Method and system for extracting a solute from a fluid using dense gas and a porous membrane

A METHOD AND A SYSTEM (10) FOR THE EXTRACTION OF A SOLUTE FROM A FLUID OR A DENSE GAS MAY INCLUDE A DENSE GAS SUPPLY (12) AND A GAS SUPPLY TUBE (48) TO DISTRIBUTE THE DENSE GAS TO THE CHAMBER OF PRESSURE EQUALIZATION (122) AND A PRESSURIZABLE MODULE (16) THAT CONTAINS A LOT OF POROUS HOLLOW FIBERS. THE SYSTEM (10) MAY ALSO INCLUDE A FLUIDS SUPPLY (14) AND A FLUIDS SUPPLY TUBE (40) TO DISTRIBUTE A FLUID TO THE CHAMBER (122) AND THE MODULE (16). THE CHAMBER (122) INCLUDES A FLOATING DIAPHRAGM (26) AND SERVES TO SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL THE PRESSURE OF THE FLUID AND THE DENSE GAS SO THAT THE PRESSURE ON THE TWO SIDES OF THE MEMBRANES OF THE MODULE (16) IS FULLY THE SAME. AT LEAST ONE OF THE TWO, THE FLUID OR THE DENSE GAS, CONTAINS A SOLUTE TO BE EXTRACTED, WHILE THE OTHER SERVES AS A MEANS OF EXTRACTION. THE EXTRACTION OF THE SOLUTE IS DRIVEN BY THE GRADIENT OF CONCENTRATION OF THE SOLUTE THROUGH THE MEMBRANE.