Supercritical fluid reverse micelle separation
Abstract
A method of separating solute material from a polar fluid in a first polar fluid phase is provided. The method comprises combining a polar fluid, a second fluid that is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and has a critical density, and a surfactant. The solute material is dissolved in the polar fluid to define the first polar fluid phase. The combined polar and second fluids, surfactant, and solute material dissolved in the polar fluid is maintained under near critical or supercritical temperature and pressure conditions such that the density of the second fluid exceeds the critical density thereof. In this way, a reverse micelle system defining a reverse micelle solvent is formed which comprises a continuous phase in the second fluid and a plurality of reverse micelles dispersed in the continuous phase. The solute material is dissolved in the polar fluid and is in chemical equilibrium with the reverse micelles. The first polar fluid phase and the continuous phase are immiscible. The reverse micelles each comprise a dynamic aggregate of surfactant molecules surrounding a core of the polar fluid. The reverse micelle solvent has a polar fluid-to-surfactant molar ratio W, which can vary over a range having amore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5284002
- Patent Number(s):
- 5266205
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-907177
- Assignee:
- Battelle Memorial Inst., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1 Jul 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; MICELLAR SYSTEMS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; CONCENTRATION RATIO; PHASE STUDIES; SUPERCRITICAL STATE; SURFACTANTS; 400105* - Separation Procedures
Citation Formats
Fulton, J L, and Smith, R D. Supercritical fluid reverse micelle separation. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Fulton, J L, & Smith, R D. Supercritical fluid reverse micelle separation. United States.
Fulton, J L, and Smith, R D. Tue .
"Supercritical fluid reverse micelle separation". United States.
@article{osti_5284002,
title = {Supercritical fluid reverse micelle separation},
author = {Fulton, J L and Smith, R D},
abstractNote = {A method of separating solute material from a polar fluid in a first polar fluid phase is provided. The method comprises combining a polar fluid, a second fluid that is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and has a critical density, and a surfactant. The solute material is dissolved in the polar fluid to define the first polar fluid phase. The combined polar and second fluids, surfactant, and solute material dissolved in the polar fluid is maintained under near critical or supercritical temperature and pressure conditions such that the density of the second fluid exceeds the critical density thereof. In this way, a reverse micelle system defining a reverse micelle solvent is formed which comprises a continuous phase in the second fluid and a plurality of reverse micelles dispersed in the continuous phase. The solute material is dissolved in the polar fluid and is in chemical equilibrium with the reverse micelles. The first polar fluid phase and the continuous phase are immiscible. The reverse micelles each comprise a dynamic aggregate of surfactant molecules surrounding a core of the polar fluid. The reverse micelle solvent has a polar fluid-to-surfactant molar ratio W, which can vary over a range having a maximum ratio W[sub o] that determines the maximum size of the reverse micelles. The maximum ratio W[sub o] of the reverse micelle solvent is then varied, and the solute material from the first polar fluid phase is transported into the reverse micelles in the continuous phase at an extraction efficiency determined by the critical or supercritical conditions. 27 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1993},
month = {11}
}