Waste treatment system

(54) Title: TREATMENT SYSTEM OF (57) Summary:

WASTE TO TREAT A WASTE CHAIN ​​SUBSTANTIALLY LIQUID AND METHOD OF TREATING A WASTE CHAIN ​​(30) Unionist Priority: 09/04/2007 us 11 / 697,921, 04/09/2007 US 11 / 697,933 (73) Owner (s) : innovation Services, inc.

(72) Inventor (s): jeffreyg. hubrig, joseph b. dooley, RICHARD A. LOWDEN (74) Attorney (s): DAVID DO NASCIMENTO ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS (86) International Request: pct us2008058239 of 26/03/2008 (87) International Publication: wo 2oos / i24299de 16/10/2008

<img file="BRPI0809704A2_D0001.tif" />

l_

<img file="BRPI0809704A2_D0002.tif" />

1/37

WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM TO TREAT A SUBSTANTIALLY LIQUID WASTE CHAIN ​​AND METHOD OF TREATING A WASTE CHAIN

TECHNICAL FIELD

The description refers to an online and / or modular waste treatment unit that is intended to provide the treatment and / or disinfection of infectious liquid waste, including medical, household, scientific, funeral or commercial waste, to disinfect and result in non-infectious and less toxic or less biologically active waste before the flow of residual current into a sanitary sewer drain or directly into the environment.

GROUNDS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

There is growing concern about the fact that streams of biological infectious waste from hospitals, slaughterhouses and other sources that may contain biologically hazardous or toxic components are not adequately treated prior to disposal of such waste streams into sanitary sewer systems or directly into the environment. Currently, large municipal treatment facilities cannot be properly configured for high concentrations of biological materials that come from hospitals and other sources. Consequently, there is a need for improved systems and methods for treating waste streams before the streams are discharged into a sanitary sewer system or directly into the environment. There is also a need for modular systems that can be readily applied as an aid to existing sanitary sewage systems at the source of the residual current, thereby reducing the degree of infectivity of the material that must be treated in a municipal system.

In view of what has been mentioned above and other

2/37 needs, an exemplary embodiment of the description features a modular waste disinfection system for substantially liquid infectious waste streams and methods of treating such waste streams. The modular waste disinfection system can include a metal ion generation chamber to introduce selected metal ions into the waste material; an oxidant generation chamber in fluid flow communication with the metal ion generation chamber for the disinfection of the residual material with an oxidizing agent; and a chelation chamber in fluid flow communication with the oxidant generation chamber for deactivating the metal ions in the waste material.

Another exemplary embodiment of the description provides a method of treating a waste material from the sanitary sewer to provide a treated waste stream. The method may include draining a residual stream from a sanitary sewer drain into a modular waste disinfection system. The modular waste disinfection system can include a metal ion generation chamber to introduce metal ions into the waste material to partially disinfect the waste material; an oxidant generation chamber in fluid flow communication with the metal ion generation chamber for the disinfection of the residual material with an oxidizing agent; and a chelation chamber in fluid flow communication with the oxidant generation chamber for the deactivation of metal ions and the oxidation of chemicals in the waste material.

According to the method, the residual stream can be mashed to a predetermined particle size and can come in contact with a film inhibitor and / or a foam inhibitor in the mashing chamber. Metal ions can be generated in situ in the ion

3/37 metal for contact with the residual stream from the steeping chamber to disinfect the residual stream. The residual stream can be infused into the oxidant generation chamber by the oxidants generated in situ, in order to eliminate any biological activity of the compounds in the residual stream. The metal ions in the residual stream can then be chelated (linked) in the chelation chamber in order to sequester and disable any remaining metal ions and oxidation chemicals present in the residual stream before disposing of the treated residual stream in a sanitary or directly into the environment.

An advantage of the system and methods described in the present invention is that the system combines at least two disinfection techniques in a single unit, thereby increasing the effectiveness of disinfecting waste from the stream compared to using a single disinfection technique. Unlike conventional systems, the disinfection active ingredients are deactivated before the residual stream is discharged from the disinfection unit, so that the disinfection ingredients and the residual stream can be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or directly into the environment without remove the disinfection ingredients from the residual stream. Because of the modular nature of the system, the system can be configured as a mobile, portable or stand-alone unit, or it can be provided in a substantially fixed non-portable installation that can be inserted between a source of the waste material and a final disposal of the material residual. The waste treatment system can also be combined and / or integrated with a waste collection system or can be configured as a stand-alone system for direct discharge into the environment. In addition, parts of the modular system can be used if the full potential is not required by the nature of the waste that is

4/37 being created.

Another exemplary embodiment features a modular waste treatment system for liquid waste streams and methods for treating liquid waste streams. The modular waste treatment system includes a maceration chamber for the initial treatment and homogenization of the waste material; a metal ion infusion chamber in fluid flow communication with the maceration chamber to introduce metal ions into the waste material; and an oxidation chamber for wet oxidation of the residual stream. It can be arranged for waste to be recycled in one or more of the chambers for further treatment, if required.

However, another exemplary embodiment presents a method of treating a liquid waste material to provide a treated waste stream. The method can include draining a residual stream in a modular waste treatment system. The modular waste treatment system may include a steeping chamber for the initial treatment and homogenization of the waste material; a metal ion infusion chamber in fluid flow communication with the maceration chamber to introduce metal ions into the waste material; and an oxidation chamber to oxidize the oxidizable material in the residual stream. The residual current is mashed to a predetermined particle size and can come in contact with a film inhibitor in the mashing chamber. Metal ions are generated in the metal ion infusion chamber for contact with the residual current in the maceration chamber to detoxify and partially promote the oxidation process of the residual current. The residual stream is then oxidized in the presence of oxygen to provide a treated stream that is substantially devoid of toxic biological materials and

5/37 active.

