from the third compartment of a three-compartment septic tank for sewage treatment works after coarse screening and grit chamber clarification, and that, after a certain time from the mixing- in of wood ashes or other ashes (3) and

electrolysis of the mixture (4), the sewage clears after the formation of a floating cake (8) of impurities (1) and settling of the same, so that discharge of clarified sewage takes place separated from remaining residues of impurities at the bottom (10) of utilized vessel (7) in which said clarification is provided.

6. Process according to claim 5,

characterized in that the process is controlled according to the colours that are formed during the progress of the process of the liquid (2) in the vessel (7) .

7. Process according to any one of claims 5-

6, characterized in that the floating cake (8) with impurities is removed from the liquid (2) by:

A) skimming of the floating cake (8) ,

B) producing different fractions from the floating cake (8) by a biochemical reaction being in progress with a precipitation of different layers of impurities for a certain time starting at the bottom of the floating cake (8) , or

C) withdrawing the liquid (2) directly after clearing from dark coloured liquid and allowing a self- sustaining operation in this liquid (2) carry out conversion as well as precipitation of phosphorus and phosphorous compounds whereupon the precipitated material is removed, and that then bottom sediments (11) from the non-active part of the ashes (3) and others contents are mechanically removed from the vessel ( 7 ) .

Process according to any one of claims 1- 5, characterized in that, after completed settling and precipitation in the settling container, the floating film or residues are skimmed or filtered off from the surface of the liquid, since these constituents represent contents inappropriate for nature and foreign or dangerous substances and since these cannot flocculate, be precipitated, or settled.

Process according to any one of claims 1- 5, characterized in that, directly after splitting of the waste water (2) , the greyish-black liquid with floating and containing impurities is collected from the reactor to the settling container to allow the self-sustaining operation flocculate and precipitate the contents of the liquid (settle) before the liquid has become clear.

Process according to any one of claims 1- 5, characterized in that the greyish-black liquid with floating impurities is directly transferred from the reactor to the settling container for the self- sustaining operation to flocculate and settle the impurities therein.

11. Process according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that direct current is utilized in accomplishing the electrolysis. 12. Process according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the rate of the operation, splitting, and clearing is changed by increasing the voltage.