Patent ID: 8449774
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: B01D,C02F,F24S,Y02A,Y02E,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A process for separating dissolved components from a solution, said process comprising a) providing an initial solution selected from one or more of seawater, brackish water, river water, lake water and waste streams from industrial or agricultural processes and introducing a first portion of the initial solution as a first solution into a solar pond and irradiating the first solution with solar energy, such that temperature and concentration gradients are established, whereby the temperature and concentration of solute at the base of the pond is greater than the temperature and concentration of solute at the surface of the pond, b) introducing a portion of the first solution from the solar pond into a first osmosis unit, and contacting the portion with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, c) contacting the other side of the selectively permeable membrane with a second solution that is a second portion of the initial solution, the second solution having a lower solute concentration than the portion of first solution from the solar pond, such that solvent from the second solution passes across the membrane to dilute and pressurize the portion of first solution, d) removing the diluted portion of first solution from the first osmosis unit, e) contacting a third portion of the initial solution with one side of a selectively permeable membrane in a second osmosis unit and contacting a concentrated solution of dissolved components with the opposite side of the selectively permeable membrane in the second osmosis unit, the concentrated solution having a solute concentration that is higher than the solute concentration of the third portion, the solvent from the third portion passing across the selectively permeable membrane to dilute the concentrated solution of dissolved components and form a third solution, and f) using a pressure exchange system to transfer the pressure generated in the diluted portion of the first solution to the third solution of dissolved components, so as to drive the third solution of dissolved components through a membrane to separate at least some of the dissolved components from the third solution.