WO2024081760A1 - Systèmes et procédés d'élimination de liquides aqueux d'un matériau poreux solide par déplacement de solvant - Google Patents

Systèmes et procédés d'élimination de liquides aqueux d'un matériau poreux solide par déplacement de solvant Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024081760A1
WO2024081760A1 PCT/US2023/076652 US2023076652W WO2024081760A1 WO 2024081760 A1 WO2024081760 A1 WO 2024081760A1 US 2023076652 W US2023076652 W US 2023076652W WO 2024081760 A1 WO2024081760 A1 WO 2024081760A1
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Prior art keywords
liquid
solid material
porous solid
polar organic
entrained
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PCT/US2023/076652
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English (en)
Inventor
Caleb C. STETSON
Hyeonseok LEE
Christopher J. Orme
Rebecca M. BROWN
Jaya Shankar TUMULURU
Vicki S. Thompson
Lynn M. WENDT
Christopher L. WILLIAMS
Aaron D. WILSON
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Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc
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Publication of WO2024081760A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024081760A1/fr

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D12/00—Displacing liquid, e.g. from wet solids or from dispersions of liquids or from solids in liquids, by means of another liquid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
    • F26B5/005—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by dipping them into or mixing them with a chemical liquid, e.g. organic; chemical, e.g. organic, dewatering aids

Definitions

  • the disclosure in various embodiments, relates generally to the field of removing aqueous liquids from solid materials. More specifically, the disclosure relates to systems and methods for displacing aqueous liquids (e.g., water) from porous solid materials with a polar organic liquid (e.g., water-soluble organic solvent and/or partially water-soluble organic solvent).
  • aqueous liquids e.g., water
  • a polar organic liquid e.g., water-soluble organic solvent and/or partially water-soluble organic solvent
  • adiabatic dryers wet solids are exposed to heated gas through various approaches, including cross circulation, through-circulation, solid flow through a slow-moving gas stream (e.g., rotary- drying), in a fluidized bed, or in a high- velocity gas stream (e.g., flash drying).
  • non-adiabatic dry ing heat is applied to the wet solids through a medium other than air, such as a metal heat conductor. While contact dryers feature higher thermal efficiency than adiabatic dryers, they are less common in industrial applications.
  • DME dimethyl ether
  • kPa kilopascals
  • water-miscible organic solvents such as dimethyl ether (DME) have been explored for drying applications.
  • DME is used in conventional solvent drying applications, primarily due to its gaseous state at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius (°C) and a pressure of about 101 kilopascals (kPa) absolute, and its capability to be condensed to a liquid at moderate pressures of about 507 kPa absolute to about 608 kPa absolute, as well as the moderate solubility’ of water in condensed liquid DME.
  • the water dissolves into the DME-rich liquid, where it can be transferred to a separate chamber.
  • a method for removing an aqueous liquid from a liquid-entrained porous solid material includes contacting the liquid-entrained porous solid material with a polar organic liquid, the liquid-entrained porous solid material containing the aqueous liquid in pores thereof. The method also includes displacing at least a portion of the aqueous liquid from the pores of the liquid-entrained porous solid material with the polar organic liquid and separating the displaced aqueous liquid from the polar organic liquid. The method additionally includes removing the polar organic liquid from the pores of the liquid- entrained porous solid material to form a dry porous solid material.
  • Another method for removing an aqueous liquid from a liquid-entrained porous solid material includes contacting the liquid-entrained porous solid material comprising the aqueous liquid in pores thereof with dimethyl ether. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of the aqueous liquid in the pores of the liquid-entrained porous solid material with the dimethyl ether and separating the aqueous liquid from the dimethyl ether. The method further includes volatilizing the dimethyl ether in the pores of the liquid- entrained porous solid material to form a dry porous solid material and recovering the dimethyl ether.
  • a polar organic liquid source is disposed in fluid communication with the contactor, and a polar organic liquid transfer device is configured to transfer an amount of the polar organic liquid from the polar organic liquid source to the contactor under pressure.
  • the system includes an outlet disposed in fluid communication with the contactor and configured to allow an amount of aqueous liquid displaced from the pores to be discharged therefrom.
