HYBRID THERMAL - CHROMATOGRAPHIC SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUS MINERAL PURIFICATION AND DESALINATION OF SALINE WATERS
Embodiments of the hybrid thermal-chromatograph systems described herein solve the co-product generation problem associated with seawater desalination, and result in significant reduction in the selling price of fresh water generated through the process, while also solving problems associated with traditional lithium mining practices.
1 . A method for the separation of salts from an aqueous solution comprising the steps of using simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography and the use of zwitterionic resins.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the salts comprise different salts.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the different salts are separated from each other.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the salts comprise LiCl.
5 . The method of claim 3 wherein the salts comprise LiCl, CaCl 2 and MgCl 2 .
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic resins comprise quaternary ammonium cations.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic resins comprise imidazolium cations.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic resins comprise anions selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , SO 3 and PO 3 .
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic resins are selected from the group consisting of QAC1CA, QAC2CA, QAC3CA, QAC1PO 3 , QAC2PO 3 , QAC3PO 3 , QAC1SO 3 , QAC2SO 3 , and QAC3SO 3 .
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the zwitterionic resins are selected from the group consisting of IC1CA, IC2CA, IC3CA, IC1PO 3 , IC2PO 3 , IC3PO 3 , IC1SO 3 , IC2SO 3 , and IC3SO 3 .
11 . A method for the isolation of salt free water from a salt containing solution comprising the separation of salts from the salt containing solution comprising the steps of using simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography and the use of zwitterionic resins.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the zwitterionic resins comprise quaternary ammonium cations.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the zwitterionic resins comprise imidazolium cations.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the zwitterionic resins comprise anions selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , SO 3 and PO 3 .
15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the zwitterionic resins are selected from the group consisting of QAC1CA, QAC2CA, QAC3CA, QAC1PO 3 , QAC2PO 3 , QAC3PO 3 , QAC1SO 3 , QAC2SO 3 , and QAC3SO 3 .
16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the zwitterionic resins are selected from the group consisting of IC1CA, IC2CA, IC3CA, IC1PO 3 , IC2PO 3 , IC3PO 3 , IC1SO 3 , IC2SO 3 , and IC3SO 3 .
17 . A composition of matter comprising zwitterionic resins comprising quaternary ammonium cations, imidazolium cations and further comprising anions.
18 . The composition of matter of claim 17 comprising zwitterionic resins comprising anions selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , SO 3 and PO 3 .
19 . The composition of matter of claim 17 comprising zwitterionic resins selected from the group consisting of QAC1CA, QAC2CA, QAC3CA, QAC1PO 3 , QAC2PO 3 , QAC3PO 3 , QAC1SO 3 , QAC2SO 3 , and QAC3SO 3 .
20 . The composition of matter of claim 17 comprising zwitterionic resins are selected from the group consisting of IC1CA, IC2CA, IC3CA, IC1PO 3 , IC2PO 3 , IC3PO 3 , IC1SO 3 , IC2SO 3 , and IC3SO 3 .