Patent ID: 7094341
Filing Date: 2006-08-22
Classification: C02F,Y02A

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for separating components of a fluid system, 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, or 3) an emulsion comprising liquid material suspended within an emulsion suspending fluid, 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 containment vessel; a permeable restraint disposed within said containment vessel and dividing said containment vessel into a clathrate formation and/or accumulation region on one side of said permeable restraint and a collection region on an opposite side of said permeable restraint, said permeable restraint being sufficiently permeable that said host molecules and said guest molecules are able to pass through it, from said clathrate formation and/or accumulation region and into said collection region, upon dissociation of clathrate against said permeable restraint; an inlet for introducing said fluid system into said clathrate formation and/or accumulation region; an outlet for removing residual fluid remaining in said clathrate formation and/or accumulation region after clathrate has formed therein and/or accumulated against said permeable restraint; means for inducing a layer of clathrate that, during operation of said apparatus, has formed on or accumulated against a side of said permeable restraint facing said clathrate formation and/or accumulation region 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 an outlet for collecting said host molecules and an outlet for collecting said guest molecules from said collection region.