Hydrate-based desalination/purification using permeable support member

Apparatus for separating components of a fluid system in which said apparatus is immersed, said fluid system being 1) a solution comprising a solute dissolved in a solvent, 2) a suspension comprising solid material suspended within a suspension suspending fluid, 3) an emulsion comprising liquid material suspended within an emulsion suspending fluid, or 4) a gaseous or non-aqueous medium with water contained therein, said apparatus being configured to use clathrate having a crystalline structure comprising one or more guest molecules disposed within a cage structure formed from a plurality of host molecules to separate said components of said fluid system, said apparatus comprising:

• a contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint configured to form a generally enclosed interior lumen or compartment therein which comprises a collection region, said contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint having a plurality of pores extending through it from one surface bounding said interior lumen or compartment to an opposite, exterior-facing surface thereof, said contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint further having a cooling system configured to cool at least said opposite, exterior-facing surface so as to cool portions of said fluid system in contact with or in proximity to said opposite, exterior-facing surface to form a generally solid layer of clathrate thereon, said contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint being sufficiently permeable that said guest molecules and said host molecules are able to pass through it and into said interior lumen or compartment upon dissociation of clathrate from portions of said layer of clathrate that are in contact with or adjacent to said exterior-facing surface of said contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint;
• means for inducing said portions of said layer of clathrate that are in contact with or adjacent to said exterior-facing surface of said contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint to dissociate into said host molecules and said guest molecules such that said host molecules and said guest molecules can pass through said permeable restraint and into said collection region;
• and
• a conduit configured and disposed to convey said guest molecules out of said interior lumen or compartment and a conduit configured and disposed to convey said host molecules out of said interior lumen or compartment after said guest molecules and said host molecules have passed through said contoured, thermally assisted permeable restraint and into said collection region.