BRPI0718110A2 - SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A WEAKLY SUSPENDED SOLIDS SOLUTION AND USES FOR THEM - Google Patents

Description

Report of the Invention Patent for "SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING WEAKLY SUSPENDED SOLIDS AND USES FOR THE SAME".

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and method

to produce a solution of weakly suspended solids by filtering a solution through a column comprising shells derived from crushed mollusks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for manufacturing a poorly suspended solids solution having cleaning, disinfectant and medical treatment properties. Additionally, the present invention relates to a process for preparing an ointment useful for medical treatments wherein said ointment comprises in part a composition of crushed shells. Background of the Invention Mollusk-derived shells are generated as waste

fisheries industries worldwide. It is common practice to throw shell residue into the ocean. However, shells have been efficiently used as a source of calcium and for obtaining antibacterial agents as well as for water purification. The powder obtained from scallop shells, oysters, mussels and other mollusks or a solution containing the powder has been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral properties as well as useful as a water purifying agent. It has also been found that the aforementioned powder has shown useful properties when applied as a deodorant for sterilization as a preservative agent and for selected medicinal use.

The antibacterial properties of shell powder are well proven and tested, for example, in the treatment of dermatophytosis (U.S. Patent No. 2004/0028748), periodontal diseases (European Patent Application No. 1676583) or to alleviate. irritation caused by lesions of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and kidney dialysis lesions (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004/256785).

Shell powder can also be used in soaps that have been shown to treat tinea pedis (athlete's foot) caused by the creation of real fungi.

Japanese Patent Application No. 05-267807 (Ueda et al.) Describes a process for purifying polluted water as well as the bottoms of rivers, lakes, seas and bays by spreading a shell fossil dust along the seabed to purify polluted water and river bottoms.

Japanese Patent Application No. 08-316935 (Suzuki et al.) Describes a porous material made of calcined shells for water purification. The material has been shown to be effective water purifying property and can be applied effectively for large scale water purification.

Japanese Patent Application No. 11-328702 by Sasaya discloses a deodorant obtained by spraying scallop shells having a crystalline structure consisting of a calcium carbonate type calcite structure.

U.S. Patent Nos. 6,365,193 and 6,488,978 by Sasaki

and another report on calcined shells that can be used as antibacterial agents and water purifying agents. Sasaki and another report on heating a shell in an inactive gas atmosphere and cooking the shell. In particular, the antibacterial agent is obtained by baking a powder from the bursting mussel shell in an inactive gas atmosphere. The powder can be easily dissolved in water, in particular hot water and used as an antibacterial solution.

The above uses of shells demonstrate the wide area of application in which the properties of shells can be exploited. Further, developments aimed at new uses of shell material are desired and needed to control and reduce the large amount of shell waste produced each year.

Most of the above applications require the use of powder obtained from shellfish or heat treatment under high temperatures and special conditions, both of which consequently require expensive equipment and complex installation procedures to practice. In addition, it has been found that when the powder is dissolved in water, the powder tends to lose its active properties over time. Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple process for obtaining a poorly suspended solid shell extract containing mainly calcium which is safe for the human body and environmentally favorable. Weakly suspended shell extract inherits the antibacterial properties of the shells and as indicated above can be effectively applied as a cleanser and disinfectant or for treating skin conditions. The resulting solution may also be used as a fluid or in admixture with a suitable carrier to provide a solid or chewable composition.

