Abstract: A water filtration multi-stage process and apparatus thereof for removing dissolved, colloidal, volatile, suspended and living contaminants from water or wastewater which includes chemical feeding, in-line static mixing, filtration chemical monitoring and optimization, aeration, hydraulic flocculation, grit settling, adsorption, filtration, disinfection, and final water conditioning by converting dissolved solids to insoluble forms by oxidation and chemical precipitation, and then by filtering the insoluble contaminants, adsorbing residual dissolved contaminants, disinfecting the living microorganisms, and applying magnetic or electronic field for conditioning to produce a purified water.

Abstract: A system for treating waste water using a particulate body formed by covering and fixing nitrifying bacteria. In the system, the particulate body is inserted in a nitrifying vessel which including therein an air diffusion device for supplying oxygen to the nitrifying bacteria and a particulate body separation device for preventing the outflow of the particulate body. The nitrifying vessel and the particulate body contained therein are used as a nitrifying vessel unit and one or more such nitrifying vessel units are arranged within a treating tank. Waste water is circulated between the nitrifying vessel and the other portions of the treating tank than the nitrifying vessel by means of the air lift effect of the air diffused from the air diffusion device.

Abstract: An installation for filtering drinking water out of contaminated water, which can be used in many different situations, as it consists of a hydrocyclone, a micro filter unit, a unit for reverse osmosis, a mixed bed ion exchange, a re-salting unit, a unit for ozonization, an activated carbon filter and a unit for chlorinization.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for using the apparatus for removing fat, bacteria, solids and other impurities from water used in food processing so that substantially all the water may be reused includes a tower. The water is passed through a coarse filter to remove large pieces and is then introduced into the tower near the top thereof and flows out the tower near the bottom thereof. A mixture of ozone and air is introduced at the bottom of the tower and bubbled up through the tower, counter to the flow of the water. The ozone and water mixture carries impurities, especially the fat, over the top of the tower as a foam. The foam then flows over the tower into a waste drain. The process and apparatus may be varied to include a second tower unit with an alternative intermediate filter unit between the first tower and second tower unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating living wastewater which purifies water to be treated such as living miscellaneous wastewater in general homes, human waste, urban drains and the like to evaporate and emanate the treated water into the atmosphere.The apparatus comprises a treating vessel for treating wastewater which is water to be treated, a sludge separating sediment layer filled into said treating vessel, a wastewater introducing pipe for introducing wastewater into said treating vessel, and a capillary suction type evaporation and emanation unit for evaporating and emanating the treated water into the atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water purification set comprising a container holding a filtering unit and a chemicals unit, said container comprising two compartments having such dimensions that the filtering unit can be accommodated in one compartment and the chemicals unit can be accommodated in the other compartment, and in which the compartment holding the filtering unit can be closed separately by means of a cover, the cover of the compartment holding the chemicals unit being proportioned so that the said latter cover, in closed condition of the compartment holding the filtering unit, can at least partly also cover the cover of the said latter compartment.

Abstract: The water reclamation and collection unit is designed to process water used for all purposes except, flushing toilets or fixtures used for depositing human waste, to a cleansed and sanitized condition that will allow such water to be used for any purpose within any facility inhabited by people. In addition this unit is designed to collect exterior moisture in any form from the atmosphere and process such moisture converted to water to a chemical state where it is potable for humans or animals. The total unit process is designed to provide sufficient water to allow persons in a facility to not have to use water from a well, public water distribution system or any other type surface water supply.

Abstract: Liquid separator including a liquid-liquid hydrocyclone (10) and a method for enhancing the operation of the liquid-liquid hydrocyclone in which the mixture to be separated is first passed through a mixing and/or residence vessel (90), such as a cross plate interceptor skimmer.

Abstract: An effluent processing arrangement which takes liquid effluent from primary treatment. In a first stage the liquid is filtered. In a second stage the filtrate is treated to neutralize bacterial and other contaminants and then in a third stage is sprayed under pressure into the atmosphere to evaporate it. An air blower can be used to assist evaporation. Provision is made for flocculation of effluent and for backwashing of the filter. The main purpose of the arrangement is for treatment of septic tank effluent.

Abstract: The deionized water purification of this invention is a small compact unit which is inserted between the purified deionized water distribution line in a plant water purification system and the inlet of a point of use apparatus. The small compact modular point of use deionized water purification unit reduces the total organic contaminant loading, the particulate loading, and the ionic contaminants in the purified deionized water from the plant purification system. The purification unit of this invention also includes means for sterilization of the point of use deionized water purification unit and a new technique for preventing damage to the ozone generator used in the sterilization process.

