U.S. patent application number 10/754005 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-22 for soap and process for cleaning wash water.
Invention is credited to Wegner, Paul.
Application Number | 20040142834 10/754005 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32718030 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040142834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wegner, Paul |
July 22, 2004 |
Soap and process for cleaning wash water
Abstract
Agents are used as cleaning agents and also as agents to purify
the water in water treatment plants. The agents are a mixture of
phosphates and fatty acid salts. Precipitation agents are used such
as, polyvalent metals. The pH is adjusted. Flocking agents can be
used to increase the rate of separation. The purified water is
removed after precipitation.
Inventors: |
Wegner, Paul; (San Carlos,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BENASUTTI, P.A.
17294 BERMUDA VILLAGE DRIVE
BOCA RATON
FL
33487
US
|
Family ID: |
32718030 |
Appl. No.: |
10/754005 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60438959 |
Jan 9, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
510/141 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 2103/002 20130101;
Y10S 210/912 20130101; C11D 9/02 20130101; C02F 1/66 20130101; C11D
9/14 20130101; Y10S 210/906 20130101; C02F 1/5245 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
510/141 |
International
Class: |
A61K 007/50 |
Claims
1. A soap comprising: phosphate salt; and fatty acid salts, in
combination.
2. The soap of claim 1 wherein the phosphate salt is selected from
the group of cations consisting of: hydrogen; ammonium; lithium;
potassium; and sodium; and the group of anions consisting of:
phosphate; pyrophosphate; and polyphosphate.
3. The soap of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid salt is selected from
the group of anions consisting of: any fatty acid having carbons in
the range of 6 to 36; any aromatic acid having carbons in the range
of 6 to 36; branched chain fatty acid; straight chain fatty acid;
unsaturated fatty acid; polyunsaturated fatty acid; and aromatic
acid; and the group of cations consisting of: potassium; lithium;
sodium; ammonium; and amine.
4. The soap of claim 1 fortified by the addition of an alkaline
metal salt that has a pH greater than 7.
5. A process for treating water comprising: mixing a phosphate
fatty acid salt mixture with the water; mixing a polyvalent metal
precipitation agent with the water mixture; adjusting the pH of the
mixture to be in the range of 4 to 9; and separating purified water
from the resulting precipitant.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein the precipitation agent is
calcium chloride and the pH is adjusted within a pH range of 6 to
9.
7. The process of claim 5 wherein the precipitation agent is
selected from the group of anions consisting of: polyvalent metal
ion; calcium; magnesium; aluminum; and iron.
8. The process of claim 5 wherein the additional step of adding
flocking agents to the mixture before separating the purified water
from the precipitant.
9. The process of claim 5 wherein the step of adjusting the pH
comprises adding acids, bases or salts.
10. A washing and water treatment process comprising the steps of:
washing articles with soap comprising phosphate salt and fatty acid
salts, in combination and water; and then, treating the resulting
soap/water mixture by a process comprising: mixing a polyvalent
metal ion precipitation agent with the soap/water mixture;
adjusting the pH of the mixture to be in the range of 4 to 9; and
separating purified water from the resulting precipitant.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of my prior co-pending
Provisional patent application serial No. 60/438,959, filed Jan. 9,
2003 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as
if fully set forth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a washing soap and a method for
cleaning the resulting wash water.
[0004] 2. Description of the Art
[0005] Many industrial operations involve the cleaning of
machinery, clothing, building areas, and personal. The waste water
generated from these wash operations often contain environmental
toxins such as heavy metals, and organic toxins. Many cleaning
agents make water treatment difficult, especially when
environmental pollutant removal is required.
[0006] It is desirable to have a mild nontoxic cleaning agent that
does an excellent job of cleaning equipment, building areas,
clothing, and personnel. In addition, it is desirable that the same
cleaning agent does an excellent job of cleaning the waste wash
water in the water treatment area. The cleaning agent itself should
place no burden on the environment. The agent should be inexpensive
and be readily available throughout the world.
[0007] Phosphates have been used as cleaning agents for several
years. There have been many attempts to restrict their use because
they stimulate algae growth. However, they are required to sustain
life.
[0008] Fatty acid salts have long been used in the soap industry.
