Desalination through direct solvent extraction using ionic liquid : parameter analysis / Lewis Sie Kai Qiang

Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology

Final Year Report (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering ) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2024

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This research delves into the exploration of directional solvent extraction (DSE) as a potential breakthrough in addressing the escalating demand for freshwater and the looming water crisis. The primary objectives of the present study are to optimize operating conditions for extracting the highest yield of pure water from seawater by using Ionic Liquid (IL) trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride and to compare its performance against the conventional octanoic acid in the directional solvent extraction process. The methodology involves varying mixing times, evaluating solvent-to-seawater ratios, and testing different temperatures to pinpoint the most efficient extraction conditions. A mixture of solvent and distilled water was first heated and stirred. Then, the solution was allowed to settle before decantation. In the cases where the water dissolved in the IL cannot be precipitated, the water dissolved in the decanted IL was recovered through the evaporation method. The steps are repeated by using the pre-treated seawater at an optimum condition obtained by using distilled water. Results show that the innovative use of trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride, proved significantly more effective than octanoic acid, yielding 10.1% pure water at a temperature of 50°C and a solvent-to-aqueous ratio of 4:1, compared to 3.7% yield obtained through the extraction system using octanoic acid. This research signals a promising advancement in desalination technology, offering a potential solution to the global water crisis and contributing significantly to water sustainability.