Separation of solutes in gaseous solvents

A process of separating from each other at least two solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent, which is a supercritical fluid, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing a solution of at least two solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent at a first density in a first direction through a bed of sorbent so as to sorb a first of said at least two solutes and to allow to pass through the bed substantially with out sorption at least one other of said at least two solutes;
• collecting said at least one other of said at least two solutes after the bed still dissolved in said gaseous solvent but substantially free from said first solute;
• acting on a volume of said gaseous solvent to bring it to a second density, whereby said gaseous solvent has increased solvent affinity for said first solute;
• passing said gaseous solvent at said second density through said bed of sorbent in a second direction which is counter to said first direction and allowing said solvent at said second density to desorb said first solute from said bed of sorbent used;
• collecting said gaseous solvent at said second density after passage through said sorbent bed so as to recover said first solute still dissolved in said gaseous solute at said second density.

A process of purification of impure steam, containing impurities, where the steam is a supercritical fluid, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing said impure steam at a first density through a bed of sorbent in a first direction so as to remove by adsorption some of the impurities in said steam and recovering a portion of said steam in a purified state;
• acting on a portion of pure water, so as to produce pure water at a second density;
• passing said pure water at said second density through said bed of sorbent in a second direction counter to said first direction so as to desorb some of the impurities adsorbed onto said sorbent;
• recovering water at the second density containing impurities desorbed from said sorbent.

A process for separating at least one solute dissolved in a gaseous solvent, which is a supercritical fluid, from the gaseous solvent, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing the gaseous solvent through a bed of sorbent in a first direction so as to sorb the solute onto the bed of sorbent and to produce a purified gaseous solvent;
• acting upon the purified gaseous solvent so as to increase the solvent capacity for the solute to produce an increased capacity gaseous solvent;
• passing said increased capacity gaseous solvent through the bed of sorbent in a direction opposite to that of the first direction so as to produce a second gaseous solvent including the solute;
• and
• recovering the solute from the second gaseous solvent.

A process of separating at least one of at least two solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent, which is a supercritical fluid, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing the gaseous solvent through a bed of sorbent, in a first direction, so as to sorb a first solute from the gaseous solvent and to produce a first purified gaseous solvent;
• collecting a second solute from the first purified gaseous solvent;
• acting on the first purified gaseous solvent to increase its affinity for the first solute;
• passing the increased affinity gaseous solvent through the bed of sorbent in a second direction counter to the first direction so as to desorb the first solute from the bed of sorbent so as to produce a second gaseous solvent;
• and
• recovering the first solute from the second gaseous solvent.

A process of purifying steam, which is a supercritical fluid, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing the steam through a bed of sorbent in a first direction so as to remove impurities from the steam and to produce a purified steam;
• acting on pure water so as to produce a second purified steam or upon a portion of the purified steam to increase solvent capacity for the impurities and to produce an increased affinity steam;
• passing the second purified steam or the increased affinity steam through the bed of sorbent in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to desorb the impurities from the bed of sorbent;
• and
• recovering water containing the impurities.

A process for separating at least one solute dissolved in a gaseous solvent, which is a supercritical fluid, from the gaseous solvent, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing the gaseous solvent through a bed of sorbent in a first direction so as to sorb the solute onto the bed of sorbent and to produce a purified gaseous solvent;
• acting upon the purified gaseous solvent so as to increase the solvent capacity for the solute;
• and
• passing said increased capacity gaseous solvent through the bed of sorbent in a direction opposite to that of the first direction so as to produce a second gaseous solvent including the solute.

A process of separating at least one of at least two solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent, which is a supercritical fluid, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing the gaseous solvent through a bed of sorbent, in a first direction, so as to sorb a first solute from the gaseous solvent and to produce a first purified gaseous solvent;
• collecting a second solute from the first purified gaseous solvent;
• acting on the first purified gaseous solvent to increase its affinity for the first solute;
• passing the increased affinity gaseous solvent through the bed of sorbent in a second direction counter to the first direction so as to desorb the first solute from the bed of sorbent so as to produce a second gaseous solvent.

A process of purifying steam containing impurities, where the steam is a supercritical fluid, the process comprising the steps of:

• passing the steam through a bed of sorbent in a first direction so as to remove the impurities from the steam and to produce a purified steam;
• acting on pure water so as to produce a second purified steam or upon a portion of the purified steam to increase solvent capacity for the impurities and to produce an increased affinity steam;
• and
• passing the increased affinity steam through the bed of sorbent in a second direction opposite to the first direction so as to desorb the impurities from the bed of sorbent.