Recovery of Soluble Salts From Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

The invention allows the formation of insoluble chemical compounds in a liquid medium by way of physical stimuli. Highly soluble salts are transformed into insoluble compounds so that they can be separated from aqueous solution to obtain a benefit from both the separated salts and the purified residual liquid.

1 . A device to form insoluble chemical compounds from salts containing the aqueous solution to be treated, comprising a Reactor comprising:
 a) a pair of electrodes having a different configuration and made of a different material, inserted by a side of the reactor, one opposite the other, connected to a power supply and a magnetic induction source, which is outside of the device;   b) A second pair of electrodes having a different configuration and made of a different construction material, inserted within the reactor, one opposite the other and adjacent to the first pair of electrodes, connected to a frequency generator that is located outside of the reactor;   c) A spiral-shaped conducting element that is located outside of the reactor and connected to a power supply and a magnetic induction source, where, through this element flows current that generate specific magnetic fields;   d) Injection of photonized air produced by a blowing pump and a photon emitter that enters the reactor through a capillary located next to the electrode that is connected to the negative pole of the power supply, in order for the capillary to be as close as to the reactor's bottom as possible;   e) An electric and magnetic field generator and an adjustable frequency generator, located outside of the reactor; and   f) A speed-adjustable paddle stirring means that is located at the center of the reactor.   
   
   
       2 . A device to form insoluble chemical compounds, wherein the power supply and the source of magnetic induction causes the application of an ultra-filtered continuous current voltage, with a variable sinusoidal-type wave geometry, damped sawtooth pulse, square wave pulse and an electromagnetic wave signal of the radio spectrum, which are applied through pairs of electrodes that, in combination or individually, are able to boost the precipitation reactions, wherein these electrodes are contained in a device that connects them to electric and magnetic field generators and to frequency generators. 
   
   
       3 . The device to form insoluble chemical compounds of  claim 1 , wherein the reactions taking place within the reactor are within a whole range of the pH scale, preferably between pH 4 and pH 12, depending on the balance constant, followed by an electrically assisted kinetic coagulation stage of the precipitated particles. 
   
   
       4 . The device to form insoluble chemical compounds of  claim 1 , wherein the voltages applied correspond to electric and magnetic fields having a voltage between one and one hundred volts, and a current intensity between 10 mA and 3 A. 
   
   
       5 . The device to form insoluble chemical compounds of  claim 1 , wherein the electric and magnetic fields and/or frequencies are transmitted through different kinds of pairs of electrodes that are made of one of the following elements: lead, platinum, aluminum, copper, coal, gold, tin, zinc, iron, titanium, boron, nickel, diamond; this first electrode working in tandem with another electrode of the same element, with other electrodes as mentioned above or alloys thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The device to form insoluble chemical compounds of  claim 1 , wherein the execution of all of the processes inside the reactor are within a temperature range between 0 and 90° C. and within a pressure range between 1 and 10 bars. 
   
   
       7 . A method for using a device to form insoluble chemical compounds comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a leaching reactor with a pair of electrodes having a different configuration and made of a different material, inserted by a side of the reactor, one opposite the other;   b) providing a second pair of electrodes having a different configuration and made of a different construction material, inserted within the reactor, one opposite the other and adjacent to the first pair of electrodes;   c) providing a power supply located outside of the reactor;   d) providing a frequency generator located outside of the reactor;   e) Providing a photonized air injection system;   f) Providing an air pump and a capillary located adjacent to the electrode that is connected to the negative pole of the power supply;   g) Providing an electric and magnetic field generator and an adjustable frequency generator located outside of the reactor;   h) Providing a speed-adjustable paddle stirring means located at the center of the reactor;   i) Providing a spiral-shaped conducting element surrounding the outside of the reactor;   j) Introducing into the reactor a solution having insoluble chemical compounds;   k) Injecting, by employing an air pump, the photonized air injector and the capillary, air containing ozone and free radicals into the reactor;   l) Simultaneously, applying, by employing the frequency generator and a pair of electrodes, a frequency or a electromagnetic signal of the radio spectrum to a solution containing insoluble chemical compounds inside the reactor;   m) Simultaneously, applying, by employing the power supply and another pair of electrodes, an electric voltage, consisting of pulsating continuous current, to the solution containing insoluble chemical compounds inside the reactor;   n) Simultaneously, applying, by using the spiral-shaped conducting element, specific magnetic fields;   o) Simultaneously, stirring, by employing the paddle stirring means, the solution containing insoluble chemical compounds inside the reactor;   p) Simultaneously, adding a chemical reagent adding ions that are not present in the aqueous solution and that are necessary to complete the desired insoluble compounds, preferably lime; and   q) Adding a second contribution of ions, such as aluminum, calcium, iron, lead or tin, to form new compounds with the salts contained in the aqueous solution.