Patent ID: 8048304
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: B01D,Y02B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of extracting a solute using a dense gas solvent and recovering the dense gas solvent, the method comprising: extracting a solute from a sample in an extraction chamber using a dense gas solvent, thereby creating a solvent/solute mixture; transferring thermal energy to a solvent vaporization chamber containing the solvent/solute mixture; maintaining an operating pressure of the solvent vaporization chamber to be within a prescribed operating range while allowing a temperature and pressure of the solvent/solute mixture in the extraction chamber to vary with an ambient temperature; separating the dense gas solvent and the solute; transferring thermal energy from a first solvent condensation chamber containing the dense gas solvent; and sending the dense gas solvent to the extraction chamber, wherein the thermal energy transferred to the solvent vaporization chamber is from a condenser of a heat pump, and wherein the thermal energy transferred from the first solvent condensation chamber is sent to an evaporator of the heat pump.