EP3044169A1

EP3044169A1 - Method for decontaminating contaminated water and plastics container therefor

Info

Publication number: EP3044169A1
Application number: EP13796007.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinhard Heuser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-09-09
Filing date: 2013-09-09
Publication date: 2016-07-20
Also published as: US20160326035A1; WO2015032446A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for decontaminating contaminated water, the contaminated water being pumped and further processed. The contaminated water, after being pumped, is mixed with a liquid decontaminating agent and then filled into a preferably floating plastics container located in the water, the plastics container then remaining in the water. The invention also relates to a plastics container therefor.

Description

Method of decontaminating contaminated water and plastic containers therefor

The present invention relates to a method for decontaminating a contaminated water body according to the preamble of claim 1. In addition, the subject matter of the invention is a plastic container for use in a method for decontaminating a contaminated water body.
Contaminations, especially oil pollution, from water bodies are more frequent and have a variety of causes. Cause can be leaking tanks, broken oil lines, ship accidents and accidents at oil production platforms. Such accidents can occur both on inland waters and on open seas. Since oil has a lower specific gravity than water, it floats at least at the beginning of the water surface and lands or gets stranded somewhere. The natural degradation process of the oil takes a very long time and the contaminants e.g. Ship accidents are so great that they can not be contained and eliminated without technical measures. For smaller oil spills, this is feasible with today's technical possibilities, larger oil spills are technically difficult to control and usually end up in a natural disaster.
Depending on the severity of the oil spills, different methods are used. For example, For smaller oil spills and soiling binders are used, whereby the oil-binder mixture must be pumped out, possibly intermediately stored and disposed of with great effort. If this is not possible, this mixture sinks to the bottom of the water and remains there as contaminated waste. The resulting damage to nature and the water are hardly detectable.
For small soiling is also known that the oil-water mixture is sucked off and then disposed of.
The invention has for its object to provide a method for the decontamination of a contaminated body of water, which can be decontaminated quickly and effectively with a manageable effort and large-scale contamination in waters.
This object is achieved in that the contaminated water is mixed after pumping with a particular liquid decontaminating agent and then in a body of water, preferably floating plastic container is filled, the plastic container then remains in the water.
It is unnecessary to transport the contaminated water in storage tanks to a subsequent external decontamination. Since no further disposal costs are incurred, the method according to the invention considerably reduces the total costs for decontamination.
In the method according to the invention, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the contaminated water is pumped out of the surface of the water. This means that the method is preferably used in case of contamination when the contamination floats on the water, as it is, for example, in oil-contaminated waters. The method can be used in particular for the large-area decontamination of contaminated water surfaces, e.g. to avoid so-called oil disasters. In this case, a large-scale intake is preferably used when pumping.
Preferably, the contaminated water is pumped by a device into a plastic container designed as a flexible film tank, which floats in the water. The film can be very thin due to the complete pressure equalization between the contaminated water in the film tank and the water outside the film tank. be formed film-like, since it has to withstand substantially no pressure. Because of the low weight of the film tank floats or floats the filled film tank in the water. The volume of the film tank is almost arbitrary and is limited only by the manufacturing process and the handling of the film tank.
In the method according to the invention preferably plastic containers are used, which are closable. By a closable opening of the film tank, the film tank is first filled and then closed by a closing device. In this closed film tank, the liquid decontaminant acts on the contaminated water and decontamination takes place. In addition, closing prevents the contaminated water from mixing with clean water after filling.
In an advantageous embodiment of the plastic container, this has no internal volume before filling. So he is folded in particular, laid or rolled and unfolds when filling. This avoids that by filling in the plastic container air complete filling of the plastic container is not possible.
Furthermore, it is provided that the mixing with a decontaminating agent takes place on a vessel floating on the contaminated water in a device provided for this purpose or on the bank of the contaminated water body in a device provided for this purpose. The device, in each case sucks the contaminated water from the water surface via a pump, mixes it with the liquid decontaminating agent and then pumps the mixture into the plastic container floating in the water. This means that the method according to the invention can be used for inland waters and on seas.
In the method according to the invention, it is furthermore advantageously provided that the decontaminating agent comprises a surfactant, wherein in particular microorganisms (microbes) are added to the surfactant. Such a decontaminating agent can be purposefully used to decontaminate different contaminants under different environmental conditions, e.g. Heat or cold, fresh water or sea water, etc. are produced. Appropriate choice of microorganisms can effectively support decontamination. Advantageously, the decontaminating agent is already in the tank before filling the tank with contaminated water.
Surfactants have the property of producing a very low surface tension. The surfactant acts e.g. in a mixture of oil or fatty substances with water as an emulsifier and thus leads to a very finely divided oil / water emulsion, which provides a large attack surface preparatory to decontamination. Surfactants are also biodegradable. The liquid decontaminant of the process of the invention comprises, for example, a mixture of various surfactants, e.g. made from hemp oil and yeast. This results in a particularly good and rapid biodegradability of these surfactant mixtures, since the microorganisms that provide for the degradation, this natural surfactant mixture with the oil or fatty substances degrade faster than a chemically produced surfactant.
