1. An apparatus for the extraction of a solvent from a first solution using osmosis comprising:
a. a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the first chamber being connected to a source of the first solution;
b. a semi-permeable membrane separating the first chamber from a second chamber;
c. the second chamber having an inlet and a first and second outlet;
d. a third chamber having an inlet to receive a solvent-enriched second solution from the first outlet of the second chamber and a reagent from the second outlet of the second chamber and having an outlet;
e. a filter for filtering the solvent-enriched second solution connected to the outlet of the third chamber, the filter having a first and second outlet, the first outlet is connected to the inlet of the second chamber in order to recycle a precipitated solute to the second chamber; and
f. a fourth chamber receiving the solvent-enriched second solution from the second outlet of the filter, having a heater for heating a solvent-enriched second solution to decompose any remaining solute into its constituent gasses, a first outlet for returning the constituent gasses to the inlet of the second chamber, and a second outlet by which the final product exits the apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a hydrocyclone, sedimentation tank, column filter, or screen filter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first outlet for the fourth chamber incorporates a device for generating airflow.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the device for generating an airflow comprises a vacuum or a fan.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heater is comprised of at least one of a solar collector, geothermal collector, electrical heater, steam condenser, heat exchanger, and heat circulator.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for applying an external pressure to the first solution to increase the amount of solvent drawn from the first solution through the membrane and into the second solution.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising recycling means for recycling solutes from at least one of the third chamber or the fourth chamber back into the second chamber to maintain a desired concentration of the second solution in the second chamber.
8. An apparatus for the extraction of a solvent from a first solution using osmosis, the apparatus comprising:
a first chamber for receiving a first solution;
a second chamber for receiving a second solution;
a semi-permeable membrane disposed intermediate and coupling the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the semi-permeable membrane allows solvent from the first chamber to pass through to the second chamber, thereby producing a solvent-enriched second solution in the second chamber; and
solute removing means, coupled to the second chamber, for removing soluble species of solute from the solvent-enriched second solution to obtain only the solvent, wherein the solute removing means comprises a precipitator for precipitating solute out of the solvent-enriched second solution, and a heater means, fluidly coupled to the precipitator, for heating the solvent-enriched second solution; wherein the remaining solute in the solvent-enriched second solution is decomposed into its constituents gases and the constituent gases are vaporized out of the solvent-enriched second solution.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the solute removing means comprises a filtration device, coupled to the precipitator, for filtering precipitated solute from the solvent-enriched second solution.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, comprising means for applying an external pressure to the first solution to increase the amount of solvent drawn from the first solution through the membrane and into the second solution.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising recycling means for recycling solutes from the solute removing means back into the second chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising recycling means for recycling gasses from the solvent-enriched second solution back into the second chamber; and
means for permitting the gasses to move between the second chamber and the precipitator;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising means for applying an external pressure to the first solution to increase the amount of solvent drawn from the first solution through the membrane and into the second solution.
14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first chamber includes an inlet connected to a source of the first solution and the second chamber includes an inlet connected to a source of the second solution.
15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising recycling means for recycling solutes from the solute removing means back into the second chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising recycling means for recycling gasses from the solvent-enriched second solution back into the second chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
17. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising recycling means for recycling gasses from the solvent-enriched second solution back into the second chamber; and
means for permitting the gasses to move between the second chamber and the precipitator;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are contained within a single vessel that is partitioned into two chambers by the semi-permeable membrane.
19. An apparatus for the extraction of a solvent from a first solution using osmosis, the apparatus comprising:
a first chamber for receiving a first solution;
a second chamber for receiving a second solution;
a semi-permeable membrane disposed intermediate and coupling the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the semi-permeable membrane allows solvent from the first chamber to pass through to the second chamber, thereby producing a solvent-enriched second solution in the second chamber;
one or more chambers coupled to the second chamber for removing soluble species of solute from the solvent-enriched second solution to obtain only the solvent, comprising:
a third chamber for precipitating solute out of the solvent-enriched second solution; and
a heating chamber coupled to the third chamber for heating the solvent-enriched second solution, wherein solute remaining in the solvent-enriched second solution is decomposed into its constituent gasses and the constituent gasses are vaporized out of the solvent-enriched second solution.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a filtration device, coupled to the third chamber, for filtering precipitated solute from the solvent-enriched second solution.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising means for applying an external pressure to the first solution to increase the amount of solvent drawn from the first solution through the membrane and into the second solution.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first chamber includes an inlet connected to a source of the first solution and the second chamber includes an inlet connected to a source of the second solution.
23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising recycling means for recycling solutes from the third chamber back into the second chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising recycling means for recycling gasses from the heating chamber back into the second chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
25. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising recycling means for recycling gasses from the heating chamber back into the second chamber; and
means for permitting the gasses to move between the second chamber and the third chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are contained within a single vessel that is partitioned into two chambers by the semi-permeable membrane.
