HIGH PERFORMANCE MEMBRANES FOR WATER RECLAMATION USING POLYMERIC AND NANOMATERIALS

• US 20160038885A1
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: University of Southern California
• Inventors: HOGEN-ESCH, THIEO, PIRBAZARI, MASSOUD, RAVINDRAN, VARADARAJAN, YURDACAN, HAYRIYE MERVE, KIM, WOONHOE
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/30 Cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/40 in-situ membrane formation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/28 Degradation or stability over time
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/48 Antimicrobial properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/14 Ultrafiltration; Microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/08 Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0006 by chemical reactions in-situ polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or reaction for manufacturing composite membranes B01D69/125
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/00793 Dispersing a component, e.g. as particles or powder, in another component
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/12 Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1216 Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1251 by interfacial polymerisation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/148 Organic/inorganic mixed matrix membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/024 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/28 Polymers of vinyl aromatic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/281 Polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/34 Polyvinylidene fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/56 Polyamides, e.g. polyester-amides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/68 Polysulfones; Polyethersulfones
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/76 Macromolecular material not specifically provided for in a single one of groups B01D71/08 - B01D71/74 rubbers in general B01D71/24
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/44 by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/08 : Nanoparticles or nanotubes

Abstract

A water permeable membrane for water purifications applications including filtration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis is provided. The water permeable membrane includes a porous support and a composite layer disposed over the porous support. Characteristically, the composite layer includes graphene oxide dispersed within a polymer matrix.

Claims

1. A water permeable membrane comprising:

a porous support; and

a composite layer disposed over the porous support, the composite layer including graphene oxide dispersed within a polymer matrix.

2. The water permeable membrane of claim 1 wherein the polymer matrix is a polyamide matrix.

3. The water permeable layer of claim 2 wherein the polyamide layer is a cross-linked polyamide matrix.

4. The water permeable layer of claim 1 wherein the polymer matrix is a crosslinked poly(styrene sulfonic acid-(PSSA)-co styrene-co-methylstyrene) copolymer-polyvinylidene fluoride blend.

5. The water permeable layer of claim 1 wherein the graphene oxide has a dimension of from 10 nn to about 500 nm.

6. The water permeable layer of claim 1 wherein the graphene oxide is present in an amount from about 0.05 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of the total combined weight of the graphene oxide and polymer matrix.

7. The water permeable membrane of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the composite layer is greater than about 10 nm.

8. The water permeable membrane of claim 1 wherein the porous support includes a porous polymer.

9. The water permeable membrane of claim 8 wherein the porous support porous polymer includes polysulfone.

10. The water permeable membrane of claim 8 wherein the porous support includes a fabric layer, the porous polymer being disposed over the fabric layer.

11. A water purification system comprising:

a chamber having a first water holding section for holding impure water and a second water holding section for holding purified water;

a water permeable membrane interposed between the first water holding section and the second water holding section; and

a pressure applicator that applies pressure to impure water in the first water holding section such that water permeates through the water permeable membrane into the second water holding section.

12. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the pressure applicator maintains water in the section water holding section at a pressure from 20 to 1500 psi.

13. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the polymer matrix is a polyamide matrix.

14. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the polymer matrix is a cross-linked poly (styrene sulfonic acid-co-styrene-co-methyl styrene)-polyvinylidene fluoride blend.

15. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the graphene oxide has a dimension of from 10 nn to about 500 nm.

16. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the graphene oxide is present in an amount from about 0.05 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of the total combined weight of the graphene oxide and polymer matrix.

17. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the thickness of the composite layer is greater than about 10 nm.

18. The water purification system of claim 11 wherein the porous support includes a porous polymer.

19. The water permeable membrane of claim 18 wherein the porous support porous polymer includes polysulfone.

20. The water permeable membrane of claim 18 wherein the porous support includes a fabric layer, the porous polymer being disposed over the fabric layer.