Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for recovering and regenerating acid from a solution comprising acid and salt, the process comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a solution comprising salt and a first concentration of acid to a first compartment of an electrodialysis apparatus comprising a first compartment and a second compartment; (b) supplying a liquid comprising water to the second compartment; (c) applying a direct current to the electrodialysis apparatus to form, in the first compartment, a first product comprising salt and a second concentration of acid, the second concentration of acid being less than the first concentration of acid, and, in the second compartment, a second product comprising water and enriched in acid by a proportionate amount; (d) recovering the first product; (e) recovering acid from the first product using electrodialytic water splitting to convert at least a portion of the salt to a third product comprising acid; and (f) recovering the third product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for recovering and regenerating acid from a solution comprising acid and salt, the process comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a solution comprising salt and a first concentration of acid to a first compartment of an electrodialysis apparatus comprising a first compartment and a second compartment; (b) supplying a liquid comprising water to the second compartment; (c) applying a direct current to the electrodialysis apparatus to form, in the first compartment, a first product comprising salt and a second concentration of acid, the second concentration of acid being less than the first concentration of acid, and, in the second compartment, a second product comprising water and enriched in acid by a proportionate amount; (d) recovering the first product; (e) recovering acid from the first product using electrodialytic water splitting to convert at least a portion of the salt to a third product comprising acid; and (f) recovering the third product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the free acid comprises HNO 3 and wherein the salt comprises fluoride salts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the recovered acid from the electrodialytic water splitting steps is supplied to the compartment which contains the aqueous solution enriched in acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of recovering a basified solution from the first product using electrodialytic water splitting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 4 further comprising the step of contacting the first product with at least a portion of the basified solution prior to recovering acid from the first product being electrodialytic water splitting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the electrodialytic water splitting is conducted in a three compartment electrodialytic water splitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
249 words
A process for recovering acids from spent solution comprising nitrate and fluoride salts, nitric acid and at least one ion of a heavy metal comprising the steps of: (a) supply spent solution to a diluting compartment of an electrodialysis apparatus, the electrodialysis apparatus comprising alternating diluting and concentrating compartments; (b) supply an aqueous solution to a concentrating compartment of the electrodialysis apparatus; (c) applying direct current to the electrodialysis apparatus thereby transporting acid from the diluting compartment to the concentrating compartment; (d) recovering from the diluting compartment the remaining solution; (e) contacting the remaining solution with a basified solution to precipitate at least a portion of the heavy metal; (f) separating the precipitate from the remaining solutions; (g) supplying at least a portion of the filtrate from the separating step to the salt compartment of a three compartment electrodialytic water splitter having a base compartment, an acid compartment, and a salt compartment; (h) supplying an aqueous solution to a base compartment of the electrodialytic water splitter; (i) feeding an aqueous solution to an acid compartment of the electrodialytic water splitter to generate an acidified solution in the acid compartment and a basified solution in the base compartment; (j) passIng current across the electrodialytic water splitter to generate an acidified solution in the acid compartment and basified solution in the base compartment; (k) supplying the acidified solution to the concentrating compartment of the elctrodialysis apparatus; and (l) recovering from the concentrating compartment a final product comprising acid and acidified solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
249 words
A process for recovering acids from spent solution comprising nitrate and fluoride salts, nitric acid and at least one ion of a heavy metal comprising the steps of: (a) supply spent solution to a diluting compartment of an electrodialysis apparatus, the electrodialysis apparatus comprising alternating diluting and concentrating compartments; (b) supply an aqueous solution to a concentrating compartment of the electrodialysis apparatus; (c) applying direct current to the electrodialysis apparatus thereby transporting acid from the diluting compartment to the concentrating compartment; (d) recovering from the diluting compartment the remaining solution; (e) contacting the remaining solution with a basified solution to precipitate at least a portion of the heavy metal; (f) separating the precipitate from the remaining solutions; (g) supplying at least a portion of the filtrate from the separating step to the salt compartment of a three compartment electrodialytic water splitter having a base compartment, an acid compartment, and a salt compartment; (h) supplying an aqueous solution to a base compartment of the electrodialytic water splitter; (i) feeding an aqueous solution to an acid compartment of the electrodialytic water splitter to generate an acidified solution in the acid compartment and a basified solution in the base compartment; (j) passIng current across the electrodialytic water splitter to generate an acidified solution in the acid compartment and basified solution in the base compartment; (k) supplying the acidified solution to the concentrating compartment of the elctrodialysis apparatus; and (l) recovering from the concentrating compartment a final product comprising acid and acidified solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of the basified solutions in the base compartment is recovered and used for contacting the remaining solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the final product comprises between about 4 wt % and about 15 wt % HF and between about 10 wt % HNO 3 and about 20 wt % HNO 3 .