Separating Components Of Aqueous Mixtures, Suspensions, and Solutions
OwnerGerald H. Pollackinventor
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for separating components of aqueous mixtures, including aqueous solutions and suspensions. In one implementation, an apparatus flows the aqueous mixture over a hydrophilic surface to form a first region of purified water and a second region of at least one concentrated non-aqueous component. The apparatus can draw off either the purified water or the concentrated non-aqueous components. In one implementation, an array of tubules performs the differential extraction. In another implementation, various hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic surfaces are disposed in multiple differential extractors and some effluents may be recycled to perform complex assaying and separation.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- flowing an aqueous mixture over a hydrophilic surface;
- establishing a first region of purified water in the aqueous mixture;
- and
- establishing a second region of one or more concentrated non-aqueous components in the aqueous mixture.
The method as recited 1, further comprising identifying or measuring a concentration of one of the concentrated non-aqueous components in the second region.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a vessel for enabling a flow of an aqueous mixture;
- and
- a hydrophilic surface associated with the vessel for creating a first region and a second region in the flow of the aqueous mixture;
- wherein the first region comprises a part of the aqueous mixture that has a decreased concentration of a non-aqueous component compared with the initial aqueous mixture;
- and
- wherein the second region comprises a part of the aqueous mixture that has an increased concentration of a non-aqueous component compared with the initial aqueous mixture.
A system, comprising:
- means for flowing an aqueous mixture over a hydrophilic surface;
- means for establishing a first region of purified water in the aqueous mixture;
- and
- means for establishing a second region of a concentrated non-aqueous component in the aqueous mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.