Electrode Improve Suspended Solids Removal

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Electrode Improve Suspended Solids Removal

A specially designed electrode could improve the efficiency of removing suspended solids, oil or other contaminants from water in applications traditionally served by dissolved-air flotation (DAF)

Developers at OriginOil Inc. believe their electrolysis process overcomes limitations of DAF and improves on the efficiency of the companys earlier electro-flotation systems.

The patented electrode has a perforated cylindrical outer cathode that surrounds an inner anode rod. The perforated tube and rod system carries a current, which electrolyzes water and generates oxygen and hydrogen bubbles in the water flowing through the tube.

The angstrom-scale bubbles adhere to contaminant particles to float them to the top of a tank, where they can be skimmed.

"Keeping close proximity between anode and cathode tubes lowers resistance to current flow, so a high current per unit area can be achieved at low voltage," explains inventor Bill Charneski, president of OriginOil's Oil & Gas Division.

In addition, the smaller-sized gas bubbles generated by this electrode move solids more efficiently than the larger bubbles typically seen in DAF systems, Charneski adds.

Source: Chemical Engineering

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