Hydrate-based reduction of fluid inventories and concentration of aqueous and other water-containing products

Abstract

Toxic waste waters polluted with high levels of chemical byproducts of various industrial processes (e.g., waste water held in industrial holding ponds) are treated using gas hydrate to extract and remove fresh water from the polluted water, thus reducing the volume of toxic waste water inventories. Extracting fresh water by forming and removing the hydrate raises the concentration of dissolved materials in the residual concentrated brines to levels at which the residual fluid is suitable for use as an industrial feedstock. Furthermore, so raising the concentration of the residual brine will cause certain mineral species to precipitate out of solution, which mineral species are separated from the fluid and may be put to other uses, as appropriate. Food products are also advantageously concentrated by means of gas hydrates.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a highly polluted or otherwise contaminated solution comprising water and one or more solutes dissolved therein, the solution being a byproduct of an industrial process, said method comprising: 
 mixing a hydrate-forming substance with the solution under pressure and temperature conditions suitable for hydrate to form, whereby hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance forms and removes water from said solution to produce residual fluid having higher concentration of said one or more solutes than said solution;    removing said hydrate from said residual fluid; and    providing said residual fluid to said industrial process as an industrial feedstock of said one or more solutes.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dissociating said hydrate to release water and hydrate-forming substance therefrom.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising returning water released from said hydrate to said contaminated solution.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising releasing water released from said hydrate to surface waters.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising reusing hydrate-forming substance released from said hydrate in additional cycles of hydrate formation.  
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a highly polluted or otherwise contaminated solution comprising water and one or more solutes dissolved therein, the solution being a byproduct of an industrial process, said method comprising: 
 mixing a hydrate-forming substance with the solution under pressure and temperature conditions suitable for hydrate to form, whereby hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance forms and removes water from said solution to produce residual fluid having higher concentration of said one or more solutes than said solution; and    removing said hydrate from said residual fluid;    wherein sufficient amounts of water is removed from said solution via said hydrate to raise the concentration of said one or more solutes in said residual fluid to saturation levels, whereby at least one of said one or more solutes precipitates out of said residual fluid;    said method further comprising collecting said precipitated solute material.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising dissociating said hydrate to release water and hydrate-forming substance therefrom.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising returning water released from said hydrate to said contaminated solution.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising releasing water released from said hydrate to surface waters.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising reusing hydrate-forming substance released from said hydrate in additional cycles of hydrate formation.  
     
     
         11 . A method of concentrating a food material fluid containing water, said method comprising: 
 introducing said food material fluid into a hydrate formation apparatus;    mixing said food material fluid with hydrate-forming substance in said hydrate formation apparatus under pressure conditions and temperature conditions suitable for hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance to form, thereby causing hydrate of said hydrate-forming substance to form; and    removing said hydrate from said hydrate formation apparatus, thereby yielding a food material concentrate.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising melting said hydrate to release water and hydrate-forming substance.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising re-using said released hydrate-forming substance in further cycles of hydrate formation.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using said food material concentrate as a feedstock in further food process manufacturing.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising packaging said food material concentrate as a final, concentrated consumer food product.