US 12,440,788 B2
Method and apparatus for metal removal from drinking water
William Li, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Frank A. Brigano, Northford, CT (US); Blake E. Savoy, Killingworth, CT (US); and Christopher Thibeault, Wethersfield, CT (US)
Assigned to KX Technologies LLC, West Haven, CT (US)
Filed by KX Technologies LLC, West Haven, CT (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/730,469.
Application 17/730,469 is a continuation of application No. 15/952,672, filed on Apr. 13, 2018, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/509,923, filed on May 23, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0249994 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. B01D 39/16 (2006.01); B01D 39/18 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 39/163 (2013.01) [B01D 39/1623 (2013.01); B01D 39/18 (2013.01); B01D 2239/025 (2013.01); B01D 2239/0407 (2013.01); B01D 2239/0414 (2013.01); B01D 2239/0442 (2013.01); B01D 2239/10 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of removing contaminant materials from contaminated water comprising:
providing a container for receiving ingress water, said container having a first container end and a second container end, said first container end for receiving said ingress water;
providing a single-layer filter sheet comprising a base portion and a top portion separated by a density gradient that includes fibers and active particulates forming said density gradient, said active powders residing throughout an entire thickness of said single-layer filter at different concentrations within said density gradient, said top portion of said single-layer filter sheet having a first density of said density gradient and comprising a higher active particulate load and a lower fiber content than a second density of said density gradient, and said base portion of single-layer filter sheet having said second density comprising packed fiber;
securing said single-layer filter sheet in said container with said top portion of said single-layer filter sheet having said higher active particulate load being positioned adjacent said first container end so that it is a first contact surface for said ingress water;
introducing said ingress water into said container at said first container end and through said single-layer filter sheet whereby said ingress water makes initial contact with said first contact surface at said top portion of said single-layer filter sheet having said higher active particulate load;
said higher active particulate load of said top portion of said single-layer filter sheet capturing and retaining said contaminant materials comprising at least colloidal and insoluble particles present in said ingress water until said colloidal and insoluble particulates become soluble contaminants; and
passing said soluble contaminants from said top portion of said single-layer filter sheet into said base portion of said single-layer filter sheet whereby said packed fibers of said base portion remove said soluble contaminants to render a filtered egress liquid that exits the container at said second container end.