Use of a dual polymer system for enhanced water recovery and improved separation of suspended solids and other substances from an aqueous media

Abstract

A method uses anionic and cationic polymers added in, any order or simultaneously, to aqueous media for the removal of substances. The sequential addition of the two biopolymers, anionic xanthan, followed by cationic chitosan, causes the rapid formation of very large and cohesive fibrillar aggregates that may exhibit high solids to liquid ratios and that quickly settle out from the aqueous media. The aqueous media can be easily separated from the large fibrillar aggregates by settling under gravity or by filtration through a porous containment device, such as a synthetic or non-synthetic woven or non-woven fabric including a geotextile fabric or a solid containment device containing a solid mesh screen.

1 . A method for removing a substance from aqueous media, comprising;
 treating a substance present in aqueous media to provide insoluble particles in the aqueous media;   treating the aqueous media with an anionic polymer;   treating the aqueous media with a cationic polymer, wherein the anionic polymer and cationic polymer form aggregates comprising the insoluble particles; and   collecting the aggregates to remove the substance from the aqueous media treated with the anionic and cationic polymers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is soluble in the aqueous media. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is miscible in the aqueous media. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is immiscible in the aqueous media. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is a submicron particle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anionic polymer is a xanthan or a mixture of xanthan and one or more different anionic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cationic polymer is a chitosan or a mixture of chitosan and one or more different cationic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a water soluble substance, a water immiscible liquid, a water miscible liquid, or a submicron particle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising bonding the substance to removal media. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the removal medium is an adsorbent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the removal medium is carbon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the removal medium is a metal oxide or hydrous metal oxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises cyanuric acid and melamine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises carbon and a polychlorinated biphenyl compound. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises arsenic and iron oxide hydroxide. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises carbon and at least one of benzene, toluene and xylene. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises carbon and naphthenic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises cerium oxide and a fluoride ion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises zirconium hydroxide and a fluoride ion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the pH of the aqueous media to 6 or greater and the insoluble particle comprises a metal or a nonmetal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the metal is one of lead, cadmium, beryllium, barium, thallium, iron, nickel, vanadium, copper, aluminum, zinc, manganese, chromium, cobalt, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the nonmetal is arsenic or selenium. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises carbon and a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the hydrocarbon is an aromatic hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the hydrocarbon is a halogenated hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises orthophosphate and a lanthanum compound. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises carbon and a mercury compound. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a protein, immunoglobulin, antigen, lipid, or carbohydrate. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a bacterium or virus. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a bacterium and dirt. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing or oxidizing the substance to provide the insoluble particle. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the pH of the aqueous media to provide the insoluble particle. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flowing the aqueous media through a porous material and collecting the aggregates on the material. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the porous material comprises pores approximately 100 μm in size or larger. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the porous material comprises pores approximately 100 μm to 2 mm in size. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the porous material comprises pores in the range of approximately 100 μm to 850 μm in size. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the porous material comprises pores in the range of approximately 850 μm to 2 mm in size. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising allowing the aggregates to settle before collecting the aggregates. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating the aqueous media with the anionic polymer followed by the cationic polymer. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating the aqueous media with the cationic polymer followed by the anionic polymer. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating the aqueous media with the anionic polymer simultaneously with the cationic polymer. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising diluting the aqueous media to lower a concentration of the substance to less than 10% by weight before treating with the anionic and the cationic polymers. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising performing two or more steps selected from bonding the substance to removal media, adjusting the pH of the aqueous media to 6 or greater, and reducing or oxidizing the substance, to provide the insoluble particle. 
     
     
         44 . A method for removing a substance from aqueous media, comprising;
 treating aqueous media containing a substance with an anionic polymer;   treating the aqueous media with a cationic polymer to form fibrillar aggregates comprising fibers formed from the anionic polymer and the cationic polymer, wherein the substance is adhered to the fibers; and   collecting the aggregates to remove the substance from the aqueous media.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the substance is submicron in size. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the substance is water insoluble or water immiscible. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising treating the aqueous media with the anionic polymer followed by the cationic polymer. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising treating the aqueous media with the cationic polymer followed by the anionic polymer. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising treating the aqueous media with the anionic polymer simultaneously with the cationic polymer. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the anionic polymer is a xanthan or a mixture of xanthan and one or more different anionic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the cationic polymer is a chitosan or a mixture of chitosan and one or more different cationic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the substance is one of oil, fats, grease, sand, coal, clay, dirt, bacterium, or virus. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising retaining the aggregates on a sieve having pores of 2 mm. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising retaining the aggregates on a sieve having pores of 850 μm or greater. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising retaining the aggregates on a sieve having pores of 100 μm or greater. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising flowing water through a screen, mesh, or porous filter to collect the aggregates. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising allowing the aggregates to settle before collecting. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising diluting the aqueous media to lower a concentration of the substance to less than 10% by weight before treating with the anionic and the cationic polymers. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the fibrillar aggregates comprise fibers and fibrils. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the fibrillar aggregates are cohesive. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a width from 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a width from 0.03 mm to 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a length from 0.5 mm to 6 mm. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a length from 0.65 mm to 5.5 mm. 
     
