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US 5,204,003 AGranted
Separation processes using expulsion from dilute supercritical solutions
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorHenry D. Cochran, Jr.
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Abstract
A process for separating isotopes as well as other mixtures by utilizing the behavior of dilute repulsive or weakly attractive elements of the mixtures as the critical point of the solvent is approached.
Claims12
In a solution comprising a solute and a solvent wherein molecules of said solute exhibit repulsive or weakly attractive behavior relative to molecules of said solvent as the critical point of said solvent is approached, a process for separating said solute from said solvent comprising:
- bringing a dilute solution of said solute and said solvent to a temperature and pressure approaching the critical point of said solvent thus effecting a maximization of solute fugacity;
- separating said solute from said solvent by contacting said solution with a medium, said medium having the capacity to admit solvent and its negligible insolubility in said solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.