Salt recovery solution and processes of use thereof

1. A process for separating a salt from a first aqueous solution, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) adding the salt containing first aqueous solution to a salt recovery solution comprising:

(i) at least one tertiary amine containing compound; and

(ii) at least one enolisable carbonyl; and

(b) allowing the salt to precipitate on passage through the salt recovery solution wherein wherein the salt containing first aqueous solution is sea water or a brine; and wherein the at least one tertiary amine is selected from selected from:

(i) 1-ethylpyrrolidine, 2-methylpyridine, N-methylpiperidine, and 4-ethylmorpholine; or

(ii) a —N(C 1 -C 4 alkyl) 3 or

(iii) —N(C 2 alkyl) 3 (triethylamine); or

(iv) is selected from:

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process includes the further step of adding an additive to the salt recovery solution to further release water held within the salt recovery solution.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the additive is citric acid or a citric acid solution.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the salt recovery solution comprises at least one enolisable carbonyl of Formula I,

wherein

a) R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from a —C 1 -C 7 alkyl or a —C 3 -C 7 monocyclic; or

b) one of R 1 or R 2 is selected from a —O—(C 1 -C 7 alkyl) and the other is selected from a —C 1 -C 7 alkyl, or

c) R 1 and R 2 together, with the carbonyl of Formula I, form a 3-15 membered monocyclic ketone or a 3-15 membered monocyclic heterocyclic ketone; or

d) R 1 and R 2 together with the carbonyl of Formula I form an 8-15 membered aromatic system optionally including one or more heteroatoms selected from S, N or O.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the salt recovery solution comprises at least one enolisable carbonyl of Formula II,

wherein

X is a 5-8 membered aromatic monocyclic optionally containing a heteroatom selected from S, N or O;

each R 3 , if present, is selected independently from a halo, a hydroxy, a —NO 2 , a C 1 -C 7 alkyl, or a —O—(C 1 -C 7 alkyl);

R 4 is selected from a halo, a —O—(C 1 -C 7 alkyl); a C 1 -C 7 alkyl optionally substituted with a halo, a hydroxy, a —O—(C 1 -C 7 alkyl) or a C 3 -C 7 monocyclic; or a C 3 -C 7 monocyclic optionally substituted with a halo, a hydroxy, a C 1 -C 7 alkyl, or a —O—(C 1 -C 7 alkyl);

m is 0, 1, 2 or 3 carbons, each carbon being optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from a halo, hydroxy, a C 1 -C 7 alkyl optionally substituted with a halo or a hydroxy; a C 1 -C 7 alkyl, a —O—(C 1 -C 7 alkyl) or a C 3 -C 7 monocyclic; and

n is 0, 1, 2 or 3.

6. The process of claim 4 , wherein the salt recovery solution comprises a combination of more than one enolisable carbonyl of Formula I.

7. The process of claim 5 , wherein the salt recovery solution comprises a combination of more than one enolisable carbonyl of Formula I and Formula II.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound to the one or more enolisable carbonyls are present

(i) in a molar ratio of about 1:99 or 99:1; or

(ii) in a molar ratio of about 1:50 or 50:1; or

(iii) in a molar ratio of about 1:10 or 10:1; or

(iv) in a molar ratio of about 1:5 or 5:1; or

(v) in a molar ratio of about 1:3 or 3:1; or

(vi) in a molar ratio of about 1:2 or 2:1; or

(vii) in a molar ratio of about 1:1.

9. The process of claim 4 , wherein R 1 and R 2 of Formula I are independently selected from a —C 1 -C 7 alkyl, preferably methyl and ethyl.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the salt recovery solution is recycled for use in a further separation process.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is a continuous process.