     
         65 . A fibrillar aggregate, comprising:
 anionic polymers;   cationic polymers; and   insoluble particles or an immiscible liquid, wherein the anionic polymers and cationic polymers form fibers to which the insoluble particles or immiscible liquid is adhered.   
     
     
         66 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the anionic polymers are xanthan polymers. 
     
     
         67 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the cationic polymers are chitosan polymers. 
     
     
         68 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , further comprising a mixture of a xanthan and one or more different anionic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         69 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , further comprising a mixture of a chitosan and one or more different cationic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         70 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a submicron substance. 
     
     
         71 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle is formed from a removal medium and a substance that is bonded to the removal medium. 
     
     
         72 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the removal medium is an adsorbent. 
     
     
         73 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the removal medium is carbon. 
     
     
         74 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the removal medium is a metal oxide or hydrous metal oxide. 
     
     
         75 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises cyanuric acid bound to melamine. 
     
     
         76 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a polychlorinated biphenyl compound bound to carbon. 
     
     
         77 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises arsenic bound to iron oxide hydroxide. 
     
     
         78 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises benzene, toluene, or xylene bound to carbon. 
     
     
         79 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises carbon and naphthenic acid. 
     
     
         80 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises cerium oxide and a fluoride ion. 
     
     
         81 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises zirconium hydroxide and a fluoride ion. 
     
     
         82 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a metal or a nonmetal. 
     
     
         83 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 82 , wherein the metal is one of lead, cadmium, beryllium, barium, thallium, iron, nickel, vanadium, copper, aluminum, zinc, manganese, chromium, cobalt, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         84 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 82 , wherein the nonmetal is arsenic or selenium. 
     
     
         85 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a hydrocarbon bound to carbon. 
     
     
         86 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises orthophosphate and a lanthanum compound. 
     
     
         87 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a mercury compound bound to carbon. 
     
     
         88 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a protein, immunoglobulin, antigen, lipid, or carbohydrate. 
     
     
         89 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle is a bacterium or virus. 
     
     
         90 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising a bacterium and dirt. 
     
     
         91 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising sand, coal, clay, dirt, bacterium or virus. 
     
     
         92 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the immiscible liquid is oil, fats, or grease. 
     
     
         93 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , having a size to be retained on a sieve having pores of 2 mm. 
     
     
         94 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , having a size to be retained on a sieve having pores of 850 μm. 
     
     
         95 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , having a size to be retained on a sieve having pores of 100 μm. 
     
     
         96 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle is a immunoglobulin:antigen complex. 
     
     
         97 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a first species and a second species bound to each other, which separately are water soluble and bound together are water insoluble. 
     
     
         98 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a water soluble species bound to a water insoluble species. 
     
     
         99 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a water miscible liquid and a water insoluble substance bound to each other. 
     
     
         100 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , wherein the insoluble particle comprises a water immiscible liquid and water insoluble substance bound to each other. 
     
     
         101 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising at least one fiber with a width from 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         102 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising at least one fiber with a width from 0.03 mm to 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         103 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising at least one fiber with a length from 0.5 mm to 6 mm. 
     
     
         104 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising at least one fiber with a length from 0.65 mm to 5.5 mm. 
     
     
         105 . The fibrillar aggregate of  claim 65 , comprising fibrils. 
     
     
         106 . A method for forming aggregates in aqueous media, comprising;
 treating a substance present in aqueous media to provide insoluble particles in the aqueous media;   treating the aqueous media with an anionic polymer; and   treating the aqueous media with a cationic polymer to form aggregates comprising the insoluble particles.   
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the anionic polymer is xanthan or xanthan and one or more different anionic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the cationic polymer is chitosan or chitosan and one or more different cationic polymers and/or nonionic polymers. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 106 , further comprising bonding the substance to removal media to provide the insoluble particle. 
     
     
         110 . A method for forming fibrillar aggregates in aqueous media, comprising;
 treating aqueous media containing a substance with an anionic polymer; and   treating the aqueous media with a cationic polymer to form fibrillar aggregates comprising fibers formed from the anionic polymer and the cationic polymer to which the substance is adhered.   
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the anionic polymer is xanthan or xanthan and one or more different polymers. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the cationic polymer is chitosan or chitosan and one or more different polymers. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising retaining the aggregates on sieve having a pore size of 2 mm. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising retaining the aggregates on sieve having a pore size of 850 μm or greater. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising retaining the aggregates on a sieve having a pore size of 100 μm or greater. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a width from 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a width from 0.03 mm to 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a length from 0.5 mm to 6 mm. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein at least one fibrillar aggregate comprises at least one fiber with a length from 0.65 mm to 5.5 mm. 
     
     
         120 . A method for removing fluoride ions from aqueous media, comprising;
 treating aqueous media containing fluoride ions with cerium oxide to provide particles, each particle comprising cerium oxide and a fluoride ion; and   removing the particles from the aqueous media to remove fluoride ions from the aqueous media.   
     
     
         121 . A method for removing fluoride ions from aqueous media, comprising;
 treating aqueous media containing fluoride ions with zirconium hydroxide to provide particles, each particle comprising zirconium hydroxide and a fluoride ion; and   removing the particles from the aqueous media to remove fluoride ions from the aqueous media.