An advantage of the various embodiments described in the present invention is that the system combines at least two disinfection techniques in a single unit, thereby increasing the efficiency of treating waste stream compared to the use of a single disinfection technique. The oxidation system used is essentially flame-free and therefore does not introduce any combustion products into the atmosphere. However, heating the residual stream and the oxygen stream can greatly increase the reaction rate. The use of elemental oxygen also provides a much more compact system than units using air (containing only approximately 20% by weight of oxygen).

Because of the modular components of the system, the system can be configured as a mobile, portable or standalone unit, or it can be provided in a substantially fixed non-portable installation that can be inserted between a source of the waste material and a final disposal of the waste material. The waste treatment system can also be combined and / or integrated with a waste collection system. In another embodiment, the waste treatment system can be an autonomous system for the discharge of treated waste into the environment.

Other objectives and advantages of the description are presented in part in the description below, and / or can be learned by practicing the description. The objectives and advantages of the description can also be achieved and achieved by means of the elements and combinations indicated particularly in the appended claims.

It should be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below are only exemplary and explanatory, and are not restrictive of the description, as

6/37 claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the exemplary achievements may be evident with reference to the detailed description of the exemplifying achievements when considered together with the following drawings that illustrate one or more non-limiting aspects of the same, in which the similar reference characters designate similar or similar elements in all the different designs, as follows:

Figure 1 is a block flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of the present description;

<td>Figure 2 is</td><td>an</td><td>representation</td><td>schematic of</td><td>one</td>

<td>non-limiting example</td><td>in</td><td>one unit</td><td>disinfection</td><td>in</td>

<td colspan="2">substantially waste</td><td>linear</td><td>a deal with</td><td>an</td>

<td>preferred embodiment;</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view, out of scale, of a substantially linear waste disinfection unit according to an embodiment of the description;

Figure 4 is a sectional perspective view, out of scale, of a substantially vertical waste disinfection unit according to another embodiment of the description;

Figure 5 is a block flow chart of a treatment process according to the description;

Figure 6 is an overall schematic drawing of a modular flameless waste treatment system according to the description;

Figure 7 is an enlarged schematic drawing of a part of the treatment system of Figure 6 including a receiving chamber and a metal ion infusion chamber;

and

7/37 Figure 8 is an enlarged schematic drawing of part of the treatment system of Figure 6 including an oxidation chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLIFYING ACHIEVEMENTS

Realization of the Waste Disinfection Unit in

Line

As described in more detail below, the embodiments of the present description can provide systems and methods for disinfecting substantially liquid infectious waste streams prior to disposal of the waste streams into a sanitary sewer system or directly into the environment. The deactivation or destruction of infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, algae, prions or other infectious organic matter, through the embodiments of the present description, may be referred to in the present invention as disinfection or biocidal activity. The systems and methods can be adaptable to be portable or permanently attached to the existing sanitary sewer drains. Each system can be substantially self-contained, so that the fluid discharged from the system can be appropriate to flow into an existing sanitary sewer or directly into the environment without additional disinfection.

The systems and methods of the present description can generate reactive disinfecting agents in situ during operation. Waste streams can be treated with a synergistic combination of metal ions and oxidants, such as hypochlorites, peroxides or hydroxyl ions. However, it is not desirable to dispose of metal ions and oxidants in the sewer system. Therefore, waste streams can be further treated to ensure the deactivation of reactive agents and to allow the discharge of the residual stream through a sewer system or

8/37 directly into the environment.

Oxidants can be generated electrolytically in situ from water that has minimal amounts of common salt (sodium chloride) present or from the salts that exist in organic tissues that may be present in the waste. Metal ions can likewise be generated in situ through oxidation-reduction reactions when electrodes that comprise the appropriate metals are subjected to an electric current of the appropriate polarity, voltage and duration. The ability to generate metal ions and non-metallic reactive compounds in situ by electrolytic oxidation-reduction reactions provides a key disinfection technique, generating the biocidal species where it is needed. Any active disinfecting agents that are not chemically deactivated as a result of the disinfection process can then be switched on and off for the subsequent to the end of the disinfection cycle.

Unlike conventional systems, the system described in the present invention can turn on and off the metal ions used for disinfection before the discharge of a treated fluid stream to the sewer system, instead of removing the metal ions by precipitation or by another reaction mechanism. The presently described system can load a sufficient amount of a chelating agent, such as EDTA or citric acid, into a chelation chamber, which can bind the metal ions and deactivate them. Chelation can also serve to bind unreacted oxidants that may be present in the stream. This binding technique is similar to the treatment used by doctors to treat ingestion of toxic metals for excretion from the body, and can chelates be discharged with sewage or directly into the disinfection processing medium to allow the metals to safely enter the system.

9/37 environment.

The present description can also explore the powerful biocidal properties of oxidizing agents, such as hypochlorites and peroxides. The aforementioned and related chemicals, generally known as oxidants, are well known and established as highly effective microbicides. Oxidation also serves to break down organic molecules, such as pharmaceuticals, into less objectionable compounds.

Hypochlorites may also exhibit efficacy against viruses because of their ability to attack and denature proteins. This feature makes them effective against viruses that can be coated with an outer protein coating or without coating. The oxidizing agents produced and used in the system for their biocidal activity can also be deactivated or neutralized in situ by spontaneous reactions with organic compounds in the waste, without the need to remove these chemicals from the treated fluid stream.

Although metal ions and oxidizing agents are known to be biocidal agents that are effective individually, the combination of metal ions and oxidants in a single system can provide synergistically enhanced efficacy in biocidal activity, which is approximately 100,000 times greater than ion disinfectants. metal or oxidizers alone.

Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of a method of the present description features a system 10 that includes a series of continuous, in-line processes for disinfecting a substantially liquid infectious residual stream, where each stage of the process is also described in more detail below . Each stage of the process can be represented here as a physical chamber can be the effectiveness

10/37 individual to provide a clearer understanding of the concept of the online process. However, the present description is not limited to individual chambers for each stage of the process, as in an alternative embodiment discussed below. The process stages presently described can be carried out in individual chambers to simplify control, or be combined in common chambers to obtain a more favorable indication for the physical dimensions and the cost / benefit to the configuration of the unit design.

residual becomes substantially Consequently, additional. Can be

Infectious waste is collected first in the waste collection step 12, where water can be added if necessary to ensure that the material is substantially liquid or in a liquid form for a treatment the waste material is also macerated in the maceration step 14. The maceration 14 can guarantee a homogeneous particle size for any organic matter that may be present in the substantially liquid waste material. The term substantially liquid means that any solids present in the residual material remain substantially suspended in a liquid phase for flow through the system 10

If the particle size of any organic matter present is too large for the waste to be processed in the next process step, the residual material can be recycled for further maceration in the maceration step 14. Then, the metal ions can be introduced into the residual material in the metal ion generation step 16, where the electrolysis of a lost electrode can generate oligodynamic concentrations of the metal ions in situ. The residual material can remain at this stage or be

11/37 recirculated through it for a period of several minutes in order to infuse an adequate concentration of metal ions into the waste material and / or allow sufficient time for the metal ions to disinfect the waste material at least partially.

In the next step of the process, the residual material can be oxidized in oxidation step 18, in which reactive oxidation ions, for example, hypochlorite, can be electrolytically generated in situ. The residual material can be treated with the oxidation ions for a period of several minutes, to allow sufficient time to produce adequate concentrations of the oxidation ions in the residual material and / or for the oxidants to disinfect the residual material at least partially . There may be residual metal ions from the metal ion generation step 16 present during the oxidation step 18.

After the oxidation step 18, the residual material can then be passed to the chelation step 20, in which any metal ions remaining in the residual material can be attached to a chelating agent, thereby removing such ions from the treated waste material. The residual material can remain in this stage for a period of several minutes in order to allow sufficient time for the chelating agent to sequester metal ions. Chelation can also serve to bind unreacted oxidants that may be present in the stream. Finally, the waste material can be disposed of or disposed of through the waste disposal step 22 in a sanitary sewer system or directly into the environment.

In order to further illustrate the exemplary realization aspects of the description, reference is now made to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a schematic and non-limiting illustration of a modular system 100

12/37 including the process steps described above with reference to Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2, a residual stream of substantially liquid infectious materials 112 comprising biological waste can be fed into a holding chamber 114. A film inhibitor reservoir 116 that includes a film inhibitor dosing pump 118 and a foam suppressor reservoir 120 that includes a foam suppressor dosing pump 122 can be associated with the holding chamber 114 to feed a film inhibitor and / or a foam suppressor in the holding chamber. A macerator 124 can also be associated with the holding chamber 114, where the residual material in the holding chamber 114 can be mechanically macerated to reduce the size of any solid material in the holding chamber and to combine the waste with water or another aqueous solution that can be introduced into the holding chamber 114, as needed, through an additional inlet line 126. The holding chamber 114 can be constructed of copper or copper alloy to provide an inherent bactericidal action, thereby suppressing unwanted bacterial growth. A similar bactericidal action can be achieved by plating copper or using a copper or copper alloy floor plate in the holding chamber 114.

The measured dose of a film inhibitor, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), is believed to perform two essential functions. First, the film inhibitor can initiate a chemical attack to begin to break down and denature the lipid and protein complexes present in the waste. Second, the detergent properties inherent in the film inhibitor may allow the holding chamber 114 to remain self-cleaning. As an additional feature, SLS is also well known

13/37 as a disinfecting agent and can contribute to the total synergistic disinfectant effect of the present system 100. An amount of SLS that can be measured in the holding chamber 114 can vary from approximately 0.1 to approximately 10.0 percent in volume.

The foam suppressant, as a silicone based anti-foaming agent, can additionally ensure that air bubble formation is reduced during maceration cycles, so that air capture does not inhibit the operational efficiency of the species reactive disinfectant generated in subsequent disinfection chambers. A foam suppressing amount that can be used to suppress air capture in the holding chamber 114 can vary from approximately 0.05 to approximately 1.0 volume percent.

The holding chamber 114 may employ one or more macerators 124 to cut or mix the material within the chamber 114 in order to macerate and mix the incoming residual stream 112 with water and the film inhibitor and foam suppressant solution. The maceration of the residual current 112 can also extend the contact time between the residual current 112 and the metal ions or oxidation chemicals in system 100. Initial maceration can help to decompose organic solids in the residual stream 112 to an approximate homogenized particle size and can introduce water or another carrier of aqueous solution necessary to establish a stream of residue from stream 128 in a subsequent chamber.

An appropriate particle size exiting the holding chamber 114 can be less than approximately 0.5 mm in diameter and typically less than 0.3 mm in diameter after maceration. For example, the maximum particle size that leaves macerator 124 can

14/37 vary from approximately 0.25 to approximately 0.5 mm in diameter. The initial particle size of the particles entering the macerator can vary from approximately 5 to approximately 10 millimeters in diameter. The term diameter is used to mean an average cross-sectional dimension of the particles based on the largest cross-section of the particles in the residual stream 112 and is not meant to indicate that the particles are necessarily circular or spherical.

The holding chamber 114 may additionally comprise a fluid outlet port 130 comprising a one-way valve 132 and / or a pump to allow a sufficiently homogenized residual current 128 to enter a metal ion generation chamber 134 which may be in fluid flow communication with the holding chamber 114.

The metal ion generation chamber 134 contains at least one pair of electrodes 136, 138 that can be electrically connected to a power supply 140. Electrodes 136, 138 can comprise one or more metals, including aluminum, silver, copper, iron, bismuth, gold or zinc. The metal composition of the electrodes 136, 138 can provide a source for the electrolytic generation of the corresponding metal ions.

