Patent ID: 6177016
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
A method for purifying contaminated water, comprising:providing a chamber for the in situ generation of a water-insoluble metal hydroxide;providing a fluidizable bed of particles of said metal in said chamber;flowing contaminated water through said chamber thereby fluidizing said bed;flowing a gas comprising oxygen through said chamber and into contact with said particles thereby further fluidizing said bed;in an environment free of an applied or generated electrical current, maintaining the surface of said particles substantially free of oxides and other contaminants thereby facilitating the gradual introduction into said water of solvated metal cations, said cations being oxidized by said gaseous oxygen to said water-insoluble metal hydroxide and forming water-insoluble metal soaps with any fatty acids present in said contaminated water;agglomerating contaminants in said water with said water-insoluble metal hydroxide and, if formed, said water-insoluble metal soaps; andseparating said agglomerated contaminants, said water-insoluble metal hydroxide and, if formed, said water-insoluble metal soaps to produce purified water.