In individual cases, e.g. respond to an oil spill by analysis of the contaminating oil, with particularly suitable microorganisms can be selected for specific use. The Institute of Microbiology of the University of Greifswald, for example, maintains a collection of microorganisms, in particular with different oil-degrading microorganisms, with correspondingly powerful microorganisms can be selected for different uses.
The complete decontamination can take place within about 30 days and takes place automatically by the decomposition process of the emulsion in the plastic container. The duration of the decomposition process is temperature dependent. Once all the oil has been removed, the microorganisms die.
In a preferred embodiment, a material of the plastic container is biodegradable in water. The material of the plastic container is chosen so that it decomposes only after the expiration of the degradation time of the contaminated substance (oil-contaminated water about 30 days), so after the decontamination process is completed in the plastic container. The plastic container is made of biodegradable materials and may include, for example, cellulose esters, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polycaprolactones (PCL), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and / or polybutylene succinate (PSB). Due to the decomposition of the plastic container, the decontaminated water is automatically returned to the natural cycle of nature without human intervention. The inventive method is thus particularly effective and particularly environmentally friendly.
If the plastic container is not biodegradable, the method according to the invention can also be used. For this purpose, only the plastic container must be opened manually after the degradation of the contamination by being slashed, for example.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. The specified features may also be the subject of the invention individually and in any combinations which deviate from the described and illustrated combination.
In the drawing show:
Figure 1 is a representation of the sequence of the method according to the invention on a floating ship; and
Figure 2 is a representation of the sequence of the method according to the invention on a bank of a contaminated water body.
FIG. 1 shows a ship 12 floating on a sea 10, the ship 12 carrying a device 14 for decontaminating scalded water 16. The scared water 16 floats on the water, as it is the case, for example, in oil-contaminated sea water after an oil spill. The ship 12 can drive on any polluted waters.
On the device 14, a conduit system 18 is connected, on the one hand has a floating on the sea 10 intake 20 for sucking the contaminated water 16 and on the other hand, a delivery line 22, the mixed in the device 14 with a liquid decontaminating agent 23 contaminated water 16 in a in the sea 10 floating plastic container 24 pumps. The flow direction of the contaminated water 16 in the conduit system 18 is designated by the reference numeral 26. The intake manifold 20 is preferably formed over a large area.
The plastic container 24 is preferably formed as a flexible film tank, similar to a plastic bag. The film can be made very thin because of the complete pressure equalization between the contaminated water 16 in the film tank 24 and the water outside of the film tank 24 because it has to withstand substantially no pressure. Because of the low weight of the film tank 24 floats or floats the filled film tank 24 in the water. The film tank 24 preferably has no internal volume prior to filling, and in particular is folded, laid or rolled. It unfolds when filling. This avoids that by filling in the film tank 24 air complete filling of the film tank 24 is not possible or difficult. After filling, the film tank 24 remains in the sea 10.
The vessel 12 travels, for example, after a large-scale decontamination, the contaminated water area 16 and continuously sucks the contaminated water 16 by means of the intake manifold 20 via the conduit system 18 in the device 14, wherein the liquid decontaminating agent 23 mixed into the contaminated water 16 becomes. Subsequently, the mixture is pumped through a closable opening in the floating flexible film tank 24. If the flexible film tank 24 is completely filled, it is closed by a closing device provided at the opening. The volume of the film tank 24 is almost arbitrary and is limited only by the manufacturing process and the handling of the film tank 24.
If 16 more flexible film tanks 24 required because of the large amount of contaminated water, they can be made available while driving on the sea 10. Regardless of how many flexible film tanks 24 are required, the film tanks 24 remain in the sea 10. In the manufacture of the film tanks 24, it is possible that biodegradable plastic is used. For example, the plastic may consist of cellulose esters, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polycaprolactones (PCL), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and / or polybutylene succinate (PSB). The material of the film tank 24 is chosen so that it decomposes only after the expiration of the degradation time of the contaminated water (in oil-contaminated water about 30 days), ie after the decontamination process in the film tank 24 is completed.
The liquid decontamination agent 23 essentially comprises a surfactant or a surfactant mixture of different surfactants, which has been mixed with microorganisms (microbes). Such a decontamination agent 23 may be targeted for decontaminating various contaminants under different environmental conditions, such as e.g. Heat or cold, fresh water or sea water, etc. are produced. Appropriate choice of microorganisms can effectively support decontamination.
FIG. 2 shows an apparatus 14 for decontaminating scalded water 16 which is constructed on the bank of a river or any inland watercourse 28. The device 14 is preferably mobile, i. arranged on a vehicle. The contaminated water 16 floats on the surface, as it is the case, for example, oil-contaminated water after an oil spill. The contaminated water 16 floating, for example, on the water 28 is sucked up with the intake 20 and further treated according to the method described above. Here too, finally, the contaminated water 16 mixed with the liquid decontamination agent 23 is pumped into the flexible film tank 24. The film tank 24 then remains in the inland water 28, within a certain period of time the contamination in the film tank 24 is reduced. Thereafter, the film tank 24 can decompose or it is opened manually. As a result, the decontaminated water is automatically returned to the natural cycle of nature without human intervention.
For example, if a contamination is floating on a river, e.g. a special intake 20 may be provided which is so far extended in length, that it - as far as possible - over the entire width of the river, the fumigated water 16 can absorb (not shown). The device 14 must be set up downstream to initiate the contamination. Otherwise, the method described above is performed.

