Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
~ ~ ~7~779
Background of the' Inv _ ion
This invention pertains to an improvement in a
cartridge ~or removal of impurities from water~ The improve-
ment employs ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of
bacteria from water, in a cartridge. This invention also per-
tains to a process for preparatîon of the cartridge for use.
'It is known for various adsorbing, absorbing, and
filtering media including activated carbon and ion exchange
resins of varlous types for removal of impurities from water
to be packaged in disposable cartridges of a type comprising
an elongated tube, water-permeable barriers disposed across
each end of the elongated tube, a sealed cap ha~ing an inlet
for water at one end of the elongated tube, and a sealed cap
having an outlet for water at the other end The inlet and
the outlet are sealed, in shipment and storage, by removable
seals. The elongated tube is charged between the respective
'barriers with a selected medium. Various cartridges, which
are distinguished by their contents of various media, are
available commercially from Illinois Water Treatment Company,
Rockford, Illinois 61105, under its trademark IWT, and are
described in Eulletin DX-1079 of Illinois Water Treatment
Company.
As described in U. S. Patent No, 4,199,449, it is
known for large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary
ammonium, anion exchange resins in various forms includin~
chloride, sulfate, and hyd~oxide forms to be used to remove
bacteria o~ various gram positive and gram negative types in-
cluding 'E', coli, S~; f'aecal'is, and Ps, aeruginosa from water,
which is to be used in manufacture of pharmaceuticals, in
manufacture of cosmetics, and otherwise, Such resins are
available commercially from Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19105, under its trademark AMBERG~RD, and are
described in Bulletin lE-246 (June, 1978) of Rohm and Haas
Company, and in F. L. Slejko and C. R. Costin, "Upgrading the
Microbiological Quality of Process Deionized Water by Ion Ex-
change Filtration", an updated paper ( _ ca 1979) distributed
by Rohm and Haas Company.
Before it is used, such a resin is pretreated with an
aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, which places the resin
in proper ionic form, and which may sterilize the resin. How-
- 2 - ~ l
~'72779
-- 3 --
ever, the resin may become recontaminated with bacteria in
storage, in handling of the resin, or otherwise.
A column of such a resin tends to become loaded with
bacteria progressively from its inlet to its outlet. Bacteria
loading a column of such a resin near its outlet tend to be
washed out with water leaving the column. As bacteria from air-
borne and other sources tend to be found throughout a column of
such a resin unless aseptic conditions are maintained, it is
known for a column of such a resin to be prepared by percolation
of an aqueous solution of a suitable bactericide, as exemplified
by sodium hypochlorite, through the column so as to kill bacteria
found throughout the column, whereupon the aqueous solution must
be rinsed from the column so as to eliminate residual
contamination by the aqueous solution.
Additionally, it is known for large-pore macroreticular and
other types of ion exchange resins to contain microbiocides,
which may contain halogens, and which are bound either
chemically or physically to the resins. Pertinent references
include U.S. Patent No. 4,076,622, which deals with large-pore
macroreticular ion exchange resins, and U.S. Patent No. 4,190,529,
U.S. Patent No. 4,187,183, U.S. Patent No. 3,817,860, and U.S.
Patent No. 3,316,173, which deal with various other ion exchange
resins. As mentioned hereinbefore, U.S. Patent No. 4,199,449
also is pertinent here.
Also, it is known fora soluble bactericide, which may
contain chlorine, to be used in various apparatus for purification
of water for drinking, swimming, etc. Typically, such apparatus
yield -water containing some dissolved bactericide. Exemplary
references include U.S. Patent No. 4,152,262, U.S. Patent No.
4,151,092, U.S. Patent No. 4,115,270, and U.S. Patent No.
2,792,942.
In a co-pending Canadian patent application no. 400,602
filed April 7, 1982 in the name Terry R. Dillman, assigned
commonly herewith, and entitled BACTERIA-REMOVING CARTRIDGE AND
PREPARATORY PROCESS, it has been disclosed that, in a cartridge
of the type noted hereinabove, the elongated tube is charged,
between the respective barriers, with such a resin capable of
removal of bacteria from water and that the inlet cap is charged
with water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable
form which is separated from the resin by one such barrier
-~ ~a~7~77~
unless the bactericide permeates the first barrier in a solu-
tion, an~ which may be sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid,
3 33C12Na,
As disclosed in the aforesaid application, the inlet
is connected to a source of water, the bactericide is dissolved
in water from the source, which thus enters the cartridge from
the source through the inlet, so as to enable the bactericide
to permeate the aforesaid barrier, percolate through the resin,
permeate the other barrier, and leave the cartridge through the
outlet, in aqueous solution. ~lso, water leaving the cartridge
through the outlet is recovered and monitored, for positive
indications of the bactericide in aqueous solution, until such
indications cease to be found, The bactericide kills bacteria
not only in the resin but also in the outlet cap and the
fittings connected to the outlet cap,
This invention addresses potential risks of bacterial
contamination of the outlet cap and the fittings connected to
the outlet cap.