Power supply 140 can provide electrical energy for electrodes 136, 138. The application of electrical energy to electrodes 136, 138 can cause metal ions to be released from the electrodes through one or more oxidation-reduction reactions. The released metal metal ions can then be dissolved in the particulate suspension of the waste mixture in the metal ion chamber 134 so that the ions can provide the disinfection activity for the waste. The voltage and current applied

15/37 to electrodes 136, 138 can be regulated externally in order to exercise control over the concentration of metal ions that can be dissolved in the waste suspension in chamber 134.

<td>Multiples</td><td>pres</td><td>in</td><td>electrodes 136, 138,</td><td>on what</td><td>each</td>

<td>electrode comprises</td><td>an</td><td>or</td><td>more compositions of</td><td>metal and</td><td>has</td>

<td>a voltage and a</td><td>flow</td><td>in</td><td colspan="2">appropriate current</td><td>to be</td>

used to introduce varying concentrations of one or more metal ions into the mixture residue suspension. The metal ion generation chamber 134 itself can be used as one of the electrodes.

The dissolved metal ions can act oligodynamically within the waste suspension to deactivate or destroy infectious bacterial, protistic, fungal, algae, prion and viral infectious agents present in the waste. A total concentration of metal ions of at least several parts per million is believed to be appropriate for disinfection purposes.

In one embodiment, silver and copper ions can be produced. It is believed that a concentration of copper ions that is much greater than a concentration of silver ions is particularly suitable for the disinfection of waste liquids. Although a 10: 1 concentration ratio between Cu and Ag has been found to be highly effective, other ratios may be appropriate for this application. Consequently, different metal ions can be produced at different concentration levels in order to provide an appropriate total dissolved metal ion concentration. In one embodiment, an appropriate copper ion concentration can range from approximately 100 ppm to approximately 1,000 ppm, with an additional appropriate example being approximately 400 ppm of copper ions. Likewise, the appropriate silver ion concentration

16/37 can range from approximately 10 ppm to approximately 100 ppm, with an additional appropriate example being approximately 40 ppm silver ions. A concentration of total metal ions suitable for disinfection can vary from approximately 110 ppm to approximately 1,100 ppm. As an additional example, an appropriate total metal ion concentration can vary from approximately 200 ppm to approximately 800 ppm and, as another appropriate example, a total metal ion concentration can vary from approximately 300 ppm to approximately 600 ppm.

A metal ions exposure time ranging from approximately one to approximately thirty minutes may be appropriate to provide disinfection to the waste stream, with an additional appropriate example ranging from approximately 5 to approximately 10 minutes of exposure time. Particularly resistant wastes may require additional time or a higher concentration of metal ions. Variations in operation can be accommodated by process control using a programmable controller as part of system 100.

The electrodes 136, 138 used to produce the metal ions can be pure metals in which multiple pairs of electrodes 136, 138 can be used, and the voltages and currents for each pair of electrodes 136, 138 independently regulated in order to control the various concentrations of metal ions. Electrodes 136, 138 can also be composed of a mixture of more than one metal, such as an alloy of the metal, in order to control the concentration of each ion in the solution. Each of the electrodes in the electrode pair 136, 138 can comprise a distinct and independent composition.

Electrodes 136, 138 can be manufactured by using powder metallurgy. An additional realization using copper and silver powder or silver alloy solder can

17/37 be used as a binder. Powdered metal electrodes 136, 138 can be manufactured in such a way that the concentration of exposed metals such as copper or silver can be carefully controlled to produce the desired concentration ratio of metal ions. In addition, the composition of each electrode 136 or 138 and its corresponding ionic contribution can be controlled through the particle size and quantity of each phase, the primary metal and the binder present in the molded electrode in powder 136 or 138. For example, grains Large spherical copper can be pressed with silver solder powder and synthesized to form an electrode 136 with higher surface concentrations of copper. Studies have shown that a combination of copper and silver ions in which the concentration of copper ions is much higher than the concentration of silver ions can be very effective in disinfecting the liquid containing biological risk.

In a further embodiment of the present description, one or more electrodes 13 6, 13 8 can be integrated into a mixing device or a mixing pump 142 in which several fins or other parts of the mixing device can also act as an electrode. In an alternative embodiment, a mixing device 142 can comprise an electrode and can be used in combination with electrodes 136, 138.

The metal ion generation chamber 134 can also comprise a fluid level meter 144, a conductivity meter 146, a saline reservoir 148 and a saline metering pump 150. The metal ion generation chamber 13 4 may also comprise a fluid outlet port 152 comprising a fluid flow valve 154 and / or a directionally restrictive pump. In this way, the metal ion generation chamber

18/37

134 it may be in fluid flow communication with at least one subsequent treatment chamber. A second fluid outlet port 156 comprising a recycling valve 158 and / or pump 160 may allow at least a portion 162 of the waste treated in the metal ion generation chamber 134 to be returned to the holding chamber 114 so as to that portion 162 of the waste can be recycled through system 100 and be further disinfected.

The residual current treated with metal ions 164 can then be passed to an oxidizer generation chamber 166. The oxidizer generation chamber 166 may comprise a set of electrodes 168, 170, each composed of a material selected from carbon , titanium, stainless steel and relatively inert materials. Electrodes 168, 170 are electrically connected to a 172 power supply. The application of electric current to the electrodes can cause hypochlorite or other reactive oxidizing disinfectant species to be generated and flow through the particulate suspension of the waste mixture 174 and be dissolved therein within the oxidation generation chamber 166.

An appropriate oxidant concentration can range from approximately 0.10 ppm to approximately 10 ppm, with a further example of an appropriate oxidant concentration ranging from approximately 1 ppm to approximately 5 ppm. An oxidant exposure time ranging from approximately one to approximately twenty minutes may be appropriate to provide disinfection to the residue suspension 174, with an additional appropriate example being approximately five to approximately ten minutes of exposure time. Particularly resistant wastes may require additional time or a higher concentration of metal ions. Variations in the oxidant concentration are accommodated by the control of the

19/37 process using a programmable controller.

