Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/28—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by sorption
  • C02F1/281—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by sorption using inorganic sorbents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
  • B01J20/02—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material
  • B01J20/10—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material comprising silica or silicate
  • B01J20/12—Naturally occurring clays or bleaching earth
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
  • B01J20/02—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material
  • B01J20/10—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material comprising silica or silicate
  • B01J20/16—Alumino-silicates
  • B01J20/165—Natural alumino-silicates, e.g. zeolites
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/52—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities
  • C02F1/5236—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities using inorganic agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
  • C02F1/44—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis
  • C02F1/444—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
  • C02F2201/008—Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
  • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
  • C02F2209/005—Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a waste water treatment method and apparatus.
• the present invention finds main application in the field of waste water treatment deriving from conurbations, livestock farms, wine cellars, food and dairy industries as well as industrial settlements or the like.
• the exclusively biological plants are currently among the most widespread and generally consist of multi-level purifiers which carry out subsequent treatment steps aimed at "attacking" different types of pollutants.
• the treatment steps are mainly the following:
• the waste water entering the system passes through grids in which large materials (branches, stones, pieces of wood, etc.) are retained; depending on the distance between the bars, coarse grids (4-6 cm) or fine grids (0.2-2 cm) can be distinguished
• sand separation process specifically materials with dimensions of 0.15-0.20 mm, both siliceous and not, with a greater density than that of water, which have passed through the bars of the inlet grid;
• the active biomass causes the demolition of the organic substance by microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa and metazoa) into simple substances such as CO2 and H2O and energy which they then use to grow and multiply.
• microorganisms bacteria, protozoa and metazoa
• active sludge is continuously produced within the oxidation tank as a result of organic carbon biochemical degradation reactions
• the denitrification step aims at the conversion by optional heterotrophic bacteria of the nitrogenous substances, present as nitrites NO2, nitrates NO3 and in N2 to be released into the atmosphere;
• this section is used to separate the activated sludge from the purified water: in addition to having the clarification of the waste water, a thickening and accumulation function of the sludge to be recirculated is also obtained;
• - disinfection it is the final step in which the purified water transits to undergo the bacterial disinfection treatment, which must be carried out in different manners (acetic acid, UVA rays, sodium hypochlorite, etc.).
• the mechanical-biological treatment procedure requires very voluminous plants, able to accommodate volumes of water such as to allow the performance of all the steps (some very long, such as oxidation) without creating accommodation problems for the community.
• the sludge produced by such procedures is clearly incompatible with their dispersion in nature (e.g., agriculture), significantly limiting the palatability of such plants.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a waste water treatment method and apparatus.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a waste water treatment apparatus of small size, such as to allow its placement on a vehicle which can significantly reduce the costs for delivering waste water to plants.
• said objects are obtained by a waste water treatment method which involves supplying a volume of waste water within a clariflocculation tank, possibly but not necessarily previously filtered by means of a grid (i.e., subjected to screening).
• a first release is carried out of a first inorganic mineral (or a first mixture of inorganic minerals) containing zeolites within said tank.
• the volume of waste water is then (or simultaneously) stirred or mixed in order to disperse said first inorganic mineral (or said first mixture of inorganic minerals) within the volume of water, favouring the capture of pollutants.
• the use of zeolites and their dispersion allows to absorb a large amount of pollutants, grouping them into macro-clusters.
• the method comprises performing a second release of a second inorganic mineral (or a second mixture of inorganic minerals) containing bentonite (or bentonites) within said tank.
• a second inorganic mineral or a second mixture of inorganic minerals
• bentonite or bentonites
• the sludge contains the first inorganic mineral (or the first mixture of inorganic minerals) and the second inorganic mineral (or a second mixture of inorganic minerals).
• the synergistic action of zeolites and bentonites allows to act very quickly in the treatment of water, obtaining a high treatment level without the need to introduce chemical agents.
• the step of stirring the volume of waste water added with the first inorganic mineral or with the first mixture of inorganic minerals has a duration between 2 and 20 minutes, preferably between 5 and 15 minutes.
• the first fraction of purified water is then extracted or discharged from the tank.
