System and method for treating contaminated wastewater
US10464823B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 3, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC02F2209/09
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A system and method for treating contaminated wastewater is provided. The system and method may be used to treat wastewater such as hydraulic fracturing flowback water, which is contaminated with guar gum, similar gelling agents, or other biological polymers. The contaminated wastewater is pressurized and heated and then allowed to spend a residence time in a vessel. The process may be a continuous or a batch process. The exposure to a combination of heat and pressure causes the high molecular weight guar molecules to break down into simple sugars and other smaller, relatively low molecular weight compounds, thereby decreasing the viscosity of the fluid. Once the viscosity is reduced, the flowback water can then be treated for other contaminants using conventional treatment technologies and reused in fracking operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.