Patent ID: 8075741
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method of extracting contaminants from contaminated water, the method comprising: heating the contaminated water to form a contaminated vapor; transferring contaminants from the contaminated vapor to a liquid solvent by exposing the contaminated vapor therewith, thereby providing a decontaminated azeotropic vapor containing both water vapor and solvent vapor; condensing the decontaminated azeotropic vapor into a heterogeneous liquid including condensed water and condensed solvent; and separating the heterogeneous liquid into a condensed water constituent and a condensed solvent constituent further comprising: recuperating a heterogeneous mixture of solvent and water in liquid phase subsequently to said step of transferring; heating the heterogeneous mixture into an azeotropic vapor; integrating the azeotropic vapor into the contaminated vapor prior to the step of transferring; and using at least a portion of the condensed solvent constituent as the liquid solvent in the step of transferring.