Photoactive separation of solutes
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsRick Peterson, Steven M. Risser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods of separating solute from solvent using a photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant can be switched between two states by exposure to light. This can change the affinity of the photoactive extractant for either the solute or the solvent, causing absorption of the solute or solvent. The photoactive extractant can then be separated from the fluid stream containing the solute or solvent. The absorbed solute or solvent is then separated from the photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant is a photoisomer. Applications for these methods include desalination, water purification, and metal extraction.
Claims18
A method of capturing a solute that is present in a first fluid stream, comprising:
- contacting the first fluid stream with a photoactive extractant to absorb the solute;
- separating the photoactive extractant from the first fluid stream;
- and
- stripping the absorbed solute from the photoactive extractant to obtain the captured solute;
- wherein the photoactive extractant is exposed to light having a first wavelength during either the contacting or the stripping, which changes a binding affinity of the photoactive extractant for the solute from a first binding affinity to a second binding affinity;
- and
- wherein the binding affinity of the photoactive extractant is changed back to the first binding affinity by changing the temperature of the photoactive extractant.
A method of capturing a solute that is present in a first fluid stream, comprising:
- contacting the first fluid stream with a photoactive extractant to absorb the solute;
- separating the photoactive extractant from the first fluid stream;
- and
- stripping the absorbed solute from the photoactive extractant to obtain the captured solute;
- wherein the photoactive extractant is exposed to light having a first wavelength during either the contacting or the stripping, which changes a binding affinity of the photoactive extractant for the solute from a first binding affinity to a second binding affinity;
- and
- wherein either the photoactive extractant is fixed upon a support, or the photoactive extractant is a solid.
A system for separating a solute from a first fluid stream, comprising:
- a source for a photoactive extractant;
- a mixing stage for receiving and mixing the photoactive extractant with the first fluid stream to form a mixture;
- a light exposure stage;
- a first separation stage;
- a second separation stage downstream of the first separation stage;
- and
- a heat exchanger between the first separation stage and the second separation stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.