Claims:ProdyoVidhi Ref.: ARVD.0014.IN
What is claimed is:
1. A desalinator 100 comprising:
a reactor 101 configured to receive an effluent and a nanoparticle system, wherein the nanoparticle system having a core and a charged species coated on the core, and the charged species has an ionizable group and wherein the pH value of the nanoparticle system optimized based on an ionization value (pKa) of the ionizable group of the charged species and the nanoparticle system is configured to cause desalination of the effluent by binding with oppositely charged ions of the effluent.
2. The desalinator of claim 1, wherein the desalinator further comprises an extractor 117 configured to extract the nanoparticle system.
3. The desalinator of claim 1, wherein the desalinator comprises an agitator 111.
4. The desalinator of claim 2, wherein the extractor 117 comprises a separator 217 and an optimizer 227 wherein the separator 417 is configured to separate the nanoparticle system and the optimizer 427 optimizes the pH value of the nanoparticle system based on the ionization value (pKa).
5. The desalinator of claim 2, wherein the extractor has a magnetic separator.
6. A method of manufacturing a desalinator 100 comprising:
configuring a reactor 101 to receive an effluent and a nanoparticle system, wherein the nanoparticle system having a core and a charged species coated on the core, and the charged species has an ionizable group and wherein the pH value of the nanoparticle system optimized based on an ionization value (pKa) of the ionizable group of the charged species and the nanoparticle system is configured to cause desalination of the effluent by biding with oppositely charged ions of the effluent.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the method includes providing the desalinator with an extractor 117 configured to extract the nanoparticle system from the reactor 101.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the method includes providing an agitator 111.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the extractor 117 comprises providing a separator 217 and an optimizer 227 and configuring the separator 417 to separate the nanoparticle system from the effluent and configuring the optimizer 427 to optimize the pH value of the nanoparticle system based on ionization value (pKa) of the ionizable group of the charged species.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method includes providing a magnetic extractor.

Dated this 09th Day of December 2016

K. Pradeep
Of ProdyoVidhi
Agent for Applicant
Registration Number: IN/PA-865

ProdyoVidhi Ref.: ARVD.0014.IN
, Description:ProdyoVidhi Ref.: ARVD.0014.IN
NANOPARTICLE SYSTEM BASED DESALINATOR AND METHOD THEREOF
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present subject matter generally relates to a desalinator. The desalinator is an apparatus for desalination. More specifically, the subject matter relates to the apparatus for nanoparticle system based desalination and method of manufacturing the apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[002] Despite of the fact that the earth has abundance of water only small percentage of the water is in the form usable for humans. In many parts of the world local demand of the water exceeds capacity of conventional resources of water. Therefore, efforts are not only required to ensure that water is used judiciously but also to convert waste water into usable water. More economical use of water, reducing distribution losses and increased use of recycled water can help in addressing the demand supply imbalance.
[003] One of the water recycling challenge is desalination. Conventional desalination processes generally exploit one or many of thermal, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties for desalination. For example, evaporation and crystallization exploit primarily thermal properties, whereas filtration, reverse osmosis, forward osmosis exploit primarily mechanical properties. Similarly, electro-dialysis and ionic exchange may deploy combination of electrical and chemical properties. Most of these techniques have limitations, e.g. cost and complexity, scalability efficiency, economic viability etc.
[004] The present subject matter addresses these issues and provides a solution that may not only be used for recycling industrial refuse but also generating fresh water from seawater, brackish water etc.
SUMMARY
[005] The present subject matter provides solution to the above and other problems. The present subject matter provides an apparatus for nanoparticle system based desalination and a method of manufacturing the apparatus.
