Systems and methods for water desalination using thermo-responsive ionic liquids regenerated by solar energy

US11845682B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Robert Kostecki · Lafayette, US
• Ravi Prasher · Phoenix, US
• Akanksha K. Menon · Berkeley, US
• Andrew Z. Haddad · Berkeley, US
• Jeffrey J. Urban · Emeryville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 8, 2021
• Grant date: Dec 19, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 8, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W10/37
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to water desalination. In one aspect, a method includes generating a diluted draw solution using forward osmosis. Wastewater is on a first side of an osmotic membrane and a draw solution is on a second side of the osmotic membrane. The draw solution comprises a mixture of water and an ionic liquid. Water in the wastewater diffuses across the osmotic membrane to the draw solution to form the diluted draw solution. The diluted draw solution is heated using a photonic heater to a temperature above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the ionic liquid to phase separate the diluted draw solution into the ionic liquid and treated water.