Recently soft soaps that are based on potassium fatty acid salts
have been introduced.
[0009] In earlier patents I have introduced the concept of using
fatty soaps as agents to remove environmental toxins. Some
municipal water treatment plants have used phosphates to reduce the
level of heavy metals in their treated water.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Summary of the Invention
[0010] I accordance with my invention agents are used as cleaning
agents and also as agents to purify the water in water treatment
plants. For example, a lead acid battery manufacturing plant could
replace their existing cleaners with this new double duty cleaning
agent. This approach has the following benefits:
[0011] 1. Superior cleaning power;
[0012] 2. Elimination of cleaning agents (such as detergents and
nonionic surfactants) which make water treatment difficult and
expensive;
[0013] 3. Elimination of environmentally toxic soaps such as
nonionic surfactants which act as estrogen mimics that harm
reproductive health;
[0014] 4. The customer is already paying for soap. Since the new
soap acts as a cleaner and a water treatment agent the overall cost
is less for the customer; and
[0015] 5. By using the soap in all cleaning operations, the
customer does not have to worry about variable water treatment
quality due to the wide variety of cleaning agents used in
industrial applications.
[0016] I have invented a soap comprising phosphate salt and fatty
acid salts, in combination. The phosphate salt is selected from the
group of cations consisting of: hydrogen; ammonium; lithium;
potassium; and sodium; and the group of anions consisting of:
phosphate; pyrophosphate; and polyphosphate.
[0017] The fatty acid salt is selected from the group of anions
consisting of:
[0018] any fatty acid having carbons in the range of 6 to 36;
[0019] any aromatic acid having carbons in the range of 6 to
36;
[0020] branched chain fatty acid;
[0021] straight chain fatty acid;
[0022] unsaturated fatty acid;
[0023] polyunsaturated fatty acid; and
[0024] aromatic acid;
[0025] and the group of cations consisting of:
[0026] potassium;
[0027] lithium;
[0028] sodium;
[0029] ammonium; and
[0030] amine.
[0031] The soap can be fortified by the addition of an alkaline
metal salt that has a pH greater than 7.
[0032] I have also invented a process for treating water
comprising:
[0033] mixing a phosphate fatty acid salt mixture with the
water;
[0034] mixing a polyvalent metal precipitation agent with the water
mixture;
[0035] adjusting the pH of the mixture to be in the range of 4 to
9; and
[0036] separating purified water from precipitant.
[0037] In this process the precipitation agent may be calcium
chloride and the pH may be adjusted within a pH range of 6 to
9.
[0038] In my process the precipitation agent may be selected from
the group of anions consisting of:
[0039] polyvalent metal ion;
[0040] calcium;
[0041] magnesium;
[0042] aluminum; and
[0043] iron.
[0044] In my process there may be an additional step of adding
flocking agents to the mixture before separating the purified water
from precipitant.
[0045] In my process there may be a step of adjusting the pH
comprising adding acids, bases or salts.
[0046] I have also invented a washing and water treatment process
comprising the steps of:
[0047] washing articles with soap comprising phosphate salt and
[0048] fatty acid salts, in combination and water;
[0049] and then, treating the resulting soap/water mixture by a
process comprising:
[0050] mixing a polyvalent metal ion precipitation agent with the
soap/water mixture;
[0051] adjusting the pH of the mixture to be in the range of 4 to
9; and
[0052] separating purified water from the resulting
precipitant.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0053] My invention is a product and a process. In the first step,
I wash an object with a potassium phosphate soap. This can be done,
for example, by putting the potassium phosphate on a towel in the
form of a soap and then washing an object with the towel.
[0054] In the extra-clean version of this invention, I use
potassium fatty acid salts and potassium phosphate.
[0055] Next I rinse the towel and my hands with water. In this
case, both would come clean.
[0056] I collect the dirty wash water.
[0057] Then I add calcium chloride to the dirty water so that all
of the soap and dirt precipitate out, leaving only potassium
chloride and water. This can be collected by decanting it. This is,
in fact, fertilizer.
[0058] Upon initial examination, the properties of cleaners and
water treatment chemicals appear to be exclusive of one another.
