METHOD FOR CRYSTALLISING CLATHRATE HYDRATES AND METHOD FOR PURIFYING AN AQUEOUS LIQUID USING THE CLATHRATE HYDRATES THUS CRYSTALLISED

摘要

The invention relates to a method for forming or crystallising clathrate hydrates of a host molecule in a liquid including water characterised in that the following consecutive steps are performed: cooling the liquid to a temperature no higher than the crystallisation temperature of the clathrate hydrates; placing the cooled liquid in contact with host molecules that are capable of forming clathrate hydrates and are adsorbed on a solid substrate that has a large specific surface area and is made of a hydrophobic and apolar material by means of which the host molecules are desorbed from the solid substrate that has a large specific surface area and is made of a hydrophobic and apolar material and react with the water of the liquid in order to provide a liquid containing clathrate hydrates and the solid substrate. The invention also relates to a method for purifying a liquid including water and at least one impurity in which the following consecutive steps are performed: a1) forming clathrate hydrates of the host molecule in the liquid by the method above; b1) separating the clathrate hydrates and the solid substrate from the liquid; c1) dissociating the separated clathrate hydrates in order to obtain pure water as well as the host molecule adsorbed again on the solid substrate.