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Asymmetrically-wettable porous membrane process

  • US 4,921,612 A
  • Filed: 06/15/1988
  • Issued: 05/01/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process for transferring solute from a liquid feed solution to a liquid extractant, the feed solution and the extractant being substantially immiscible when in direct contact with each other, one of the feed solution and the extractant being substantially miscible with water to define a water-miscible liquid, the other of the feed solution and the extractant being substantially immiscible with water to define a water-immiscible liquid, the process comprising the steps of:

  • (a) contacting a first side of an asymmetrically-wettable, porous membrane with the water-miscible liquid, the first side being hydrophilic, the membrane having a second side opposing the first side, the second side being hydrophobic, the membrane having pores which pass through the membrane providing liquid-phase communication between the first side and the second side; and

    (b) contacting the second side of the membrane with the water-immiscible liquid so that the feed solution and the extractant can come into liquid/liquid interfacial contact through the pores of the membrane, the interface between the feed solution and the extractant being substantially immobilized at the porous membrane.

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