  • a heat source is disposed in communication with the contactor and configured to elevate a temperature of the porous solid material to vaporize the polar organic liquid remaining therein, and a vapor outlet is disposed in fluid communication with the contactor and configured to allow the vaporized polar organic liquid to be discharged therefrom.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram, and an enlarged inset therefrom, of a liquid-entrained porous solid material where pores of the porous solid material are substantially filled with an aqueous liquid, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram, and an enlarged inset therefrom, of the liquid-entrained porous solid material where a polar organic liquid has partially displaced the aqueous liquid from the pores, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram, and an enlarged inset therefrom, of the liquid-entrained porous solid material where the pores are substantially filled with a polar organic liquid, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram, and an enlarged inset therefrom, of a porous solid material where the pores are substantially free of the aqueous liquid and the polar organic liquid, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic diagram of a system for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified schematic diagram of the system of FIG. 5 in operation, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a method for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the term “may” with respect to a material, structure, feature, or method act indicates that such is contemplated for use in implementation of embodiments of the disclosure, and such term is used in preference to the more restrictive term “is” so as to avoid any implication that other compatible materials, structures, features, and methods usable in combination therewith should or must be excluded.
  • any relational term such as “first,” ‘'second,” '‘top,” ‘'bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “beneath,” “side,” “upward,” '‘downward,” etc., is used for clarity and convenience in understanding the disclosure and accompanying drawings and does not connote or depend on any specific preference or order, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  • these terms may refer to an orientation of elements when utilized in a conventional manner.
  • these terms may refer to an orientation of elements as illustrated in the drawings.
  • the term “about” used in reference to a given parameter is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the given parameter, as well as variations resulting from manufacturing tolerances, etc.).
  • the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one skilled in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances.
  • the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0% met, at least 95.0% met, at least 99.0% met, or at least 99.9% met.
  • the systems and methods according to embodiments of the disclosure advance solvent-driven water extraction processes through physical displacement of aqueous liquids (e.g., aqueous solutions) from pores and/or interstitial spaces within a porous solid material (e.g., a granular solid material).
  • aqueous liquids e.g., aqueous solutions
  • porous solid material e.g., a granular solid material
  • the aqueous liquid in the pores of the porous solid material may be displaced by a solvent or solvents.
  • the systems and methods according to embodiments of the disclosure approach or exceed a mass ratio of solvent water displaced of about 0.5: 1.0 (i.e., a greater mass of w ater may be displaced for each unit mass of solvent employed) to about 1.0:0.5 (i.e., a lesser mass of water may be displaced for each unit mass of solvent employed), thus providing energy- and reagent-efficient dewatering of a liquid-entrained porous solid material (e.g., a wet porous solid material).
  • a mass ratio of solvent water displaced of about 0.5: 1.0 i.e., a greater mass of w ater may be displaced for each unit mass of solvent employed
  • 1.0:0.5 i.e., a lesser mass of water may be displaced for each unit mass of solvent employed
  • Solvent-driven water displacement in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure utilizes a solvent volume of less than or equal to about the volume of aqueous liquids initially contained in and physically displaced from the pores of the liquid-entrained porous solid material (e.g., a wet porous solid material), thus serving as an energy- and reagent-efficient dewatering process for the liquid-entrained porous solid materials.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid material may originate from complex biological and chemical treatment pathways, mineral production, etc.
  • Liquid-entrained porous solid materials e.g., a wet porous solid material
  • a wet porous solid material include, but are in no manner limited to: biomass solids; food solids for human consumption; feedstock solids for animal husbandry; and slurries and wet solids resulting from mineral extraction.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid material may be a slurry concentrate obtained from a mining process.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 where pores 12 are at least partially filled with an aqueous liquid 14, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the pores 12 may also be referred to herein as liquid-entrained pores 12 and the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 may also be referred to herein as a wet porous solid material 10.
  • the pores 12 may include pore structure as well as water (e.g., interstitial water, chemically bound water) within the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may include, but is in no manner limited to, reticulated masses, primarily closed cell masses, earthen masses with porosities that allow contact of aqueous moisture content within the porosities with water-soluble organic liquids, granular materials, and combinations thereof.
  • the pores 12 of a liquid-entrained solid material 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may have a combined volume in a range of from about 5% to about 85% of the total volume of the liquid-entrained solid material 10, inclusive of the volume of the pores 12.
