Method of production of nanoporous membranes for water purification from metal ions at low differential pressures
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the subject of continued research and it is said to have the potential to lower the energy footprint of water purification. Further, the energy footprint of RO is largely a function of the differential pressure across the membrane or system.
A method of fabricating a molecular sieve is presented. The sieve begins with a porous substrate, having micron-sized pores. Exemplary substrate materials span organic, inorganic and metallic materials. Non-porous 2D platelets are deposited on one surface of the substrate. The platelets are said to be small, thin and irregularly shaped and the overall platelet layer may be one or a few layers thick, with platelets remaining on the surface. Graphene, graphene oxide, MoS2, MoSe2 and graphite are identified as exemplary platelet materials. A sealing material is deposited over the platelet layer and cured. Nano-pores through the sealed platelets are subsequently formed by chemical etching, laser irradiation, reaction bombardment or plasma etching.
It is is indicated that one exemplary system found a differential pressure of approximately 85 kPa. This compares quite favourably to a state of the art RO having a differential pressure between 700 – 1500 kPa. Finally, the described molecular sieve is said to allow water to pass therethrough, while not allowing metal ions to pass.
Applicant(s):
The University of Western Ontario
Filing Date:
2017-Apr-06 (US-Provisional)
Inventor(s):
Fanchini, Giovanni
Park, Jaewoo
Other patents by lead inventor (select):
US1053861 Polymer based memristors
Independent Claims:
1 – Method
Analyst Comments:
Water purification can only increase in importance, and systems with reduced energy requirements will be of interest. The disclosed technology provides impressive reductions in the required differential pressure across the sieve.
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Technology Tree
Where am I? The disclosed sieve is found in the filtration category. Within there, aspects of the structure provide further categorization.
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