Summary of the Invention
This invention pertains to an improvement in a car-
tridge for removal of impurities from water, of a type com-
prising an elongated tube, a first barrier, which is permeable
to water, and which is disposed across a first end of the
elongated tube, a second barrier, which is permeable to water,
and which is disposed across a second end of the elongated
tube, a first cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the
elongated tube at its first end so as to enclose the first
barrier, and which is closed except for an inlet for water,
and a second cap, which has a cylindrical wall sealed to the
3Q elongated tube at its second end so as to enclose the second
barrier, and which is closed except for an outlet for water.
The improvement contemplates tha~ the elongated tube
is charged, between the first barrier and the second barrier,
with ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of bac-
teria from water, The improvement also contemplates that the
second cap is charged with wa-ter-soluble bactericide in a
shelf-stable, water-activatable form, which is separated from
the resin by the second barrier,
This invention also pertains to a process comprising
a step of providing a cartridge of the type admitting the
-- 4 --
:~7277'~
improvement discussed hereinbefore, wherein the elongated tube
is charged, between the first barrier and the second barrier,
with the resin and wherein the second cap is charged with
water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable
form, which is separated from the resin by the second barrier.
The process also comprises a step of connectîng the
inlet to a source of water, which thus enters the cartridge
from the source through the inlet, percolates through the resin,
and permeates the second barrier so as to dissolve the bacteri-
cide, which leaves the cartridge through the outlet, in aqueoussolution, a step of recovering water leaving the cartridge
through the outlet, and a step of monitoring water being re-
covered, for positive indications of the bactericide in aqueous
solution, until such indications cease to be found.
Advantageously, the source may be a source of water
from which bacteria are to be removed~ as bacteria carried in
water from the source is removed by the resin, so as to avoid
any need for another source of water :Eor the aqueous solution.
Common considerations apply to the improvement de-
scribed hereinbefore and to the process described hereinbefore.The improvement enables the process to be practiced. The
second cap of the cartridge may be charged with the bactericide
in a granular form, which is preferred so as to facilitate
dosage, or in a caked form. Preferab:l.y, the bactericide con-
tains chlorine, which in aqueous solution may be monitored
easily by standard tests. Preferably, sodium salt of dichloro-
isocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12~a, is used as the bactericide. As
available in a technical grade, such salt is granular. The
resin may be a large-pore macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary
ammonium, anion exchange resin, whereupon the second cap may
be charged with not less than approximately two grams of
sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid as the bactericide
in a granular form, by dry weight~
It has been found that, unless such a resin has been
e~posed to high levels of bacterial contamination after the
resin has been pretreated with a aqueous solution of hydro-
chloric acid, it ordinarily is not necessary for the resin to
be treated again with a bactericide after the cartridge has
been charged with the resin and before the cartridge is used,
as such a resin, does not tend to slough bacterîa at low
levels of bacterial contamination.
~7~7~
Brie~ Description o~ ;the Draw~n~s
Figure 1 is a front, perspective view of a cartridge
embodying the improvement described hereinbefore, as mounted
in a bracket, which may be mounted to a wall, Figure 1 also
shows fittings and conduits.
Figure 2 is an axial, sectional view of the cartridge
of Figure 1, as taken along line 2--2 in a direction indicated
by arrows, wherein the cartridge contains a bactericide in a
granular form. As shown in Figure 2, an inlet of the cartridge
and an outle~ of the cartridge are sealed by removable seals,
which are attached in shipment and storage, and which have been
removed in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar, fragmentary view of one end of
a cartridge of similar construction containing a bactericide in
a caked form.
Detailed Desc-ription of_Preferred_Embodiment
As shown in Figure 1, a cartridge 10 for removal of
bacteria from water is mounted in a bracket 12, which may be
mounted to a wall, The cartridge 10 has a vertical orienta-
tion, which is conventional for prior cartridges for removalof impurities from water, but which is not essential.
