Soap and process for cleaning wash water

Abstract

Agents are used as cleaning agents and also as agents to purify the water in water treatment plants. The agents are a mixture of phosphates and fatty acid salts. Precipitation agents are used such as, polyvalent metals. The pH is adjusted. Flocking agents can be used to increase the rate of separation. The purified water is removed after precipitation.

1 . A soap comprising: 
 phosphate salt; and    fatty acid salts, in combination.    
     
     
         2 . The soap of  claim 1  wherein the phosphate salt is selected from the group of cations consisting of: 
 hydrogen;  
 ammonium;  
 lithium;  
 potassium; and  
 sodium;  
 and the group of anions consisting of:  
 phosphate;  
 pyrophosphate; and  
 polyphosphate.  
 
     
     
         3 . The soap of  claim 1  wherein the fatty acid salt is selected from the group of anions consisting of: 
 any fatty acid having carbons in the range of 6 to 36;  
 any aromatic acid having carbons in the range of 6 to 36;  
 branched chain fatty acid;  
 straight chain fatty acid;  
 unsaturated fatty acid;  
 polyunsaturated fatty acid; and  
 aromatic acid;  
 and the group of cations consisting of:  
 potassium;  
 lithium;  
 sodium;  
 ammonium; and  
 amine.  
 
     
     
         4 . The soap of  claim 1  fortified by the addition of an alkaline metal salt that has a pH greater than 7.  
     
     
         5 . A process for treating water comprising: 
 mixing a phosphate fatty acid salt mixture with the water;    mixing a polyvalent metal precipitation agent with the water mixture;    adjusting the pH of the mixture to be in the range of 4 to 9; and    separating purified water from the resulting precipitant.    
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the precipitation agent is calcium chloride and the pH is adjusted within a pH range of 6 to 9.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the precipitation agent is selected from the group of anions consisting of: 
 polyvalent metal ion;  
 calcium;  
 magnesium;  
 aluminum; and  
 iron.  
 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the additional step of adding flocking agents to the mixture before separating the purified water from the precipitant.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the step of adjusting the pH comprises adding acids, bases or salts.  
     
     
         10 . A washing and water treatment process comprising the steps of: 
 washing articles with soap comprising phosphate salt and fatty acid salts, in combination and water;    and then, treating the resulting soap/water mixture by a process comprising:    mixing a polyvalent metal ion precipitation agent with the soap/water mixture;    adjusting the pH of the mixture to be in the range of 4 to 9; and    separating purified water from the resulting precipitant.