Moreover, the system and process of the present invention are simple and economically advantageous and can be applied on a larger industrial scale for cleaning and purifying contaminated water. According to one aspect of the present invention, it is provided

A process for removing suspended solids from a solution comprising repeated filtration of the solution through a filter / extraction column housing crushed shellfish particles is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for removing suspended solids from a solution comprising a filter / extraction column; a fluid inlet positioned at one end of the filter / extraction column; and a fluid outlet positioned at its other end, wherein the filter / extraction column houses crushed shell particles. According to another aspect of the present invention, it is provided

An apparatus is provided to remove suspended solids from a solution. The apparatus may comprise a filter / extraction column; a fluid inlet positioned at one end of the filter / extraction column; and a fluid outlet positioned at its other end, wherein the filter / extraction column houses crushed mollusk shell particles and is effectively mounted for removal of said suspended solids.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising two tandem filter extraction columns, wherein the first filter / extraction column houses crushed shell particles and the second filter / filter column. extraction houses milled shell particles pre-coated with iron oxide or hematite.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weakly suspended solids solution produced by the process described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use for the solution of weakly suspended solids for treating skin conditions, wherein the solution has been previously combined with a carrier such as eucerin or gelatinous substance. Petroleum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wiper composition comprising the solution of poorly suspended solids alone or a mixture of the solution and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at a ratio of 0.4% by weight. This weight factor may vary as may be determined by that skilled in the art, while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other aspects of the present invention will be made more apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the extraction column comprising an inlet, an outlet and a housing member;

Figure 2a is a detailed cross-sectional view of the upper half of the extraction column and illustrates the installation of the empty column;

Figure 2b is a detailed cross-sectional view of the upper half of the extraction column and illustrates the column filled with the

packing bro;

Figure 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the lower half of the extraction column and illustrates the installation of the empty column; Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the apparatus comprising two extraction columns in a tandem arrangement;

Figure 5 illustrates a measured turbidity of the shell extract with exposure time; and Figure 6 illustrates the increase in the amount of calcium determined by

in the shell extract with the exposure time. Detailed Description of the Invention

The following description is directed to a preferred embodiment by example of only one of the potential uses of the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a filter / extraction column 10 comprising an inlet II, an outlet 13, two screens 14 and a housing member 12. The housing member 12 defines a passageway 12a that can be filled with shells. shredded clam. Figure 2a illustrates a view of the upper half of the column of

filter / extraction 10 comprising an upper coupling 16, a screw stop 15 and an outlet 13 disposed on the stop 15. A screen 14 may be placed on top of the housing member 12 to contain the crushed shellfish shells in the filter column Extraction 10. Top coupling 16 is fitted with an inner lip of coupling 17 to secure screen 14 to the housing member. An interchangeable seal 18 such as silicon may be used to inhibit column leakage.

Figure 2b shows a view of the lower half of the extraction column comprising the bottom coupling 16, anvil 15 and an inlet 11 placed on the anvil 15. The bottom coupling can also be adjusted with the coupling inner lip 17 in order to securing the screen 14 to the housing member 12 so as to contain the crushed clam shells in the filter / extraction column. Inlet 11 is designed for connection to a plastic valve and a pump used to feed the column with solvent. An interchangeable silicon seal 18 can be used to prevent column leakage.

Figure 3 illustrates a filter / extraction column 10 comprising an inlet 11, an outlet 13, identical top and bottom screens 14 and a housing member 12. The housing member 12 contains mollusk shell particles which they can be the same or different sizes. In one embodiment shown in Figure 3, the housing member contains at its bottom crushed shell particles of sizes 0.5 to 1mm in diameter 20 and crushed shell particles of sizes between 3 and 4 mm in diameter 21. However The shredded mollusk shells may comprise particles of almost equal size and / or particles distributed along the passage according to the filtration / extraction needs in one or a plurality of zones. A zone is defined as containing shredded shell particles of approximately the same diameter. Packaging of the column with crushed shell particles may follow a regular distribution according to a desired gradient or an irregular distribution. The heat treatment may be applied to the shells prior to grinding such as by heating them to a temperature of approximately 300 ° C for a period of about 1.5 min. and / or by boiling them at a temperature of approximately 100 ° C for a period of approximately 15 min.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of apparatus 1 according to the present invention and comprises at least two filter / extraction columns 2,3 in a tandem arrangement. In the two column apparatus 1, the filter / extraction columns are arranged in series, so that the outlet 13 of the first column 2 is connected to the inlet 11 of the second column 3 by the connecting tube 23. The housing member 12 of first column 2 may contain at its bottom crushed shell particles of size 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter 20 and crushed shell particles of sizes 3 to 4 mm in diameter 21 thereafter. The housing member 12 of the second column 3 may contain iron oxide or hematite shredded shell particles 24. It was believed that coating of the iron oxide or hematite shredded shell particles could substantially improve the water purifying properties of the filter / extraction columns by reducing the metal content in the water passed through the apparatus 1. Analyzes of the water passed through the apparatus 1 of the filter / extraction columns showed the near zero content of aluminum and arsenic. in contaminated water.