Abstract: A separation system for separating oil and water components of a liquid mixture wherein the oil component is comprised of droplets of a less dense phase in a more dense water phase. The mixture is fed to separation devices including a hydrocyclone for generally reducing the oil in water concentration to less than 500 ppm. The underflow of the hydrocyclone is passed to a downstream flotation device for further separation as by settling, which may be further assisted by liberating gas in the mixture, in the flotation device, to adhere such gas to oil droplets and thereby carry such droplets to the surface of the device. Pressure of fluids leaving the hydrocyclone may be reduced before entering the flotation device. A residence vessel upstream of the hydrocyclone may be provided to precoalese the mixture prior to entering the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A sewage treatment plant for the purification of waste water includes a chamber container (1) divided by partitions (4) into different sections (6, 7, 8) for pretreatment, biological treatment, chemical treatment, intermediate or retreatment of waste water, each section (6, 7, 8) having several chambers (6a through f, 7a through f, 8a through f) separated from one another by dividing walls (4, 5), chambers (6a through f, 7a through f, 8a through f) being linkable, with regard to inflow technique, in any pre-selectable association depending on the quantity and type of waste water to be treated, and at least one installation for removal of deposited treatment sludge in each of the areas for pretreatment, intermediate treatment and retreatment.

Abstract: A sewage treatment plant for use aboard ship comprises a vacuum assisted fresh water flush system delivering sewage to a collection tank. Sewage is collected from the collection tank in batches for treatment. The sewage first enters a settlement tank and is then transferred to an aeration tank. After aeration, treated sewage is then transferred out in batches. The batch processing overcomes the difficulties of operating a continuous flow arrangement on a moving platform where liquid can move back and forth, which presents difficulties in controlling the level of biological activity. A controlled amount of sewage transferred to the aeration tank is diluted with grey water. A sludge storage tank is provided and suspended solids probes are provided in the aeration and settlement tanks such that sludge is automatically withdrawn from these tanks to the storage tank to maintain the level of suspended solids within predetermined limits.

Abstract: A novel apparatus removes hydrophobic oil from solid particulates in oily sludge waste such as waste material from oil refineries, drilling fluids or muds brines, and other chemical wastes which have solid particulates contaminated with oil. The process involves separation of different components of the sludge on the basis of their size, density and physio-chemical differences. Coarse particulates are removed with the use of screening systems such as sieve bends or vibro-sieves. Oil is removed from these coarse particulates with water rinsing. Oil is removed from fine particles by gravity separation, which separates the sludge into high and low density fractions. Froth flotation is used to remove hydrophilic materials from the high density fraction.

Abstract: A closed loop, zero discharge, ozone water purification system is disclosed which allows the user to remove the contaminants from water and store the cleaned water for future use. The system includes a ozone/settling tank having baffles to divide the interior of the tank into several chambers. The baffles extend across the tank's interior and define water passages to allow the water to pass from one chamber to the next. The height of the water passages from the bottom of the tank progressively decreases in a downstream direction. Ozone is injected into the water in each of the chambers through an ozone distribution conduit passing longitudinally through each baffle.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for continuous sedimentation-type separation of solids from liquids of a feed slurry in a thickener-clarifier-type tank operated by overflow removal of clarified liquid and underflow removal of a concentrated underflow slurry by using a flocculant in a zone of intense mechanical agitation provided by a rotatable impeller rotated at tip speeds of between approximately 300 to 600 feet per minute to produce relatively small, bead-like floccules directly above the concentrated underflow slurry.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a closed-loop filter system for continuously removing a metal hydroxide precipitate from an alkali metal hydroxide solution. The filter system comprises a filter having a filter surface and a plurality of small diameter openings in said surface. The alkali metal hydroxide solution is impacted onto said filter surface, metal hydroxide precipitate agglomerating on said surface. The filter surface openings have an average diameter effective for said agglomerating. Means are provided to remove the agglomerated precipitate from said filter surface, and to separate the agglomerated precipitate from the alkali metal hydroxide solution, the agglomerated precipitate having a particle weight to surface area ratio effective for said separation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separator for two liquids which are not miscible, consisting of a cylindrical casing (1) in which there are active capacities (9, 10) and passive capacities (8, 35), the passive capacities (8, 35) being disposed at each of the ends of the direction of circulation (FF) of the liquid in the cylinder and serving either as a tranquilizing zone or as a decantation zone or as a buffer zone, at least two active capacities (9, 10) being connected by a common skimmer disposed in the center of the cylindrical casing (1), the active capacities (9, 10) being disposed between the passive capacities (8, 35) and being provided with a rotor-stator assembly (13, 14) adapted to carry out separation by induced air.

