Organocation Perchlorate Salt Regeneration via Organic Solvent Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for regenerating perchlorate-rich waste products from water treatment processes are inefficient, costly, and environmentally problematic, especially for high-concentration perchlorate contamination, as they result in water-insoluble salts that are difficult to reuse.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the use of a first solution with a metal cation and balancing anion in an organic solvent to precipitate out a water-insoluble organocation-perchlorate salt, forming a water-soluble second salt by dissolving the organocation and anion, allowing for the recovery of the organocation from its insoluble form.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional precipitation methods using common cations are used to remove perchlorate, then perchlorate removal is achieved, but the resulting organocation-perchlorate salt is water-insoluble and difficult to reuse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperchlorate removal effectivenessVSAvoidreuseability of regeneration product

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solvent parameter from water to organic solvent (such as ethanol, acetone, or dichloromethane) to dissolve the organocation-perchlorate salt that is insoluble in water. This parameter change enables the regeneration product to be recovered in a reusable form, resolving the contradiction between effective perchlorate removal and ease of reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an organic solvent as an intermediary medium to facilitate the dissolution and recovery of organocation-perchlorate salt. The organic solvent acts as a bridge between the water-insoluble salt and the reusable organocation product, enabling transformation from an unusable form to a usable form.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If bacterial decomposition methods are used to treat perchlorate-rich waste, then perchlorate degradation is achieved, but the process is slow and requires constant monitoring and maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperchlorate degradation effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the biological system (bacterial decomposition) with a chemical system (solvent extraction and precipitation). This substitution eliminates the need for constant monitoring and maintenance of biological conditions while achieving rapid perchlorate recovery, thus improving productivity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transitions by changing the solvent phase from aqueous to organic phase. This allows rapid separation and recovery of perchlorate-containing salts through phase separation, achieving fast treatment without the slow biological decomposition process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Quantity of substance

If organocation-perchlorate salt is formed for perchlorate removal, then high concentrations of perchlorate can be removed, but the salt is water-insoluble requiring costly and environmentally problematic processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperchlorate concentration removal capabilityVSAvoidprocessing cost and environmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dissolution parameter from water-based to organic solvent-based, which fundamentally alters the solubility characteristics of organocation-perchlorate salt. This enables the salt to be dissolved and processed in an environmentally benign manner, eliminating costly and problematic processing steps while maintaining the ability to handle high perchlorate concentrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 process effectively transforms water-insoluble organocation-perchlorate salts into water-soluble forms, enabling their reuse in water treatment processes while reducing costs and environmental impact by leveraging differences in solubility across various solvents.

Implementation Method 1

contacting said substantially water-insoluble organocation-perchlorate with a first solution containing a first salt dissolved in an organic solvent, the first salt consisting of a metal cation and a balancing anion, under conditions permitting precipitation of metal-perchlorate salt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 2

formation of a second salt dissolved in said organic solvent, the second salt consisting of the organocation and the balancing anion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS12195372B2Processes for regeneration of organocations

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 TOXSORB

AI summary

The present disclosure concerns processes for regenerating organocations from perchlorate-rich waste products, more specifically transformation of water-insoluble organocation-perchlorate salt, originating from perchlorate-removal water treatment processes, into a water-soluble perchlorate salt for reusing same.