Temperature-Regenerated Salt Extraction Composition for Scale-Forming Ions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial methods for treating highly saline and metal-contaminated wastewater are costly, non-selective, and generate new contaminants, while existing ion extraction technologies are inefficient for hydrophilic salts and scale-forming ions, leading to equipment scaling and high operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A thermally regenerated liquid-liquid extraction process using a hydrophobic organic phase composed of cation and anion solvating molecules (MEC and MSA) for selective extraction of hydrophilic salts, avoiding chemical regeneration and minimizing new contaminant introduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If chemical precipitation methods are used to extract salts from saline water, then salt extraction is achieved, but new contaminants are introduced and efficiency decreases due to concentration reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts target salt components from saline water using a selective liquid extraction system. The extracting solvent selectively dissolves target salts (such as calcium chloride, magnesium chloride) from the brine, separating them from other components. This extraction process removes harmful scale-forming ions while avoiding the introduction of new contaminants that plague chemical precipitation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs selective extraction where different components of the brine are treated differently. The extracting solvent is specifically designed to target certain salt components (like CaCl2 and MgCl2) while leaving other components in the aqueous phase. This selective approach allows efficient removal of scale-forming ions without affecting the overall water quality or introducing new contaminants.
2Productivity
If thermal vaporization is used to treat saline water, then water extraction is achieved, but precipitation threshold decreases and solid waste volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the approach from thermal vaporization to liquid-liquid extraction at lower temperatures. By using an extracting solvent with appropriate solubility parameters, the system can selectively dissolve target salts without requiring high-temperature vaporization. This parameter change prevents the decrease in precipitation threshold that occurs with thermal treatment and avoids generating excessive solid waste.
3Quantity of substance
If selective electrodialysis membranes are used, then ion extraction is achieved, but electrical energy consumption increases and membrane fouling risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the electrodialysis membrane system with a liquid-liquid extraction system. Instead of using electrical fields to drive ion separation through membranes, the invention uses chemical solubility differences and selective solvent interaction. This substitution eliminates the high electrical energy consumption and membrane fouling issues associated with electrodialysis while maintaining effective ion extraction.
4Reliability
If equipment is used to treat highly scale-forming saline water, then treatment is achieved, but equipment becomes scaled by precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention proactively extracts scale-forming ions (calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium) from the saline water before they can precipitate and scale equipment. By using selective liquid extraction to remove these ions in dissolved form, the treated water has significantly reduced scaling potential, protecting equipment from precipitation-related damage while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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 process effectively extracts hydrophilic salts and scale-forming ions, reducing equipment scaling and operational costs, enabling safe discharge and reuse of treated water without generating new contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid hydrophobic organic phase comprising or being essentially composed of, or consisting of, at least one electrically neutral organic and hydrophobic compound capable of extracting (e.g., solvating, complexing or chelating) a cation from the salts
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrically neutral organic and hydrophobic compound capable of extracting (e.g., solvating, complexing or chelating) a cation from the salts
Implementation Method 3
thermally regenerated liquid-liquid extraction using a liquid hydrophobic organic phase
Implementation Method 4
temperature-regenerated extracting composition
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A temperature-regenerated hydrophobic liquid composition comprising an extracting molecule of a non-alkaline cationic species, a solvating molecule of a complimentary anionic species and a fluidizing agent, wherein said composition is characterized in that the extracting molecule of a non-alkaline cationic species is a macrocycle of which the ring is formed from 24 to 32 carbon atoms and has the following formula (I) or (II): wherein -n is an integer ranging from 5 to 8, -p is 1 or 2, -m is 3 or 4, -q and t, which may be identical or different, are 0, 1 or 2, -R is a tert-butyl, tert-octyl, O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-butyl, O-isobutyl, O-pentyl, O-hexyl, O-heptyl, O-octyl, or OCH2Phenyl group or a hydrogen atom, and - R' and R'', which may be identical or different, are chosen from the group made up of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, heptyl and octyl groups or R' and R'' together form a pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine ring.