Patent ID: 8080150
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
1. Process of treating contaminated water containing microorganisms comprising feeding a contaminated water stream at a volumetric flow of 1 to 1000 m 3 /h through an electrolyser zone, said water stream having a conductivity from 0.0001 to 100 S/m, electrolysing said water stream in said electrolyser zone defined by at least one electrode pair enabling treatment of microorganisms, said at least one electrode pair comprising an anode and a cathode without separator means, wherein the anode coatings include boron doped diamond, said anode and cathode having the shape of a mesh to provide a low pressure drop as the electrolyte flows through the cell, said water stream being guided substantially perpendicularly at a right angle of 90° or at a deviated angle up to 60° from said right angle flow through said at least one anode and cathode while imposing a voltage across said anode and cathode and supplying a direct current to said anode and cathode, wherein the electrolysis results in the production of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide which can kill microorganisms in order to prevent biofouling, producing hydroxyl radicals, ozone and hydrogen peroxide on the anode surface by oxidation of water or decomposition of oxidized or oxygen rich compounds and withdrawing from the electrolyser zone a treated water stream, wherein the flow of the water stream is turbulent and wherein the anode has an oxygen formation overvoltage higher than 700 mV and wherein the electrode pair is arranged such that a water stream entering the cell first encounters the anode and thereafter the cathode such that products from the anode reactions can react at the anode or rapidly mix with products from the cathode reactions, to further increase the efficiency of the process.