  • the pores 12 may be uniform in configuration and/or volume. In other embodiments, the pores 12 may have non-uniform configurations and/or volumes.
  • FIG. 1 includes an enlarged inset of a portion thereof that illustrates an aqueous liquid 14 (e.g., an aqueous moisture content) substantially filling the pores 12 (e.g., interstitial spaces) of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • the aqueous liquid 14 is at least initially present within the pores 12 of the porous solid material 10, resulting in the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 being substantially fdled (e.g., substantially completely filled) with the aqueous liquid 14.
  • the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 may be partially filled with the aqueous liquid 14.
  • the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 are substantially completely filled with the aqueous liquid 14.
  • the liquid- entrained porous solid material 10 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may contain the aqueous liquid 14 in amounts from about 10% to about 90% by w eight of the combined weight of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 and the aqueous liquid 14, or from about 20% to about 80% by weight, or from about 30% to about 70% by weight, or from about 40% to about 60% by weight (e.g., about 50% by weight of the combined weight of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 and the aqueous liquid 14).
  • the aqueous liquid 14 within the pores 12 includes water and, optionally, one or more additives or impurities.
  • the additives, if present, in the aqueous liquid 14 may include, but are not limited to, one or more salts, one or more acids, one or more bases, one or more surfactants, or combinations thereof.
  • the impurities in the aqueous liquid 14 may be materials initially present in the porous solid material 10 and/or in the aqueous liquid 14 itself and may include, but are not limited to, metals, oils, resins, w axes, other organic molecules, other water-soluble materials, colloid suspended materials, salts, silica, ash, surfactants, or combinations thereof.
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 where a polar organic liquid 16 (e.g., water-soluble organic solvent, partially water-soluble organic solvent) has at least partially, physically displaced the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12 (e.g., partially, physically displaced the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 of FIG. 1), in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. Similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 includes an enlarged inset of a portion thereof, where the enlarged inset of FIG.
  • a polar organic liquid 16 e.g., water-soluble organic solvent, partially water-soluble organic solvent
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the aqueous liquid 14 partially filling the liquid-entrained pores 12 (e.g., interstitial spaces) of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10, and the remainder of the liquid-entrained pores 12 being filled with the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the enlarged insert of FIG. 2 illustrates the introduction of the polar organic liquid 16 to the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10, which, over time, begins to physically displace the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12.
  • an amount of the aqueous liquid 14 contained in the liquid- entrained porous solid material 10 has a first volume and an amount of the polar organic liquid 16 has a second volume, where the first volume is greater than or equal to the second volume.
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram, and an enlarged inset therefrom, of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 where the liquid-entrained pores 12 are substantially filled with the polar organic liquid 16 (e.g., water-soluble organic solvent, partially water-soluble organic solvent), in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. More particularly, the enlarged inset of FIG. 3 is illustrative of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 after the polar organic liquid 16 has substantially physically displaced (e.g.. substantially completely displaced) the aqueous liquid 14 originally present therein (FIG. 1).
  • the polar organic liquid 16 e.g., water-soluble organic solvent, partially water-soluble organic solvent
  • the aqueous liquid 14 is physically displaced from the liquid- entrained porous solid material 10 via polar molecular interactions with the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the polar organic liquid 16 also substantially physically displaces (e.g., substantially completely displaces) one or more of the impurities present in the aqueous liquid 14 (FIG. 1).
  • the polar organic liquid 16 may include one or more organic solvents (e.g., dimethyl ether, propane, 1 -butanol).
  • the polar organic liquid 16 may optionally include one or more additives including, but in no manner limited to, water, salts, acids, bases, surfactants, or combinations thereof.
  • the polar organic liquid 16 may be at least partially soluble in water or may be substantially soluble in water.
  • the polar organic liquid 16 is dimethyl ether (DME).
  • the polar organic liquid 16 may displace from about 30% to about 99% by volume of the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10. In some embodiments, the polar organic liquid 16 may displace from about 40% to about 80% by volume of the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10. In other embodiments, the polar organic liquid 16 may displace from about 50% to about 70% by volume of the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • the physical displacement of the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 using the polar organic liquid 16 may be facilitated by the relatively low surface tension of the polar organic liquid 16.
  • Water has a relatively high surface tension of about 72 millinewtons per meter (mN m -1 ). whereas organic solvents have considerably lower surface tensions (e.g., acetone has a surface tension of about 24 mN m" 1 ).
