Selective Retention of Multivalent Ions via Membrane Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems are inefficient in selectively retaining solubilized multivalent ions in aqueous streams, often requiring high energy and complex equipment to achieve desired levels of separation.
Innovation Solution
The use of ion-selective membranes and osmotic membranes in a combined system, where an ion-selective membrane separates monovalent ions from multivalent ions, and an osmotic membrane further processes the streams to enrich multivalent ions by selectively transporting water back into the feed stream, reducing energy requirements and enhancing separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional systems are used to separate multivalent ions from monovalent ions, then separation can be achieved, but energy consumption is high and equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines an ion-selective membrane and an osmotic membrane into a single integrated separator unit. The ion-selective membrane selectively transports monovalent ions while retaining multivalent ions, and the osmotic membrane facilitates water transport back to the feed stream. This merging of functions into one device achieves high separation efficiency without requiring multiple separate systems, thereby reducing overall energy consumption and equipment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural osmotic pressure gradient created by the selective ion transport to drive water transport through the osmotic membrane. The concentration difference between the permeate and feed streams automatically generates the driving force for water movement, eliminating the need for external energy input for water transport and reducing overall energy consumption.
2Measurement precision
If conventional separation systems are used, then multivalent ions can be retained, but the equipment becomes complex and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the ion-selective membrane and osmotic membrane into a single separator unit with a shared feed stream interface. This merged design performs both ion selective transport and water transport functions in one device, achieving high separation efficiency while significantly reducing equipment complexity compared to conventional systems that would require separate units for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated separator performs multiple functions simultaneously: the ion-selective membrane selectively transports monovalent ions, the osmotic membrane transports water, and the combined system produces both a multivalent-ion-enriched stream and a water-enriched stream. This multi-functionality in a single device reduces equipment complexity while maintaining high separation efficiency.
3Productivity
If high separation efficiency is achieved through conventional methods, then multivalent ions are retained, but the system requires more energy and complex equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges ion-selective transport and osmotic water transport into a single integrated separator unit. This design achieves high productivity through efficient simultaneous ion separation and water transport while minimizing equipment complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate systems and interconnecting components.
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
This approach allows for the production of streams enriched in multivalent ions with high efficiency and reduced energy consumption, using compact equipment, by effectively separating and concentrating multivalent ions while minimizing the transport of monovalent ions.
Implementation Method 1
an ion-selective membrane separates monovalent ions from multivalent ions
Implementation Method 2
an osmotic membrane further processes the streams to enrich multivalent ions by selectively transporting water back into the feed stream
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods in which multivalent ions are selectively retained in an aqueous stream. According to certain embodiments, multiple separations may be used to process an aqueous feed stream containing solubilized monovalent ions and solubilized multivalent ions to produce a stream enriched in the solubilized multivalent ions. The separations may be arranged, according to certain embodiments, to enhance the overall separation process such that the product stream contains—relative to the initial aqueous feed stream—a high amount of solubilized multivalent ions, a high amount of water from the aqueous feed stream, and/or a high ratio of solubilized multivalent ions to solubilized monovalent ions.