Fluid-based gating mechanism with tunable multiphase selectivity and antifouling behavior
First Claim
1. A gating membrane device comprising:
- a membrane comprising a plurality of pores, wherein at least one pore of said plurality of pores has a continuous path that traverses a thickness of the membrane, the membrane positioned and arranged to permit a transport fluid to traverse the membrane thickness;
a wetting liquid filling the at least one pore of said plurality of pores,wherein the wetting liquid partially displaces above a threshold pressure applied across said at least one pore to allow transport of the transport fluid through the membrane while contacting the wetting liquid,wherein the wetting liquid is selected to be immiscible with the transport fluid, andwherein the wetting liquid refills the at least one pore and gate transport of the transport fluid across the membrane below the threshold pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gating mechanism that uses a capillary stabilized liquid as a reversible, reconfigurable gate that fills and seals pores in the closed state, and creates a non-fouling, liquid-lined pore in the open state is disclosed. Theoretical modeling and experiments demonstrate that for each transport substance, the gating threshold—the pressure needed to open the pores—can be rationally tuned over a wide pressure range. This enables realizing in one system differential response profiles for a variety of liquids and gases, even letting liquids flow through the pore while preventing gas from escaping. These capabilities allow dynamic modulation of gas-liquid sorting and to separate multi-phase mixtures, with the liquid lining ensuring sustained antifouling behavior. Because the liquid gating strategy enables efficient short-term and long-term operation and can be applied to a variety of pore structures and membrane materials, and to nano, micro as well as macroscale fluid systems, the gating systems is useful in a wide range of applications.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A gating membrane device comprising:
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a membrane comprising a plurality of pores, wherein at least one pore of said plurality of pores has a continuous path that traverses a thickness of the membrane, the membrane positioned and arranged to permit a transport fluid to traverse the membrane thickness; a wetting liquid filling the at least one pore of said plurality of pores, wherein the wetting liquid partially displaces above a threshold pressure applied across said at least one pore to allow transport of the transport fluid through the membrane while contacting the wetting liquid, wherein the wetting liquid is selected to be immiscible with the transport fluid, and wherein the wetting liquid refills the at least one pore and gate transport of the transport fluid across the membrane below the threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for transporting a fluid across a membrane comprising;
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providing a membrane comprising a plurality of pores and a wetting liquid, wherein at least one pore of said plurality of pores has a continuous path that traverses a thickness of the membrane, wherein the membrane is positioned and arranged to permit a transport fluid to traverse the membrane thickness, wherein the wetting liquid fills the at least one pore of said plurality of pores, and wherein the wetting liquid is selected to be immiscible with the transport fluid; applying a pressure above a threshold pressure across the membrane to displace the wetting liquid in said at least one pore and to transport the transport fluid through said membrane, wherein the transport fluid contacts the wetting liquid; and lowering the pressure to a pressure below the threshold pressure to allow the wetting liquid to refill the at least one pore. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification