Title of Invention	METHOD FOR OXIDATIVE TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS LIQUIDS
Abstract	A method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants, in which the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor wherein electrodes are inserted which, due to an overvoltage (for example +3 V on the anode and -1.5 V on the cathode) produce predominantly highly aggressive oxidants (OH-, 03 , H202) during the electrochemical decomposition of the water, to a liquid which contains faecal matter and accumulates in toilets in vehicles, characterized in that coarse solids being removed from the liquid in a separator and then being mechanically comminuted before they are passed repeatedly through the electrolysis reactor, gaseous components are released and inorganic residual components are filtered out, and the remaining residual liquid, which is composed essentially of water, is passed into a fresh, industrial and/or rinsing water system for the toilets.

Title of Invention

METHOD FOR OXIDATIVE TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS LIQUIDS

Abstract

A method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants, in which the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor wherein electrodes are inserted which, due to an overvoltage (for example +3 V on the anode and -1.5 V on the cathode) produce predominantly highly aggressive oxidants (OH-, 03 , H202) during the electrochemical decomposition of the water, to a liquid which contains faecal matter and accumulates in toilets in vehicles, characterized in that coarse solids being removed from the liquid in a separator and then being mechanically comminuted before they are passed repeatedly through the electrolysis reactor, gaseous components are released and inorganic residual components are filtered out, and the remaining residual liquid, which is composed essentially of water, is passed into a fresh, industrial and/or rinsing water system for the toilets.

