Patent ID: 8413462
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: B01D,B82Y

Abstract:
1. A process for isolating nanoparticles from a mixture, the process comprising: providing an aqueous mixture comprising a plurality of nanoparticles and at least one thermal hysteresis molecule, wherein the aqueous mixture includes an amount of the plurality of nanoparticles less than or equal to about 1 g/L; adjusting the aqueous mixture to a temperature effective to form ice crystals within the aqueous mixture without solidifying the entire aqueous mixture, wherein the ice crystals comprise at least a portion of the nanoparticles; and isolating the ice crystals from the aqueous mixture, wherein isolating the ice crystals comprises at least one of filtering the ice crystals from the aqueous mixture or applying a centrifugal force to the aqueous mixture to isolate the ice crystals based on specific density differences between the ice crystals and liquid in the aqueous mixture.