Method and apparatus for concentrating a solute in solution with a solvent
AssigneeAdvanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
InventorsRichard V. Calfee, Kenneth M. Bueche
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method, and an apparatus, for forming a prescribed concentration of a substance in a mixture with a fluid, from a comparatively dilute mixture. The mixture is most preferably a solution of a solute in a solvent. The following summary and description generally discuss the invention in terms of a particularly preferred solution and a preferred use for that solution; however, in its broadest embodiments, the invention encompasses both the use for other solutions, and the use for a suspension of a solid substance in a fluid to form a mixture (which can also be referred to as a slurry). The invention provides for significant economic, safety and qualify benefits over conventional evaporative systems.
Claims3
A method of concentrating a solute in a solution, said method comprising:
- suspending a portion of said solution from a solid material, said solution consisting essentially of radioactive orthophosphoric acid in water;
- evaporating a solvent from said suspended portion of said solution until said suspended portion reaches a predetermined concentration of said solute within said solution, said suspended portion being in contact with a predetermined amount of solid material, said amount chosen to avoid substantial precipitation of said solute during said evaporating;
- and
- adding additional solution to said suspended portion to maintain a predetermined amount of said suspended portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.