Full Text	Method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids The invention relates to a method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants, wherein the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor, in which such electrodes are utilised, which produce mainly highly aggressive oxidants (0H-, O3, H2O2) in the electrochemical decomposition of the water due to high excess voltages (for example +3V at the anode and -1,5 V at the cathode). A method for oxidative treatment of surfaces by means of an electrolyte liquid containing oxidants is known (DE 102 19 688 A1). In this an electrolyte liquid is pumped in circulation. The required oxidants are electrochemically produced by means of electrodes provided with a diamond cover in an electrolysis reactor. Such electrodes have the property to produce a large potential difference between cathode and anode in the electrolysis, which clearly exceeds the usual 1,4 Volt and can be about 4,5 Volt, for example. In this, mainly very aggressive hydroxyl radicals are created, but also ozone and hydrogen peroxide. The known method is utilised in order to clean the surfaces of silicon wafers, for example, and for this purpose the wafers are put into a container with an electrolytic liquid such as sulfuric acid. The present invention relates to a method for oxidative treatment of black and/or grey water such that an end product can be produced, which consists substantially of water. The term black water is to be understood in this application as faeces in more or less liquid form. The water originating for example from a hand wash basin has been designated as grey water. The water treated according to the method of the invention is designated as rinse or wash water, that is water, which can be used for flushing in a toilet. According to the method of the invention the black and/or grey water can be conditioned to such an extent, though, that is can certainly be used as fresh water, if one does not consider the slight chloride portions contained therein, in which respect the utilisation as washing water in toilets in trains or air-planes is envisioned here. Starting from the known method, black or grey water is used as the aqueous liquid according to the invention, this is freed from coarse particles, mechanically broken up thereafter, before being passed into the electrolysis reactor, in order to be able to release gaseous portions, and to introduce the remaining residual liquid, which consists mainly of water, into a fresh, wash and/or rinse water system. In a preferred method according to the invention, a circulating method can be utilised, that is the liquid to be treated is passed several times through the electrolysis reactor such that this can be formed relatively small depending on the arising liquid volume to be treated. It is conceivable equally well though, to utilised a non- continuous method here, that it to dimension the length of the electrolysis reactor such that the liquid to be treated is conditioned during passing through the electrolysis reactor that far that a liquid can be taken out at the outlet, which consists substantially of water. The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the only figure of the drawing, wherein this shows a flow diagram of the conditioning of black water into fresh water. In the figure, a black water tank is indicated by 10, wherein for example the discharge mass from a toilet or from a water basin in a toilet on a plane or on a train is collected. In this connection it is not substantial, how the discharge mass is conveyed there, that is via the usual devices in domestic installations or via vacuum devices, as they are known in vacuum toilets in vehicles. 101 and 102 designate the level indicators of the tank. A black water pump 11 conveys the discharge mass into a shredder 12, in which the discharge mass is broken up. From here the discharge mass passes into a filter 13 and through a discharge valve 14 and an inlet valve 15 into the electrolysis reactor 20. Not shown in the figure is a separator, which can be arranged anywhere between the toilet and the black water tank 10, in order to remove such parts from the accumulating liquid, which are not to be subjected to the treatment. Here parts such as lighters are sorted out, which sometimes end up in the bowl of a toilet. Located in the electrolysis reactor 20 is a plurality of diamond covered electrodes, and, as far as both electrodes, cathode and anode, are covered with carbon, a separating cloth membrane is arranged between them. It is substantial for the present invention that such electrodes are selected, which produce a relatively high voltage difference, of which it is known that especially OH" radicals are produced. These are generated from the aqueous portion of the faeces or of the wash and grey water, respectively, and in turn affect the other components of the wash and grey water in oxidising manner. These components are almost exclusively organic compounds, which are converted through the OH- radical to water and carbon dioxide. This is the process desired according to the invention, namely, that the oxidants can be produced from the aqueous components of the faeces, which in turn "burn" the organic components of the faeces such that besides water only carbon dioxide remains. The faeces are guided into a cycle, that is, they exit the electrolysis reactor 20 and via flow and transmission flow measurements, determination of the reduction or oxidation, respectively, and of the pH value (30, 31, 32) they are passed into the reactor 20 again. For the circulation of the liquid a rotary pump 33 is utilised. In the figure the inlet of the reactor 20 is arranged at the top and the outlet at the bottom, although in a preferred method according to the invention this is also implemented in reversed manner. Not shown in this cycle of the elements 20, 30, 31, 32 and 33 is a bypass with a filter, which bypass can be switched in and out. This filter is utilised to filter out not transformed components, that is for example organic components, which can also occur in faeces in low amounts. The reactor 20 is provided with level indicators 202, 203 and a temperature meter 201. Furthermore, the reactor 30 has an outlet for exhaust air guided upwards, which is led out of the device by means of an exhaust air vent 21 controlled through an air flow monitor 22. When the circulating liquid has been treated sufficiently long, it can be guided through an outlet valve 4 0 into a fresh water tank 41. This is provided with a level indicator 42. Fresh water can be withdrawn through a valve 43. In a preferred use of the method according to the invention, such as in a train toilet, it can be achieved that the fresh water required for flushing the toilet can be recovered. The treated fresh water obtained above that can be discharged onto the rails without any problem. Essential is in this connection the closed cycle, i. e. that arising black water is circulated therein that long, until is has achieved the required quality. WE CLAIM: 1. Method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants, in which the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor wherein electrodes are inserted which, due to an overvoltage (for example +3 V on the anode and -1.5 V on the cathode) produce predominantly highly aggressive oxidants (OH", 03 , H202) during the electrochemical decomposition of the water, to a liquid which contains faecal matter and accumulates in toilets in vehicles, characterized in that coarse solids are removed from the liquid in a separator and then are mechanically comminuted before those are passed repeatedly through the electrolysis reactor, gaseous components are released and inorganic residual components are filtered out, and the remaining residual liquid, which is composed essentially of water, is passed into a fresh, industrial and/or rinsing water system for the toilets. ABSTRACT METHOD FOR OXIDATIVE TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS LI- QUIDS A method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants, in which the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor wherein electrodes are inserted which, due to an overvoltage (for example +3 V on the anode and -1.5 V on the cathode) produce predominantly highly aggressive oxidants (OH-, 03 , H202) during the electrochemical decomposition of the water, to a liquid which contains faecal matter and accumulates in toilets in vehicles, characterized in that coarse solids being removed from the liquid in a separator and then being mechanically comminuted before they are passed repeatedly through the electrolysis reactor, gaseous components are released and inorganic residual components are filtered out, and the remaining residual liquid, which is composed essentially of water, is passed into a fresh, industrial and/or rinsing water system for the toilets.