[006] Some of the problems faced by nanoparticle based desalination apparatuses are: low efficiency; poor quality of desalination; high time and iteration requirements. One of the reasons for such limitations is the charge carrying capacity of the nanoparticles and problems associated with the process required for enhancing charge carrying capacity. Generally, the process of increasing charge carrying capacity inherently requires addition of impurities to the nanoparticle system, which turns out to be counterproductive for desalination process. The present subject matter provides a solution to at least these limitations and provides a desalinator that is capable of deploying a novel nanoparticle system having enhanced charge carrying capacity without significantly contributing adversely to the desalination process. Therefore not only significantly improving the desalination process but also, making the desalinator viable for industrial deployment. Further the present subject matter not only enables desalination but also provides easy recyclability of the nanoparticle system thereby providing a solution that is efficient, cost effective and of interest in industrial application.
[007] According to one aspect, the present subject matter provides a desalinator. The desalinator comprises: a reactor configured to receive an effluent and a nanoparticle system, wherein the nanoparticle system having a core and a charged species coated on the core, and the charged species has an ionizable group and wherein the pH value of the nanoparticle system optimized based on an ionization value (pKa) of the ionizable group of the charged species and the nanoparticle system is configured to cause desalination of the effluent by biding with oppositely charged ions of the effluent. In one embodiment, the desalinator further comprises an extractor configured to extract the nanoparticle system. In a second embodiment, the desalinator comprises an agitator. In a third embodiment, the extractor comprises a separator and an optimizer wherein the separator is configured to separate the nanoparticle system and the optimizer optimizes the pH value of the nanoparticle system based on the ionization value (pKa). In a fourth embodiment, the extractor has a magnetic separator.
[008] According a second aspect, the present subject matter provides a method of manufacturing a desalinator. The method comprises: configuring a reactor 101 to receive an effluent and a nanoparticle system, wherein the nanoparticle system having a core and a charged species coated on the core, and the charged species has an ionizable group and wherein the pH value of the nanoparticle system optimized based on an ionization value (pKa) of the ionizable group of the charged species and the nanoparticle system is configured to cause desalination of the effluent by biding with oppositely charged ions of the effluent. In one embodiment, the method includes providing the desalinator with an extractor configured to extract the nanoparticle system from the reactor. In a second embodiment, the method includes providing an agitator. In a third embodiment, providing the extractor comprises providing a separator and an optimizer and configuring the separator to separate the nanoparticle system from the effluent and configuring the optimizer to optimize the pH value of the nanoparticle system based on ionization value (pKa) of the ionizable group of the charged species. In a fourth embodiment, the method includes providing a magnetic extractor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[009] The subject matter shall now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed block diagram of an extractor according to an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0012] FIG. 3 shows another more detailed block diagram according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] It shall become clear to a person, after reading this specification, that the following discussion is intended only for illustration purpose and that the subject matter may be practiced without departing from the spirit of the present subject matter in other embodiments different than the embodiments discussed herein. Before the present subject matter is further described in more details, it is to be understood that the subject matter is not limited to the particular embodiments described, and may vary as such. The present subject matter is being described, for the purpose of explanation only, however it shall become abundantly clear to a person in the art, after reading this specification, that the subject matter may be practiced in other applications where desalination/purification of natural or industrial refuse/effluent is required by altering nanoparticles charge carrying capacity. It is also to be understood that the terminology used throughout the preceding and forthcoming discussion is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly expressly dictates otherwise.
[0014] Use of nanotechnologies in water recycling and purification presents a theoretically and potentially promising solution that may help in preventing future water shortages. However a practical solution that may be implemented on industrial scale and meet harsh commercial requirements still waits to see light of the day. Some challenges may be posed by the chemical characteristics of the dissolved solids of an effluent for implementing nanoparticle based solution for desalination. It is desirable that nanoparticle systems achieve desalination of most, if not all, salts without regards to the chemical characteristics. In some cases, lower valance salts present challenges during desalination. This is because charge carrying capacity of nanoparticle systems plays an important role in desalination and to desalinate lower valance salts require that nanoparticle system must have a higher charge carrying capacity. Obtaining a nanoparticle system that has high charge carrying capacity is challenging in itself, because the process of obtaining high charge carrying capacity nanoparticle systems inherently require addition of impurities to the system. Therefore, there is a need of a process to obtain a high charge carrying nanoparticles system that reduces above challenges. More so, instant technologies do not provides a solution or apparatus that is capable of implementing nanoparticle system based for desalination for industrial application. The present subject matter provides a desalinator that does not have above and other limitations.