The oxidizer generation chamber 166 may also comprise a fluid level sensor 176 and a mixer 178. A fluid outlet port 180 comprising a fluid flow valve 182 and / or a directionally restrictive pump may allow treated waste with oxidizer 184 are passed to a subsequent chamber in fluid flow communication with the oxidant generation chamber 166. A second fluid outlet port 186 comprising a recycling valve 188 and / or pump 190 may allow at least a portion 192 of the waste suspension 174 to be passed to the holding chamber 114 or to a preceding chamber, so that the portion 192 of the waste suspension 174 can be recycled through system 100 and is further disinfected.

The oxidant-treated residues 184 can then be passed to a chelation chamber 194 comprising a fluid level sensor 196, a chelating agent reservoir 198 and a chelating agent dosing pump 200.

A quantity of the chelating agent can be supplied to the residual material 202 in the chelation chamber 194 of the reservoir 198 by the metering pump 200 in order to facilitate the removal of the metal ions. A mixing device 204 can provide continuous circulation and contact of residues 202 with the chelating agent in the chelating chamber 194. Residues 202 can be processed in a programmed chelation cycle that can allow the metal ions to be chemically bound to the chelating agent and can ensure that oxidants react completely with all organic materials present in the suspension.

The programmed chelation cycle can vary in duration from approximately one to approximately thirty minutes, with another suitable example being

20/37 approximately five to approximately ten minutes. The amount of chelating agent in the chelation chamber 194 sufficient to chemically bind all metal ions can vary from approximately one molar equivalent of the concentration of metal ions to approximately one and a half molar equivalent of the concentration of metal ions. Typically, the amount of chelating agent will be about one molar equivalent of the concentration of metal ions in residues 202.

An appropriate chelating agent can be selected from EDTA, citric acid, sodium citrate, acetylacetone, ethylenediamine, diethylene triamine, tetramethylethylenediamine, 1,2-ethanediol, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, porphyrin, gluconic acid, or similar compounds.

After the completion of the programmed chelation cycle, treated waste 202 can be disposed of via a fluid outlet port 206, which comprises a valve 208 and / or a one-way pump, in a sanitary sewer system 210 in a disinfected state and chemically inert for pumping or gravity flow in a sanitary sewer drain. A sewer flush connection 212 can serve to maintain fluid flow communication between the disinfection system and the sewer system. The chelation chamber 194 may further comprise A second fluid outlet port 214 comprises a recycling valve 216 and / or pump 218 which may allow at least a portion 220 of the residual material 202 to be returned to the holding chamber 114 or to a preceding chamber, so that the portion of waste 220 can be recycled through system 100 and is further disinfected.

The embodiments of the present description can also comprise a programmable controller 230 (Figure 1) that can be connected with fluid level sensors 144,

21/37

176 and 196, conductivity sensor 146 and other sensors that may be present in order to coordinate the activities of dosing pumps 118, 122, 150 and 200, valves 132, 154, 158, 182, 188, 208 and 216, pumps 160, 190 and 218 and macerator 124, to estimate the amount of waste being processed, to control the voltage and electrode currents responsible for producing the active disinfecting agents and to control the time intervals for each stage of waste processing. Controller 230 can also estimate the amount of chelating agent required in the chelation chamber based on feedback from the sensor.

Compact arrangements of the components of the system 100 are illustrated, for example, in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a substantially linear arrangement of the components of the system 100 described above. In the linear arrangement illustrated in Figure 3, the total height of the system 100 is minimized so that the system can be installed under an existing heatsink. Consequently, the dimensions of such a system can vary from approximately 24 inches to approximately 36 inches long, from approximately 12 inches to approximately 16 inches wide, and from approximately 15 inches to approximately 20 inches high.

An alternative arrangement of the system components is illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 4 describes a substantially vertical arrangement of the system components. The system described in Figure 4 can have total dimensions ranging from approximately 24 inches to approximately 30 square inches and from approximately 24 inches to approximately 36 inches in height. Other arrangements of the system components are possible, so that a reduced height and a reduced length is provided. However, it is desirable that the components are arranged in a

22/37 compactly, so that the system 100 is relatively compact and / or portable.

System 100 can be particularly adapted for the treatment of liquid waste streams 116 containing bacteria, surgical waste, biological or biologically toxic materials. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, dairy waste, poultry waste, milk processing plant waste, food processing waste, wine and fermented beverage waste, food waste, shipboard waste , sewage water, medical waste, and others.

In an additional embodiment, the ability to reverse the direction of electrical current flow between a pair of electrodes may be desirable to prevent and remove the build-up of sludge-like coatings from organic materials or the build-up of a residual mineral crust that may form as a by-product of the electrolytic reactions used to generate the disinfecting agents. Such coatings or layers can prevent the generation of additional disinfecting agents over time. The ability to remove mineral layers or coatings by reversing the flow of electrical current can allow the electrodes to have a more effective disinfectant generation life and can provide an economic benefit by decreasing the frequency of electrode replacement.

In the embodiments of the present description, replaceable electrodes and replaceable cartridges or refillable reservoirs of chelating agents, film inhibitors, foam suppressants and saline can be provided. In one embodiment, the electrode cartridges or reservoirs are accessible from the outside of the system in order to further facilitate refilling or replacement by

23/37 user.

The individual process stages discussed above, as they occur in a separate chamber for each stage, are not limited to such an achievement. Multiple stages can occur simultaneously in a single physical chamber. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the metal ion generation chamber 13 4 and the oxidation generation chamber 174 can be combined in a single electrochemical disinfection chamber, where the simultaneous generation of metal ions and oxidizing agents in situ can provide greater synergistic disinfectant activity and a more efficient low-cost disinfection process.

A leveling electrode (not shown) can be added to the combined chamber to ensure that the current level can be adjusted to provide appropriate concentration levels for the metal ions and active oxidants. The leveling electrode can be an electrical communication with the controller 230 and the power supply.