Full Text

Method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids
The invention relates to a method for oxidative treatment
of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants, wherein the
aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor,
in which such electrodes are utilised, which produce mainly
highly aggressive oxidants (0H-, O3, H2O2) in the
electrochemical decomposition of the water due to high
excess voltages (for example +3V at the anode and -1,5 V at
the cathode).
A method for oxidative treatment of surfaces by means of an
electrolyte liquid containing oxidants is known (DE 102 19
688 A1). In this an electrolyte liquid is pumped in
circulation. The required oxidants are electrochemically
produced by means of electrodes provided with a diamond
cover in an electrolysis reactor. Such electrodes have the
property to produce a large potential difference between
cathode and anode in the electrolysis, which clearly
exceeds the usual 1,4 Volt and can be about 4,5 Volt, for
example. In this, mainly very aggressive hydroxyl radicals
are created, but also ozone and hydrogen peroxide. The
known method is utilised in order to clean the surfaces of
silicon wafers, for example, and for this purpose the
wafers are put into a container with an electrolytic liquid
such as sulfuric acid.

The present invention relates to a method for oxidative
treatment of black and/or grey water such that an end
product can be produced, which consists substantially of
water.
The term black water is to be understood in this
application as faeces in more or less liquid form. The
water originating for example from a hand wash basin has
been designated as grey water.
The water treated according to the method of the invention
is designated as rinse or wash water, that is water, which
can be used for flushing in a toilet. According to the
method of the invention the black and/or grey water can be
conditioned to such an extent, though, that is can
certainly be used as fresh water, if one does not consider
the slight chloride portions contained therein, in which
respect the utilisation as washing water in toilets in
trains or air-planes is envisioned here.
Starting from the known method, black or grey water is used
as the aqueous liquid according to the invention, this is
freed from coarse particles, mechanically broken up
thereafter, before being passed into the electrolysis
reactor, in order to be able to release gaseous portions,
and to introduce the remaining residual liquid, which
consists mainly of water, into a fresh, wash and/or rinse
water system.
In a preferred method according to the invention, a
circulating method can be utilised, that is the liquid to

be treated is passed several times through the electrolysis
reactor such that this can be formed relatively small
depending on the arising liquid volume to be treated. It is
conceivable equally well though, to utilised a non-
continuous method here, that it to dimension the length of
the electrolysis reactor such that the liquid to be treated
is conditioned during passing through the electrolysis
reactor that far that a liquid can be taken out at the
outlet, which consists substantially of water.
The invention is explained below by way of example with
reference to the only figure of the drawing, wherein this
shows a flow diagram of the conditioning of black water
into fresh water.
In the figure, a black water tank is indicated by 10,
wherein for example the discharge mass from a toilet or
from a water basin in a toilet on a plane or on a train is
collected. In this connection it is not substantial, how
the discharge mass is conveyed there, that is via the usual
devices in domestic installations or via vacuum devices, as
they are known in vacuum toilets in vehicles.
101 and 102 designate the level indicators of the tank.
A black water pump 11 conveys the discharge mass into a
shredder 12, in which the discharge mass is broken up. From
here the discharge mass passes into a filter 13 and through
a discharge valve 14 and an inlet valve 15 into the
electrolysis reactor 20.

Not shown in the figure is a separator, which can be
arranged anywhere between the toilet and the black water
tank 10, in order to remove such parts from the
accumulating liquid, which are not to be subjected to the
treatment. Here parts such as lighters are sorted out,
which sometimes end up in the bowl of a toilet.
Located in the electrolysis reactor 20 is a plurality of
diamond covered electrodes, and, as far as both electrodes,
cathode and anode, are covered with carbon, a separating
cloth membrane is arranged between them. It is substantial
for the present invention that such electrodes are
selected, which produce a relatively high voltage
difference, of which it is known that especially OH"
radicals are produced. These are generated from the aqueous
portion of the faeces or of the wash and grey water,
respectively, and in turn affect the other components of
the wash and grey water in oxidising manner. These
components are almost exclusively organic compounds, which
are converted through the OH- radical to water and carbon
dioxide. This is the process desired according to the
invention, namely, that the oxidants can be produced from
the aqueous components of the faeces, which in turn "burn"
the organic components of the faeces such that besides
water only carbon dioxide remains.
The faeces are guided into a cycle, that is, they exit the
electrolysis reactor 20 and via flow and transmission flow
measurements, determination of the reduction or oxidation,
respectively, and of the pH value (30, 31, 32) they are
passed into the reactor 20 again. For the circulation of