In the practice of the present invention, the shells are collected directly from the fishing boat and placed in the cargo boxes. The shells are then cleaned by the electric drills having a wire brush and thoroughly washed with high pressure water to ensure effective cleaning. The cleaning and washing steps may be followed by a chilling step where the shells are left in a wire tray for the amount of time required to cool the shells to room temperature. In the next step, the shells are ground to 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm diameter particles. Particles of substantially the same diameter or a mixture of particles of different diameters may be used in the filter / extraction column according to the present invention. The effectiveness of the cleaner will be determined by several factors including

going the solvent pH and particle size of the crushed shells that form the packing member of the extraction column. By passing the distilled water through the filter / extraction column 10, it is possible to control, among other parameters, the turbidity, calcium content and suspended solids of the extract. The number of steps and water flow determine the properties of the wiper, including its cleaning effectiveness. The particle diameter of the crushed shells has been shown to be inversely proportional to the effectiveness of the wiper. For example, it is preferable for the milled shell particle diameter to be between 0.5 and 4 mm, more preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm to produce a weakly suspended solids solution effective as a scavenger.

Figure 5 illustrates turbidity versus exposure time as determined in Experiment 1 below. It will be noted that the measured turbidity of the solution decreases when subjected to the exposure time in the filter / extraction column. Turbidity was measured after each step of the solvent through the extraction column. After an exposure time of 12 hours, the measured turbidity of the shell extract was about 2.2 NTU. The above turbidity measurements are correlated with measurements of the amount of solids suspended in the shell extract after each step. Consequently, as shown in Experiment Table 1, as time goes by, the amount of suspended solids decreases from 6 mg / L after the first solvent step through the filter / extraction column to about Omg / L. after 12 hours.

Figure 6 illustrates the amount of calcium measured after each water pass through the extraction column versus the exposure time. The final shell extract contains approximately 121 times more calcium than the starting solvent. It is preferred that the calcium content of the shell extract is greater than 14 mg / l and more preferably greater than mg / l. Other factors that may impact the effectiveness of the cleaner are the pH and turbidity of the shell extract. In order to optimize cleaning results, the pH of the shell extract should be between 8.0 and 9.7 and the turbidity should be less than 6 NTU. Experience 1

An extraction 10 column was constructed with a 1.22 m (4 ft) PVC pipe of 152.4 mm (6 inches) diameter with two couplings closing each end as described in Figure 1. The upper coupling had a 90 ° knee bolted with a 3/4 inch (19.05 mm) plastic tube attached to it. The upper coupling and the plastic tube connected thereto represent the outlet 13 according to the present invention.

The bottom coupling as constructed had a straight adapter bolted to the coupling stop and connected to a plastic tube representing inlet 11 in accordance with the present invention. A 12V, 1.36 m3 / hr (360 gallon / hour) pump was connected to the column inlet and was used to pump distilled water through the column. The top and bottom of the column were designed in the same way except that the bottom coupling had a 3/4 threaded nozzle with a 3/4 plastic tube connected to a plastic valve and 12V pump. Two screens 14 as shown in Figure 1 were used to keep the shredded scallop shells within passageway 12a.

