Electrolytic system and method for concentrating an aqueous particulate suspenson

Abstract

An electrolytic method and apparatus for the concentration and collection of suspended particulates from solutions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the solution is an aqueous solution and the suspended particles are algae particles. The electrolytic cell contains at least an anode and a cathode, and in one embodiment contains a plurality of anodes and cathodes. While not bound by theory, the electrolytic method and apparatus is based on the electrophoretic movement of algae particles suspended in an aqueous solution under the influence of an electric field. In one embodiment the electric field is a pulsed wavefrom with unidirectional voltage or current pulses. In another embodiment, the electric field is a pulsed waveform with bidirectional voltage or current pulses.

1 . A method for the concentration of an aqueous suspension, the method comprising:
 a. adding an aqueous particulate solution to an electrolytic cell containing at least an anode and a cathode;   b. establishing a predetermined gap between said anode and said cathode;   c. connecting said anode and said cathode to a power supply;   d. delivering an electric field from said power supply to said anode and said cathode; and   e. collecting the suspended particles from a region of said electrolytic cell wherein the suspended particles are concentrated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said suspended particles are algae particles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said anode and said cathode are high overvoltage electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the electrolytic cell has a surface region and said suspended particles are concentrated and collected from the surface region of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the electrolytic cell has a bottom region and said suspended particles are concentrated and collected from the bottom region of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the electrolytic cell has a cathode region and said suspended particles are concentrated and collected from the cathode region of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the electrolytic cell has an anode region and said suspended particles are concentrated and collected from the anode region of the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electrolytic cell includes a plurality of anodes and cathodes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said electric field comprises a voltage difference across said anode and said cathode of about 20 to 400 V DC. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said electric field comprises a voltage difference across said anode and said cathode of about 50V DC. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said electric field is a pulse waveform with bidirectional pulses. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said electric field is a pulse waveform with unidirectional pulses. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pulse waveform with unidirectional pulses comprises a peak voltage of about 20 to 400 V. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pulse waveform with unidirectional pulses comprises a peak voltage of about 50V. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pulse waveform with unidirectional pulses comprises a duty cycle of about 10 to 80%. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pulse waveform with unidirectional pulses comprises a duty cycle of about 20 to 60%. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pulse waveform with unidirectional pulses comprises frequencies of about 10 to 1000 Hz. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the gap between said plurality of said anodes and said cathodes is about 0.5 cm to 5 m. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for the concentration of suspended particles in an aqueous solution, comprising:
 a. an electrolytic cell containing at least an anode and a cathode with a predetermined gap between said anode and said cathode, the electrolytic cell receiving a solution containing suspended particles therein;   b. a power supply; and   c. a collector for collecting the suspended particles from a region of said electrolytic cell wherein the suspended particles are concentrated.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said suspended particles are algae. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said electrolytic cell contains a plurality of said anodes and said cathodes. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said plurality of said anodes and said cathodes are high overvoltage electrodes.