Systems and methods for generation of low zeta potential mineral crystals to enhance quality of liquid solutions

Abstract

Methods and systems for enhancing of quality of liquid by treating a source liquid to enhance the concentration of low zeta potential crystals and produce a treated liquid having a higher concentration of low zeta potential crystals that that of the source liquid. The inventive system comprises an aqueous liquid source having a threshold concentration of selected minerals and a low zeta potential crystal generator for treating the aqueous source liquid to produce treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals.

1 . A method for enhancing quality of a source liquid, comprising: passing the source liquid through a low zeta potential crystal generator and thereby producing a treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the zeta potential of mineral crystals in the treated liquid after passage through the low zeta potential crystal generator is at least 25% less than the zeta potential of mineral particles in the source liquid.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the zeta potential of mineral crystals in the treated liquid after passage through the low zeta potential crystal generator is at least 50% less than the zeta potential of mineral particles in the source liquid, and wherein the treated liquid is distributed for use in connection with systems selected from the group consisting of: liquid heating systems, liquid cooling systems, potable liquid systems, liquid systems in food processing applications, household liquid filtration systems, liquid systems in sanitation applications, liquid softeners, ion exchangers, and liquid systems in medical, dental, and industrial applications.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the zeta potential of mineral crystals in the treated liquid after passage through the low zeta potential crystal generator is between about −5 mV and −9 mV, and wherein the treated liquid is distributed for use in connection with systems selected from the group consisting of: liquid heating systems, liquid cooling systems, potable liquid systems, liquid systems in food processing applications, household liquid filtration systems, liquid systems in sanitation applications, liquid softeners, ion exchangers, and liquid systems in medical, dental, and industrial applications.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing the treated liquid through at least one filtration system to reduce concentration of microorganisms in the treated liquid, thereby producing treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals and reduced microbial populations.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing the source liquid through a pre-treatment system for substantially removing contaminants from the source liquid prior to treatment in the low zeta potential crystal generator, wherein the contaminants are selected from the group consisting of: debris, oils, and substances that would interfere with crystallization treatment.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing the source liquid through a pre-treatment system for introducing additives to the source liquid prior to treatment in the low zeta potential crystal generator, wherein the additives are selected from the group consisting of: Calcium, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, Silver, Cadmium, Gold, Platinum, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing the treated liquid through a high zeta potential crystal generator and thereby producing treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of high zeta potential crystals.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing the treated liquid through a pre-filtration system for substantially removing minerals from the treated liquid source prior to treatment in the at least one filtration device, wherein the minerals are selected from the group consisting of: iron, sulphur, manganese, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising passing the treated liquid through a second low zeta potential crystal generator, thereby producing treated and filtered treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals.  
     
     
         11 . A system for enhancing quality of a source liquid, comprising: 
 a source input;    a low zeta potential crystal generator in liquid communication with the source liquid input; and    a treated liquid output in liquid communication with the low zeta potential crystal generator,    wherein the treated liquid has an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals compared to the source liquid.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the zeta potential of mineral crystals in the treated liquid after passage through the low zeta potential crystal generator is at least 25% less than the zeta potential of mineral particles in the source liquid.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the zeta potential of mineral crystals in the treated liquid after passage through the low zeta potential crystal generator is at least 50% less than the zeta potential of mineral particles in the source liquid, and whereby the treated liquid is distributed for use in connection with systems selected from the group consisting of: liquid heating systems, liquid cooling systems, potable liquid systems, liquid systems in food processing applications, household liquid filtration systems, liquid systems in sanitation applications, liquid softeners, ion exchangers, and liquid systems in medical, dental, and industrial applications.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the zeta potential of mineral crystals in the treated liquid after passage through the low zeta potential crystal generator is between about −5 mV and −9 mV, and whereby the treated liquid is distributed for use in connection with systems selected from the group consisting of: liquid heating systems, liquid cooling systems, potable liquid systems, liquid systems in food processing applications, household liquid filtration systems, liquid systems in sanitation applications, liquid softeners, ion exchangers, and liquid systems in medical, dental, and industrial applications.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one filtration system in liquid communication with the low zeta potential crystal generator and the treated liquid output, wherein the treated liquid is passed through the at least one filtration device, whereby treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals and reduced microbial populations is produced.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a pre-filtration system in liquid communication with the low zeta potential crystal generator and the at least one filtration system, wherein the treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals is passed through the pre-filtration system prior to passage through the at least one filtration system, wherein minerals are substantially removed from the treated liquid, and wherein the minerals are selected from the group consisting of: iron, sulphur, manganese, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a pre-treatment system in liquid communication with the source liquid input and the low zeta potential crystal generator, wherein the source liquid is passed through the pre-treatment system prior to treatment in the low zeta potential crystal generator, wherein contaminants are substantially removed from the source liquid in the pre-treatment system, and wherein the contaminants are selected from the group consisting of: debris, oils, and substances that would interfere with crystallization treatment.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a pre-treatment system in liquid communication with the source liquid input and the low zeta potential crystal generator, wherein the source liquid is passed through the pre-treatment system prior to treatment in the low zeta potential crystal generator, wherein additives are introduced to the source liquid in the pre-treatment system, and wherein the additives are selected from the group consisting of: Calcium, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, Silver, Cadmium, Gold, Platinum, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a high zeta potential crystal generator in liquid communication with the low zeta potential crystal generator and the treated liquid output, whereby treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals and high zeta potential crystals is produced.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second low zeta potential crystal generator in liquid communication with the low zeta potential crystal generator and the treated liquid output, whereby treated liquid having an enhanced concentration of low zeta potential crystals is produced.