• no chemical storage tank is included to be used during the treatment process, i.e., from the supply step to the unloading or extraction step.
• the object of the present invention is also a waste water treatment apparatus, which preferably but not necessarily is configured to implement the method described above.
• the apparatus comprises a mouth for loading a volume of waste water and at least one clariflocculation tank operatively arranged downstream of said loading mouth.
• the clariflocculation tank comprises at least one stirring member configured to stir the volume of waste water.
• the apparatus further comprises a first discharge mouth configured to suck or release a first fraction of purified water obtained in said clariflocculation tank.
• a second discharge mouth is further included arranged near a bottom wall of the clariflocculation tank and configured to expel or allow the extraction of sludge generated in said clariflocculation tank.
• Pumping and/or suction means are further included configured to move said volume of waste water and said first fraction of purified water along one or more ducts of the apparatus.
• the apparatus further comprises a first and a second storage tank provided with at least one duct (shared or respective) placed in fluid communication with the clariflocculation tank.
• the first storage tank contains a first inorganic mineral (or a first mixture of inorganic minerals) containing zeolites.
• the second duct instead contains a second inorganic mineral (or a second mixture of inorganic minerals) containing bentonite or bentonites.
• the clariflocculation tank could be only one, in which both the first and the second inorganic materials are released, but they could also be two arranged in succession each associated with a respective first or second tank.
• the apparatus comprising a control unit configured to control said pumping and/or suction means, said stirring member and said duct according to a following treatment procedure, which can be automated or manually driven by an operator.
• the treatment procedure includes:
• the apparatus comprises a filtration station operatively arranged downstream of said first discharge mouth.
• the filtration station has an ultra-filtering membrane provided with micrometric or submicrometric holes which allow an ultrafiltration of the first fraction (purified water) such as to make it reusable in agriculture or for the other uses allowed by current legislation.
• the apparatus object of the invention has a sufficiently small size to be transportable on a vehicle or transport means, such as a lorry, an articulated lorry or a towable trailer.
• the creation of a mobile, compact and flexible apparatus allows the purification cycle to be carried out at the waste water producer's headquarters and the setting of the process, calibrating it based on the specific waste water inlet, thus optimizing the purification cycle and ensuring compliance with the regulatory parameters for the reuse of water and biomass.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a waste water treatment apparatus according to the present invention.
• number 1 generically indicates a waste water treatment apparatus according to the present invention.
• waste water in this text refers to waste water deriving from conurbations, livestock farms, wine cellars, food and dairy industries, as well as from industrial settlements, with recovery of water resources and biomass.
• the apparatus referred to in the present invention finds application in the treatment of all waste water which requires purification for disposal and/or possible reuse in various areas.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a loading mouth 2 of a volume (or a flow) of waste water.
• Such a loading mouth 2 could be connected or connectable to discharge ducts or to reception tanks of waste water deriving from various types of activities.
• the loading mouth 2 is placed in communication (or fluid connection) with a screening station 10.
• Such a screening station 10 preferably comprises one or more meshes or grids of predefined size, configured to retain large-sized materials (branches, stones, pieces of wood, etc.) which would render the subsequent treatment steps difficult.
• the meshes or grids can be arranged with a predefined size and/or placed in succession with openings of decreasing size, so as to retain the debris gradually and avoid clogging the filters.
• the meshes or grids can be distinguished into coarse grids (4-6 cm distance between the bars) or fine grids (0.2-2 cm).
• an equalization tank 11 Preferably, downstream of the screening station 10 there is an equalization tank 11 .
• Such an equalization tank 11 allows, if at the inlet to the treatment plant there is a variable flow and/or polluting load, equalization to level the flow points, so as to ensure to the subsequent purification treatments a sufficiently constant flow and organic load.
• the apparatus has a clariflocculation tank 3 operatively arranged downstream of said loading mouth 2 (and where present the screening station 10 and the equalization tank 11 ).
• the clariflocculation tank 3 is sized to receive the volume of waste water, possibly screened, and comprises therein at least one stirring member 3a configured to stir it.
• the stirring member 3a is preferably defined by an impeller with a shaped blading for mixing the volume of waste water.
• the shape, size and speed of rotation of the stirring member 3a can vary as a function of the application, they are not a constraint for the implementation of the present invention.