  • Dimethyl ether has a surface tension of about 12 mN m’ 1 .
  • a water-DME solvent system may have a specific surface tension that is likely lower than that of either pure water or pure DME.
  • Differences in density between the aqueous liquid 14 and the polar organic liquid 16 may also facilitate the physical displacement of the aqueous liquid 14.
  • the high-water content liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 may be pretreated with amounts of dilute acids and/or dilute bases to further facilitate the physical displacement of the aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • composition of the polar organic liquid 16 may be adjusted to address different ionic-strengths of the aqueous liquid 14 to be displaced from the liquid- entrained porous solid material 10.
  • a high ionic strength aqueous liquid 14 may be more susceptible to solvent-driven pore displacement, thus minimizing (e.g., preventing) the polar organic liquid 16 from readily dissolving into the aqueous liquid 14, and vice versa, minimizing the amount of the polar organic liquid 16 used for the dewatering process.
  • the physical displacement of the aqueous liquid 14 may be completed with minimal dissolution of the aqueous phase (e.g., the aqueous liquid 14) into the organic phase (e.g., the polar organic liquid 16), significantly increasing (e.g., maximizing) the efficiency of dewatering the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • Additional efficiencies may be realized by incorporating one or more optional additives in the aqueous liquid 14 and/or the polar organic liquid 16, where the additives promote cohesion in the aqueous phase and/or the organic phase, as well as to minimize (e.g., prevent) dissolution of the aqueous liquid 14 into the polar organic liquid 16, and to minimize (e.g., prevent) dissolution of the polar organic liquid 16 into the aqueous liquid 14.
  • the additives may include water, one or more salts, one or more acids, one or more bases, one or more surfactants, one or more solvents other than DME, or combinations thereof.
  • Additive containing DME may be recovered through a sequential treatment with substantially pure grade DME. whereby residual DME and contained additives are also displaced from the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10. The original additive containing DME mixture and pure DME may then be restored through an established protocol for recovery and compression of pure DME.
  • the temperature proximate the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 may be slightly increased (e.g., to about 25 °C, to about 30 °C) and/or the pressure proximate the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 may be reduced (e.g., from about 10 kPa absolute to about 456 kPa absolute), causing the polar organic liquid 16 to volatilize and migrate from the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • the volatilized polar organic liquid 16 may be recovered and recycled through the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 (e.g., heap leaching techniques) to displace aqueous liquid 14 from the liquid-entrained pores 12 of the liquid- entrained porous solid material 10 which may remain therein after processing.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 e.g., heap leaching techniques
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram, and an enlarged inset therefrom, of the d ry porous solid material 20 having a number of pores 22 (e.g., interstitial spaces) that lack at least a portion of the aqueous liquid 14 and the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the pores 22 may also be referred to herein as dry pores 22.
  • the dry pores 22 may be free of the aqueous liquid 14 and free of the polar organic liquid 16, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, such as being substantially free of the aqueous liquid 14 and substantially free of the polar organic liquid 16.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are simplified schematic diagrams of a system 100 for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the system 100 for removing an aqueous liquid (e.g., the aqueous liquid 14) from the porous solid material (e.g., the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10) via solvent displacement (e.g., via physical displacement) with a polar organic liquid (e.g., the polar organic liquid 16) includes a contactor 110.
  • the contactor 110 may include any suitable liquid-solid processing equipment including, but not limited to, a rotary screw compressor configured to carry the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 through a liquid solvent environment (e.g., through the polar organic liquid 16).
  • the contactor 110 may include chambers (not shown) at an inlet and an outlet to minimize solvent losses therefrom.
  • the contactor 110 is constructed of a thermally insulative material to allow a temperature therein to be adjusted (e.g., controlled) during a dewatering process.
  • the contactor 110 is constructed of a pressure resistant material able to withstand minimal to moderate operating pressures (e.g., about 203 kPa absolute, about 405 kPa absolute, about 608 kPa absolute), as well as minimal to moderate vacuums (e.g., about 5 kPa vacuum, about 51 kPa vacuum, about 101 kPa vacuum).
  • minimal to moderate operating pressures e.g., about 203 kPa absolute, about 405 kPa absolute, about 608 kPa absolute
  • minimal to moderate vacuums e.g., about 5 kPa vacuum, about 51 kPa vacuum, about 101 kPa vacuum.
