# US 7,744,761 B2 · Desalination methods and systems that include carbonate compound precipitation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,761 B2 - Document ID: US7744761B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/163,205 - Filed: 2008-06-27 - Published: 2009-01-01 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-28 - Assignees: Calera Corporation - Inventors: Brent R. Constantz; Kasra Farsad; Miguel Fernandez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744761B2 ## CPC - B01D 61/025: {Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration} - C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) - B01D 2311/04: Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment - B01D 2311/06: Specific process operations in the permeate stream - C02F 1/04: by distillation or evaporation - C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis} - C02F 1/5236: {using inorganic agents} - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - Y02A 20/124: Water desalination - Y02A 20/131: Reverse-osmosis - Y02W 10/33: using wind energy - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Desalination methods that include carbonate compound precipitation are provided. In certain embodiments, feed water is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions prior to desalination. In certain embodiments, desalination waste brine is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. In yet other embodiments, both feed water and waste brine are subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. Aspects of embodiments of the invention include carbon dioxide sequestration. Embodiments of the invention further employ a precipitate product of the carbonate compound precipitation conditions as a building material, e.g., a cement. Also provided are systems configured for use in methods of the invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water-desalination method comprising: contacting a saltwater with an industrial waste gas stream from a power plant under alkaline-earth-metal-ion precipitating conditions to form an alkaline-earth-metal-ion-depleted water and an alkaline earth metal carbonate compound precipitate comprising calcium carbonate that comprises vaterite, aragonite, amorphous calcium carbonate, or any combination thereof, further wherein precipitate formation does not generate carbon dioxide; separating and drying the carbonate compound precipitate comprising calcium carbonate that comprises vaterite, aragonite, amorphous calcium carbonate, or any combination thereof to form a dried carbonate composition; and supplying the alkaline-earth-metal-ion-depleted water to a desalination process. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said desalination process comprises a distillation protocol, a membrane protocol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said carbonate compound precipitation process is performed on said saltwater prior to subjecting said saltwater to said desalination process to produce a desalinated water and a waste brine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein said carbonate compound precipitation process is performed on said waste brine to produce treated waste brine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said carbonate compound precipitation conditions also precipitate boron containing compounds. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said feed water comprises sea water, brackish water, a brine, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said carbonate compound precipitation process employs a transition metal catalyst. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises employing a carbonate compound precipitate of said carbonate compound precipitation process as a building material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein said building material is a concrete. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the carbonate composition comprises vaterite. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the carbonate composition comprises aragonite. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the carbonate composition comprises amorphous calcium carbonate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein said carbonate composition comprises strontium in an amount from 3 to 10,000 ppm.