초록 ▼

In one aspect the present invention provides purification devices for reducing the amount of contaminants in water, each device includes a water-soluble flocculant disposed within a body defining a multiplicity of pores, wherein the pores have an average diameter in the range of from 1 μm to 2

In one aspect the present invention provides purification devices for reducing the amount of contaminants in water, each device includes a water-soluble flocculant disposed within a body defining a multiplicity of pores, wherein the pores have an average diameter in the range of from 1 μm to 2000 μm. The present invention also provides methods for reducing the amount of contaminants in water.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for reducing the amount of contaminants in water, said method comprising the steps of:(a) at least partially immersing a purification device in running water, wherein(1) the purification device comprises a water-soluble flocculant disposed within a body defining a multiplicity of pores,

1. A method for reducing the amount of contaminants in water, said method comprising the steps of:(a) at least partially immersing a purification device in running water, wherein(1) the purification device comprises a water-soluble flocculant disposed within a body defining a multiplicity of pores, wherein the pores have an average diameter in the range of from 1 μm to 2000 μm, the body comprising a body wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the body wall is divided into segments, and the water-soluble flocculant is disposed within a lumen of each segment;(2) the water comprises a contaminant;(3) the purification device is at least partially immersed in the running water under conditions whereby at least a portion of the flocculant is dissolved in the water and binds to at least some of the contaminant to form water-insoluble complexes; and(b) removing at least some of the water-insoluble complexes from the water. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the water comprising a contaminant has a turbidity of from 50 to 10,000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units before treatment in accordance with the method of claim 1. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the water comprising a contaminant has a turbidity of from 500 to 1000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units before treatment in accordance with the method of claim 1. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the water comprising a contaminant has a starting concentration of the contaminant before treatment of the water in accordance with the method of claim 1, and an ending concentration of the contaminant after treatment of the water in accordance with the method of claim 1, and the value of the ending concentration of the contaminant is less than 75% of the value of the starting concentration of the contaminant. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the value of the ending concentration of the contaminant is less than 50% of the value of the starting concentration of the contaminant. 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the value of the ending concentration of the contaminant is less than 25% of the value of the starting concentration of the contaminant. 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the value of the ending concentration of the contaminant is less than 10% of the value of the starting concentration of the contaminant. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pH of the water comprising a contaminant is from 6.5 to 8.5 before treatment in accordance with the method of claim 1. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the removal of at least some of the water-insoluble complexes is by biofiltration. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the removal of at least some of the water-insoluble complexes is by sand filtration. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the removal of at least some of the water-insoluble complexes is by sedimentation. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the purification device body is flexible. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the purification device body is stretchable. 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the purification device body is stretchable. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the purification device body is made from a woven fabric. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the pores have an average diameter in the range of from 50 μm to 1000 μm. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the pores have an average diameter in the range of from 100 μm to 800 μm. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein the purification device further comprises means for attaching the device to a substrate. 19. The method of claim 1 wherein the flocculant comprises a water-soluble cationic flocculant. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is selected from the group consisting of a chitosan salt, a cationic N-halochitosan, a cationic gum, a cationic starch, and a cationic polyacrylamide. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is a chitosan salt. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt has an average molecular wei ght in the range of from 20,000 Daltons to two million Daltons. 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt has an average molecular weight in the range of from 50,000 Daltons to one million Daltons. 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt has an average molecular weight in the range of from 100,000 Daltons to 900,000 Daltons. 25. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt has a percentage deacetylation in the range of from 50% to 100%. 26. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt has a percentage deacetylation in the range of from 60% to 95%. 27. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt has a percentage deacetylation in the range of from 70% to 90%. 28. The method of claim 21 wherein the chitosan salt is selected from the group consisting of chitosan lactate, chitosan glutamate, chitosan hydrochloride, chitosan succinate, chitosan fumarate, chitosan adipate, chitosan glycolate, chitosan tartrate, chitosan formate, chitosan malate, and chitosan citrate. 29. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is a cationic N-halochitosan. 30. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is a cationic gum. 31. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is a cationic starch. 32. The method of claim 20 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is a cationic polyacrylamide. 33. The method of claim 1 wherein the flocculant consists essentially of a water-soluble cationic flocculant. 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the water-soluble cationic flocculant is selected from the group consisting of a chitosan salt, a cationic N-halochitosan, a cationic gum, a cationic starch, and a cationic polyacrylamide. 35. The method of claim 1 wherein the flocculant comprises a water-soluble anionic flocculant. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the anionic flocculant is selected from the group consisting of an anionic gum, an anionic starch and an anionic polyacrylamide. 37. The method of claim 1 wherein the flocculant comprises a water-soluble cationic flocculant and a water-soluble anionic flocculant. 38. The method of claim 37 wherein:(a) the device body comprises a first half and a second half, and more water-soluble anionic flocculant is disposed within the first half of the body than within the second half of the body; and(b) the purification device is oriented with respect to the running water so that the running water contacts the first half of the body before contacting the second half of the body. 39. The method of claim 37 wherein at least 90% of the water-soluble anionic flocculant is disposed within the first half of the body. 40. The method of claim 37 wherein at least 99% of the water-soluble anionic flocculant is disposed within the first half of the body.