Method and apparatus for water purification
US6623603B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC02F2201/008
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for purifying water by using thermal and/or thermocatalytic processes. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for processing impure water to remove and/or deactivate toxic inorganic, organic, and/or biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, anthrax, E. coli, Giardia cysts, salmonella, hepatitis, and Norwalk viruses. In the thermal process, contaminated water is heated (preferably superheated) forming steam, whereby a majority of inorganic and biological species are removed or deactivated from the water. The steam is then condensed, forming liquid purified water. In the thermocatalytic process, the steam is brought into contact with a hydrolysis catalyst, preferably in the form of a coated surface or replaceable catalyst element. The hydrolysis catalyst, which may be a metal oxide, thermocatalytically deactivates at least 90% of the organic or biological species in the water, converting them to less toxic organic species or non-viable biological species. Various embodiments of the apparatus are provided, including portable configurations. Each of the embodiments include at least one boiler, at least one condenser, an…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.