Patent ID: 8110111

Claim:
A method for separating a target species from a starting solution using membrane contactor assisted extraction comprising the following steps: a. providing a liquid-liquid membrane contactor reactor system, the membrane contactor system having a porous membrane contactor with a starting solution side and an extraction solution side; b. providing an extraction solution comprising at least one ionic liquid; c. providing a starting solution; d. wetting the membrane contactor with the extraction solution or starting solution, wherein a liquid-liquid interface (contact) is established between the extraction solution and starting solution in the membrane pores; e. streaming the starting solution containing a concentration of a target species along the starting solution side of the membrane contactor; and f. streaming an extraction solution along the extraction solution side of the membrane contactor; and wherein at least a portion of the target species is extracted from the starting solution across the membrane into the extraction solution forming an extraction solution permeate.