DESC:SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTION OF BIOFOULING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The Invention provides system and method for prevention of Biofouling. More Particularly, the Invention provides a system and process, based on anti-biofouling cartridge barrier, for reducing biofilm and/or preventing the formation of the biofilm in the membranes and walls of the water treatment system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The following background discussion includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Biofouling is understood as the unwanted deposition and growth of living organisms on surfaces. In water treatment, in almost all cases it is caused by microorganisms. They can contaminate the water, cover and block surfaces, host pathogens, and attack their support. The biofouling formation occurs when micro-organisms make a transition from free-floating planktonic to stationary sessile lifestyles, thus forming a biofilm.

In reverse osmosis, filtration happens by crossflow through the RO membrane. In RO membrane, generally there are two outlets - one for permeate and the other one for reject water. Water molecules which pass through RO membrane is called permeate water. The permeate stream (product water) goes to the storage tank. Reject water contains rejected contaminants which are retained by the membrane as well as a portion of the water that does not pass through the membrane. This concentrated stream is called the concentrate or RO reject with all the contaminants and dissolved inorganics. This stream of water is connected to drain line of kitchen or to the place where is installed, due to which, there are chances of cross contamination through reject or wastewater stream.
More recent studies have demonstrated that homes drain line represent an environment into which bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens are continuously introduced in association with food, people, and pets.
Importantly, the open nature of drains means that they are continuously challenged by a wide range of microbes, which vary depending on the site of the drain. In the kitchen, a variety of normal domestic wastes will pass through the drain conduit, especially where waste disposal units are fitted, along with residues from high-risk infectious materials, such as uncooked meat and vegetable waste.
Conventionally, ceramic filter with an internal activated carbon core is used for removing the contaminants. The ceramic is also often impregnated with silver ions, giving the filter strong bacteriostatic and self-sterilizing properties. These silver ions repel bacterial growth, preventing mold and algae from developing on the surface of the filter. The ceramic water filters are used for point-of-use drinking water. Because of its 0.5-micron filtration it makes them suitable for countertop or under-sink filters in households. Further, there are also double open-ended ceramic filters that can be inserted into any standard 10-inch water filter housing and used in conjunction with other filters, like a sediment filter or anti-scale filter to act as antibacterial filter. But this type of filter is not suitable for preventing cross contamination of water filter.
Further there are other documents which discloses method and system for preventing contamination of the filter of the water purification system. For example, WO2021152567A1 discloses apparatus and methods for membrane filtration of water by passing the water through a housing (9) having an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) and defining a flow path for water therethrough, a membrane filter being located within the housing and the flow path extending through said membrane filter and at least part of the flow path, downstream of said membrane filter, extending downwardly, in a downstream direction, at an angle of from 1° to 10° to the horizontal. In this invention to prevent ingress of contaminants and biofouling, the vessels may be clamped into tri-clamp tube fitting connections at a downward inclination angle of 2 degrees to the horizontal plane. This is to facilitate passive downward movement of the inlet water away from the membrane filter and drain it via the said round shaped holes machined in the said circular shaped cover. Also, this prevents upstream to downstream cross- contamination of membranes during filter changes.
Further, US20130233799A1 discloses a filtration module having at least one membrane layer and a spacer layer, wherein the spacer includes: a polymeric matrix; and a biocide physically embedded into or attached to the polymeric matrix. Moreover, the invention provides a method for reducing the concentration of bacteria in water, by contacting water with the filtration module.
Another patent documents WO2018234838A1 discloses anti-microbial filtration media, notably of flexible polymeric anti-microbial filtration media, processes for manufacturing them and uses thereof for liquid and/or gas phase treatments, in particular for water-based phases treatments to prevent biofouling.
None of the water purifier discloses prevention of contamination or biofouling from the drainage side to the filter of the water purification system, which is one of the major cause of biofouling.
Hence, there is needed an efficient system and process, which reduces biofilm and/or prevents the formation of the biofilm in the membranes and walls of the water treatment system, particularly which reduces/ eliminates the risk of biofouling of unit due to contamination from drain line. Particularly, there is needed a system and process, based on anti-biofouling cartridge barrier, for reducing biofilm and/or preventing the formation of the biofilm in the membranes and walls of the water treatment system.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION:
The primary objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawback associated with prior art.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system for reducing bifouling and/or preventing the formation of the biofouling in the membranes and walls of the water treatment / Reverse Osmosis system.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system for reducing biofouling and/or preventing the formation of the biofouling on the basis of the biofouling preventive barrier at the drainage side connection pipe.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system, based on anti-biofouling cartridge barrier, for reducing cross contamination and/or preventing the formation of the microbial growth in the membranes, pipelines and walls of the water treatment system.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system that avoids any trans pass of harmful microbial from drain line to the water purifier, to avoid any biofouling and cross contamination.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system that creates a barrier in reject line from RO system which is connected to drain line, to stop any biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through reject line.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing biofouling and/or preventing the formation of the biofilm formation in the membranes and walls of the water treatment / Reverse Osmosis system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofilm, the system comprising:
a) a sediment or prefilter, wherein the sediment or prefilter is configured to reduce turbidity in feed water due to the presence of suspended solids;
b) a plurality of carbon filter, wherein the plurality carbon filter is configured to remove chlorine and organic contaminants from the feed water;
c) a thin film composite (TFC) membrane, wherein thin film composite membrane is configured to reduces dissolved minerals, metals, and salts in the feed water;
d) a carbon post filter, wherein the carbon post filter is configured to remove, unnatural tastes, odours, from the RO permeate water,
e) a drainpipe, wherein the drainpipe is connected to the thin film composite (TFC) membrane and the filtered dissolved minerals, metals, and salts in the feed water is flushed out to a drain line through the drainpipe;

wherein the drainpipe comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier before the drain line which acts as a barrier in drainpipe and prevents biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to enter water purifier through drainpipe.

In an embodiment, the sediment prefilter is connected to the feed water source is made of a paper, ceramic or a polypropylene or an acrylic fiber or a glass fiber or a polyester or a spun cellulose.

In an embodiment, the plurality of carbon filters has filter rating of 5-10 micron.

In an embodiment, the carbon post filter is made of a coconut shell and pore size ranging from 5-10 micron

In an embodiment, the anti-biofouling cartridge barrier is made of an antibacterial material / chemical/physical barrier/ antibacterial membrane which can disinfect/kill/remove the microbial contamination.

In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operation of reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofouling, the method comprising steps of:

a) supplying feed water to a sediment prefilter to reduce turbidity in feed water due to the presence of suspended solids, thereafter the filtered water is passed through a plurality of carbon filter to remove chlorine and organic contaminants from the feed water; further the filtered water is passed through a thin film composite (TFC) membrane and thereafter a carbon post filter,
b) connecting a drainpipe to the thin film composite (TFC) membrane wherein the drainpipe comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier before the drain line which acts as a barrier in drainpipe and prevents biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through drainpipe.

This together with the other aspects of the present invention along with the various features of novelty that characterized the present disclosure is pointed out with particularity in claims annexed hereto and forms a part of the present invention. For better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specified objective attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of their scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1: illustrates a view of the water purifier system with the presence of anti-biofouling cartridge barrier

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

The Invention relates to a system and method for reducing biofouling and/or preventing the biofouling of the membranes and biofilm formation on the walls of the water treatment / Reverse Osmosis system. The system reduces biofouling and/or prevents the formation of the biofilm on the basis of the biofouling preventive barrier at the drainage side connection pipe. The system prevents any trans pass of harmful microbial from drain line to the water purifier, to avoid any biofouling.
In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the biofouling of, the system comprising:
a) a sediment prefilter, wherein the sediment prefilter is configured to reduce turbidity in feed water due to the presence of suspended solids;
b) a plurality of carbon filter, wherein the plurality carbon filter is configured to remove chlorine and chemical contaminants from the feed water;
c) a thin film composite (TFC) membrane, wherein thin film composite membrane is configured to reduces dissolved minerals, metals, and salts in the feed water;
d) a carbon post filter, wherein the carbon post filter is configured to remove chlorine, cloudiness, unnatural tastes, odours, from the feed water,
e) a drainpipe, wherein the drainpipe is connected to the thin film composite (TFC) membrane and the filtered dissolved minerals, metals, and salts in the feed water is flushed out to a drain line through the drainpipe;

wherein the drainpipe comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier before the drain line which acts as a barrier in drainpipe and prevents biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through drainpipe.

In an embodiment, the sediment prefilter is connected to the feed water source is made of a paper, ceramic or a polypropylene or an acrylic fiber or a glass fiber or a polyester or a spun cellulose.

