Abstract
Among the most energy intensive processes in the chemical industry are water removal processes
from polar mixtures with high boiling components, e.g., salts. Water is usually removed by
multiple effect evaporation; an energy demanding operation due to the high evaporation enthalpy
of water. In our approach to develop novel, energy-efficient processes for concentrating salt
solutions, we found that Polymer Induced Phase Separation (PIPS) is a very interesting alternative.
Here, the results of the PIPS-study for concentrating salt solutions are reported, whereby a range
of commercially available polymers (e.g., linear, hyperbranched, surfactants and gels) has been
applied for concentration of model salts NaCl, Na2SO4 and FeCl3. The formation behaviour of
aqueous biphasic systems was studied for the various polymers and the three salts in aqueous
solutions at atmospheric pressure and varying operational parameters: temperature (20–60 °C),
solvent/feed ratio (0.5–2.0 wt%), pH (0–7.5) and initial salt concentration (5–30 wt%). For different
groups of polymers, diverse aqueous biphasic system behaviour was observed, being highly
dependent on the pH. For salt concentration purposes, obtaining a salt-rich phase with a high salt
concentration is desired. The most promising results were obtained with polyethers, obtaining
aqueous biphasic systems with high concentrations of salts in the polymer-rich phase. It was
possible to concentrate diluted salt solutions up to a 3.4 factor based on this initial proof of
concept. Further studies are currently in progress, aiming at conceptual processes for water
removal to optimise the operations in order to minimise the use of energy.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 19th International Solvent Extraction Conference - ISEC 2011, 3-7 October 2011, Santiago, Chile |
Pages | 1-7 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Event | 19th International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC 2011), October 3-7, 2011, Santiago, Chile - Santiago, Chile Duration: 3 Oct 2011 → 7 Oct 2011 https://gecamin.com/isec2011/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en |
Conference
Conference | 19th International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC 2011), October 3-7, 2011, Santiago, Chile |
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Abbreviated title | ISEC 2011 |
Country/Territory | Chile |
City | Santiago |
Period | 3/10/11 → 7/10/11 |
Internet address |