Abstract: An activated-sludge sewage treatment plant employs a hybrid aeration chamber comprising a primary, complete-mix section to which sewage influent and recycle sludge are introduced and treated by aeration and mixing sufficient to provide an effluent having biological oxygen demand in the range of approximately 15 to 75 parts per million, and a secondary hydraulic plug-flow section which receives the effluent. In the secondary section the effluent is treated by incrementally introducing air thereto as the same flows through the secondary section to progressively reduce the biological oxygen demand and thereby provide a final, treated effluent having a biological oxygen demand of approximately 5 parts per million.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing heavy metals, dissolved aluminum, sulfides and organic compounds from a caustic etch solution, thereby regenerating the etching power of the solution or facilitating its disposal into the environment. The process consists of forming a first filtrate from which heavy metals present in the solution have been removed, and a second filtrate obtained by precipitating and oxidizing residual chemicals remaining in the first filtrate. The latter is done over a selected pH and temperature range. The second filtrate is then either reclaimed back to the etching tank, or subjected to ozonization prior to disposing of it into the environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for aerobic biological purification of pollutant-containing water, which installation consists of an axial-flow submerged reactor and a sedimentation tank for separation of the biosludge from the purified water. The reactor is a pipe containing a two-stage activated-sludge chamber, which pipe contains (a) a first activated-sludge stage in which a driving-jet nozzle is disposed at the downstream end for the dispersion of the air and the microorganisms in the waste water to be purified, and (b) a second activated-sludge stage in which internals are disposed for homogeneous dispersion of the gas bubbles and the microorganisms as well as for immobilization thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and apparatus for separating oil water and solids from emulsions. More particularly, the present invention provides a process and apparatus for continuously separating oil, water and solids from stable mixtures thereof, comprising heating the mixture to at least about 115.degree. C., rapidly cooling the mixture to below 100.degree. C., separating the solids from the liquids and separating the water from the oil. Preferably, the invention also includes the step of adding a flocculant prior to cooling the mixture.

Abstract: The method for the deoxidation of chlorinated water, more particularly sea water, by means of a low oxygen content stripping gas, comprises a closed circuit in which a liquid absorbent circulates. For dechlorination, the liquid absorbent is brought into contact in an absorption column with the stripping gas charged with oxygen and chlorine. The absorbent is of a nature not to absorb at least one of the components comprising carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrocarbons, and is fed to the absorption column by a pump from a reservoir in the circuit.

Abstract: A flushing water-circulation type flush system to purify living water or sewage into clean water. Water discharged from a toilet is directed successively to a filter bed unit having filter material therein, to an aeration unit, to a settling unit where solids are settled out, to a pH regulation unit containing an adsorber column having activated carbon therein, the pH unit also containing a source of calcium carbonate, with the adsorber extending therethrough. Outflow from the adsorber is passed through a sterilizer unit to a flushing water unit which serves as a source for supplying flushing water to a water reservoir for the toilet.

Abstract: A system for the environmentally-safe, unified treatment of a wastewater effluent is disclosed in which there is provided:a primary treatment component comprising at least one means for the removal of solids,a secondary treatment component comprising at least one filtration field adapted for the secondary and advanced treatment of a wastewater effluent, and means to capture and convey effluent;an advanced treatment component adapted to provide further advanced treatment of a wastewater effluent comprisingat least one effluent accumulation means;at least one dosate storage and dosing means associated with each such effluent accumulation means; andat least one holding means capable of holding the dosed effluent in an anoxic condition;said advanced treatment component being adapted to accumulate, dose and hold the effluent for treatment in an anoxic condition; anda polishing component comprising at least one infiltration field to discharge effluent.

Abstract: An automated, non-polluting process and apparatus for mechanically dewatering and heat drying liquid sewage sludge of widely varying solids content to form a pelletizable, dried sludge of predetermined uniform solids content without requiring recycling of previously heat processed sludge. Prior to being dried, the sludge is mixed with flocculation and coagulation promoting chemicals and is dewatered in a belt-type press. Drying takes place within an indirect heat dryer including an enclosed housing for capturing all gases and particles entrained in the gas driven off during the drying process. The gases and particles are advanced by means of a fan first through a cyclone separator for removing dust particles and next through a water jet scrubber prior to being exhausted or burned in order to control odor. The dust removed by the cyclone separator is recombined with the output from the indirect dryer prior to being pelletized.

