Membranes with tunable selectivity

• US 10,376,845 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Swett, Jacob Louis, Simon, Sarah M., Bedworth, Peter V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Ryan B
• Application Number:
  US15/099,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20170296979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1621 Constructional aspects thereof semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/14 Specific spacers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/19 Specific flow restrictors
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/02 Details relating to pores or porosity of the membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/0282 Dynamic pores-stimuli responsive membranes, e.g. thermoresponsive or pH-responsive
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/0283 Pore size
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/04 Characteristic thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/02 characterised by their properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/12 Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1218 Layers having the same chemical composition, but different properties, e.g. pore size, molecular weight or porosity
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/021 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/0211 Graphene or derivates thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/0212 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/04 4 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2270/00 Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/04 : comprising such cellulosic plastic substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a glass layer B32B17/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/10 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/12 : next to a particulate layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/20 : having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/30 : having particular thermal properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 : Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7163 : Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/726 : Permeability to liquids, absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7265 : Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/728 : Hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 : Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 : Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2313/04 : Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/14 : next to a particulate layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 : characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/28 : comprising synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the sub-groups B32B27/30 - B32B27/42
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/281 : comprising polyimides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/285 : comprising polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/286 : comprising polysulphones; polysulfides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/288 : comprising polyketones
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 : comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/322 : comprising halogenated polyolefins, e.g. PTFE
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 : comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 : comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 : comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 : characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/20 : of hollow pieces, e.g. tubes; of pieces with channels or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/26 : characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205; characterised by an apertured layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/263 : characterised by a layer having non-uniform thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0032 : increasing porosity B32B38/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 : Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/028 : Net structure, e.g. spaced apart filaments bonded at the crossing points
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/16 : characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder or granules layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/30 : one layer being formed of particles, e.g. chips, granules, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/02 : Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/007 : comprising carbon, e.g. graphite, composite carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/04 : comprising such particular substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a glass layer B32B17/06; layered products with at least two ceramic layers composed mainly of ceramic B32B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/045 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/047 : made of fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/048 : made of particles
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/194 : After-treatment
• 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 3/1268 : Membrane bioreactor systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 : Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

Some embodiments comprise membranes comprising a first layer comprising a porous graphene-based material; a second layer comprising a porous graphene-based material; a channel positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the channel has a tunable channel diameter; and at least one spacer substance positioned in the channel, wherein the spacer substance is responsive to the environmental stimulus. In some cases, the membranes have more than two layers of porous graphene-based material. Permeability of a membrane can be altered by exposing the membrane to an environmental stimulus. Membranes can be used in methods of water filtration, immune-isolation, timed drug release (e.g., sustained or delayed release), hemodialysis, or hemofiltration.

Claims

1. A method of altering membrane permeability comprising:

exposing a membrane to an environmental stimulus to thereby alter membrane permeability, wherein the membrane comprises a first layer with a porous graphene-based material, a second layer with a porous graphene-based material, and a channel between the first layer and the second layer, and

wherein the channel has a diameter that is altered upon exposing the membrane to the environmental stimulus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental stimulus is selected from the group consisting of variations in temperature, pressure, pH, ionic concentration, solute concentration, tonicity, light, voltage, electric fields, magnetic fields, pi-bonding availability, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane permeability is altered by a change in the maximum diameter of the channel between the first layer and the second layer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises at least one spacer substance positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the at least one spacer substance is responsive to the environmental stimulus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer substance expands and/or contracts in response to the environmental stimulus.