As shown in Figure 2, the cartridge lO comprises an
elongated tube 20, which may be ma~e of transparent, pressure-
resistant, rigid polycarbonate, as available from General
Electric Company, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06602, under its
trademark LEXAN, so as to allow visual inspection of its con-
tents. Also, the cartridge 10 comprises a first barrier 22,
which is permeable to water, which is disposed across a ~irst
end 24 of the elongated tube 20, and which may be a rigid disc
o~ porous, high-density polyethylene, as available from Glasrock
Plastics Group, Industrial Products Division, Fairburn, Georgia
30213. Also, the cartridge 10 comprises a second barrier 26,
which is permeable to water, which is disposed across a second
end 28 of the elongated tube 20, and which may be a similar
disc.
As shown in Figure 2, the cartridge 10 comprises a
first cap 30, which has a cylindrical wall 32. The cylindrical
wall 32 has an inner step 34, which accommodates the first
barrier 22, and an inner step 36, which accommodates the elon-
4Q gated tube 20 at its first end 24, Before the cartridge 10 is
277~
charged with resin and bactericide through the first end 24 of
the elongated tube 20! the cylindrical wall 32 is welded ultra-
sonically to the elongated tube 20 so as to seal the first cap
30 to the elongated tube 20 at its first end 24. The first
cap 30, which has an inlet 38 for water, encloses the first
barrier 22 and closes the first end 24 of the elongated tube
20 except for the inlet 38. Also, the cartridge 10 comprises
a second cap 40, which has a cylindrical wall 42. The cylin-
drical wall 42 has an inner step 44, which accommodates the
second barrier 26, and an inner step 46, which accommodates the
elongated tube 20 at its second end 28. After the cartridge 10
has been charged with resin and bactericide through the first
end 24 of the elongated tube 20, the cylindrical wall 42 is
welded ultrasonically to the elongated tube 20 so as to seal
the second cap 40 to the elongated tube 20 at its second end
28. The second cap 40, which has an outlet 48 for water,
encloses the second barrier 26 and closes the second end 28 of
the elongated tube 20 except for the outlet 48~
As shown in Figure 2, the first cap 30 has an exter-
nal, conical boss 50, through which the inlet 38 extends, and
a removable seal 52 is fitted onto the boss 50 so as to seal
the inlet 38. Also, the second cap 40 has an external,
conical boss 54 through which the outlet 48 extends, and a
removable seal 56 is fitted onto the boss 54 so as to seal the
outlet 48. The removable seal 52 and the removable seal 56
may be made of any suitable, elastomeric material, as exempli-
fied by neoprene, The removable seal 52 and the removable seal
56 protect contents of the cartridge 10 against dehydration and
contamination in shipment and storage, and are removed before
the cartridge 10 is mounted in the bracket 12.
As shown in Figure 1, the boss 50 on the first cap 30
fits into upper fittings 60 on the bracket 12, and the boss 54
fits into lower fittings 62 on the bracket 12. The fittings 60
are connected, via a manual valve 64, to a conduit 66, which is
adapted to be connected to a source (which is indicated dia-
grammatically in Figure 1) of water from which bacteria are to
be removed, under pressure not to exceed approxima~ely 100 psig.
The fittings 62 are connected to a conduit 68, which is adapted
to be connected to a rece.iver (not shown) for water.
Precise details of the bracket 12, the fittings 60,
the fittings 62, the valve 64, the conduit 66, and the conduit
-- 7 --
.~7277~
68 are inessential to comprehension of this invention~ As
described so far, the cartridge 10, the bracket 12 ? the fit-
tings 60, the fittings 62, the ~alve 64, the conduît 66 ? and
the conduit 68 are similar to prior products sold by Illinois
Water Treatment Company for removal of impurities other than
bacteria from water~
Pursuant to this invention, ~he elongated tube 20 is
charged, between the first barrier 22 and the second barrier 26,
with ion exchange resin 80 of a type capable of removal of
bacteria from water, As shown in Figure 2, a bead form of the
resin 80 is used. Preferably, the resin 80 is a large-pore
macroreticular, Type 1, quaternary ammonium, anion exchange
resin in chloride, sulfate, or hydroxide form, as discussed
hereinbefore.
Pursuant to the in~ention, the second cap 40 is
charged with water-soluble bactericide 90 in a shel~-stable,
water-activatable form, which is separated from the resin 80
by the second barrier 26, Preferably, the bactericide 90 is
sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na, which
contains chlorine, as chlorine in aqueous solution may be
monitored easily by standard tests. As available in a tech-
nical grade, such salt is granular.