Abstract: In the improved system and method of the present invention, a batch of contaminated oil is deposited into a tank, with the oil preferably being passed through a filter during the depositing step to assist in removal of solids. Once the contaminated coolant has been deposited into the tank, the oil is agitated by injecting several streams of air into the bottom of the tank. This creates several bubble streams which pass upwardly through the coolant toward the surface and, during this passage, agitate the coolant and effect separation of the oil so that it rapidly rises to the coolant surface. The bubble streams are created by different sized orifice member whereby the bubbles of one stream are smaller than the bubbles in another stream.

Abstract: Water supply in aircraft for on-board use in conjunction with water outlets in lavatories and a galley, includes a waste water tank connected to at least some of the waste discharge outlets on board of the aircraft; a water purifying plant connected to and receiving water from the waste water tank; and a fresh water tank having outlet means, connected at least to some of the water outlets, and having an inlet connected to said water purification plant, for receiving therefrom purified waste water; an additional tank for drinking water may be provided as well as a separate supply line therefrom leading to drinking water outlets on board of the aircraft.

Abstract: Discloses apparatus for separating the solids from a liquid of a sludge or slurry which includes a slurry source, a slurry container receiving slurry from the source and a filter cage removably mounted inside the container. The filter cage includes a cage frame, a supported screen liner mounted within the cage and a filter liner removably fitted inside the liner. The container has a liquid drainage conduit removably connected to a suction device for removing liquid from the drainage chamber. The container is constructed and adapted to be picked up, carried about, and tilted to remove solid material deposited within the filter cage. The filter cage is constructed and adapted to be hoisted up out of the container and separately moved about and tilted to remove solids deposited within the filter cage. A liquid injection apparatus may be provided for injecting a selected amount of a flocculating agent into the slurry received into the container to cause flocculation of solid particles in the slurry.

Abstract: Heavy oil production results in oily sand waste products, the disposal of which presents a problem. Since the oily sand causes rapid wear on heavy oil treatment equipment, it is important to deal with the problem early in the treatment process. For this reason recovery of the bulk of the sand is effected at the so-called free water knockout, which is a tank operating at atmospheric pressure for removing free water and sand from the heavy oil. Sand drops to the bottom of the tank. Oil separates from the water, rises to the top of the tank and overflows to the next piece of treatment equipment. Water is siphoned from the bottom of the tank and fed to a water disposal plant. The apparatus described herein includes a pump for feeding a sand slurry from the bottom of the tank to hydrocyclones, dewatering screens to which fresh water is added to clean the sand and remove additional moisture therefrom, and a hopper for receiving the clean sand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a plant for separating low density material, in particular plastics, in particular with a density of less than 1, from substrate mixtures, preferably from waste material fractions or presorted garbage fractions optionally containing essential portions of plastics or optionally presorted to paper/plastics fractions, wherein a gravity separation, in particular a sink-float separation, is carried out and the low density material phase, in particular polyolefin plastics, is withdrawn and optionally further processed as a separate fraction after drying.According to the invention, the separating effect and the cleaning of the low density material phase withdrawn are increased by carrying out at least one centrifugal separation, preferably in a hydrocyclone, in addition to at least one gravity separation, preferably in a sink-float basin.

Abstract: A water purifying apparatus includes a water line extending from a source to a nozzle and having a filter, a sanitizing element and a venturi in the line. An ozone generator is connected to the venturi to supply ozonated air to the water flowing through the line. The ozone sanitizes the nozzle as water is discharged into a bottle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the removal or reduction of inorganic contaminants, hardness, radionuclides, organic contaminants, odor, turbidity, discoloration, and objectionable taste from water, subjects the water to lime-phosphate softening, aeration, sedimentation, filtration and ion exchange in an automatic cycle especially suited for home and small commercial usage. The raw water, such as well water, is first subjected to a cold lime softening and aeration treatment, then to a phosphate treatment followed by settling and filtering. The thus treated water is supplied to a pressurized tank feeding a conventional ion exchange water softening unit as the water is tapped for use. No heat input is needed but the treated water can be heated as desired for use. An electrical control system regulates the water and chemicals input agitation, aeration, the time of chemical treatment in successive stages and the maintenance of a desired head pressure for the treated water.