Cleaners usually are designed to remove dirt by the promotion of
mixing with or dissolution in water via emulsification, suspension,
complexation, dissolution, and a host of other mechanisms.
Meanwhile, the goal of water treatment is to remove all the dirt
from the water. Therefore, the better the soap the harder it is to
treat the water. Many common soaps require oxidation or bacterial
decomposition to make water treatment even possible.
[0059] The best natural soaps actually make the best water
treatment agents when processed properly. For example, phosphates
emulsify many grease like materials and can soften very hard water.
If one treats the dirty wash water with standard water treatment
chemical salts (such as magnesium, calcium, iron, aluminum salts),
the phosphates are converted to highly water insoluble salts such
as magnesium, calcium, iron, or aluminum phosphates and nontoxic
salts such as sodium sulfate or sodium chloride that have minimal
soap or metal complexing properties. In addition, formation of
these insoluble phosphate salts co-precipitate with many toxic
metals such as lead, cadmium, or mercury.
[0060] I use trisodium phosphate (TSP, a well known cleaner) for
cleaning, followed by precipitation with polyvalent metal salts
such as aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate or calcium sulfate in
the water treatments area. This approach leads to reasonable
cleaning and a reduction of heavy metals in the treated water to
about 80 parts per billion (PPB). However, drinking water standards
require even lower heavy metal levels. The standard for lead is
less than 15 PPB.
[0061] When fatty acid soaps are added to the phosphates both
cleaning and water treatment performance are increased. In the case
of water treatment, lead levels are reduced to less than 1 PPB.
[0062] The use of sodium phosphates and sodium fatty salts have a
few disadvantages.
[0063] 1. Sodium in waste water streams contribute to ground water
sodium ion buildup which is toxic to many agricultural plants;
[0064] 2. Sodium phosphate has inferior cleaning action compared to
ammonium or potassium phosphate;
[0065] 3. Sodium fatty acid salts have inferior cleaning action
compared to ammonium or potassium salts; and
[0066] 4. Sodium fatty acid salts tend to form stiff water gels,
such as bar soap, that are inconvenient to use compared to liquid
ammonium or potassium salt counterparts.
[0067] Potassium salts are preferred over ammonium salts because
they have superior cleaning action, are odorless, and do not
interfere with water treatment quality. (Ammonium ions tend to form
complexes with many metal ions such as copper.)
[0068] Potassium ions are nontoxic to plants. Therefore, much
higher potassium levels can be tolerated in waste water
streams.
[0069] Saturated fatty acid salts are preferred over unsaturated
because the saturated fatty acids are easier to remove from water.
They also are much more stable to oxidation agents such as
bleach.
[0070] Many fatty acid salts are effective. Potassium myristate
(C12 chain) works. Smaller chain fatty acid salts may work, but
have bad odors under acid conditions and have poor cleaning power.
Chain lengths shorter than C8 are not recommended. Fatty acid salts
with chains longer than C18 (stearate) such as behemate (C22) can
work, but require shorter chain fatty acid salts to be
effective.
[0071] The best formulation is a mixture of potassium stearate
(C18) and myristate (C14) with tripotassium phosphate. This mixture
can remove dirty grease from cloth, machinery, and hands, while
being able to remove heavy metals from the water in the water
treatment plant. The formulation is a thick liquid that dissolves
easily in water.
[0072] In the case of laundry, increasing the pH of the wash water
to 10-13 by adding alkalizing agents such as potassium hydroxide or
potassium carbonate, in addition to the above mixture, can improve
cleaning performance. In cases where the clothing is acidic or
salty, it is more economical to pre-rinse the clothing with water;
preferably with deionized water. Pre-rinsing reduces alkalizing
demands and improves cleaning performance by reducing salt loading.
Deionized or distilled water is preferred over softened water
because softened water has elevated salt levels. Other alkalizing
agents such as sodium hydroxide are less preferred, because they
reduce washing performance.
[0073] The cleaning agent removes many kinds of dirt such as a
grease, particulate dirt, and food stains. However, some stains
such as rust and metal oxides are best removed after the initial
cleaning by applying formic, citric, oxalic, lactic, or acetic acid
and many other organic acids. The addition of hydrogen peroxide to
these acids can accelerate the cleaning action. This mixture also
dissolves many metals and metal oxides, such as lead. Formic acid
is preferred because it is easily destroyed with oxidation agents
such as bleach. Formic acid and its salts must be destroyed in the
water treatment area because they interfere with the removal of
metal ions from the water by forming stable complexes.