Claims

Method for decontaminating a contaminated body of water (10, 28), wherein contaminated water (16) is pumped off and further processed, characterized in that the contaminated water (16) after pumping is mixed with a liquid decontaminating agent (23) and then into an imbibed water Waters (10; 28) are located, preferably floating plastic container (24) is filled, wherein the plastic container (24) then in the body of water (10; 28) remains.
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the contaminated water (16) is pumped from the surface of the water.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that mixing with a decontaminating agent (23) on a vessel (12) floating on the contaminated body of water (10) is carried out in a device (14) provided therefor or on the bank of the contaminated water body (28 ) takes place in a device (14) provided for this purpose.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decontaminating agent (23) comprises a surfactant, wherein the surfactant in particular microorganisms are added.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic container (24) is closed after filling.
Plastic container (24) for use in a method for decontaminating a contaminated body of water (10; 28) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic container (24) is a flexible film tank.
Plastic container (24) according to claim 6, characterized in that the plastic container (24) is closable.
Plastic container (24) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the plastic container (24) before filling has no internal volume, in particular folded, -laid or -rolled and unfolds during filling.
Plastic container (24) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the material of the plastic container (24) is biodegradable in water.
Plastic container (24) according to claim 9, characterized in that the material of the plastic container (24) comprises cellulose esters, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polycaprolactones (PCL), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and / or polybutylene succinate (PSB).