US Patent 7793788 Separating components of aqueous mixtures, suspensions, and solutions

Systems and methods are described for separating components of aqueous mixtures, including aqueous solutions and suspensions. In one implementation, an apparatus flows the aqueous mixture over a hydrophilic surface to form a first region of purified water and a second region of at least one concentrated non-aqueous component. The apparatus can draw off either the purified water or the concentrated non-aqueous components. In one implementation, an array of tubules performs the differential extraction. In another implementation, various hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic surfaces are disposed in multiple differential extractors and some effluents may be recycled to perform complex assaying and separation.