초록 ▼

A process is described for the separation of solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent. The process is useful in the extraction and recovery of solutes using supercritical fluid extraction, and in the purification of impure steam. The process utilizes a sorbent to remove solute followed by an in situ r

A process is described for the separation of solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent. The process is useful in the extraction and recovery of solutes using supercritical fluid extraction, and in the purification of impure steam. The process utilizes a sorbent to remove solute followed by an in situ regeneration of the sorbent and the recovery of the solute.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for separating at least one solute dissolved in a gaseous solvent from the gaseous solvent under conditions where a chemical potential of the at least one solute dissolved in the gaseous solvent decreases as a density of the gaseous solvent increases, the process comprising the steps of: p

A process for separating at least one solute dissolved in a gaseous solvent from the gaseous solvent under conditions where a chemical potential of the at least one solute dissolved in the gaseous solvent decreases as a density of the gaseous solvent increases, the process comprising the steps of: passing the gaseous solvent containing the at least one solute, the gaseous solvent being at a first density, through a bed of sorbent in a first direction so as to sorb the at least one solute from the gaseous solvent onto the bed of sorbent while producing a purified gaseous solvent reduced in concentration of the at least one solute; acting upon a portion of the purified gaseous solvent so as to achieve a second density so that the portion of the purified gaseous solvent has an increased solvent capacity for the solute; passing the portion of the purified gaseous solvent at the second density through the bed of sorbent in a second direction opposite the first direction so as to desorb the at least one solute from the bed of sorbent producing a gaseous solution of the at least one solute dissolved in the portion of purified gaseous solvent; and recovering the gaseous solution of the at least one solute dissolved in the portion of purified gaseous solvent to form a recovered portion of the gaseous solution at a third density.