Abstract: A system for removing dissolved and undissolved oil from contaminated water which recycles and reclaims absorbing fluid. An absorbing fluid (CCl.sub.2 FCClF.sub.2) is used in a wet-spiral mixer-absorber-contactor to absorb oil contaminants in produced-water. A downflow spreader system in a processing separator separates the heavier oil absorbing fluid from the oil-decontaminated water. Unspent absorbing fluid is recycled to the absorber-contactor and the decontaminated water is released into the surrounding environment. Spent absorbing fluid is reclaimed in a distillation treatment unit where the oil is used as fuel oil or stored. The absorbing fluid's vapors are drawn off under vacuum from the distillation unit by jet eductor pump, mixed and condensed with the decontaminated water which drives the jet pump, and then redirected into the system for reuse.

Abstract: A compact portable wastewater treatment apparatus for treating oil contaminated waste water having a support structure with a containment tank on said support structure for receiving waste water. A mixing means on the support structure is also provided for mixing the waste water with a desired amount of materials to form a flocculent with the oil of the oil contaminated waste water. Furthermore, filters are included on the support structure for filtering the flocculent from the waste water with a pump structure for transporting the waste water within the system.

Abstract: A system of continuously and efficiently separating liquid from sludge is disclosed which includes two parts, the mixer conditioner and the rotary drain. The two parts are virtually always used together. The mixer conditioner may include an adjacent vertical receiver which may serve to extend residence time. The receiver, if used, is connected at the bottom to the tangential inlet line to the mixer conditioner. This inlet line provides the means for circulation therethrough the watery sludge to which has been added a flocculant in a gentle manner so as to cause mixing while not causing shearing. A slow moving horizontal impeller operates to maintain the spiraling motion initiated at the tangential inlet. The outlet, also tangential, delivers to the rotary drain. The rotary drain is a compartmentalized cage that is decreasingly baffled from compartment to compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously separating intermixed solids and liquids from industrial waste. The device includes an elongated conduit having an inlet and outlet and where the interior of the conduit forms a mixing chamber. The industrial waste is pumped into the inlet of the mixing chamber and a polyelectrolyte compound is introduced into the mixing chamber at at least two spaced locations along the conduit. The outlet of the conduit is then passed across both a stationary screen and then into a rotating drum separator, which, together, remove the water from the waste material.

Abstract: In the method of treating high-concentration organic waste water in dependence upon microorganism, waste water is first anaerobically treated in an anaerobic operation tank in dependence upon anaerobic bacteria groups and methane bacteria groups; in the second step, the waste water is further aerobically treated repeatedly in an aerobic operation tank, and an organic substance as hydrogen donor (raw waste water) is supplied to the aerobic operation tank before the succeeding aerobic treatment; in the third step, ozone treatment is effected to decolor the treated water. Two speed bacteria culture tanks for sludge bacteria and methane bacteria are provided separately to supply bacteria to the anaerobic operation tank for providing further reliable decomposition and denitrification of organic substance into methane and nitrogen gasses.

Abstract: A method of treating and progressively densifying liquid waste. It comprises thoroughly mixing and aerating by a continuous mixer and/or aerating raw water and chemical treating materials, discharging the resulting mixture downwardly into a reaction compartment, thence drawing the resulting material upwardly by means of an impeller and gravity flow, then allowing a portion of the resulting denser sludge to descend downwardly by gravity into a floc tunnel, thence in a horizontal portion, further densifying and separating takes place. The remaining portion is directed horizontally against inclined, closely spaced parallel plates to clear the resulting fines mixture. Thereafter, there is still further densifying of the sludge. By this method, a very dense sludge is obtained in a relatively small space.

Abstract: The present invention represents an automatic produce hydration system of improved efficiency and design. The system is self-contained, and adaptable for use in both pre-existing and new produce display racks. The system first includes a filter unit designed to remove foreign particulate materials from incoming water. In fluid communication with the filter unit is an automatic filter cleaning system for ejecting collected foreign particulate materials from the system at selected time intervals. After filtration, the water is introduced into a pressurization system. Once the pressure has been increased, pressurized water is delivered through an external water delivery line having a plurality of spray heads associated therewith. The spray heads have restriction means therein to ensure that a fine mist-like spray is delivered to the produce materials.

Abstract: An oxidative evaporation process for treating waste water or other aqueous solutions containing organics or reduced forms of inorganics is described. The process relies upon excessive amounts of pressurized oxygen gas to both oxidize the solution and to increase the solution's evaporation rate. The oxidized liquid effluent from a reactor undergoes a series of flashing steps until a saturated solution is produced which readily crystallizes upon cooling.

