DME-driven fractional crystallization pilot

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Innovation 
Integration, scale-up, and continuous operation of dimethyl ether-driven fractional crystallization (DME FC).

Achievements
Piloting of DME FC with a two gallon per minute DME crystallizer at three different sites in California.

Significance and Impact

  • DME FC reduces total dissolved solids (TDS) and produces a solids byproduct while most water softening technologies produce a brine (ion exchange and electrochemical) or slurry (chemical and base softening).
  • The piloting of DME FC for treatment of agricultural wastewater serves a proof of concept for applying DME FC to critical materials recovery.
  • Discussions have been initiated between Trevi as an equipment vendor and TdVib, CMI project partner and a critical material recycler, as an end user of the DME FC technology.

Hub Target Addressed 
Minimizing hazardous chemical use and waste generation.
 

series of five images shows Two gallon per minute DME Crystallizer at Coalinga site in California’s Central Valley “DME machine” gas cylinder, coriolis mass flow, and flash chamber. Two pictures of the salt that was extracted from the brines. EC cells used to separate various salts prior to DME crystallization. General site picture.
Two gallon per minute DME Crystallizer at Coalinga site in California’s Central Valley “DME machine” gas cylinder, coriolis mass flow, and flash chamber. Two pictures of the salt that was extracted from the brines. EC cells used to separate various salts prior to DME crystallization. General site picture.