The Problem:
Desalination of high-salinity brine solutions, a byproduct of various industrial processes and seawater desalination, poses challenges due to inefficiencies and high energy consumption of conventional methods. Reverse osmosis struggles with fouling and scaling due to the high concentration of dissolved solids. Distillation is energy-intensive and not cost-effective for large-scale operations. Additionally, methods such as multi-stage flash distillation and electrodialysis require substantial infrastructure and operational costs.
The Solution:
The new composition of a directional solvent consists of secondary amines that can be used to extract water from high salinity brine solutions. Water is soluble in the solvent at or near ambient temperatures, effectively separating it from the salt. Once the solvent is heated, the solvent decreases its miscibility with water and results in the production of a new aqueous phase. The new aqueous phase is purified with little to no salt after the temperature process.
Benefits:
·Energy Efficient
·Leverages temperature-dependent miscibility properties
·High water recovery
·Superior salt rejection
·Low chemical consumption