[0015] Further nanoparticle systems are expensive. Therefore it is required that most is achieved prior to trashing such nanoparticle systems. Hence recyclability of the nanoparticle systems is desirable. In fact, most desirable is a nanoparticle system that may be substantially perpetually used. However, desalination process poisons the nanoparticle system quickly and effective recyclability may not be achieved. The present subject matter provides a desalinator that is capable of recycling the nanoparticle system. Thereby achieving most from the nanoparticle system.
[0016] The present subject matter addresses the above and other problems and offer many advantages, including but not limited to, simplifying desalination process, reduced energy consumption, enablement desalination process for industrial application, recyclability of nanoparticle systems, effective desalination substantially independent of valances of the salts, enablement of the system for application in: industrial refuse, sea water, salty water, brackish water, removal of hardness and toxic heavy metal ions etc.
[0017] Now reference is made to the FIGs., in that FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a desalinator 100 according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. FIG. 1 includes a reactor 101, an inlet control 105, an agitator 111 and collectively these elements are referred to as a reactor assembly 110. The FIG. 1 further shows an extractor 107 and an outlet 109.
[0018] In one embodiment, the desalinator 100 may be employed in multiple stages. At a first stage the reactor 101 may be employed for desalination, whereas, at a second stage the reactor 101 may be employed as an optimizer for optimizing pH value of nanoparticle system employed in the desalination or optimizing charge carrying capacity of the nanoparticle system. Configuring the reactor 101 in such a manner that it may be employed for multiple functions, such as, desalination, optimization of the nanoparticle and even for nanoparticle system formation is advantageous. Because such configuration of the subject matter enables a compact and cost effective system.
[0019] The feature of second stage of optimizing the nanoparticle system is advantageous an advantage. This is because, the nanoparticle system after being used in desalination results in salt formation and/or may lose some of its charge carrying capacity. Providing an optimizer allows an opportunity to optimize the pH values and/or charge carrying capacity, thereby enabling possibility of recycling of the nanoparticle system for desalination.
[0020] In some examples, the reactor 101 may also be employed in synthesis a core and nanoparticle system thereof. It shall become clear to a person in the art, after reading this specification, that in some instances, technical fraternity may refer to the core as nanoparticles. The core includes any one or more of: transition elements, second group elements, third group elements, fourth group element and fifth group elements. In one example, the core is a metallic core including metal oxide core, an iron core and iron oxide core. Having an iron core offers additional advantage, which is to say, that magnetic filtration becomes possible. For synthesis of the nanoparticle system, the reactor 101 is introduced with a solution of metal salts and a pH controller through the inlet control 105. It shall become clear to a person that there may be one or more of inlet control 105. Each inlet control may be configured to introduce separate component of the solution. For example, there may be one inlet control 105 for introducing metal salts and a second inlet control for introducing the pH controller. The solution may be stirred using the agitator 111. The solution is sequentially heat treated for forming a core. The core may be then coated with a charge species in a controlled environment to form a nanoparticle system. The pH of the nanoparticle controlled according to the charge species. In that, the pH of nanoparticle system is controlled based on an ionization value of an ionizable group of the charge species. Ionization value is pKa value of the ionization group. According to one feature of the subject matter, the reactor 101 optimizes the pH value of nanoparticle system during synthesis of the nanoparticle system. In case of negatively charged species coating on core, the pH value of the nanoparticle system is optimized by the reactor 101 to keep it lower than at least one pKa value (also referred to as ionization value) of the negatively charged species. In some case, the pH value is kept lower than the lowest pKa value of any ionization group that a negatively charge species may have. In case of positively charged species coating on core, the pH value of the nanoparticle system is optimized by the reactor 101 to keep it higher than at least one pKa value (also referred to as ionization value) of the positively charged species. In