Severn Trent wins patent for removing silica from water treatment adsorption media

Severn Trent Services has received U.S. Patent Number 7,153,434 for its technology related to a method for removing silica from water treatment adsorption media. Severn Trent Services has exclusive rights to this technology. The novel method solves the problem of silica interference of arsenic and other contaminant treatment adsorption media. The silica coating clogs pores and severely limits ability of the media to remove contaminants from the water...

Jan. 2, 2007

2 min read

FORT WASHINGTON, PA, Jan. 2, 2007 -- Severn Trent Services has received U.S. Patent Number 7,153,434 for its technology related to a method for removing silica from water treatment adsorption media. Severn Trent Services has exclusive rights to this technology.

Severn Trent Services' novel method solves the problem of silica interference of arsenic and other contaminant treatment adsorption media. Silica, or silicon dioxide, exists naturally in many groundwater sources. When the groundwater passes through a bed of adsorption media, the silica present in the groundwater is believed to encapsulate the media particles and acts as a barrier to adsorption of other contaminants. The silica coating clogs the pores of the adsorption media and severely limits the ability of the media to remove contaminants from the water.

The intermittent addition to the media bed of a scrub solution composed of NSF-approved products can significantly increase the adsorptive capacity of the bed. The arsenic removal media bed soaks in the scrub solution until silica is removed from the media particles, usually 20 minutes at the beginning of a routine backwash cycle. The scrub solution containing the silica is then removed and the media bed flushed during a normal backwash.

Severn Trent Services (www.severntrentservices.com), based in Fort Washington, Pa., is a leading supplier of water and wastewater treatment solutions. The company's broad range of products and services is concentrated around disinfection, instrumentation, and filtration technologies, contract operating services and state-of-the-art residential metering products and services. Our international management services business provides support in all aspects of water and wastewater utility operational development and business transformation. Severn Trent Services is a member of the Severn Trent Plc group of companies. Severn Trent is a FTSE 100 company.

Also see:
-- "UK tertiary treatment plant to use Severn Trent Services technology: Severn Trent Water's Strongford Sewage Treatment Works to employ TETRA Nitrifying Submerged Aerated Filter technology"
-- "SmartMeter™ Water Meters Receive OIML R49 Approval for Europe"
-- "Equipment Supply Contracts Don't Need to be this Difficult" (WaterWorld)

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