In an embodiment, the plurality of carbon filters has filter rating of 5-10 micron.

In an embodiment, the carbon post filter is made of a coconut shell with pore size of 5-10 micron

In an embodiment, the anti-biofouling cartridge barrier is made of an antibacterial material / chemical/physical barrier/ antibacterial membrane / UV disinfection which can disinfect/kill/remove the microbial contamination.
In an embodiment the anti-biofouling cartridge can be made of chlorine, bromine or any other chemical having antimicrobial or disinfectant property
In an embodiment the anti-biofouling material can be any membrane or filter impregnated with anti-microbial material such as carbon impregnation or membrane with adsorption capacity or electromagnetic adsorption property.
In an embodiment the antibiofouling material can be any filter which can remove the microbial contamination by physical property or by oxidative technology
In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operation of reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofouling, the method comprising steps of:

a) supplying feed water to a sediment prefilter to reduce turbidity in feed water due to the presence of suspended solids, thereafter the filtered water is passed through a plurality of carbon filter to remove chlorine and chemical contaminants from the feed water; further the filtered water is passed through a thin film composite (TFC) membrane and thereafter a carbon post filter,
b) connecting a drainpipe to the thin film composite (TFC) membrane wherein the drainpipe comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier before the drain line which acts as a barrier in drainpipe and prevents biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through drainpipe.
In an embodiment, the system comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier, for reducing biofouling and/or preventing the formation of the biofilm in the membranes and walls of the water treatment system. The anti-biofouling cartridge barrier acts as a barrier in reject line from RO system which is connected to drain line, to stop any biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through reject line.

In an embodiment, the anti-biofouling cartridge barrier comprises antibacterial media or chemical/ membrane or physical barrier which can be impregnated with antimicrobial material.

In an embodiment, the anti-biofouling cartridge barrier is present in between input water supply to water purifier and pure water tank. The system is very helpful in preventing biofouling in cases where reject line is open to environment/atmosphere or where two sources of water is interlinked through a connecting tube.
In an embodiment, the anti-biofouling cartridge barrier comprises mechanism for regulated anti-biofouling action.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a method for reducing biofouling and/or preventing the formation of the biofilm in the membranes and walls of the water treatment / Reverse Osmosis system.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofilm, the system comprising:
a) a sediment prefilter, wherein the sediment prefilter is configured to reduce turbidity in feed water due to the presence of suspended solids;
b) a plurality of carbon filter, wherein the plurality carbon filter is configured to remove chlorine and chemical contaminants from the feed water;
c) a thin film composite (TFC) membrane, wherein thin film composite membrane is configured to reduces dissolved minerals, metals, and salts in the feed water;
d) a carbon post filter, wherein the carbon post filter is configured to remove, unnatural tastes, odours, from the feed water,
e) a drainpipe, wherein the drainpipe is connected to the thin film composite (TFC) membrane and the filtered dissolved minerals, metals, and salts in the feed water is flushed out to a drain line through the drainpipe;

wherein the drainpipe comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier before the drain line which acts as a barrier in drainpipe and prevents biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through drainpipe.

2. The reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofouling as claimed in claim 1, wherein sediment prefilter is connected to the feed water source is made of a paper, ceramic or a polypropylene or an acrylic fiber or a glass fiber or a polyester or a spun cellulose.

3. The reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofouling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of carbon filters has filter rating of 10 micron.

4. The reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofouling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbon post filter is made of a coconut shell.

5. The reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofilm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anti-biofouling cartridge barrier is made of a antibacterial media or chemical/ membrane or physical barrier.

6. A method of operation of reverse osmosis (RO) system for preventing the formation of biofilm as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising steps of:

a) supplying feed water to a sediment prefilter to reduce turbidity in feed water due to the presence of suspended solids, thereafter the filtered water is passed through a plurality of carbon filter to remove chlorine and chemical contaminants from the feed water; further the filtered water is passed through a thin film composite (TFC) membrane and thereafter a carbon post filter,
b) connecting a drainpipe to the thin film composite (TFC) membrane wherein the drainpipe comprises an anti-biofouling cartridge barrier before the drain line which acts as a barrier in drainpipe and prevents biofouling of any microbial pathogens from drain line to water purifier through drainpipe.