Method of producing useful products from seawater and similar brines

• US 20060105082A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur William Zeigler
• Original Assignee: Arthur William Zeigler
• Inventors: Zeigler, Arthur William
• Granted Patent: US 7,261,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/72
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/24 Compounds of alkaline earth metals, e.g. magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/10 using additives addition of substantially indigestible substances A23L33/21
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/16 Inorganic salts, minerals or trace elements
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 5/00 Fertilisers containing magnesium C05D7/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/00 Other organic fertilisers

Abstract

A process is provided for the recovery of useful products, including fertilizers and nutritional supplements, from the organic matter and minerals contained in seawater and other brines. The dissolved organic carbon-based chemicals and suspended particulate carbon-based organic matter are co-precipitated together with the contained magnesium and/or calcium, along with incidental trace minerals, entrained water and water of hydration. Caustic soda (NaOH) and other alkali base or alkaline earth bases and/or carbon dioxide (CO2) are added to the brine until a pH of 10.75 to 11.0 is achieved. The settled or non-dry filtered or centrifuged precipitate is utilized as a slurry and the supernatant brine is discarded.

Claims

1. A method for co-precipitating substantially all organic matter together with constituent bivalent minerals, incidental trace minerals, entrained water and water of hydration from seawater or other brines comprising:

Seawater or similar brines are treated with caustic soda and or any other alkali base or alkaline earth base that yields hydroxyl ions on hydrolysis. Soda ash or any other alkali carbonate or alkaline earth carbonate and/or carbon dioxide may also be added;

whereby the contained bivalent minerals along with the incidental trace minerals are precipitated together with substantially all carbon-based chemicals and carbon-based particulate matter along with entrained water and water of hydration; and

2. A means under claim 1 of substantially altering the nature of said precipitate by adding organic and/or inorganic material to the source brine before precipitation comprising:

Selected minerals and/or other materials, either singly or in combination, are added to the source brine before precipitation;

whereby an additive or synergistic alteration of the bioactivity of the precipitates is achieved or other desirable quality; and

3. A means under claim 1 of substantially altering the nature of said precipitate by adding organic and/or inorganic material to the precipitates after precipitation comprising:

Selected minerals and/or other materials, either singly or in combination, are added to the source brine before precipitation;

whereby an additive or synergistic alteration of the bioactivity of the precipitates is achieved or other desirable quality; and

4. A means under claim 1 for producing magnesium fulvate from seawater comprising:

Magnesium is precipitated from the source brine as magnesium hydroxide;

whereby it then reacts with any contained fulvates to precipitate them as magnesium fulvate; and

5. A method for producing, from seawater or other natural brine, a liquor containing organic chemical and non-organic minerals, said liquor being a fertilizer and plant growth stimulant comprising:

Seawater or similar brines are treated with caustic soda and or any other alkali base or alkaline earth base that yields hydroxyl ions on hydrolysis. Soda ash or any other alkali carbonate or alkaline earth carbonate and/or carbon dioxide may also be added;

whereby the contained bivalent minerals along with the incidental trace minerals are precipitated together with substantially all carbon-based chemicals and carbon-based particulate matter along with entrained water and water of hydration. By settling said precipitates and decanting the supernatant solution said precipitates may be concentrated to the desired degree; and

6. A means under claim 5 of substantially altering the nature of said liquor by adding organic and/or inorganic material comprising:

Selected minerals and/or other materials, either singly or in combination, are added to the source brine before and/or after precipitation;

whereby an additive or synergistic alteration of the bioactivity of the precipitates is achieved and/or other desirable qualities; and

7. A means under claim 5 of preserving the potency of said liquor by not allowing it to become dry before use comprising:

The precipitates are maintained as an aqueous slurry until used;

whereby potency is maintained; and

8. A means under claim 5 of preserving the potency of said liquor by storing it in an opaque container and not allowing it to be subjected to direct sunlight or other strong electromagnetic fields before use comprising:

