Sulfate molecule removal through inorganic or divalent ion nuclei seeding

Abstract

Methods and apparatus of embodiments of the invention relate to treating water including contacting a liquid stream with a source comprising inorganic and/or divalent ions and separating the stream into an effluent and a fluid comprising less sulfate than the stream, wherein the effluent comprises more sulfate and more inorganic and/or divalent ions than the stream. Methods and apparatus relate to treating water including a reaction unit comprising an inlet for feed fluid and an inlet for inorganic and/or divalent ions and a separator unit comprising an inlet for output from the reaction unit, an outlet for effluent, and an outlet for fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid. Some embodiments include introducing the fluid comprising less sulfate than the stream into a subterranean formation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for treating water, comprising:
 a reaction unit comprising an inlet for feed fluid, a different inlet for inorganic and/or divalent ions, and an output; and   a separator unit comprising an inlet for output from the reaction unit, an outlet for effluent, and an outlet for fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a recycle line connecting the separator unit outlet for fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid and the reaction unit inlet for feed fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an effluent liquid stream line that connects the output from the reaction unit and the inlet to the separator unit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein all surfaces exposed to the feed fluid, effluent, and fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid are selected to be compatible with seawater. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein all surfaces exposed to the feed fluid, effluent, and fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid are coated with a material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the material is at least one of glass, rubber, fiber glass, polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, fluorinated ethylene propylene, magnesium, Teflon, Poeton, or poly(dimethyl siloxane). 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the material is at least one of nanotubes, silicone resin, polycarbonate resin, or alumina coatings. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the reaction unit comprises an agitator. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the agitator is at least one of a propeller, impeller, anchor type agitator, blade, turbine, rotating rod, magnetic mixer, pitch blade turbine, helical agitator, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the agitator is single or multiple motion. 
     
     
         19 .- 20 . (canceled)