METHOD FOR REDUCING THE TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON IN WASTEWATER Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC C02F1/28 C02F1/44 B01D61/00 

FIELD: technology of water and air purification.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a process for reducing the total organic carbon content of waste water obtained as a result of the olefin oxide production process. Method comprises contacting an aqueous mixture of M1 containing an oxygenate which is anthraquinone and/or anthraquinone derivatives with an adsorbent, adsorption of a portion of the oxygenate to the adsorbent, separation of the aqueous mixture of M2 from the adsorbent, mixture of M2 is depleted by adsorbed oxygenate, separating the oxygenate from the M2 mixture by subjecting the M2 mixture to reverse osmosis in a reverse osmosis unit containing a reverse osmosis membrane to produce an aqueous mixture of M3 depleted in this oxygenate. Use of an absorbent, preferably selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, organic polymer, silica gel, molecular sieve and combinations thereof of two or more, wherein the organic polymer is preferably a polystyrene-based polymer, for the replacement of the reverse osmosis unit in the wastewater treatment resulting from the olefin oxide production process, preferably propylene oxide, preferably in a time interval in which the first, preferably partially spent, reverse osmosis unit located after the adsorbent is taken out of service, and a second, preferably new, reverse osmosis unit is put into operation after the adsorbent, replacing the first reverse osmosis unit.

EFFECT: invention provides an effective reduction of the total organic carbon content in the wastewater, increase the operating time of the reverse osmosis unit, allows to avoid frequent and costly regeneration and/or replacement of the reverse osmosis membrane, and also provides an increase in environmental and economic characteristics of the process.

20 cl, 5 dwg, 2 tbl, 3 ex