• the clariflocculation tank 3 is configured to allow the precipitation of non-sedimentable suspended substances, allowing the separation between the polluting substances and the purified water, possibly reusable.
• the clariflocculation tank 3 preferably has a plurality of openings to put it in communication with other parts of the apparatus.
• a supply mouth 4c is provided in fluid connection (direct or indirect) with the loading mouth 2 in order to receive the volume of waste water.
• a first discharge mouth 4a is configured to suck or release a first fraction of purified water W obtained in the tank 3.
• a second discharge mouth 4b is arranged near a bottom wall 3b of the clariflocculation tank 3, and is configured to expel or allow the extraction of a second fraction M of sludge generated in the tank 3.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a first storage tank 7 containing a first inorganic mineral (or a first mixture of inorganic minerals) containing zeolites and provided with at least one duct 7a placed in fluid communication with said clariflocculation tank 3.
• the clariflocculation tank 3 has at least one release mouth 4c connected to the duct 7a to receive the first inorganic mineral (or the first mixture of inorganic minerals).
• the first inorganic mineral can be a zeolite or a mixture containing one or more zeolites.
• first inorganic mineral and “first mixture of inorganic minerals” will be used as synonyms since, for the purposes of the present invention, there is no observation that a single mineral or a mixture of minerals with similar properties is used.
• a first mixture of inorganic minerals is used so as to vary the properties thereof, making it suitable for multiple types of pollutants.
• said zeolite is selected from the list below:
• the Applicant has considered that the zeolites could exploit their adsorption capacity of pollutants at a preliminary clariflocculation step, making the pollutants and particulates easier to remove from the water volume in a later step.
• the apparatus 1 is configured to move (or activate) the stirring member 3a simultaneously or following the release of said first inorganic mineral.
• the apparatus 1 further comprises a second storage tank 8 containing a second inorganic mineral or a second mixture of inorganic minerals containing bentonite and provided with at least one duct 8a placed in fluid communication with said clariflocculation tank.
• the duct 8a of the storage tank 8 can be distinct from or confluent with the duct 7a of the first storage tank 7.
• the two tanks could be completely distinct and flow into the respective clariflocculation tank 3, or flow into a single duct which opens into a common inlet 4c.
• the second inorganic mineral can be a bentonite or a mixture containing one or more bentonites.
• second inorganic mineral and “second mixture of inorganic minerals” will be used as synonyms since, for the purposes of the present invention, there is no observation that a single mineral or a mixture of minerals with similar properties is used.
• a second mixture of inorganic minerals containing bentonite and possibly other high thixotropy minerals is used, thus optimizing the performance of the apparatus.
• said bentonite can be of the calcium or sodium type.
• the apparatus is configured to release the second inorganic mineral within the volume of water at a later step with respect to the first inorganic mineral.
• the adoption of a mineral with high thixotropicity allows to speed up the clariflocculation, that is the "fall" of the polluting particles which, having already been agglomerated in large particulates by the zeolite, precipitate quickly and allow a rapid and efficient purification of the water.
• the stirring member 3a is deactivated so as to promote the precipitation of the pollutants.
• the clariflocculation tank 3 can be divided into two different tanks, one provided with a stirring member and associated with the first tank and one, preferably without stirring member, associated with the second tank.
• pumping and/or suction means 6 associated with one or more ducts of the apparatus 1 .
• the pumping and/or suction means 6 can be distributed along the apparatus, upstream or downstream of tanks, so as to vary their action according to the density of the volumes to be moved and the required flow rate.
• first 12 and second collection container 13 operatively downstream of the clariflocculation tank 3 there are a first 12 and a second collection container 13.
• the first collection container 12 is connected to the first discharge mouth 4a of the clariflocculation tank 3, in order to receive (by virtue of the activation of the pumping and/or suction means 6) the first fraction of purified water W.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a filtration station 5 operatively arranged downstream of the first discharge mouth 4a, more preferably interposed between the first discharge mouth 4a and the first collection container 12.
• the presence of such a station allows to increase the degree of purity of the first fraction of water, also eliminating the sludge particulates which could escape the combined action of the first and the second inorganic minerals.
