Thermo-responsive solution, and method of use therefor
The present invention relates to a thermo-responsive solution and in particular, a solution for use in an osmosis process that is suitable for separating or purifying solutes and or water from an aqueous solution on a large scale and under energy efficient conditions.
1. A thermo-responsive osmotic solution having a lower critical solution temperature in a solvent, the thermo-responsive osmotic solution comprising:
a) at least one tertiary amine containing compound selected from:
and
b) at least one enolisable carbonyl compound selected from acetone, acetophenone, methylethylketone (2-butanone), cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, 2-propanone, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 2-octanone and 3-methyl-2-butanone, or a combination thereof;
wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound or the at least one enolisable carbonyl compound is immiscible with the solvent at or above 20 degrees Celsius and at 1 atmosphere; and
wherein the solvent is water.
2. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises a combination of more than one tertiary amine containing compound.
3. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound in the solution is immiscible with the solvent at or above 20 degrees Celsius and at 1 atmosphere.
4. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound is N(C 1 -C 7 alkyl) 3 .
5. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound is N(C 1 -C 4 alkyl) 3 .
6. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound is N(C 2 alkyl) 3 (triethylamine).
7. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the at least one tertiary amine containing compound to the at least one enolisable carbonyl compound of Formula I is about 1:5 or 5:1.
8. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the at least one tertiary amine containing compound to the at least one enolisable carbonyl compound of Formula I is about 1:3 or 3:1.
9. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the at least one tertiary amine containing compound to the at least one enolisable carbonyl compound of Formula I is about 1:2 or 2:1.
10. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the at least one tertiary amine containing compound to the at least one enolisable carbonyl compound of Formula I is about 1:1.
11. The solution as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one tertiary amine containing compound is triethylamine and the enolisable carbonyl is methylethylketone (2-butanone).
12. The solution as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the molar ratio of the triethylamine to methylethylketone (2-butanone) is 1:2.
13. The solution as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the molar ratio of the triethylamine to methylethylketone (2-butanone) is 1:2.
14. A thermo-responsive osmotic solution having a lower critical solution temperature in a solvent, the thermo-responsive osmotic solution comprising triethylamine and methylethylketone (2-butanone), wherein the triethylamine or the methylethylketone (2-butanone) is immiscible with the solvent at or above 20 degrees Celsius and at 1 atmosphere; and wherein the solvent is water.