some case, the pH value is kept higher than the highest pKa value of any ionization group that a negatively charge species may have. This ensures that charge carrying capacity of the core or the nanoparticle system is at optimal levels, which in turn assist in improved binding of the oppositely charged ions. The charged species may be negatively charged species or positively charged species. In some examples, the negatively charged species may be selected from poly carboxylic acid, poly sulphonic acid etc. Some other examples of the negatively charged species may include humic acid, EDTA, DTPA, citric acid etc. In some other examples, positively charged species, may be Benzalkoniumchloride (BKC) etc. the pH value of the nanoparticle system is kept above the pKa value of the charged species. Some other positively charged species may be selected from poly amines, alkonium salts, poly ethylamine, cataionic polymers, poly amines, poly peptides, quaternary ammonium salts, the positively charged species is any one or more of Benzalkonium chloride (BKC), cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), peptides. In some examples, the core may also be coated with a stabilizing agent. The stabilizing agent may be coated prior to coating of the charged species. In some examples, the stabilizing agent may be a polymer, a surfactant, a reducing agent or a chelating agent. In some example, the stabilizing agent may be dextran or PVP. The stabilizing agent assists in ensuring that the core remains stable during the coating and desalination process. Preparing the nanoparticle system in such a manner ensures that tolerable impurities or the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the nanoparticle system are within the acceptable limits. The nanoparticle system formed in the reactor 101 may be separated using the extractor 107 and collected at the outlet 109. In some embodiments, size of the nanoparticle system is in the range from 20 nm to 100 micrometer. Nanoparticle systems size in the above referred range has shown relatively better desalination results. In one embodiment, for practicing the subject matter, the nanoparticles system having size below 50 micron may be prepared. In some examples, the nanoparticle system may be in the form of solution, slurry, paste, solid or powder.
[0021] According to one feature the reactor 101 is deployed for desalination of an effluent. Effluent may be industrial refuse or any other effluent that needs to undergo desalination. According to this embodiment, the effluent and the nanoparticle system is introduced into the reactor 101 through the inlet control 105. It shall become clear to a person in the art that, the reactor 101 may have more than one inlet control 105 each for a separate ingredient such as effluent and the nanoparticle system. The solution is stirred using the agitator 111 and temperature of the solution in the reactor 101 is controlled to achieve best results. In some cases, the pH of the solution is also controlled during the desalination process to ensure that the solution has a pH value that provides best desalination results. The nanoparticle system prepared as stated above has capability to capture the oppositely charged ions of the effluent, when it is mixed with the effluent. The nanoparticle system attracts and binds the oppositely charged elements of the solution and settles down. The extractor 117 then extracts the nanoparticle system leaving behind a desalinated effluent. The nanoparticle system that is recovered after the desalination may be optimized/purified and/or deployed for further desalination. In some examples, the reactor 101 may be employed for optimizing/purifying the extracted nanoparticle system. In the optimization process the reactor 101 is configured to adjust the pH value of the nanoparticle system. In some embodiments, the reactor 101 may be configured to adjust coating of the charged species on the nanoparticle system.
[0022] It shall become clear to a person in the art, after reading this specification, that the effluent may have a number of dissolved solids and have high concentration of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The effluent may be an industrial effluent or any solution that needs to be subjected to desalination, removal of hardness and toxic heavy metal ions etc. Such solution may include, but not limited to industrial refuse, sea water, salty water, brackish water. The nanoparticle system when mixed with the effluent, binds with the oppositely charged ions of the TDS. The nanoparticle system bound with the ions can then be separated through filtration, sedimentation, magnetically, centrifugation, osmosis or any other means leaving behind the water with significantly reduced TDS. The present subject matter has demonstrated up to 90% of targeted TDS desalination from the effluent of industrial grade, that is to say an effluent having TDS upto 100,000 ppm or more.
