| abstract |
A method and apparatus for the purification of contaminated water using adsorption filtration. One or more cationic, anionic and/or non-ionic surfactants, organic, inorganic and/or biological contaminants can be removed from contaminated water, such as grey water, by first contacting the contaminated water with a pH adjusting agent to provide pH adjusted water in the range of about 3-7. The pH adjusting agent is preferably one or more acids, one or more hydrolysable salts, an ion exchange medium or combination thereof. Thereafter, the pH adjusted water is contacted with one or more active adsorption media, including silica, zeolite, alumina, activated carbon, and the like. The invention provides a means to selectively remove contaminants from water thereby rendering contaminated water safe for human contact, reuse and/or consumption. |