  • the contactor 1 10 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure includes a processing volume 111 which may be sized and configured to accommodate a volume of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 to be dewatered.
  • the contactor 110 also includes a closure 112 (e.g., lid) which substantially seals the processing volume 111 of the contactor from the surrounding ambient conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.), such that the processing environment within the processing volume 111 may be adjusted (e.g., controlled) to facilitate the dewatering process.
  • the closure 112 may also be constructed of thermally insulative material configured to withstand minimal to moderate operating pressures or vacuums, similar to the contactor 110.
  • the contactor 110 may be charged with an amount of liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • An amount of a polar organic liquid 16 may be added to the contactor 110 and brought into contact with the liquid- entrained porous solid materials 10.
  • an initial amount of a polar organic liquid 16 may be equal to about 50% of the estimated (e.g., measured, calculated) mass of aqueous liquid 14 contained in the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10.
  • a second amount of a polar organic liquid 16 may also be equal to about 50% of the estimated mass of aqueous liquid 14 contained in the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 and may be added to the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 in the contactor 110 after the initial amount has substantially percolated through the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 in the contactor 110.
  • a polar organic liquid source 114 (e g., a liquified DME storage tank) may be provided and disposed in fluid communication with the contactor 1 10.
  • a polar organic liquid transfer device 1 16 e.g., a pump
  • a polar organic liquid inlet 118 (e.g....
  • a polar organic liquid inlet valve may be provided to permit the transfer of the polar organic liquid 16 into the contactor 110.
  • a polar organic liquid inlet 118 is disposed in communication with the processing volume 111 of the contactor 110 through the closure 112 thereof.
  • an amount of aqueous liquid 14 is physically displaced from the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 and migrates to lower portions of the contactor 1 10.
  • a liquid outlet 120 e.g., outlet valve
  • the aqueous liquid 14 may be substantially continuously recovered from the contactor 110.
  • An aqueous-organic interface 18 may form between the aqueous liquid 14 and the polar organic liquid 16 present in the contactor 110, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the aqueous liquid 14 and the polar organic liquid 16 may phase separate from one another based on density differences, such that the denser, aqueous liquid 14 sinks to the lower portions of the contactor 110 and the lighter, polar organic liquid 16 rises to upper portions of the contactor 110, i.e., above the aqueous liquid 14 in the contactor 110.
  • the aqueous liquid 14 may be removed and recovered from the contactor 110 by conventional liquid-liquid separation techniques for reuse or disposal.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 may be substantially free of the aqueous liquid 14, which has been physically displaced (e.g., substantially replaced) by the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the polar organic liquid 16 e.g.. organic phase
  • the aqueous liquid 14 in the contactor 110 may be substantially free of the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 may be further processed to remove the polar organic liquid 16 in the liquid-entrained pores 12 thereof (FIGS. 1-3) by volatilizing (e.g., flashing) the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the temperature and/or pressure conditions within the contactor 110 may be adjusted to conditions under which the polar organic liquid 16 will volatilize. In some embodiments, such as where the polar organic liquid 16 is DME, the temperature conditions within the contactor 110 may be adjusted to slightly above about 25 °C (e.g., to about 30 °C) at about 101 kPa absolute.
  • the pressure conditions within the contactor 110 may be adjusted to slightly below about 101 kPa absolute (e.g., to about 5 kPa vacuum, to about 51 kPa vacuum, to about 101 kPa vacuum) at about 25 °C.
  • the contactor 110 may be in communication with a heat source 122 to provide the thermal energy to increase the temperature within the contactor 1 10, if needed, to volatilize the polar organic liquid 16.
  • the heat source 122 may be an adiabatic dry er (e.g., rotary dr er, flash dryer) or a non-adiabatic dryer (e.g., resistive heating element).
  • a vapor outlet 124 e.g., discharge valve
  • a polar organic liquid recovery line 126 are provided to return the volatilized polar organic liquid 16 to the polar organic liquid supply 114 for recovery, reprocessing and/or reuse in subsequent dewatering processes.
  • the dry porous solid materials 20 obtained from embodiments of the system 100 in accordance with the disclosure may be used for a variety of purposes.
