Hydrate-based reduction of fluid inventories and concentration of aqueous and other water-containing products

• US 7,255,794 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Generating Systems I, LLC
• Original Assignee: Marine Desalination Systems LLC
• Inventors: Max, Michael D., Osegovic, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci; Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US11/504,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20060273036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 210/702
• US Class Current: 210/711
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/08 Concentrating or drying of juices
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 11/46 Sulfates dehydration of gypsum for the production of calcium sulfate cements C04B11/02
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/22 by freezing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/26 by extraction
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/265 Desalination
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/5236 using inorganic agents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/101 Sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/105 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/18 from the purification of gaseous effluents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/32 from the food or foodstuff industry, e.g. brewery waste waters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/124 Water desalination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/906 Phosphorus containing

Abstract

Toxic waste waters polluted with high levels of chemical byproducts of various industrial processes (e.g., waste water held in industrial holding ponds) are treated using gas hydrate to extract and remove fresh water from the polluted water, thus reducing the volume of toxic waste water inventories. Extracting fresh water by forming and removing the hydrate raises the concentration of dissolved materials in the residual concentrated brines to levels at which the residual fluid is suitable for use as an industrial feedstock. Furthermore, so raising the concentration of the residual brine will cause certain mineral species to precipitate out of solution, which mineral species are separated from the fluid and may be put to other uses, as appropriate. Food products are also advantageously concentrated by means of gas hydrates.

Claims

1. A method for treating a highly polluted or otherwise contaminated solution comprising water and one or more solutes dissolved therein, the solution being a byproduct of an industrial process, said method comprising:

mixing a hydrate-forming substance with the solution under pressure and temperature conditions suitable for hydrate to form, whereby hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance forms and removes water from said solution to produce residual fluid having higher concentration of said one or more solutes than said solution;

removing said hydrate from said residual fluid; and

providing said residual fluid to said industrial process as an industrial feedstock of said one or more solutes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising dissociating said hydrate to release water and hydrate-forming substance therefrom.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising returning water released from said hydrate to said contaminated solution.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising releasing water released from said hydrate to surface waters.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising reusing hydrate-forming substance released from said hydrate in additional cycles of hydrate formation.

6. A method for treating a highly polluted or otherwise contaminated solution comprising water and one or more solutes dissolved therein, the solution being a byproduct of an industrial process, said method comprising:

mixing a hydrate-forming substance with the solution under pressure and temperature conditions suitable for hydrate to form, whereby hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance forms and removes water from said solution to produce residual fluid having higher concentration of said one or more solutes than said solution; and

removing said hydrate from said residual fluid;

wherein sufficient amounts of water is removed from said solution via said hydrate to raise the concentration of said one or more solutes in said residual fluid to saturation levels, whereby at least one of said one or more solutes precipitates out of said residual fluid;

said method further comprising collecting said precipitated solute material.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising dissociating said hydrate to release water and hydrate-forming substance therefrom.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising returning water released from said hydrate to said contaminated solution.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising releasing water released from said hydrate to surface waters.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising reusing hydrate-forming substance released from said hydrate in additional cycles of hydrate formation.