WO-2026096289-A1 - APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR WATER PURIFICATION WITH ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY

Abstract

The invention of the current application is directed to a water purification system, A water retentate treatment module, and a water treatment method. The water retentate treatment module includes an electrolytic treatment unit and a dissolved solids recovery unit. A water retentate stream is received in a electrolytic treatment unit which performs at least one process selected from the group consisting of electrochemical oxidation, hardness removal and reduction, and/or the water retentate stream is received in a dissolved solids removal unit wherein at least one of hydrogen, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide are recovered.

Inventors

• LEGZDINS, COLLEEN
• Montalvo, Preston

Assignees

• OXBYEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251024

Priority Date

20241029

Claims (20)

1. Listing of Claims:
2. 1. A water purification system comprising:
3. a water retentate treatment module comprising an electrolytic treatment unit and a dissolved solids recovery unit,
4. wherein a water retentate stream is received in a electrolytic treatment unit which performs at least one process selected from the group consisting of electrochemical oxidation, hardness removal and reduction, and/or
5. wherein a water retentate stream is received in a dissolved solids removal unit wherein at least one of hydrogen, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide are recovered.
6. 2. The water purification system of claim 1 wherein the water retentate stream is converted to a electrolytically treated retentate stream in the electrolytic treatment unit and the electrolytically treated retentate stream is transferred to the dissolved solids removal unit from the electrolytic treatment unit.
7. 3. The water purification system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
8. a preliminary treatment module which receives a contaminated water feed, and removes suspended solids and precipitates from the contaminated water feed to form a treated water feed which is feed to the water retentate treatment module or to a filtration module which receives and filters the treated water feed and forms a permeate water stream and a water retentate stream wherein the water retentate is supplied to the water retentate treatment module.
9. 4. The water purification system of claim 3 wherein the preliminary treatment module comprises
10. a chemical precipitation unit,
11. a total suspended solids sensor, and
12. a solids recovery unit.
13. 5. The water purification system of claim 3 wherein the chemical precipitation unit comprises: an oxidation vessel,
14. an ultraviolet light chamber,
15. a coagulation chamber, and
16. a vessel including an ultrafiltration cassette.
17. 6. The water purification system of claim 3 additionally comprising:
18. a solids recovery unit which receives the suspended solids and precipitates removed in the preliminary treatment module and dewaters the suspended solids and precipitates to form recovered water which is returned to the preliminary treatment module.
19. 7. The water purification system of claim 3 wherein the filtration module is included in the water purification system,
20. wherein the filtration module receives a clarified retentate stream and recovered water from the dissolved solids recovery unit, and produces a permeate stream.

Description

APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR WATER PURIFICATION WITH ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY BACKGROUND The widespread contamination of wastewater, recycled water, surface water and groundwater sources by emerging contaminants, microplastics, and nanomaterials is a global concern. Conventional wastewater and drinking water treatment processes are less or not effective due to their low concentrations and diverse chemical properties. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are unable to efficiently remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other hazardous micropollutants from wastewater discharged to drinking water sources. Emerging contaminants that pollute drinking water sources include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, natural and synthetic hormones, personal care products (such as fragrances and cosmetics), food additives, dyes, industrial chemicals such as bromated flame retardants and phthalate ester, microplastics and nanoparticles and nanomaterials. Those contaminants that have received increased regulatory attention include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, 1,4-Dioxane, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, disinfection byproducts, and certain industrial chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants including dioxins, furans, PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, herbicides, chlorinated solvents, and semi volatiles organic compounds. Generally, most emerging contaminants are present with cooccurring contaminants so complex and expensive treatment systems are required. The presence of micropollutants in drinking water is a significant concern because even at low concentrations, they have adverse effects on human health. Identified health effects include endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity, reproductive effects, and antibiotic resistance. Nanomaterials such as nanoplastics are a concern due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier increasing the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to micropollutants, drinking water systems struggle to remove health-based contaminants like disinfection byproducts (DBPs), lead, nitrate, arsenic, radionuclides, and microbial contaminants. For example, in 2018, 27% of public water systems in the US (40,533 systems) reported at least one drinking water standard violation [ EPA Summary and Evaluation ofPWS Compliance in Calendar Year 2018, Enforcement and Compliance History Online or ECHO Drinking Water Dashboard ]. Tn 2022, the number of violations increased with 43.2% of the US community water systems violating at least one drinking water standard [National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative: Increasing Compliance with Drinking Water Standards at Community Water Systems I US EPA ]. In addition, the deterioration of water distribution systems contributes to heavy metal, microbial and asbestos contamination. To protect human health and the environment, new water and wastewater remediation techniques that are inexpensive, effective, simple, practical, and environmentally friendly are required to eliminate emerging contaminants. The decrease in freshwater supplies and increasing environmental regulatory requirements, particularly for micropollutants, on wastewater discharges is also impacting industrial processes globally. Industrial processes generate large volumes of wastewater, with up to 40% disposed of without treatment. A new approach is required due to the increased costs of handling and disposing of toxic wastewater and limited supplies of freshwater. By providing low-cost water purification methods and systems that provide clean water suitable for recycling, re-use and/or safe recharge of freshwater sources, and nonhazardous solid residues suitable for recovering valuable resources and safe disposal. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and minimal liquid discharge (MLD) water treatment aim to minimize liquid waste discharge by maximizing water recovery and leaving behind only solid waste. Traditional ZLD treatment is a multi-stage process that starts with various pre- treatment technologies, continues with membrane filtration, and ends with evaporators and crystallizers. Evaporators and crystallizers are expensive, energy intensive, transfer hazardous contaminants to the solid waste, and in the case of PFAS. transfer PFAS to the evaporator and crystallizer vapor or distillate. For many wastewaters, heavy metal salts, organics, calcium and ammonium chlorides are not easy to crystallize, and expensive pretreatment processes are required which makes the process impractical. A new ZLD/MLD water purification approach that is inexpensive, reduces energy consumption, recovers valuable resources and does not generate hazardous solid or liquid waste is therefore desirable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The current application is directed to a modular water purification apparatus, system and methods for effective and sustainable water purification of contaminated water including