[0023] Among many other advantages, the present subject matter provides a desalination process that requires minimal external energy and also the process is substantially independent of ion type and its valances. The subject matter has demonstrated improved removal of ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium, aluminum, magnesium, arsenic, lead etc.
[0024] Among other advantages of the present subject matter also offers advantages of chemistry based desalination, minimal energy requirement, targeted ion desalination, small equipment size, repeatability of results and reusability of the nanoparticle systems, magnetic and easy separation processes, process independent of effluent type and usable for variety of effluents, improved sedimentation of TDS, effective binding of the TDS and nanoparticle systems, and manufacturing and scalability ease.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed block diagram of the extractor 117 according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. The extractor 117 comprises an optimizer 227, an agitator 211, and a separator 217 having a magnet 203. In one embodiment, after the desalination process the solution of the reactor 101 may be transferred to the extractor 117. The extract 117 in some embodiments, extract the nanoparticle system using the separator 217. It shall become clear to a person in the art that shown extractor 117 is a magnet based extractor, however one or more of other extractors such as, filtration-based, centrifugation-based, sedimentation-based etc. may also be deployed at this stage. Magnet based extractors are of interest when the core is of a magnetic material.
[0026] In some other examples, the extractor 117 may also employ the optimizer 227. The extracted nanoparticle system may be transferred to the optimizer 227. At the optimizer 227 pH of the nanoparticle system may be adjusted according the ionization value (pKa) of the charge species and the type of the charge species. The adjustment of the pH value is discussed previously with reference to FIG 1. In some embodiment the nanoparticle system may be then extracted using the magnetic extractor 217. In some embodiments, extracted nanoparticle system may be again subjected to the optimizer 227 until the nanoparticle system reach at a desired pH level. The optimizer 227 becomes advantageous when nanoparticles are recovered from a desalination process and are desired to be recycled in the desalination process again. The output nanoparticle system may be received at the outlet 109. Further, it shall become clear to a person, that the optimizer may also be deployed for adjusting the coating of charged species on the nanoparticle system to optimize the charge carrying capacity of the nanoparticle system. The coating may be optimized or performed substantially the same manner as discussed with reference to the FIG. 1. According to one feature of the subject matter, the optimizer 227 optimizes the pH value of nanoparticle system during the desalination process or after or before desalination process. This ensures that charge carrying capacity of the core or the nanoparticle system is at optimal levels, which in turn assist in improved binding of the oppositely charged ions. It should become clear to a person in the art, the charged species may have multiple ionizable groups and each of the ionizable group may have a pKa value. Further, pKa value of one ionizable group of the charged species may be different than the pKa value of other ionizable groups of the same charge species. In some examples, the pH value of the nanoparticle system is kept below the lowest pKa value that a charged species may have.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows another more detailed block diagram of the desalinator according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. The desalinator includes the reactor assembly 300. The reactor assembly 300 has substantially the same construction and functioning features as discussed with reference to FIG. 1. The desalinator further shows the extractor 107. The extractor 107 has substantially the same construction and functioning features as discussed with reference to FIG. 1. Additional elements shown in the FIG. 3 such as valves etc. depict the flow and control of the flow of constituent of the respective depicted blocks.
[0028] Following are some examples of various percentage of TDS reduction achieved by the present subject matters. It shall become clear to a person in the art that below data shows total reduction of TDS in the effluent. While the experiments are carried out for a single target charged species of the effluent. That is to say, for the single targeted species negative and/or positive the percentage of TDS reduction would double the values shown in the below tables.
Example – 1: Example of TDS reduction from Effluent:
[0029] In one example, an effluent having NaCl and TDS around 980 ppm and alkaline pH in nature where treated for desalination using the method of the present subject matter. Following Table 1 shows results of sequential treatment according to the present subject matter.
