Antimicrobial application system with recycle and capture

Abstract

A capture unit for use with an antimicrobial application unit may include an upstream filter and a downstream filter. The upstream filter may be positioned to receive effluent from the application unit and to filter solid components from the effluent. The resultant upstream effluent filtrate may then be passed downstream to the downstream filter. The downstream filter may be used to filter an antimicrobial component from the upstream effluent filtrate and the resultant downstream effluent filtrate may be suitable for disposal as wastewater discharge. The antimicrobial is preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, is more preferably an alkylpyridinium chloride, and is most preferably cetylpyridinium chloride.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An antimicrobial carbon filtration system, the filtration system comprising:
 a filter unit comprising a filter container defining a bore dimensioned to retain a filter material comprising activated carbon; and   a header positioned at an upstream portion of the filter container, the header comprising a body having an upstream inlet to receive a fluid containing an antimicrobial component to be separated and a plurality of downstream arms having fluid ports positioned to distribute the fluid onto the filter material.   
     
     
         28 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 27  wherein the body comprises at least four arms arranged in an “X” configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 27  wherein the body has at least two arms, each defining at least twenty fluid ports. 
     
     
         30 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 27  wherein the fluid ports are positioned on at least two sides of each arm. 
     
     
         31 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 27  wherein the fluid ports define cross-sections between 0.125 to 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         32 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 27  wherein the body has four arms arranged in an “X” configuration, and wherein the fluid ports define cross-sections between 0.125 to 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         33 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter container has an outer wall and a plastic inner wall, and wherein the inner wall defines the bore dimensioned to retain the filter material. 
     
     
         34 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the outer wall comprises a metal drum. 
     
     
         35 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter container comprises a removable liner, and wherein the removable liner comprises the inner wall. 
     
     
         36 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter container comprises a plastic drum comprising the outer wall. 
     
     
         37 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter container comprises a metal drum dimensioned to hold a removable liner, and wherein the metal drum comprises the outer wall and the removable liner comprises the inner wall. 
     
     
         38 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the filter container comprises a plastic drum dimensioned to hold a removable liner, and wherein the plastic drum comprises the outer wall and the removable liner comprises the inner wall. 
     
     
         39 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 32 , further comprising an additional filter unit fluidically coupled to the filter unit, wherein the additional filter unit comprises:
 a filter container, wherein the filter container defines a bore dimensioned to retain a filter material comprising activated carbon.   
     
     
         40 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 39 , wherein the filter unit is positioned in series with the additional filter unit to supply the fluid passed through the filter material to the additional filter unit for further filtration. 
     
     
         41 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 39 , wherein the additional filter unit further comprises a header positioned at an upstream portion of the filter container, the header comprising a body having an upstream inlet to receive fluid containing an antimicrobial component to be separated and a plurality of downstream arms having fluid ports positioned to distribute the fluid onto the filter material. 
     
     
         42 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 41 , wherein the body of the header of the additional filter unit comprises at least four arms arranged in an “X” configuration. 
     
     
         43 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 41 , wherein the body of the header of the additional filter unit has at least two arms, each defining at least twenty fluid ports. 
     
     
         44 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 41 , wherein the fluid ports of the header of the additional filter unit are positioned on at least two sides of each arm. 
     
     
         45 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 41 , wherein the fluid ports of the header of the additional filter unit define cross-sections between 0.125 to 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         46 . The antimicrobial carbon filtration system of  claim 41 , wherein the body of the header of the additional filter unit has four arms arranged in an “X” configuration and the fluid ports positioned along the four arms define cross-sections between 0.125 to 0.250 inches.