27. An apparatus for the extraction of a solvent from a first solution using osmosis, the apparatus comprising:
a first chamber for receiving a first solution;
a second chamber for receiving a second solution;
a semi-permeable membrane disposed intermediate and coupling the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the semi-permeable membrane allows solvent from the first chamber to pass through to the second chamber, thereby producing a solvent-enriched second solution in the second chamber;
one or more chambers coupled to the second chamber for removing soluble species of solute from the solvent-enriched second solution to obtain only the solvent, comprising:
a third chamber for precipitating solute out of the solvent-enriched second solution;
a filtration device, coupled to the third chamber, for filtering precipitated solute from the solvent-enriched second solution; and
a heating chamber, coupled to the filtration device, for heating the solvent-enriched second solution, wherein solute remaining in the solvent-enriched second solution is decomposed into its constituent gasses and the constituent gasses are vaporized out of the solvent-enriched second solution.
28. The apparatus of claim 27, comprising means for applying an external pressure to the first solution to increase the amount of solvent drawn from the first solution through the membrane and into the second solution.
29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising recycling means for recycling solutes from the third chamber back into the second chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising recycling means for recycling gasses from the heating chamber back into the second chamber; and
means for permitting the gasses to move between the second chamber and the third chamber;
whereby a desired concentration of the second solution is maintained in the second chamber.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-16. (canceled)
17. An aqueous teeth whitening composition comprising:
a. a bleaching agent;
b. an acrylate; and
c. an amino alcohol
wherein the amino alcohol is a primary or secondary amino alcohol, has a carbon chain of from three to eight carbon atoms and is provided in molar excess of the acrylate.
18. A composition according to claim 17, wherein the composition is in the form of a gel formed between the acrylate and amine.
19. A composition according to claim 17, wherein the volume ratio of amino alcohol to acrylate is between 5:1 and 500:1.
20. A composition according to claim 17, wherein the amino alcohol comprises a primary amine having four carbon centers.
21. A composition according to claim 17, wherein the amino alcohol has the general formula R1(NH2)\u2014CH2OH; or H2N\u2014R2OH; or H2N\u2014R3OH\u2014R4, where:
R1 represents CH3\u2014(CH2)n\u2014CH, where n=1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;
R2 represents (CH2)n, where n=3, 4, 5, 6 or 7;
R3 represents (CH2)n\u2014CH, where n=1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; and
R4 represents CH3.
22. A composition according to claim 17, wherein the bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide.
23. A composition according to claim 17 further comprising a bioactive glass.
24. A method of whitening teeth comprising applying a composition according to claim 17 to at least one tooth.
25. A teeth whitening composition comprising:
a. a bleaching agent;
b. an acrylate; and
c. an amine,
wherein the amine is a primary or secondary amine and wherein the amine is provided in molar excess of the acrylate.
26. A composition according to claim 25, wherein the amine is an amino alcohol.
27. A composition according to claim 25, wherein the amine has a carbon chain of from three to eight carbon atoms.
28. A composition according to claim 25, wherein the composition is in the form of a gel formed between the acrylate and amine.
29. A composition according to claim 25, wherein the volume ratio of amine to acrylate is between 5:1 and 500:1.
30. A composition according to claim 25, wherein the bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide.
31. A composition according to claim 25, further comprising a bioactive glass.
32. A method of whitening teeth comprising applying a composition according to claim 25 to at least one tooth.
33. A two-part teeth whitening composition comprising a first solution including a bleaching agent and an acrylate and a second solution including an amine, wherein in use the first and second solutions are mixed together in a ratio between 1:5 and 5:1 to form a polypeptide gel, wherein the amine is a primary or secondary amine, and wherein the amine is provided in molar excess of the acrylate.
34. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the amine is an amino alcohol.
35. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the amine has a carbon chain of from three to eight carbon atoms.
36. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the ratio of amine to acrylate is between 5:1 and 500:1.
37. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide.
38. A composition according to claim 34, wherein the amino alcohol comprises a primary amine having four carbon centers.
39. A composition according to claim 34, wherein the amino alcohol has the general formula R1(NH2)\u2014CH2OH; or H2N\u2014R2OH; or H2N\u2014R3OH\u2014R4, where:
R1 represents CH3\u2014(CH2)n\u2014CH, where n=1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;
R2 represents (CH2)n, where n=3, 4, 5, 6 or 7;
R3 represents (CH2)n\u2014CH, where n=1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; and
R4 represents CH3.
40. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the first solution and second solution are mixed in a ratio between 1:4 and 4:1.
41. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the bleaching agent is present at a concentration of 3-50 volumevolume % of the first solution.
42. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the amine is present at a concentration of 50-100 volumevolume % of the second solution.
43. A composition according to claim 33, wherein the acrylate is present at a concentration of 1-2 volumevolume % of the first solution.
44. A composition according to claim 33, further comprising a bioactive glass.
45. A method of whitening teeth comprising applying a composition according to claim 33 to at least one tooth.
46. A method of whitening teeth comprising the steps of:
mixing a first solution including a bleaching agent and an acrylate with a second solution including an amine in a ratio between 1:5 and 5:1 to form a polypeptide gel wherein the amine is a primary or secondary amine, and wherein the amine is provided in molar excess of the acrylate; and
applying the polypeptide gel to at least one tooth.
47. A method according to claim 46, wherein the amine is an amino alcohol.
48. A method according to claim 46, wherein the amine has a carbon chain of from three to eight carbon atoms.
49. A method according to claim 46, wherein the ratio of amine to acrylate is between 5:1 and 500:1.
50. A method according to claim 46 further comprising use of a dual-barrelled syringe, wherein the first solution is located in a first barrel of the syringe and the second solution is located in a second barrel of the syringe.