[0074] Soap Formulation:
1 Material Amount in grams Stearic acid 15 Myristic acid 15
Potassium Hydroxide 10 Tripotassium Phosphate 30-100 (30 is
sufficient in most cases) Water 860-930 Total 1,000 NOTE: Stearic
acid (triple pressed, is a mixture of stearic and palmitic
acid).
[0075] The use of deionized or distilled water improves the
cleaning power of the soap. Softened water is better than hard
water, but less preferred than distilled or deionized water because
it contains salt.
[0076] Water Treatment:
[0077] The waste water generated from the cleaning process is
pooled together and polyvalent metal salts, such as iron sulfate,
are added in sufficient amounts to react with most of the phosphate
and fatty acid salts in the soap to form the corresponding metallic
salts. After mixing thoroughly the pH is adjusted to the range of
6-9 with an alkaline agent such as sodium hydroxide, potassium
hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, ammonia, or calcium hydroxide or an
acid such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, or phosphoric acid. Flocking
agents can be added to accelerate the rate of coagulation. After
the coagulation is complete, the clear water is decanted from the
process tank. One may pass the purified water through a filter such
as a sand, cartridge, or diatomaceous earth filter to insure
complete particle removal.
[0078] Chemical Reaction:
2K.sub.3PO.sub.4+3CaCl.sub.2=6 KCl
(soluble)+Ca.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2 (insoluble)
2K stearate+CaCl.sub.2=2 KCl+Ca (stearate).sub.2 (insoluble)
Preferred Precipitation Agents
[0079] Nontoxic no Environment Burden:
2 Iron Sulfate yields high quality water Magnesium Sulfate Calcium
Sulfate Cheapest and least toxic, but slow processing Aluminum
sulfate (Alum) Aluminum toxic to some plants. If no excess is used
very little aluminum remains in the water.
[0080] Slightly Less Acceptable Chloride Ion is Toxic to Many
Plants at High Levels:
[0081] Calcium chloride
[0082] Aluminum chloride
[0083] Ferric chloride
[0084] Magnesium chloride
[0085] Other agents: oxides, hydroxides, carbonate, bicarbonates of
the polyvalent metal ions (such as iron, calcium, magnesium,
aluminum) maybe used, but may not be quite as effective or may
require supplemental pH adjustment agents.
[0086] Flocking Agents:
[0087] Nalco 7194
[0088] 20 ml of 0.1% for 100 grams of cleaner
[0089] Processing conditions pH 7.5 to 8.5 preferred.
[0090] For good lead and phosphate removal levels
[0091] Nalco Ultimer 1452 is also effective
[0092] NOTE: Calcium chloride at pH=8 yields the lowest lead
levels. Iron salts yield lowest phosphate level.
[0093] This invention comprises an agent which has both excellent
cleaning power and water purification capability.
[0094] The agent also has much better cleaning power than the
typical laundry or hand soap.
[0095] The high phosphate content which is normally considered
damaging because it promotes algae growth, is processed in such a
manner that it becomes the primary cleaning and water purification
component. The treated water has low phosphate content and
therefore does not contribute to algae growth.
[0096] The potassium salts have superior cleaning power over sodium
salts and unlike sodium salts are nontoxic to plants.
[0097] The unique mixture of potassium saturated fatty acid and
phosphate salts yields cleaning power and stability not found in
other commercial cleaners. Fatty acids of longer or shorter chains
have reduced cleaning power.
[0098] The best lead results are obtained using calcium chloride as
a precipitant and adjusting the pH with hydrochloric acid to pH
8.0. Lead levels are reduced to less than 1 PPB with a phosphate
level of 20 PPM. Increasing the pH to 8.5 yields reduces the
phosphate to 1.5 PPM while increasing the lead to 1 PPB. What
follows is a summary and the experimental data.
[0099] The combination of phosphates and fatty acid salts to
produce lead removal levels much lower than phosphate or fatty acid
salts alone could achieve.
