Patent ID: 6890444
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: C02F,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for desalinating or purifying saline or otherwise polluted water to be treated using hydrate to do so, including 1) actively or directly forming hydrate of a hydrate-forming substance in a hydrate formation region of a desalination or purification installation under pressure and temperature conditions conducive to formation of said hydrate; and then 2) dissociating said hydrate to release and recover from said hydrate fresh water that has been extracted from said water to be treated, said method comprising: dissolving hydrate-forming substance into said water to be treated in a manner which does not cause hydrate to form so as to form water to be treated that is enriched in hydrate-forming substance; forming masses of hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance in said hydrate formation region; exposing said masses of hydrate to said enriched water to be treated; and allowing said masses of hydrate to grow outwardly into the surrounding water to be treated by incorporating into the hydrate structure, from the water to be treated, fresh water and molecules of said hydrate-forming substance that have been dissolved into said water to be treated.