• the filtration station 5 has an ultrafiltering membrane 5a provided with micrometric or submicrometric holes.
• the filtration station 5 is configured to perform a tangential flow (cross-flow) filtration.
• the filtering process in the filtration station can occur in two modes and more specifically in dead-end filtration mode or cross-flow filtration mode.
• the first (dead-end) mode is similar to that of cartridge filtration, in which the fluid flow is supplied to the station and recovered downstream thereof as an output (filtered) flow.
• Such filtration allows a recovery of supply water which oscillates between 95 and 98%, but is typically limited to an inlet flow with a low value of Suspended Solids ( ⁇ 1 NTU).
• Cross-flow filtration instead involves the presence of an additional flow, the concentrate, which does not pass through the membrane and returns in circulation to the beginning of the plant.
• Cross-flow filtration has a recovery percentage of about 90 - 95% but works with solutions with a high concentration of total suspended solids.
• the filtration station 5 is placed in connection with the clariflocculation tank 3 or with the equalization tank 11 by means of a recirculation duct 15 useful for the reintegration of the water not permeated by the membrane.
• a further recirculation duct 14 is preferably operatively placed downstream of the second collection container 13.
• Such a further duct 14 is preferably associated (i.e., connected) to a dehydration tank 16 configured to separate the sludge M arriving from the second collection container 13 into a liquid fraction, or recirculation water, and a solid fraction (e.g., biomass).
• a dehydration tank 16 configured to separate the sludge M arriving from the second collection container 13 into a liquid fraction, or recirculation water, and a solid fraction (e.g., biomass).
• the liquid fraction is then preferably transported in the equalization tank 11 or in the clariflocculation tank through said further duct 14.
• the solid fraction can instead be discharged by appropriate discharge openings and reused for the most varied purposes, including for example biogas plants, cogeneration, fertilization, etc.
• the apparatus 1 can be programmable to perform an automated processing procedure or manually driven by an operator.
• the apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 9 configured to drive the pumping means 6, the stirring member 3a and the duct 7a, 8a according to the following treatment procedure.
• control unit 9 is configured to activate the loading mouth 2 so as to allow the supply of a volume of waste water within the clariflocculation tank 3.
• the pumping and/or suction means 6 are then activated to move the volume of water towards the clariflocculation tank 3, preferably through the screening station 10 and the equalization tank 11 (if present).
• control unit 9 is configured to impart an opening of said duct 7a (i.e., that associated with the first tank 8) in order to release the first inorganic mineral (or the first mixture of inorganic minerals) within said clariflocculation tank 3.
• control unit 9 is configured to determine the amount of the first inorganic mineral (or of the first mixture of inorganic minerals) such that the concentration in the clariflocculation tank 3 is between 0.2% and 8% w/v, preferably between 0.5% and 5% w/v.
• control unit 9 is configured to activate the stirring member 3a in order to disperse said first inorganic mineral (or the first mixture of inorganic minerals) within the volume of water, i.e. of the tank 3.
• control unit 9 is configured to prolong the stirring action for a time interval between 2 and 25 minutes, more preferably between 5 and 15 minutes.
• zeolites allows to significantly reduce the purification time, which is calibrated on an hourly (and minute) count rather than on weekly times.
• control unit 9 is programmed to open said duct 8a (i.e., that associated with the second tank 8) to release said second inorganic mineral (or said second mixture of inorganic minerals) within the clariflocculation tank 3.
• control unit 9 is configured to determine the amount of the second inorganic mineral (or of the second mixture of inorganic minerals) such that the concentration in the clariflocculation tank 3 is between 0.2% and 8% w/v, preferably between 0.5% and 5% w/v.
• control unit 9 is configured to deactivate the stirring member 3a before or after the opening of said duct 8a, to promote the flocculation of bentonite and to determine (i.e., speed up) the separation of the volume of waste water in the first fraction W of purified water and in the second fraction of sludge M.
• the first fraction W of purified water is sent (by means of activation by the control unit 9 of the pumping and/or suction means 6) to the filtration station 5.
• the treatment apparatus 1 described so far is placed on board a vehicle, preferably on board a frame or platform provided with wheels (or other rolling means).