The composition of the shredded shells comprises a mixture of 0.5 and 1 mm diameter scallop shell particles. The smaller particle mass was approximately 10 kg and the column was loaded inside by two inches of the upper coupling screen 14. The rest of the column was loaded with particles larger than 3 and 4mm in diameter.

After the first step of distilled water, the shell extract had high concentration of suspended solids. Suspended solids concentrations were found to decrease with exposure time. Table 1 shows the concentration of solids suspended in solution as measured by the Hach Company DR-2400 Spectrometer. This process of determining suspended solids is a simple, straightforward measurement that does not require the ignition / weighing steps as in gravimetric procedures. Although USEPA specifies the gravimetric process for solids determination, this process is often used for plant verification processes. Test results are measured at 810nm. This process is documented in Hach Water Analysis Handbook, process 8006 p. 963.

The accuracy of the spectrometric process of measuring suspended solids concentration was compared against the gravimetric process as described in Hach Water Analysis Handbook, process 8271 p. 947. The mass of the aluminum dish was measured with a Scien- tech 120 analytical balance to the nearest 1 mg. A 100 ml sample of the solution was taken in situ and placed on the aluminum plate. The sample plate was placed in a preheated oven and evaporated at 103 - 105 ° C for approximately six hours. The dish was then removed from the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature in a desiccator. The sample dish was then removed from the desiccator and mass measurements were made to the nearest 0.1 mg with Scientech 120 analytical balance. These were the first sample mass measurements. The dish and sample were placed in the preheated oven again for a period of one hour and the mass measurements were taken until the results did not differ by more than 0.4 mg. A second mass measurement was performed in the same manner as above. Table 2 below shows the concentration of suspended solids in the solution as measured by the gravimetric process. (Λ (Ό

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Flow Rate / L.min 1 Total Dissolved (TDS) / mg.L "1 0.55 23.5 25.1 29.1 30.5 40.2 44.3 50 Chloride / mg. L "1 o_"! - I I I co_ cm "cd cm" cm co "Highliquidity mc.L" - 17.9 21.3 22.4 23.7 33.0 37.0 41.0 Mg / mg.L "0.05 I I I cd co" co "co" co "Ca / mg.L" co o "14,3 16.0 Csl K τ— 19.3 27.7 31.6 36.2 Temperature / X 22.4 22.7 22.7 23.2 23.4 24.5 24.1 23.3 Reverse Osmosis Water Usdda 4 feet tall, 4 inches in diameter Conduc- life-span of Sc m "1 47.0 54.4 58.2 60.9 78.4 88.6 98.1 Ph 6.63 9.24 9.19 9.10 9.05 8.77 8, 68 oo "Suspended Solids / mg.L" 1 o cd co as Turbidity / NT U 0.15 7.06 5.79 4.40 3.79 2.98 2.54 2.20 Exposl · Tion / hour s 0.25 ITJ o "0.75 τ— 00 cm 1st Step έ o ω o. i- 9: 00h 9: 15h 9: 30h 9: 45h -i = o o 13: 00h -c o -c o cm Lot 10012006 3 to 4 mm Experiment Data 2 October 2006 Table 2

Initial Tray Weight (B) First Dry Weight (g) Second Dry Weight (g) (A) Diff Weight 1st and 2nd Weight <0.4 mg Total Solids mg / L Tray 1 8.1982 8.2109 8.2106 0.0003 0.124 Tray 2 8.2245 8.2395 8.2393 0.0002 0.147 Tray 3 8.31 8.3253 8.3250 0.0003 0.15 Tray 4 8.2486 8.2620 8.2620 0.0000 0.144 Tray 5 8.2659 8.2805 8.2806 0.0001 0.147

Equation:

Total solids in mg / L = (A-B) χ 1000

sample volume ml

on what:

A = Sample Weight (mg) + Tray B = Dish Weight (mg) Error% of Results

% error = (Dh-DI) χ 100 = (0.15 mA -0.124 mg) χ 100 = 0.5% error # of points 5

of data

on what:

Dh = Highest numerical data results obtained DI = Lowest numerical data results obtained Experiment 2

Two extraction columns were constructed as above in Experiment 1 (see figure 4). The two columns were arranged in tandem with the first column output connected directly to the second column input. A 12 V (360 gallon / hour) pump was connected to the first column inlet and was used to pump distilled water through the first and second columns.

