Process and apparatus for purifying a liquid by countercurrent contact between this liquid and a purifying agent

摘要

The apparatus has a liquid treatment column (10) in which an at least extensive purification of a liquid takes place. This purification step is accomplished by passing this liquid upwards through a bed of purification material (M) present in the liquid treatment column (10). There is also a regeneration column (50) for regenerating the purification material. The liquid treatment column (10) has a feed opening and a transfer opening in the upper and lower part and contains a bed of purification material (M) which is located at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the liquid treatment column, so that a reservoir space results. In addition, the treatment column has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the part of the purification bed above the liquid outlet serving as a settling layer in order to avoid any fluidisation and/or expansion of the purification material. The regeneration column (50) is of a design similar to that of the treatment column (10), but compressed air and washing liquid are introduced either successively or simultaneously into the regeneration column for fluidising the contaminated purification material, i.e. for separating off the suspended solids from the purification material particles. The regenerated purification material is fed continuously or intermittently to the purification column.