Technology:

Patent Assigned for Silica Extraction From Geothermal Brine (TMCnet.com)
 

Lawrence Livermore National Security, Livermore, California, has been assigned a patent (8,840,859) developed by William L. Bourcier, Livermore, California, and Carol J. Bruton, Livermore, California, for "silica extraction from geothermal water."

"A method of producing silica from geothermal fluid containing low concentration of the silica of less than 275 ppm includes the steps of treating the geothermal fluid containing the silica by reverse osmosis treatment thereby producing a concentrated fluid containing the silica, seasoning the concentrated fluid thereby producing a slurry having precipitated colloids containing the silica, and separating the silica from the slurry."

The patent application was filed on Sept. 3, 2008.

Full-text of the patent .....