Realization of the Modular Flameless Waste Treatment Unit

As described in more detail below, some embodiments of the description present additional systems and methods for treating waste streams before disposing of waste streams in a sanitary sewer system or directly into the environment. Systems and methods can be adapted to be portable or linked to existing sewer drains for multiple locations. Each system can be substantially self-contained so that the fluid discharged from the system can be appropriate to flow into an existing sanitary sewer without further treatment or to flow directly into the environment without further treatment.

The systems and methods of this description can

24/37 generate reactive disinfection agents in situ during the operation of the system. Waste streams can be treated with a synergistic combination of metal ions and a wet oxidation step. Since metal ions are effective at low concentrations and become inert during oxidation, no additional treatment to remove metal ions is required. An oxygen demand sensor can be included to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment before discharging the treated stream into a sewer system or into the environment.

Although metal ions used in combination with oxidizing agents such as chlorine are known to be effective biocidal agents, the combination of metal ions and a wet oxidation step in a single system can provide synergistically greater efficacy to eliminate biological activity and reduce the toxic effect of the components in the residual stream.

Referring to Figure 5, an embodiment of the description features a waste treatment unit 310 for performing a series of continuous, in-line processes, in which each stage of the process is described in more detail below. Each stage of the process can be represented here as an individual physical chamber in order to clearly provide an understanding of the concept of the online process.

As illustrated schematically in Figure 5, an overview of treatment system 310 is presented. Treatment system 310 includes a waste collection step 312 to collect the waste liquid to be treated. After collection, the residual liquid is macerated in the maceration step 314 in order to reduce the size of the solid particles and homogenize the particles and discard them in the residual stream to a size that can be effectively

25/37 treated with metal ions and wet oxidation in later stages of the process. As shown, the macerated liquid can be recycled to mix with the residual liquid that is being collected in step 312 to promote mixing and homogenization and to extend the contact time with the active chemicals. Water or another aqueous solution can be added to the waste collected in step 312 to promote the flow through the 310 system.

Then, the metal ion infusion step 316 is provided to generate or otherwise infuse the metal ions in the residual liquid to treat the metal ions in the residual liquid and to promote the oxidation process. The macerated liquid can be recirculated through the metal ions infusion stage in multiple passages to ensure adequate concentrations of the metal ions.

The liquid treated with the metal ions is then oxidized in the wet oxidation step 318. The wet oxidation step can be intensified by heating the liquid treated with the metal ions in the preheating step 320 before the oxidation step to wet 318. The wet oxidation step 318 is performed by using gaseous oxygen 322, together with the metal ions to perform a chemical reaction at low temperature. According to embodiments of the description, pure oxygen is the most desirable gas to perform the oxidation step of process 310 because it substantially reduces the volume requirements for waste treatment. Based on readings from an oxygen demand sensor, waste can be recycled or can be appropriate for disposal according to step 326 of process 310.

As shown in Figure 6, the main components of system 310 include a receiving chamber 412, a metal ion infusion chamber 414 and a

26/37 oxidation 414. A macerator 418 can be associated with the receiving chamber 412 or can be associated with the metal ion infusion chamber 414, or both. Additional process chemicals such as a foaming agent and a film inhibitor can be supplied to the residual liquid in the receiving chamber 412. A heat exchanger or other heating device 422 is provided to preheat the liquid treated with metal ions before introducing the treated liquid into the oxidation chamber. The metal ion treated liquid is also pressurized with a pressure pump 424 for feeding into a spray mixing nozzle 426 for feeding, together with an oxidizing agent, into the oxidizing chamber 416. An oxygen source 428 is provided for supplying the oxygen gas in the oxidation chamber 416. The oxygen gas can also be preheated in a heat exchanger or other heating device 430. The oxidation chamber 416 can also be pressurized by a compressor or a pressure pump 432 associated with chamber 416. A portion of the material treated and oxidized with metal ions in the oxidation chamber 416 can be recirculated through the recirculation line 431 by the recirculation pump 433 to the metal ion infusion chamber 414. Additional details of the system components 310 are provided in the Figures 7 and 8 discussed below.

Reception Chamber

As shown in Figure 7, a residual stream 440 comprising biological waste can be fed into the receiving chamber 412, where it can be mechanically macerated in the macerator 418 and combined with tap water 442 or other aqueous fluids such as a saline solution to provide a pumpable paste. Depending on the biological or lipid content of the residual stream, a measured dose of a complex film inhibitor of

27/37 lipid / protein 444 can be provided to the receiving chamber 412. An appropriate film inhibitor 444 can be an aqueous solution of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Optionally, a foam suppressor 446, such as an organosilicon compound, can also be added to the receiving chamber 412 to reduce the foaming tendency of the residual stream 440. In an alternative embodiment, the metal ions of a metal ion solution can be measured in the receiving chamber using a metering pump. The receiving chamber 412 can be constructed of copper or copper alloy to provide an inherent bactericidal action, thereby suppressing unwanted bacterial growth. A similar bactericidal action can be achieved by plating copper or using a copper or copper alloy floor plate in the receiving chamber 412.

A 444 film inhibitor is believed to perform two essential functions. First, film inhibitor 444 can initiate a chemical attack to begin to break down and denature the lipid and protein complexes present in the waste material 454. Second, the inherent detergency of the film inhibitor may allow the receiving chamber 412 remain self-cleaning. An amount of film inhibitor 444 that can be used in the receiving chamber 412 can vary from approximately 0.1 to approximately 10 volume percent.

Foam suppressor 446 can also ensure that the formation of air bubbles in the waste material 454 is reduced during maceration cycles, so that air capture does not inhibit the operational efficiency of the subsequent treatment chambers. An amount of foam suppressor 446 that can be used in the receiving chamber 412 to suppress the formation of air bubbles can vary from approximately 0.05 to approximately 1.0 percent in

28/37 volume.

The receiving chamber 412 may include a mashing device 418, such as a pump, a rotating paddle or blade, or another device for cutting or mixing the recirculated current 450 from chamber 412 in order to mash and mix the residual inlet current 440 with water 442, film inhibitor 444 and / or foam suppressor 446. The maceration can effectively decompose the solids in the residual material 454 to an approximate common particle size and mix the residual solids in the residual material 454 appropriately with sufficient fluid to flow into the subsequent chambers for processing the waste. Multiple maceration steps can be used to provide an appropriate particle size in the waste material 454 for subsequent treatment.

Consequently, residual material 454 is macerated to provide a substantially liquid stream. The term substantially liquid means that solids present in the residual material are substantially suspended in a flow through system 310.

An appropriate particle size exiting the receiving chamber 412 can be less than approximately 0.5 mm in diameter and typically less than 0.3 µm whatever remains liquid phase to 1 mm in diameter after maceration. For example, maximum maceration size 418 of the particle may vary from approximately 0.25 o

from to

approximately 0.5 mm in diameter. The initial particle size of the particles entering the maceration device 418 can vary from approximately 5 to approximately 10 millimeters in diameter. The term diameter is used to mean a dimension in the average cross section of the particles based on the largest cross section of the particles.

29/37 particles in the residual material 454 and does not lend itself to indicating that the particles are necessarily circular or spherical.

Chamber 412 may also include a fluid inlet port 456 which may include a one-way inlet valve 458 or a pump unit to allow residual current 440 to enter chamber 412. Chamber 412 may have a fluid outlet port 460 to contain a one-way outlet valve 462 or a pump unit to allow residual current 4 64 as a slurry or suspension of solids to exit chamber 412. The inlet and outlet ports 456 and 460 can be positioned on opposite sides of the receiving chamber 412 or can then be configured to provide flow in and out of the chamber 412, as needed, to maintain a predetermined level of liquid in the chamber 412. In this regard, an appropriate level control device can be used to maintain a predetermined level of fluid in chamber 412.

Metal ion infusion chamber

Residual current 464 can then flow from the receiving chamber 412 to the metal ion infusion chamber 414 where an electrode assembly comprising an anode 4 66 and a cathode 468, each composed of one or more metals selected from silver, copper, iron, zinc, bismuth, gold, aluminum and / or other metals can be immersed in the suspension of the residual material 466. Although iron is an effective metal to promote oxidation, other metal ions may be suitable for this application. The application of electrical energy to anode 466 and cathode 468 can cause metal ions to be released from the electrodes through one or more oxidation-reduction reactions, whereby metal ions can be dissolved in the material suspension.

30/37 residual 466. The voltage and current applied to the electrodes can be regulated externally in order to exercise control over the concentration of metal ions that can be dissolved in the 466 waste suspension.

Multiple sets of electrodes that comprise one or more metal compositions and that have an appropriate voltage division and current flow can introduce various concentrations of one or more metal ions into the 466 residue suspension.

The dissolved metal ions can act within the 466 waste suspension to deactivate or destroy bacterial, protist, fungal and viral infectious agents present within the 466 waste suspension. Deactivation or destruction of the infectious agents in accordance with embodiments of the description can be here called disinfection. Metal ions particularly suitable for use as disinfecting agents include copper and silver ions. It is believed that a concentration of copper ions that is much higher than a concentration of silver ions is particularly suitable for the disinfection of waste liquids. Although a 10: 1 concentration ratio between Cu and Ag has been found to be highly effective, other ratios may prove appropriate for this application. Consequently, different metal ions can be produced at different concentration levels in order to provide an appropriate total dissolved metal ion concentration. In one embodiment, an appropriate copper ion concentration can range from approximately 100 ppm to approximately 1,000 ppm, with an additional appropriate example being approximately 400 ppm of copper ions. Likewise, the concentration of the appropriate silver ions can vary from approximately 10 ppm to approximately 100 ppm, with an additional appropriate example being

31/37 approximately 40 ppm silver ions. A concentration of total metal ions suitable for disinfection can vary from approximately 110 ppm to approximately 1,100 ppm. As a further example, an appropriate total metal ion concentration can vary from approximately 200 ppm to approximately 800 ppm and, as another appropriate example, a total metal ion concentration can vary from approximately 300 ppm to approximately 600 ppm.

Consequently, different metal ions can be produced at different concentration levels in order to provide an appropriate total dissolved metal ion concentration. A metal ions exposure time ranging from approximately sixty seconds to approximately thirty minutes may be appropriate to provide disinfection to the waste stream.

The electrodes used to produce the metal ions can be pure metals, in which case multiple electrodes are used, and the voltages and currents for each electrode are regulated in order to control the various concentrations of metal ions. The electrodes can also be composed of a mixture of more than one metal, such as a metal alloy, in order to control the concentration of each ion in the solution. For example, a process to produce a higher concentration of copper ions and a lower concentration of silver ions may use electrodes that contain substantially more copper than silver.

In an additional embodiment, the electrodes can be manufactured using powder metallurgy. An additional embodiment using copper and silver powder or silver alloy solder can be employed as a binder. Powdered metal electrodes can be manufactured in such a way that the concentration of exposed metals such as copper or silver

32/37 is controlled to produce the desired concentration ratio of the metal ions. In addition, the composition of an electrode and its corresponding ionic contribution can be controlled through the particle size and quantity of each phase, the primary metal and the binder present in the molded powder electrode. For example, large spherical grains and copper can be pressed with silver solder powder and synthesized to form an electrode with higher copper surface concentrations.

In a further embodiment of the description, the electrodes can be integrated into a mixing pump in which fins or other metal parts of the pump can act as electrodes.

The metal ion infusion chamber 414 can also be equipped with an inlet port 4 72 for the flow of fluid from the receiving chamber 412 to the metal ion infusion chamber 414 and a first outlet port 474 for the flow of the ion-treated material 476 outside the metal ion infusion chamber 414. A second outlet port 478 can be provided in the metal ion infusion chamber 414 for recirculating a portion 480 of the residual material suspension 466 back to the residual stream 464 entering the metal ion infusion chamber 414. The outlet ports 474 and 478 may include directionally restrictive fluid flow valves 482 and 484 that provide a one-way fluid flow through valves 482 and 484. A recirculating pump 466 can be included to circulate portion 480 of the waste material suspension 466 back to the metal ion infusion chamber 414.