The packing member of the first column was made of a mixture of scallop shell particles of 0.5 and 1 mm in diameter. The mass of smaller particles was about 10 kg although the column should be loaded 50.8 mm (two inches) below the top coupling screen 14. The remainder of the column was loaded with larger 3 and 4 mm diameter particles as described in Experiment 1.

The packing member of the second column was made of crushed scallop shell particles coated with iron oxide or hematite (Fe2Oa). Coating of the crushed shell particles with iron oxide can be accomplished by any process known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In the present invention, the scallop shells are coated by soaking the shells in iron oxide or hematite for 4 hours, then by cooking the shells and solution for 4 hours at 200 ° C. The shells should then be washed with distilled water and dried in an oven at 200 ° C for 3 hours.

Contaminated water with a high aluminum and arsenic content was passed through the apparatus comprising two tandem extraction columns. It has been found in practice that the aluminum and arsenic content of the resulting aqueous solution has been reduced by 0 mg / L. Industrial Applicability

The invention provides a system and method for producing weakly suspended solids by filtering a solution through a column comprising shells derived from shredded mollusks. The result of using the above mentioned system and process is a solution that has numerous properties. In particular, this solution can be effectively implemented as a cleanser and disinfectant as well as being effective in treating various skin conditions. Further, the present invention provides an application for industrial waste products, mollusk shells, which are generated in large quantities from the worldwide fishing industries.

Claims (18)

A process for removing suspended solids from a solution comprising repeatedly filtering the solution through a filter / extraction column (10), which houses shredded mollusk shell particles (20,21), wherein the shell particles (20) , 21) are cooked and / or boiled before placement on the filter / extraction column (10). The process according to claim 1, wherein the solution is water. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ground shell particles (20, 21) are boiled at a temperature of about 100 ° C for a period of about 15 min. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shredded mollusk shell particles (20, 21) are cooked at a temperature of about 300 ° C for a period of about 1.5 min A device for removing suspended solids from a solution comprising a filter / extraction column (10); a fluid inlet (11) positioned at one end of the filter / extraction column (10); and a fluid outlet (13) positioned at the other end of the filter / extraction column (10), wherein the filter / extraction column (10) houses crushed shell particles (20, 21). Device according to claim 5, further comprising a first screen (14) detachably connected at one end of the filter / extraction column (10) near the fluid inlet (11) and a second screen (14). ) detachably connected to the opposite end of the filter / extraction column (10) near the fluid outlet (13). Apparatus for removing suspended solids from a solution, comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 5 or 6 connected in an operable arrangement effective for removing suspended solids from a solution. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising two tandem filter / extraction columns (10) wherein the first filter / extraction column (10) houses crushed shell particles (20, 21) and the second filter / extraction column (10) houses shredded shell particles pre-coated with iron oxide or hematite (24). A solution prepared by the process as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4. A solution according to claim 9, wherein the calcium concentration is greater than 14 mg / L. A solution according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the calcium concentration is greater than 20 mg / L. A solution according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the pH of the solution is between 8.0 and 9.7. A solution according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the turbidity of the solution is less than 6 NTU; A solution according to any one of claims 9 to 15, further comprising NaOH in an amount consistent with the effectiveness of said solution. A solution according to claim 14, wherein the ratio of NaOH to solution is 0.4% by weight. A solution according to any one of claims 9 to 13, further comprising a carrier selected from the group consisting of "eucerin" and petroleum gelatinous substance. Use of the solution according to any one of claims 9 to 15 as a cleaner. Use of the solution according to claim 16 for treating skin diseases.