	US 12,011,678 B2
	Photoactive separation of solutes
Rick Peterson, Columbus, OH (US); and Steven M. Risser, Reynoldsburg, OH (US)
Assigned to BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE, Columbus, OH (US)
Appl. No. 17/057,388
Filed by Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (US)
PCT Filed May 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/034842 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 20, 2020, PCT Pub. No. WO2019/232325, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/678,399, filed on May 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0197099 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. C02F 1/30 (2023.01); B01D 11/04 (2006.01); C02F 1/26 (2023.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 101/12 (2006.01); C02F 101/20 (2006.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)

CPC B01D 11/0492 (2013.01) [C02F 1/265 (2013.01); C02F 1/30 (2013.01); C02F 2001/007 (2013.01); C02F 2101/12 (2013.01); C02F 2101/20 (2013.01); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2303/16 (2013.01); C02F 2303/18 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. A method of capturing a solute that is present in a first fluid stream, comprising:

contacting the first fluid stream with a photoactive extractant to absorb the solute;

separating the photoactive extractant from the first fluid stream; and

stripping the absorbed solute from the photoactive extractant to obtain the captured solute;

wherein the photoactive extractant is exposed to light having a first wavelength during either the contacting or the stripping, which changes a binding affinity of the photoactive extractant for the solute from a first binding affinity to a second binding affinity; and

wherein the binding affinity of the photoactive extractant is changed back to the first binding affinity by changing the temperature of the photoactive extractant.