Oxidation Chamber

As shown in Figure 8, the material treated with metal ions 4 76 can then flow into the oxidation chamber 416 for wet oxidation of the residual material.

33/37

A pump 488 (Figure 7) can be used to pump the material treated with metal ions 476 through the heat exchanger or another heating device 422 and through the pressurization pump 424 to provide a pressurized waste material 490 to the mixing nozzle by spraying 426 to chamber 416. The material treated with metal ions 476 is typically preheated to a temperature ranging from approximately 100 ° C to approximately 200 ° C before introducing material 476 into the oxidation chamber 416.

The oxygen source 428 supplies pure oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, such as air, through a pressure regulating valve 492 and the oxygen heat exchanger or another heating device 430 to the spray mixing nozzle 426 for complete mixing with a relatively fine mist of material 490. The heat exchanger or another heating device 430 can be used to heat the oxygen to a temperature ranging from approximately 100 ° C to approximately 350 ° C before mixing the heated oxygen with the pressurized waste material 490. The oxidation chamber it can be additionally pressurized by compressor 432 to provide an operating chamber pressure in the range of approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.2 MPa above ambient pressure. The removal of the metal ions from the pressurized waste material 490 prior to the flow of the waste material 490 to the oxidation chamber 416 is not necessary because the metal ions can also assist in the oxidation treatment process step.

In the oxidation chamber 416, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and / or the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the oxidized liquid 494 formed in the oxidation chamber 416 can be monitored with sensors, such as an oxygen demand sensor 4 95 (Figure 8), to determine the amount of oxygen required to treat all waste material from

34/37 entry 490. A target COD or resulting BOD for the treated waste material 498 falls within a range defined by regulatory requirements at a user's site.

According to the description, the oxidation of pressurized waste 490 occurs in an aqueous environment in which water forms an integral part of the reaction. Water provides a means for dissolved oxygen to react with organic compounds and other oxidizable materials in 490 residues. Wet oxidation is believed to involve the formation of free radicals with oxygen-derived radicals that attack organic compounds and are intended to result in the formation of organic radicals.

A notable feature of wet oxidation chemistry is the formation of carboxylic acids in addition to CO₂ and water. Other oxidation products as a result of treating the residual material 490 in the oxidation chamber may include, but are not limited to, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and phosphorous pentoxide, which can be dissolved in the oxidized liquid 494. O The yield of carboxylic acids varies widely, depending on the design of the system, and approximately 5 to approximately 10 weight percent of the total organic carbon (TOC) can be formed in the 490 residues. Primary carboxylic acids formed as a result of wet oxidation include acetic acid, formic acid and oxalic acid. Such carboxylic acids are typically biodegradable and conventional biological post-treatment of the oxidized liquid 494 can be performed to reduce the amount of acids in the liquid 494.

Additional water 496 or other aqueous fluid such as saline can be added to the oxidized liquid 494 to provide a flowable residual outlet stream 498. A flow control valve 500 can be included in the

35/37 outlet current 498 to maintain an appropriate liquid level in the oxidation chamber 416.

The 310 system can also include a 504 programmable microcontroller that can be connected with automatic controllers, temperature sensors, oxygen sensors, level sensors, conductivity sensors, pH sensors and COD and / or BOD sensors to coordinate activities valves, pumps, heat exchangers or other heating devices, pressure regulators and macerators, to estimate the amount of waste that is being processed and to control the voltage and currents of the electrode responsible for the production of the metal ion disinfecting agents. The ability to reverse the polarity of the electrodes may be desirable to prevent and remove an accumulation of residual mineral crust on the electrodes, which can prevent the generation of ions. Additional treatment chambers can be included with the system 10 for the additional treatment of the residual current 440 and / or 498 before discharge into a sewer system or into the environment.

The 310 system can be particularly adapted to treat residual liquid streams 440 and containing industrial and consumer waste materials. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, milk-based residues, poultry residues, residues from milk processing plants, residues from food processing, residues from wine and fermented beverage industries, food residues, shipboard residues , petroleum residues, wool bleaching residues, sewage residues, medical residues, residues of paper and paper products, residues of paper production, residues of rubber, waste from sawdust and wood processing, plastic waste, and others. Particularly suitable waste materials include

36/37 those that contain bacteria, surgical residues, biological or biologically toxic materials, pharmaceutical products and personal care products.

In another alternative, a macerator or mixer 502 (Figure 7) can be included in the metal ion infusion chamber 414 to further reduce the size of any solids present in the suspension of residual material 466 or to provide close contact between the ions of metal and the residual material suspension 466.

As used throughout the specification and in the claims, one and / or one may refer to one or more than one. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers that express quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, percentage, ratio, reaction conditions, and so on, used in the specification and the claims, are to be understood as being modified in all examples by the term approximately. Consequently, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters determined in the specification and in the claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties that are attempted with the present invention. At a minimum, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be interpreted in the light of the number of significant digits reported and by the application of common rounding techniques. Although the ranges and numerical parameters that determine the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values ​​determined in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors that necessarily result from the standard deviation

37/37 found in their respective test measurements.

Other realizations of the present description will be evident to the elements versed in the technique when taking into account the description and the practice of the 5 realizations described in the present invention. Consequently, the achievements are not likely to be limited to the specific examples presented above. Instead, the above achievements are within the character and scope of the attached claims, including the equivalents of the same 10 available as a legal matter.

The patent holders do not intend to dedicate any achievement described to the public to the point that any modification or change described may not be literally within the scope of the claims, they are considered to be part of it under the doctrine of equivalents.

1/4