• all the components of the apparatus are constrained to a container or other system removably connectable to a trailer by a twist lock connection system or the like.
• Such a peculiarity is advantageously allowed by the limited size of the apparatus allowed by its treatment speed; the overall dimensions of the entire apparatus 1 can in fact be limited to 81 m 3 . With an oscillating potential between 5000 and 10000 m 3 /year.
• the clariflocculation tank 3 has a capacity between 0.5 and 5 m 3 , more preferably of about 1 .5 m 3 .
• first 7 and second 8 tanks have capacities between 1 and 10 m 3 , more preferably of about 2 m 3 .
• Such dimensions allow to ensure the treatment of about 160 m 3 of waste water, adapted for example to meet the needs of livestock, dairy, wine farms, avoiding their need to store and transport the waste to treatment plants located in another area.
• the object of the present invention is also a waste water treatment method which preferably, but not necessarily, exploits the technical features of the apparatus 1 described above.
• the method includes treating the volume of waste water according to a procedure analogous to that described above, then releasing the first inorganic mineral (or the first mixture of inorganic materials) into the volume of waste water, stirring the waste water for a predefined time interval and subsequently releasing the second inorganic mineral (or the second mixture of inorganic materials) into the volume of waste water.
• the treatment method includes supplying a volume of waste water into the clariflocculation tank 3.
• a first release of a first inorganic mineral or a first mixture of inorganic minerals with high pollutant adsorption properties is then envisaged.
• said first inorganic mineral or first mixture of inorganic minerals contains zeolites; more preferably, the first inorganic mineral or a first mixture of inorganic minerals is mainly defined by zeolites.
• the zeolites adapted to optimize the application have been listed above; refer to such a list for a more specific analysis.
• the amount of first inorganic mineral released within the volume of waste water is preferably such as to define a concentration of 0.2% to 8% w/v, preferably 0.5% to 5% w/v.
• the volume of waste water is stirred by means of a stirring member 3a in order to disperse the first inorganic mineral (or the first mixture of inorganic minerals) homogeneously within the volume of water.
• Such a stirring step preferably has a duration between 2 and 25 minutes, more preferably between 5 and 15 minutes.
• a second release of a second inorganic mineral (or a second mixture of inorganic minerals) having high thixotropy (or thixotropicity) is subsequently envisaged.
• the second inorganic mineral (or a second mixture of inorganic minerals) contains mainly bentonite.
• the amount of second inorganic mineral released within the volume of waste water is preferably such as to define a concentration of 0.2% to 8% w/v, preferably 0.5% to 5% w/v.
• the stirring step is interrupted, thus promoting the stratification and separation of the solid and liquid fractions.
• the volume of waste water is separated into a first fraction of purified water W and a second fraction of sludge M.
• the first fraction of purified water W is subsequently subjected to a filtration procedure, more preferably ultrafiltration.
• such a step is performed by means of the membrane 5a with micrometric or submicrometric holes described above.
• the invention achieves the intended objects and offers important advantages.
• the water thus purified reaches very high purity levels (equal to approximately 90%) even in the absence of further subsequent filtration which, if present, can make the liquid fraction leaving the plant suitable for use in agriculture and/or for all other purposes other than human consumption, in accordance with current legislation.
• the sludge produced in the absence of chemical agents is also applied both in the energy and agricultural fields, to the benefit of the development of a virtuous circular economy.
• these can be both purchased raw materials and obtained from industrial processing waste (second-raw material), in this case allowing the reuse of a waste (End of Waste) for a purification process in compliance with the provisions of current legislation.
• the treatment speed and consequent downsizing of the system results in greater flexibility of the process with respect to the type of input waste water, allowing for example to adopt the apparatus on vehicles which can significantly increase the capillarity of intervention.
• the method and the apparatus object of the invention are considerably advantageous with respect to the current processes, since the possibility of reusing the purified water produced translates into a reduction of subsidence phenomena and depletion of the aquifers.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Water Treatment By Sorption (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-29 EP EP21810733.2A patent/EP4237379A1/de active Pending
  • 2021-10-29 WO PCT/IB2021/060055 patent/WO2022091036A1/en unknown

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