Tertiary Amine Liquid Membrane for High Salt Desalination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desalination technologies, such as reverse osmosis membrane methods, face challenges in efficiently separating and recovering inorganic salts and organic substances from water with low energy consumption, particularly in high salt concentration scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A water treatment system utilizing a tertiary amine compound that changes hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity with temperature, allowing for phase separation and efficient extraction of inorganic salts and organic substances through mixing with an amine solution and controlling temperature, enabling effective separation and recovery without high energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If reverse osmosis membrane method is used for desalination, then energy consumption is reduced compared to thermal evaporation, but separation efficiency for inorganic salts and organic substances at high salt concentrations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid membrane composed of tertiary amine compounds as an intermediary layer between the feed solution and the permeate side. This liquid membrane selectively transports inorganic salts and organic substances through complexation and phase separation mechanisms, enhancing separation efficiency at high salt concentrations while maintaining low energy consumption compared to thermal methods
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines tertiary amine compounds with specific organic solvents to create a composite liquid membrane system. The tertiary amine (such as tri-n-butylamine) forms complexation compounds with metal ions, while the organic solvent matrix provides the necessary fluidity and selectivity, achieving high separation efficiency for both inorganic salts and organic substances
2Productivity
If thermal evaporation method is used for desalination, then separation of inorganic salts and organic substances is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal energy-driven evaporation process with a mass transfer-based liquid membrane system. The tertiary amine compounds in the liquid membrane selectively complex with inorganic salts and organic substances, enabling separation through concentration gradients and phase separation rather than thermal evaporation, thus dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining high separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation mechanism from thermal parameter (temperature-driven evaporation) to chemical parameter (concentration-driven complexation and phase separation). By adjusting the composition of the liquid membrane and operating conditions such as pH and temperature within moderate ranges, the system achieves efficient separation without the high energy input required for thermal evaporation
3Productivity
If conventional desalination methods are used, then water treatment is achieved, but recovery and reuse of amine compounds becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic operation mode where the liquid membrane is alternately used for separation and then regenerated. After the separation phase, the amine-rich phase is separated and contacted with a stripping solution to recover the amine compounds, which are then reused in the next separation cycle. This periodic regeneration process makes amine recovery easy and efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The invention designates the amine-rich phase as a separable intermediate that can be discarded from the water stream and subsequently recovered through a simple stripping process. The amine compounds are recovered by contacting the amine-rich phase with an acidic or saline solution, which releases the complexed substances and regenerates the free amine for reuse, making the recovery process straightforward and efficient
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves efficient separation and recovery of inorganic salts and organic substances with reduced energy input, maintaining high efficiency even at high salt concentrations, and allows for the reuse of the amine compound, thereby minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A water treatment system utilizing a tertiary amine compound that changes hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity with temperature, allowing for phase separation
Implementation Method 2
efficient extraction of inorganic salts and organic substances through mixing with an amine solution and controlling temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A water treatment system according to an embodiment includes an element that introduces treated water into a first container, an element that introduces an amine solution into the first container to obtain a first mixture, an element that separates a supernatant phase and a concentrated phase of a second mixture in which the first mixture is phase-separated. The amine solution includes one or more tertiary amine compounds represented by a chemical formula (1) or/and a chemical formula (2). R1 in the chemical formula (1) is a linear alkyl chain having 2 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms. R2 in the chemical formula (2) is a linear alkyl chain having 2 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms. R3 in the chemical formula (2) is a linear alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms or a branched alkyl group having 3 or 4 carbon atoms. R4 in the chemical formula (2) is a linear alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms or a branched alkyl group having 3 or 4 carbon atoms.