Table 1
Batch-1 Batch-2 Batch-3 Batch -4
TDS of the particles (ppm) (pH ~ 3 i.e. pH less than the pKa(s) of the humic acid groups 370 160 212 225
pH of the NaCl Solution 10.5 10.5 10.5 11.0
TDS of the NaCl Solution (ppm) 980 980 980 1000
TDS reduction after addition of particles
1st addition 710 775 702 835
2nd addition 570 615 525 675
3rd addition 525 510 - 460
% TDS (Na+ salt) reduction** 46.4 47.9 46.4 54.0

[0030] Table 2 further shows results of TDS reduction in effluent containing NaCl in varying concentration between 1000 – 100,000 ppm and the effluent having alkaline pH.

Table 2
TDS of the solution (ppm) Volume of the solution (Lit) No. of Batches of particles added % TDS Reduction
1120 2.5 1 23
4500 1 2 22.2
10000 1 2 22
50800 1 6 31
78000 1 6 26
88000 1 6 20.5
100000 4 20 23
100000 4 18 21.6
100000 1 15 46
100000 3 15 22
Example – 2: Another Example of TDS reduction from Effluent, wherein the Multiple Salts are Present in the Effluent:
[0031] In one example, the present subject matter provides cation reduction up to 84%. In that, the effluent has TDS upto 1000 ppm and has salts such Calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, aluminium sulphate etc. The effluent has pH in alkaline range.
Example – 3 Another Example of TDS reduction with different coating ligand –
[0032] In one example, the present subject matter provides nanoparticle system having coating of a negatively charged species. In this example a coating of any one or more of citric acid, EDTA or DTPA (i.e. polycarboxylic acids) is provided. In an example of effluent having about 1000 ppm of NaCl salts and pH of in alkaline range desalination of cations upto 60-80% is achieved. In another example, higher the carboxylic acid moieties in the coating materials result in better binding of nanoparticle systems and salt and therefore results in better desalination.
Example – 4: Another Example of TDS reduction from Effluent:
[0033] In one example, an effluents having NaCl and different TDS values were treated for desalination using the method of the present subject matter. Following Table 3 shows results according to the present subject matter.
Table 3
TDS of the Solution (ppm) Volume of the Solution(lit) No. of batches of particles added Final TDS (ppm) % reduction
3400 1 0.4 2800 17.65
20900 1 4 11200 46.41
60000 1 3 31600 47.33
41500 1 2 31400 24.34
5060 4 30 2730 46.05
10100 1 20 4870 51.78
2400 1 15 1320 45.00
5200 4 20 4100 21.15
2660 4 20 2130 19.92
5000 1.5 5 3000 40.00
5000 1.5 5 3370 32.60

[0034] While the subject matter may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described herein. Alternate embodiments or modifications may be practiced without departing from the spirit of the subject matter. The drawings shown are schematic drawings and may not be to the scale. While the drawings show some features of the subject matter, some features may be omitted. In some other cases, some features may be emphasized while others are not. Further, the methods disclosed herein may be performed in manner and/or order in which the methods are explained. Alternatively, the methods may be performed in manner or order different than what is explained without departing from the spirit of the present subject matter. It should be understood that the subject matter is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the subject matter is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as described above.
[0035] In the above description, while describing the present subject matter, some of the proprietary terms as well as some proprietary terms of expression including trademarks or other copyrighted subject matter may have been used, the applicant has taken best care in acknowledge the ownership of the proprietary subject matter. However, if the applicant has inadvertently omitted any such acknowledgement, the applicant states that any such omission is unintentional and without any malicious intention and the applicant states that should any such inadvertent omission is brought to the attention of the applicant, the applicant is willing take actions that the applicant believes are fit to acknowledge such proprietary ownership.

ProdyoVidhi Ref.: ARVD.0014.IN