the liquid a rotary pump 33 is utilised. In the figure the
inlet of the reactor 20 is arranged at the top and the
outlet at the bottom, although in a preferred method
according to the invention this is also implemented in
reversed manner.
Not shown in this cycle of the elements 20, 30, 31, 32 and
33 is a bypass with a filter, which bypass can be switched
in and out. This filter is utilised to filter out not
transformed components, that is for example organic
components, which can also occur in faeces in low amounts.
The reactor 20 is provided with level indicators 202, 203
and a temperature meter 201.
Furthermore, the reactor 30 has an outlet for exhaust air
guided upwards, which is led out of the device by means of
an exhaust air vent 21 controlled through an air flow
monitor 22.
When the circulating liquid has been treated sufficiently
long, it can be guided through an outlet valve 4 0 into a
fresh water tank 41. This is provided with a level
indicator 42. Fresh water can be withdrawn through a valve
43.
In a preferred use of the method according to the
invention, such as in a train toilet, it can be achieved
that the fresh water required for flushing the toilet can
be recovered. The treated fresh water obtained above that
can be discharged onto the rails without any problem.

Essential is in this connection the closed cycle, i. e.
that arising black water is circulated therein that long,
until is has achieved the required quality.

WE CLAIM:
1. Method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants,
in which the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor
wherein electrodes are inserted which, due to an overvoltage (for
example +3 V on the anode and -1.5 V on the cathode) produce
predominantly highly aggressive oxidants (OH", 03 , H202) during the
electrochemical decomposition of the water, to a liquid which contains
faecal matter and accumulates in toilets in vehicles, characterized in that
coarse solids are removed from the liquid in a separator and then are
mechanically comminuted before those are passed repeatedly through
the electrolysis reactor, gaseous components are released and inorganic
residual components are filtered out, and the remaining residual liquid,
which is composed essentially of water, is passed into a fresh, industrial
and/or rinsing water system for the toilets.

ABSTRACT

METHOD FOR OXIDATIVE TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS LI-
QUIDS
A method for oxidative treatment of aqueous liquids by means of oxidants,
in which the aqueous liquid is passed through an electrolysis reactor
wherein electrodes are inserted which, due to an overvoltage (for example
+3 V on the anode and -1.5 V on the cathode) produce predominantly highly
aggressive oxidants (OH-, 03 , H202) during the electrochemical
decomposition of the water, to a liquid which contains faecal matter and
accumulates in toilets in vehicles, characterized in that coarse solids being
removed from the liquid in a separator and then being mechanically
comminuted before they are passed repeatedly through the electrolysis
reactor, gaseous components are released and inorganic residual
components are filtered out, and the remaining residual liquid, which is
composed essentially of water, is passed into a fresh, industrial and/or
rinsing water system for the toilets.

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Patent Number

258762

Indian Patent Application Number

1527/KOLNP/2007

PG Journal Number

06/2014

Publication Date

07-Feb-2014

Grant Date

05-Feb-2014

Date of Filing

30-Apr-2007

Name of Patentee

EVAC GMBH

Applicant Address

HAFENSTRASSE 32A, D-22880 WEDEL

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	WORMCKE HANS	HAFENSTRASSE 32A, D-22880 WEDEL

PCT International Classification Number

C02F 1/461 , C02F 1/72

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2006/007362

PCT International Filing date

2006-07-25

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	10 2005 040 367.0	2005-08-26	Germany