Patent ID: 8454926

Claim:
A method for separating solute from an aqueous solution comprising: providing a first aqueous solution comprising a solute, wherein the first aqueous solution is substantially saturated with the solute and wherein the solute is a salt; contacting the first aqueous solution with a clathrate former under conditions sufficient to form clathrates and to precipitate the solute from the first aqueous solution; separating precipitated solute from the clathrates by removing a first stream comprising clathrates and solute, and removing a second stream comprising precipitated solute; decomposing the clathrates into the clathrate former and a second aqueous solution, the second aqueous solution comprising solute in a concentration less than the concentration of solute in the first aqueous solution; and recycling the second aqueous solution by contacting the second aqueous solution with a source for the solute to form a third aqueous solution for use as, or in combination with, the first aqueous solution.