  • the reduction in aqueous liquid 14 present in an amount of dry porous solid materials 20, relative to an initial amount of liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10, translates into a reduction in weight, which may be substantial, reducing the costs of handling and/or transport of the dry porous solid material 20 for further processing, reuse or disposal.
  • wet solid materials may present hazards during transport, particularly via ships and barges where liquification and shifting may occur causing vessels to list and/or capsize.
  • the water content in solid materials transported in such vessels is highly regulated, and the reduction in aqueous liquid 14 present in dry porous solid materials 20 minimizes, if not eliminates, these potential hazards.
  • the reduction in aqueous liquid 14 from the initial liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 results in a reduction in the energy costs of the smelting operation, as well as a reduction in exhaust gasses, including potentially environmentally harmful exhaust gasses, produced during the smelting operation.
  • FIG. 7 presents a block diagram of a method 1000 for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the method 1000 includes contacting a liquid-entrained porous solid material with a polar organic liquid 1200.
  • the liquid-entrained porous solid material may include an aqueous liquid in pores thereof.
  • the polar organic liquid may be dimethyl ether (DME).
  • the method 1000 includes displacing (e.g., physically displacing) the aqueous liquid from the liquid-entrained porous solid material 1400.
  • the method 1000 includes displacing the aqueous liquid from at least some of the liquid-entrained pores of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 1400 with the polar organic liquid. In other embodiments, the method 1000 includes displacing (e.g., completely displacing) an aqueous liquid from substantially all of the liquid-entrained pores of the liquid-entrained porous solid material 1400 with the polar organic liquid.
  • the method 1000 also includes separating the aqueous liquid displaced from the liquid-entrained porous solid material from the polar organic liquid 1500, such as by gravimetric liquid-liquid separation.
  • separating the aqueous liquid from the polar organic liquid 1500 is accomplished under acceleration, which may be less than or greater than the acceleration of gravity at sea level on earth, i.e., less than or greater than about 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s 2 ), such as, by way of example only, greater than or equal to about 0.98 m/s 2 .
  • a solid-liquid contactor e.g., contactor 110 may be employed to implement the foregoing acts.
  • the method 1000 includes volatilizing the polar organic liquid 1600. Specifically, in some embodiments, the method 1000 includes volatilizing the polar organic liquid present in the liquid-entrained porous solid material after substantial physical displacement of the aqueous liquid originally contained therein, forming a dry porous solid material, as disclosed and described hereinabove.
  • a solid-liquid contactor e.g., contactor 110
  • the method 1000 for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement includes the further act of recovering the polar organic liquid 1800.
  • a polar organic liquid e.g.. DME
  • a solid-liquid contactor e.g., contactor 1 10
  • contactor 1 a solid-liquid contactor
  • the method 1000 for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement includes the further act of recovering the dry porous solid material 1900.
  • the recovered dry porous solid material may be used in a further process.
  • the recovered dry porous material is prepared for transport for reuse or disposal.
  • the method 1000 for removing an aqueous liquid from a porous solid material via solvent displacement also includes the further act of recovering the aqueous liquid displaced from the liquid-entrained solid material 2000.
  • the aqueous liquid may be removed and recovered from a solid-liquid contactor (e g., contactor 110) by conventional liquid-liquid separation techniques for reuse or disposal.
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may further include an aqueous liquid 14 having a first volume and a polar organic liquid 16 having a second volume, wherein the first volume is greater than or equal to the second volume.
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may also include a polar organic liquid 16 being dimethyl ether (DME).
  • DME dimethyl ether
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may additionally include introducing a polar organic liquid 16 to a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 under minimal to moderate pressure conditions (e.g., about 203 kPa absolute, about 405 kPa absolute, about 608 kPa absolute) to allow use of a polar organic liquid 16 that may otherwise be a gas or vapor at or near ambient conditions (e.g., about 101 kPa absolute at about 25 °C).
  • minimal to moderate pressure conditions e.g., about 203 kPa absolute, about 405 kPa absolute, about 608 kPa absolute
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may also include an aqueous liquid 14 containing at least one of water-soluble materials, colloid suspended materials, salts, silica, ash, surfactants, and combinations thereof, and wherein physically displacing the aqueous liquid 14 from a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 includes displacing at least one of water-soluble materials, colloid suspended materials, salts, silica, ash, surfactants, and combinations thereof from the liquid-entrained porous solid material 10.