[0100] Phosphates alone produce 100 PPB lead, Fatty acids alone
produce 7 PPB lead, The combination produces less that 1 PPB
[0101] The use of phosphate fatty acid salt mixture than can act as
a superior soap and subsequently act as a superior water treatment
agent when polyvalent metal ions are added.
[0102] The phosphates used for the soap include any ammonium or
alkali metal salt of a phosphate, pyrophosphate, or polyphosphate.
The metal ions include lithium, potassium or sodium. Tripotassium
phosphate is the most preferred.
[0103] The scope of alkaline metal or ammonium fatty acid salts
include any saturated fatty acid salt having 8 to 36 carbons. The
fatty acids may be branched or straight chain. The most preferred
are potassium fatty acid mixtures. Small amounts of unsaturated or
polyunsaturated fatty acid salts can be used to stabilized the
soap. Potassium oleate is useful.
[0104] The soap may be fortified by adding an alkaline agent, such
as alkali metal hydroxides and carbonate. The most preferred is
potassium hydroxide.
[0105] The precipitation agent can be any polyvalent metal ion
including calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron. Halogen metal
salts yield the best results such calcium chloride, aluminum
chloride, and ferric chloride.
[0106] The preferred pH adjusting agents are alkaline metals salts
or ammonium salts for increasing the pH, including hydroxides,
carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, polyphosphates,
pyrophosphates, silicates. The most preferred is potassium
hydroxide. Preferred agents for reducing the pH are mineral acids
such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric acid or acid polyvalent
metal salts such as aluminum chloride, ferric chloride, ferric
sulfate, and aluminum sulfate
[0107] The invention can be used an as a water treatment agent
alone or as soap and subsequently used as a water treatment
composition.
[0108] For treating water, the process would be:
[0109] Add the phosphate fatty acid salt mixture to the water and
mix
[0110] Add the polyvalent metal ion precipitation agent to the
water and mix
[0111] Adjust the pH to 8.5 (a pH range 4 to 9 is acceptable)
[0112] Separated purified water from precipitant (decant, filter,
centrifuge or other separation method)
[0113] (Flocking agents can be added to increase the rate of the
separation)
[0114] This process can be used to remove toxic metals from water
such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, copper, zinc, uranium,
nickel, chromium.
[0115] For Acting as a Soap and Water Treatment the Process is:
[0116] Wash articles such as clothing, machinery, or soil with
soap, then use the same process described for treating water.
[0117] Laundry
[0118] Laundry development has proved to be economical and
effective in washing equipment, hands, clothing, and water. The
presence of phosphate and magnesium ions, and adjusting the pH with
sulfuric acid to neutral (7.0) yields lead levels of 90 PPB.
Magnesium sulfate requires the least amount of flocking agent to
produce rapid settling. This part of the composition removes the
majority of the lead from the water. The fatty acids act as a
polishing agent to remove the last 100 PPB. The addition of fatty
acids even short chain C12 Lauric acid produces lead levels of less
than 6 PPB. The best results are produced near pH=7. A pH range of
7 to 9 would be an easy process target and yield good results. The
delicate part of the formulation is the fatty acid composition
requirements to produce clean clothing. A 50/50 blend of potassium
Myristate(C14) and Stearate(C18) salts product the best cleaning
results. Other compositions such C14/C16, C12/C18, C12, C14, C16,
C18 produce unstable mixtures or yield poor cloth cleaning results.
Phosphate and potassium hydroxide content can be varied and still
produced a stable soap with good cleaning ability.
[0119] Sample Soap Formulas that Work
3 Composition of laundry soap per 100 ml (balance is water)
Myristic Stearic Potassium cloth Acid Acid Hydroxide
TripotassiumPhoshate cleaning 1.5 gram 1.5 gram 1 3 excellent 1.5
1.5 1 15 good 1.5 1.5 6 10 OK
[0120] This composition is good in laundry cleaning because is
requires less soap to increase pH. However, the cleaning power is
not as good and it is more corrosive to the skin. It may be
preferred to run water through an ion exchange bed to reduce the
soap demand.
[0121] Sodium salts produce soaps that do not clean quite as well
and place a sodium burden on the land.
