Water with Switchable Ionic Strength

a technology of ionic strength and water, applied in the field of solvent composition, can solve the problems of significant limitations in the use of ionic strength as a media for reaction and separation, adds to the economic cost and environmental impact of the overall process, and is difficult to achieve, so as to reduce the cost of ionic strength. , the effect of modulating ionic strength
US20130105377A1Inactive Publication Date: 2013-05-02QUEENS UNIV OF KINGSTON
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
QUEENS UNIV OF KINGSTON
Publication Date
2013-05-02
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A method and system for reversibly converting water between an initial ionic strength and an increased ionic strength, using a switchable additive, is described. The disclosed method and system can be used, for example, in distillation-free removal of water from solvents, solutes, or solutions. Following extraction of a solute from a medium by dissolving it in water, the solute can then be isolated from the aqueous solution or “salted-out” by converting the water to a solution having an increased ionic strength. The solute then separates from the increased ionic strength solution as a separate phase. Once the solute is, for example, decanted off, the increased ionic strength aqueous solution can be converted back to water having its original ionic strength and reused. Switching from lower to higher ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with CO2, CS2 or COS. Switching from higher to lower ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with air, heating, agitating, introducing a vacuum or partial vacuum, or any combination or thereof.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention is solvents, and specifically an aqueous solvent composition that can be reversibly converted between low ionic strength and higher ionic strength.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional solvents have fixed physical properties which can lead to significant limitations in their use as media for reactions and separations. Many chemical production processes involve multiple reactions and separation steps, and often the type of solvent that is optimum for any one step is different from that which is optimum for the next step. Thus it is common for the solvent to be removed after each step and a new solvent added in preparation for the next step. This removal and replacement greatly adds to the economic cost and environmental impact of the overall process. Therefore, there exists a need for a solvent that can change its physical properties.

[0003] Solvents are commonly used to dissolve material in manufacturing, cleaning, dyeing,...

Claims

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