Abstract: A complete filter system mounted on a support platform that can be supported on a flat bed truck and transported over a highway including a vacuum receiver having a plurality of flat wall portions so that each cross-sectional configuration thereof is generally rectangular in shape.

Abstract: The apparatus provides for a housing mountable on a trailer for conducting the process in-situ. A pump withdraws substantially all hydrocarbon-contaminated matter from the oil waste pit and delivers it into a lower chamber formed in the housing, wherein the hydrocarbon-contaminated matter is separated from the heavy solid particles and heavy salt water. The hydrocarbon-containing mixture, after being separated in the lower housing is delivered into the upper chamber formed in the housing and heated to facilitate separation, by gravity, of hydrocarbons, water and fine particles into various layers for subsequent withdrawal from the housing. The process of withdrawal of the hydrocarbon-contaminated mixture continues until hydrocarbon content of the oil waste pit is reduced to such degree that the waste pit becomes substantially hydrocarbon-free and is environmentally safe.

Abstract: A system (10) is provided for treating wastewater discharged from airplane manufacturing operations. The system (10) includes a variety of sequential chemical adjustments to the waste stream which can remove substantially all toxic organics and heavy metals therefrom.

Abstract: Process for recovering nitrate from surface and ground water, in particular drinking water, by means of biological denitrification, in which the nitrates contained in the water are reduced to gaseous nitrogen in a reactor by means of a biocatalyst having immobilized cells trapped in a gel or polymer. The "micrococcus denitrificans" that is preferably used requires for its metabolism added hydrogen and carbon that is present in the water in the form of dissolved carbon dioxide. Using a biocatalyst of immobilized cells and of the bacterial strain used, expensive after-purification is unnecessary because of increased bacterial count in the pure water outlet, and no undesirable by-products are formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtration apparatus composed of: a container comprising a central well and a number of radial individual chambers, each of said chambers comprising: a filtration bed placed on a plate, said plate defining with the bottom of the container an evacuation chamber; an open gullet admitting the water, and an aperture situated towards the top end of the well and connecting said chamber with said well, each well being equipped at its base with a discharge pipe and said container comprising at its base a discharge pipe for the pure water.

Abstract: A water degreaser system which recycles and reclaims absorbing fluid. Freon absorbing fluid is used in a wet spiral absorber-contactor to absorb oil contaminants in produced-water. A downflow spreader system in a processing separator separates the heavier freon from the decontaminated water. Unspent freon is recycled to the absorber-contactor and the clean water is released into the surrounding environment. Spent freon is reclaimed in a distillation treatment unit where the oil is drained off and stored. The freon vapors are drawn off under vacuum from the distillation unit by a jet pump, mixed and condensed with the decontaminated water which drives the jet pump, and then redirected into the system for reuse.

Abstract: A cloudy liquid to be clarified is inserted, after twice receiving flocculation additive, into the bottom of a belt of sludge (4a) in a clarification chamber (4) via a plurality of injectors (22) distributed over the area of said chamber. Uniform distribution of overall flow between these injectors is ensured by internal head loss. The clarified liquid is removed via an upper overflow (4b). Each injector is constituted by a flat cyclone and forms a jet which is highly diverting from its vertical axis in such a manner that the injected flowrate spreads out over an expansion zone belonging to said injector and meeting the expansion zones of adjacent injectors. Further, these jets set up swirling motion which prevents the formation of a layer of sludge having insufficient permeability. The sludge formed in the chamber (4) is directed via a central well (7) towards a secondary clarification stage (3) situated beneath said chamber and supplying both clarified liquid and dense sludge.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating emulsions and industrial waste waters includes a reaction container in which the fluid to be treated is treated with a chemical mixture and a settling container in contact with the same in which the settling precipitate separates and settles from the fluid. Devices for discharging the precipitate from the container and devices for dividing the chemical mixture among the fluids to be treated are also provided.

Abstract: A system for dissolution-purification of Zn-containing materials which comprises a dissolving means for dissolving the Zn-containing materials and an ion-exchanging means for separating heavy metal ions included in the solution resulting from the dissolving means. In these means, the liquid or slurry to be treated is subjected to the dissolution and ion-exchanging operation countercurrently and the treatment residue including impurities is separated from the liquid or slurry to be treated so as not to contaminate the liquid or slurry with impurities and to improve the solubility.