Patent ID: 7531096

Claim:
A method for reducing organic contaminants in water output from a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) treatment system to form feed water for a ZLD facility, said water comprising evaporator distillate produced from source water in an evaporator of said ZLD treatment system, said method comprising: pre-treating said source water with an organic contaminant reducing agent before conveyance to said evaporator of said ZLD treatment system; receiving said water from said ZLD treatment system at an inlet port of an advanced oxidation system, said advanced oxidation system including an ozonation module in fluid communication with said inlet port, an ozone reactor in fluid communication with said ozonation module, and an ultra violet (UV) reactor in fluid communication with said ozone reactor; and utilizing said advanced oxidation system to reduce said organic contaminants in said water to form said feed water for conveyance into said ZLD facility, said utilizing operating including: applying ozone to said water in said ozonation module to form a mixed stream; conveying said mixed stream to said ozone reactor; retaining said mixed stream in said ozone reactor for a pre-determined duration to reduce said organic contaminants in said mixed stream; following said pre-determined duration, outputting said mixed stream from said ozone reactor to said UV reactor; and exposing said mixed stream to UV wavelength in said UV reactor to enhance reduction of said organic contaminants in said mixed stream to form said feed water.