[0122] Laundry Soap Results
4 Sample ID K3PO4 Na3KPO4 Kstearate Na laurate MgSO4 AlSO4 pH lead
in PPB A X X 8.7 71 B X X 7.0 90 C X X X 8.5 39 D X X X 7.5 less
than 5 E X X X 8.0 6
[0123] SAMPLE 1(A)
[0124] 0.5 gram lead oxide
[0125] 1 gram tripotassium phosphate
[0126] 500 gram water
[0127] mixing and let settle for 30 minutes
[0128] pH 11.6
[0129] decant
[0130] add 4 grams magnesium sulfate heptahydrate mix pH=8.7 mix 2
gram 7194 0.1% nalco flocking agent mix 2 minute 2 minute settle.
Decant through paper filter (settling in 2 minutes)
[0131] SAMPLE 2(B)
[0132] 0.5 gram lead oxide
[0133] 1 gram tripotassium phosphate
[0134] 500 gram water
[0135] mixing and let settle for 30 minutes
[0136] pH 11.8
[0137] decant
[0138] add 0.5 grams aluminum ammonium sulfate
[0139] 40 grams 0.1% nalco 9174 Nalco
[0140] pH 7
[0141] SAMPLE 3(C)
[0142] 0.5 gram lead oxide
[0143] 1 gram tripotassium phosphate
[0144] 1 gram K stearate
[0145] 500 gram water
[0146] mixing and let settle for 30 minutes
[0147] pH 12.0
[0148] add 10 gram Magnesium Sulfate heptahydrate mix pH 9.6
[0149] adjust with sulfuric acid to 8.5
[0150] 10 grams 0.15% flocking agent 7194 Nalco
[0151] more bulking than sample 1
[0152] SAMPLE 4(D)
[0153] 0.5 gram lead oxide
[0154] 1 gram tripotassium phosphate
[0155] 1 gram K stearate
[0156] 500 gram water
[0157] mixing and let settle for 30 minutes
[0158] pH 12.0
[0159] add 10 gram Magnesium Sulfate heptahydrate mix pH 9.6
[0160] adjust with sulfuric acid to pH 7.5
[0161] 5 grams 0.15% flocking agent7194 nalco
[0162] more bulk than sample 1
[0163] Bulk=Mg PO4 and Mg stearate the rest is soluble in water.
For each gram of lead 3 grams of sediment would result.
[0164] Sodium Stearate Produces a soap that is too stiff in
conjunction with Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
[0165] Not usable
[0166] SAMPLE 5(E)
[0167] 500 ml water
[0168] 1 gram Trisodium Phosphate
[0169] 1 gram Lauric acid (very soluble sodium salt)
[0170] 0.4 gram NaOH
[0171] 0.5 PbO
[0172] very uniform easy to settle out lead
[0173] pH=11.6
[0174] add 4 MgSO4 7 H2O
[0175] adjust pH to 8.0
[0176] easy to filter.
[0177] The laundry soap continues to yield good results. The water
was treated with magnesium sulfate and the pH adjusted to 7. The
lead level increase to 83 PPB therefore pH 7.5 may be preferred.
The phosphorous level was (385 PPM)
[0178] A second sample was treated with iron sulfate and the pH
adjusted to 7 this gave low lead 8 PPB and low phosphorus (1.6
PPM). Iron gave the best results in both cases.
[0179] Low lead levels are best achieved with calcium chloride as
the precipitant and high pH values of 8 to 9 Lead is reduced to
less than 1 PPB in some cases. Iron chloride is the precipitant of
choice, when low phosphate levels of less than 10 PPM are desired
and low lead levels are desired a lower pH value of 6. Iron
requires a lot more flocking agent. Calcium carbonate can be used
in place of calcium chloride if the pH is adjusted with
hydrochloric acid.
[0180] Clothes wash well with 100 ml of soap per load and the pH
adjusted to 9 with potassium carbonate or potassium hydroxide.
Sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate can be used, but washing power
is reduced.
[0181] The soap can be used directly as a hand wash and metal part
degreaser.
[0182] Flocking agent is used at a rate of 5 gram of a 1% solution
of Ultimer 1452 per 100 ml of soap used.
