Development of seawater desalination and salt manufacture dual functional system using clathrate hydrates

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14911
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 19020:Thermal engineering-related
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: YASUDA Keita 琉球大学, 工学部, 助教 (60760163)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 海水淡水化 / 製塩 / クラスレートハイドレート / シクロペンタン / 二酸化炭素 / 塩化ナトリウム / 共晶

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The simultaneous eutectic crystallization of clathrate hydrates, solid compounds composed of water and guest, and solid inorganic salt was implemented to demonstrate a possible dual functional technology for seawater desalination and salt manufacture. The crystallization was visually observed. Also, the eutectic conditions were experimentally determined. Cyclopentane was used as liquid guest when it reacts with water while carbon dioxide was used as gaseous guest. The characteristic phenomenon in both the systems were clarified individually. It was shown that the above-mentioned dual functional system was feasible based on the experiments. In addition, the actual operating conditions for the technology were investigated.

Free Research Field

熱工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

クラスレートハイドレートと固体塩の共晶現象について、これまでに学術論文で数件の報告があったものの、その詳細については十分な報告がされてこなかった。本研究では視覚的な観察と共晶条件の測定により上記共晶現象を具体的に明らかにした。
本研究で明らかになった現象を利用することで海水淡水化と製塩を同時にかつ低エネルギー消費で行うことができる技術の開発が可能と考える。水と食塩、どちらも生活に不可欠な物質の製造を効率よく行うことが期待される。