# US 10,870,089 B2 · Hydrophilic graphitic material

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- Number: US 10,870,089 B2
- Document ID: US10870089B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/826,406
- Filed: 2017-11-29
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-14
- Assignees: 4th Phase Water Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: 4th Phase Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Chunhong Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870089B2

## CPC

- B01D 71/0212: {Carbon nanotubes}
- B01D 67/0088: {Physical treatment with compounds, e.g. swelling, coating or impregnation}
- B01D 69/02: characterised by their properties
- B01D 71/0211: {Graphene or derivates thereof}
- B01D 71/52: Polyethers
- B01D 71/66: Polymers having sulfur in the main chain, with or without nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only
- B01D 71/82: characterised by the presence of specified groups, e.g. introduced by chemical after-treatment
- C01B 32/158: Carbon nanotubes
- C01B 32/22: Intercalation
- 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)}
- B01D 2325/14: Membrane materials having negatively charged functional groups
- B01D 2325/36: Hydrophilic membranes
- C01B 2202/08: Aligned nanotubes
- C02F 2101/308: {Dyes; Colorants; Fluorescent agents}
- C02F 2101/32: Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
- C02F 2305/08: Nanoparticles or nanotubes
- Y02W 10/37: using solar energy
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

This disclosure relates to a hydrophilic graphitic material. The graphitic material may be a carbon nanotube film having superior chemical, mechanical and electrical properties compared to traditional membrane materials. The hydrophilic graphitic material includes a kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule coating that increases the hydrophilicity of a graphitic material. Methods for preparing the hydrophilic graphitic material are disclosed along with potential applications and uses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydrophilic film, comprising:
a carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet prepared from floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition having a surface and
a kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule,
wherein the kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule is selected from the group consisting of SO3, SO3 polymer, SO3 complex, and an ether or a polyether comprising at least one OSO3− group.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule is SO3, SO3 polymer or SO3 amine complex.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the kosmotropic polymer is the ether or the polyether comprising at least one OSO3− group.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the polyether comprises at least one hydroxyl group.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the ether or polyether is formed by reacting glycerol glycidyl ether with an —OH group or water.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the ether or polyether is adjacent to a structured water layer on the surface of the graphitic material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the CNT sheet comprises CNTs selected from randomly oriented CNTs and partially aligned CNTs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the CNT film comprises CNTs that are randomly oriented CNTs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The hydrophilic film of claim 1, wherein the kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule is non-covalently associated with the graphitic material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A water-filtration membrane comprising the film of claim 1.

### Claim 11

A method of removing water from an aqueous solution, comprising:
introducing an aqueous solution into a device comprising a membrane, the membrane comprising a hydrophilic film which comprises:
a carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet prepared from floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition having a surface and
a kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule adjacent to the surface,
wherein the kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule is selected from the group consisting of SO3, SO3 polymer, SO3 complex, and an ether or a polyether comprising at least one OSO3− group; and
passing water through the membrane to produce filtered water.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule is SO3, SO3 polymer, or an SO3 amine complex.

### Claim 13

A process for preparing a hydrophilic film, comprising:
providing a carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet prepared from floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition; and
treating the sheet with a kosmotropic polymer or kosmotropic molecule selected from the group consisting of SO3, SO3 polymer, or an SO3 complex, and an ether or a polyether comprising at least one OSO3− group.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the SO3 complex is SO3 triethylamine complex.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the CNT sheet comprises CNTs selected from randomly oriented CNTs and partially aligned CNTs.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the process further comprises heating the SO3 amine complex and the graphitic material at a temperature ranging from 60° C. to 150° C.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the process further comprises heating the SO3 amine complex and the graphitic material at a temperature ranging from 60° C. to 150° C. under a reduced pressure.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the graphitic material is treated with a weight ratio of the SO3 amine complex to the graphitic material ranging from 0.1:1 to 50:1.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The process of claim 18, wherein the weight ratio of the SO3 amine complex to the graphitic material ranges from 0.5:1 to 10:1.