[0183] The phosphate is the main work horse concerning removing the
bulk of the lead, but the fatty acids do the critical role of
removing the last 100 PPB from the water.
[0184] Three water samples were prepared to confirm the role of pH
and iron.
[0185] Water Results:
[0186] The water results the alkaline pH such as 8 are preferred
for minimizing lead and phosphate levels. As pH decreases, the
level of phosphate increases dramatically however the lead level
remains low. Calcium sulfate performs well in reducing lead levels,
but phosphate remains elevated. This occurs because the sulfate ion
competes with the phosphate ion
[0187] The data implies that one could go to pH=9 and have equal or
better results. Lower pH levels such 5 or 4 maybe possible, but
phosphate level would definitely escalate, unless Calcium Chloride
were replaced with Ferric Chloride, Due to the fact that Iron
Phosphate even under acidic conditions has a very low
solubility.
[0188] Soap Formulation:
5 Material Amount in grams Stearic acid 15 Myristic acid 15
Potassium Hydroxide 10 Tripotassium Phosphate 30 Water 930 Total
1,000
[0189] Sample 1 (A) Less than 1 PPB lead 20.1 PPM Phosphate
[0190] 25 ml soap
[0191] 0.5 gram PbO
[0192] 500 ml water
[0193] mix, and then decant water
[0194] Add Calcium chloride solution (0.9 M) 25 grams of 10%
solution. And mix
[0195] Adjust pH with sulfuric acid to pH=8
[0196] Add 10 ml of 0.2% Nalco Ultimer 1452 and mix. Clumping
happens in seconds
[0197] Filter water.
[0198] Sample 2 (B)(10 PPB Lead, 34.7 PPM Phosphate)
[0199] 25 ml soap
[0200] 0.5 gram PbO
[0201] 500 ml water
[0202] mix, and then decant water
[0203] Add Calcium chloride solution (0.9 M) 25 grams of 10%
solution. And mix
[0204] Adjust pH with sulfuric acid to pH=7
[0205] Add 10 ml of 0.2% Nalco Ultimer 1452 and mix. Clumping
happens in seconds
[0206] Filter water.
[0207] Sample 3 (C)(1.7 PPB Lead 593 PPM Phosphate)
[0208] 25 ml soap
[0209] 0.5 gram PbO
[0210] 500 ml water
[0211] mix, and then decant water
[0212] Add Calcium chloride solution (0.9 M) 25 grams of a 10%
solution. And mix
[0213] Adjust pH with sulfuric acid to pH=6
[0214] Add 5 ml of 0.2% Nalco Ultimer 1452 and mix. Clumping
happens in seconds
[0215] Filter water. Lower pH requires less flocking agent. This
filters the fastest and dewaters the easiest
[0216] Sample 4 (D) (1.20 PPB lead, 497 PPM Phosphate)
[0217] 25 ml soap
[0218] 0.5 gram PbO
[0219] 500 ml water
[0220] mix, and then decant water
[0221] Add Calcium Sulfate powder 4 grams. And mix.
[0222] Adjust pH with sulfuric acid to pH=7
[0223] Add 10 ml of 0.2% Nalco Ultimer 1452 and mix. Clumping
happens in seconds
[0224] Filter water.
[0225] Reaction is slower. Water is not completely clear.
[0226] When reviewing all of the water results Iron sulfate appears
to yield good lead results 8 PPB and superior phosphate(1.6 PPM)
results. However, calcium chloride yields the best lead results
(less than 1 PPB) at pH 8.
[0227] In view of these results, it appears that ferric chloride
and pH 8 would yield the best results. Ferric chloride should
produce the lowest lead and phosphate levels over the broadest
range of pH that most municipal water treatment plants accept(pH 5
to 9). In addition, lead phosphate, lead chloride, and iron
phosphate are all highly water insoluble. The potassium chloride
produced yields a common ion effect that makes lead, iron, and
phosphate salts even more water insoluble. The sulfate ion
completes with the phosphate ion which in turn produces higher
phosphate levels.
[0228] Laundry Soap:
[0229] The laundry soap continues to yield good results. The water
was treated with magnesium sulfate and the pH adjusted to 7. The
lead level increased to 83 PPB therefore pH 7.5 may be preferred.
The phosphorous level was (385 PPM)
[0230] A second sample was treated with iron sulfate and the pH
adjusted to 7 this gave low lead 8 PPB and low phosphorus (1.6
PPM). Iron gave the best results in both cases.
[0231] Laundry Soap Results
6 Sample ID K3PO4 Na3KPO4 Kstearate Na laurate MgSO4 AlSO4 pH lead
in PPB A X X 8.7 71 B X X 7.0 90 C X X X 8.5 39 D X X X 7.5 less
than 5 E X X X 8.0 6
[0232] The goal is prove the full range of the new soap.
[0233] Aluminum is implicated in Alzheimers disease best kept to
less than 200 PPB Iron 300 PPB (limit due to staining, and metallic
taste)
[0234] Chloride 250 PPM (limit due to salty taste)
[0235] Calcium no restriction
[0236] Phosphate minimal restriction
[0237] Drinking water requirement is much higher 6.5 to 8.5 Target
is 7 to 8.5, 15 PPB for lead used to be 50 PPB, sewer much less
stringent pH 5 to 10 OK, heading to 6 to 10 to minimize corrosion
problems. Metal level requirements are also much less.
[0238] I prefer to meet drinking water standards because it doesn't
cost anymore to attain these levels. Calcium Chloride achieves
these levels. However, iron chloride keeps phosphate levels low at
acid pH levels
[0239] Experiment Iron chloride sample at pH 5, 7 and 9.
[0240] Calcium Carbonate is worth one test, simply because it is so
cheap and leaves the water so clean. The big question is will it
react with potassium phosphate to form calcium phosphate and
potassium carbonate. Calcium carbonate and lead carbonate are
highly insoluble.
[0241] The more concentrated the soap the better. Shipping costs
can easily dominate the price of a product.
[0242] Sample A
[0243] 25 GRAM SOAP
[0244] 500 ML WATER
[0245] 0.5 GRAM LEAD OXIDE
[0246] Mix and filter
[0247] Add 3 grams calcium carbonate mix
[0248] PH remained at 12, pH adjusted to 9 with hydrochloric acid.
5 grams of 0.2% of Nalco Ultimer1452 added. Water cleared and
settled rapidly. Very little hydrochloric acid was required to
adjust the pH.
[0249] 198 ppm phosphate 1 ppb lead
[0250] Sample B
[0251] 25 GRAM SOAP
[0252] 500 ML WATER
[0253] 0.5 GRAM LEAD OXIDE
[0254] Mix and filter
[0255] It takes very little Ferric Chloride to adjust the pH to 6.
However, it take 50 grams of 0.2% of Nalco Ultimer1452 polymer to
get the iron to fall out. In addition, when just enough ferric
chloride is used to produce pH 9,8,7 or even 6.5 the iron does not
fall out. Therefore, ferric salts are only desirable when large
phosphate knock down at acidic pH (6) is required. The clarity is
not as good as with calcium chloride
[0256] Calcium chloride remains the precipitant of choice. Adjust
pH with Hydrochloric acid 49 ppm phosphate 2 ppb lead
[0257] Sample C
[0258] 25 GRAM SOAP
[0259] 500 ML WATER
[0260] 0.5 GRAM LEAD OXIDE
[0261] Mix and filter
[0262] Add 2.5 grams calcium chloride mix
[0263] PH fell to 8.5 upon the addition of calcium chloride alone.
5 grams of 0.2% of Nalco Ultimer1452 added. Water cleared and
settled.
[0264] 1.5 ppm phosphate 2.5 ppb lead
[0265] Ferric chloride can be used in small amounts to trim
phosphate levels.
[0266] Water Treatment
[0267] Add calcium chloride to match soap input then adjust pH to
8.5 with hydrochloric acid/calcium hydroxide
[0268] Add 5 grams of 0.2% Nalco Ultimer 1452
[0269] Calcium chloride at pH=8.5 yields the best lead 1 PPB and
phosphate 1.5 PPM results
[0270] Ferric chloride yields great lead 2 PPB and moderate
phosphate 49 PPM at pH=6.
[0271] Calcium carbonate at pH=9 yields 1 PPB lead and phosphate of
198 PPM.
* * * * *