The second cap 40 may be charged with approximately
two grams of sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid,
C3N3O3C12Na, as the bactericide 90 in a granular form, by dry
weight.
After the valve 64 has been opened, water from the
source enters into the cartridge 10 through the conduit 66,
through the fittings 60, and through the inlet 38, permeates
the first barrier 22, percolates through the resin 80, and
permeates the second barrier 26 so as to dissolve the bacteri-
cide in the second cap 40, The bactericide leaves the car-
tridge 10 through the outlet 48, in aqueous solution.
Water recovered from the outlet 48 is monitored,
either continuously or intermittently, ~or positive indications
of the bactericide in aqueous solution until such indications
cease to be found~ Once such indications cease to be found,
until the cartridge 10 becomes loaded with bacteria from the
first barrier 22 to the second barrier 26~ bacteria tending to
be washed out with water leaving the cartridge 10 through the
-- 8 --
:~ ~1 7~7'~
outlet 48 tend to be few. Advantageously? the bactericide in
aqueous solution kills bacteria found in the second cap 40, the
fittings 62, and the conduit 68,
As shown in Figure 2, the second cap 40 of the car-
tridge 10 is charged, within its lateral wall 42~ with the
bactericide 90 in a granular form, which is preferred for ease
of dosage. As shown in Figure 3, a similar cap 40' which is
associated with a similar barrier 26~ and with a similar seal
56' at the outlet end of a cartridge 10' of similar construc-
tion, is charged, within its lateral wall 42', wîth a bacteri-
cide 90' in a caked form.
Preferably, as discussed hereinabove, the bac~ericide
is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na.
Alternatively, the bactericide may be calcium hypochlorite,
Ca(OCl)2. Other bactericides are suitable alternatives.
A standard method to detect free chlorine in water is
the "DPD Colorîmetric Method", Method 409F, as found in
Standard Methocls for the Examination of Water and ~astewater,
. . _ . . _
14th edition, American Public Health Association, 1976, and
as available in kit form from Hach Chemical Company, P. O. Box
389, Loveland, Colorado 80537, as Kit Model CN-70 and Ki~ Model
CN-66~ Water recovered from the outlet 48 may be monitored,
intermittently by such a method, for positive indications of
free chlorîne from sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid,
C3N3O3C12Na, in aqueous solution unti:L such indications cease
to be found.
~ quantity of AMBERGARD XE 352A resin as received ~rom
Rohm and ~aas Company, was charged into a column. Three bed
volumes of a 10% aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid were
passed through the resins. The resin then was rinsed with
deionized water, which had been filtered through a 0.~ micron
filter, until the resin was free of hydrochloric acid. The
resin then was removed from the column. ~xcess water then was
removed from the resin by suction filtration in a large
Buchner funnel.
In a cartridge like the cartridge 10, two grams of
sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, C3N3O3C12Na, in
granular form were sealed between the second barrier and the
second (outlet) cap, which then was sealed onto the elongated
tube of the cartridge, The cartridge then was hand-packed with
117~7 I'~
the resin, which had been pretreated as noted in the preceding
paragraph, whereupon the first (inlet~ cap and the first
barrier were sealed onto the elongated tube of the cartridge.
Another cartridge like the cartridge 10 was prepared in like
manner except that two grams of calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)2,
were substituted for said salt.
Each cartridge was installed in a bracket like the
bracket 12, so as to associate the first (inlet~ cap of such
cartridge with upper fittings like the fittings 60, and so as
to associate the second (outlet) cap of such cartridge with
lower fittings like the fittings 62. Each cartridge then was
connected, at the inlet of the first (inlet) cap, to a source
of deionized water, which had been filtered through a 0.2
micron filter, and which rinsed each cartridge until its
effluent stream was found to be devoid of free chlorine, The
effluent streams were monitored for free chlorine by the "DPD
Colorimetric Method" noted hereinabove~
After each effluent stream was found to be devoid of
free chlorine, a sample of such effluent stream was collected
in a sterile container. Each sample was tested for total bac-
terial count by the standard membrane filter technique. The
membrane filters were incubated for 2~ hours on "Total Count
Medium with T.T.C. Indicator", as obtained in ampule form from
Millipore Corporation, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, whereupon
no bacterial colonies were found.
- 10 -