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may further include a polar organic liquid 16 having at least one additive such as water, salts, acids, bases, surfactants, additional water-soluble organic compositions, or a combination thereof.
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented with any of a number of liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 including reticulated masses, primarily closed cell masses, earthen masses with porosities dimensioned and configured to allow contact of aqueous moisture content within the porosities with water-soluble organic liquids, granular materials, and combinations thereof.
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may further include a polar organic liquid 16 which is recycled through a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 (e.g., heap leaching techniques).
  • a polar organic liquid 16 which is recycled through a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 (e.g., heap leaching techniques).
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may additionally include separating an aqueous liquid 14 from a polar organic liquid 16 under acceleration which may be less than or greater than the acceleration of gravity at sea level on earth, i.e., less than or greater than about 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s 2 ), such as, by way of example only, greater than or equal to about 0.98 m/s 2 .
  • Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure may also include dewatering high-water content liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 (e.g.. greater than about 50% by weight aqueous liquid 14) which have been pretreated with dilute acids and/or dilute bases.
  • high-water content liquid-entrained porous solid materials 10 e.g.. greater than about 50% by weight aqueous liquid 14
  • the systems (e.g., system 100) and methods (e.g., method 1000) for removing an aqueous liquid 14 from a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10 utilize minimal mass ratios of a polar organic liquid 16 to displace an equal or greater mass of aqueous liquid 14 (e.g., solventwater displaced of about 0.5: 1.0 to about 1.0:0.5) entrained within pores and interstitial spaces of a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10, thus serving as an energy- and reagent-efficient dewatering process for liquid-entrained porous solid materials (e.g., a wet porous solid materials) generated from any of a number of processes.
  • a polar organic liquid 16 to displace an equal or greater mass of aqueous liquid 14 (e.g., solventwater displaced of about 0.5: 1.0 to about 1.0:0.5) entrained within pores and interstitial spaces of a liquid-entrained porous solid material 10, thus serving as an energy- and reagent-efficient dewatering process
  • the useful aspects of the systems (e.g., system 100) and methods (e g., method 1000) in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure is the reduction of heat energy used for initial dewatering of wet solid materials.
  • Another useful aspect of the systems (e.g., system 100) and methods (e.g., method 1000) in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure is the reduction of solvent used for initial dewatering of wet solid materials compared to other solvent-driven systems and methods.
  • An additional useful aspect of the systems (e.g., system 100) and methods (e.g., method 1000) in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure is the ability to ameliorate cracking damage that occurs in conventional solvent-driven dewatering systems and methods.

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Abstract

Un procédé d'élimination d'un liquide aqueux d'un matériau solide poreux entraîné par un liquide consiste à mettre en contact le matériau solide poreux entraîné par un liquide avec un liquide organique polaire, le matériau solide poreux entraîné par un liquide contenant le liquide aqueux dans ses pores. Le procédé comprend également le déplacement d'au moins une partie du liquide aqueux à partir des pores du matériau solide poreux entraîné par un liquide avec le liquide organique polaire et la séparation du liquide aqueux déplacé du liquide organique polaire. Le procédé comprend en outre l'élimination du liquide organique polaire des pores du matériau solide poreux entraîné par un liquide pour former un matériau solide poreux sec.
PCT/US2023/076652 2022-10-12 2023-10-12 Systèmes et procédés d'élimination de liquides aqueux d'un matériau poreux solide par déplacement de solvant WO2024081760A1 (fr)

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Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050210701A1 (en) * 2002-06-03 2005-09-29 Hideki Kanda Method for removing water contained in solid using liquid material

Patent Citations (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050210701A1 (en) * 2002-06-03 2005-09-29 Hideki Kanda Method for removing water contained in solid using liquid material

Non-Patent Citations (4)

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LEBEDEV ARTEM, SUSLOVA EKATERINA, TROYANKIN ALEKSANDER, LOVSKAYA DARIA: "Investigation of Aerogel Production Processes: Solvent Exchange under High Pressure Combined with Supercritical Drying in One Apparatus", GELS, MDPI, vol. 7, no. 1, pages 4, XP093128270, ISSN: 2310-2861, DOI: 10.3390/gels7010004 *
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