Said precipitates are stored in an opaque container and/or darkened storage area and away from any strong electromagnetic field;

whereby the potency is preserved; and

9. A means under claim 5 of applying said fertilizer and plant growth stimulant to orchard and field crops comprising:

Said precipitates are diluted to the appropriate rate and applied as a seed pretreatment and/or on the growth medium and/or as a foliar spray;

Whereby the appropriate application rate and method that is best for the use and circumstance may be selected; and

10. A means under claim 5 of applying said fertilizer with commercially available nitrogen and/or other fertilizers to obtain a synergetic enhancement of plant growth comprising:

Said precipitates are applied tgether with a nitrogen source and/or other nutrient source;

whereby an additive and/or synergistic result is achieved; and

11. A means under claim 5 of stimulating and strengthening cellular respiration in plants comprising:

Said precipitates are diluted to the appropriate rate and applied as a seed pretreatment and/or on the growth medium and/or as a foliar spray;

whereby cellular respiration is stimulated both in the targeted crop and in the microflora of the soil in which it is grown; and

12. A means under claim 5 of enhancing bacterial growth and Total organic carbon content in soils comprising:

Said precipitates are diluted to the appropriate rate and applied as a seed pretreatment and/or on the growth medium and/or as a foliar spray;

whereby total soil bacterial biomass and total soil fungal biomass are rapidly and significantly increased; and

13. A method for producing, from seawater or other natural Brines, a liquor containing organic chemical and non-organic Minerals, said liquor being a health and growth promoting Nutritional supplement for animals and humans comprising:

Seawater or similar brines are treated with caustic soda and or any other alkali base or alkaline earth base that yields hydroxyl ions on hydrolysis. Soda ash or any other alkali carbonate or alkaline earth carbonate and/or carbon dioxide may also be added;

whereby the contained bivalent minerals along with the incidental trace minerals are precipitated together with substantially all carbon-based chemicals and carbon-based particulate matter along with entrained water and water of hydration. By settling said precipitates and decanting the supernatant solution said precipitates may be concentrated to the desired degree; and

14. A means under claim 13 of substantially altering the nature of said liquor by adding organic and/or inorganic material comprising:

Selected minerals and/or other materials, either singly or in combination, are added to the source brine before and/or after precipitation;

whereby an additive or synergistic alteration of the bioactivity of the precipitates is achieved and/or other desirable qualities; and

15. A means under claim 13 of preserving the potency of said liquor by not allowing it to become dry before use comprising:

The precipitates are maintained as an aqueous slurry until used;

whereby potency is maintained; and

16. A means under claim 13 of preserving the potency of said liquor by storing it in an opaque container and not allowing it to be subjected to direct sunlight or other strong electromagnetic fields before use comprising:

Said precipitates are stored in an opaque container and/or darkened storage area and away from any strong electromagnetic field;

whereby the potency is preserved; and

17. A means under claim 13 of applying said nutritional supplement to animal feed and liquid nutrient comprising:

Said precipitates are added to food and/or drinking water and/or are used by themselves and/or taken together with another ingestable substance;

whereby the beneficial bioactivity of said precipitates are conveyed to the animal; and

18. A means under claim 13 of stimulating and strengthening cellular respiration in animals and humans comprising:

Said precipitates are added to food and/or drinking water and/or are used by themselves and/or taken together with another ingestable substance;

whereby the beneficial bioactivity of said precipitates are conveyed to the animal or human; and

19. A means under claim 13 of sterilizing and preserving said liquor before packaging comprising:

Said precipitates are boiled for ten minutes and after cooling, two milliliters of 35% hydrogen peroxide may be added to each gallon;

whereby sterility is achieved; and

20. A means under claim 13 of packaging the food grade slurry so that it may be stored and shipped without losing its potency comprising:

Said precipitates may be packaged in metal or metalized containers and/or overpackaged in metal or metalized foil;

whereby stability of potency is guarded against electromagnetic fields.