System and method for electrically conductive membrane separation
AssigneeSiTration, Inc.
InventorsBrendan D. Smith, Jeffrey Grossman, Ahmed Helal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrically conductive membrane separation from a mixture solution via membrane nanofiltration, electro-filtration, or electro-extraction by: generating an electric field at the membrane filter, holding the membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or driving a constant current through the membrane filter; feeding a mixture solution through the membrane nanofiltration system; and separating a component from the mixture solution into a permeate solution.
Claims35
A membrane nanofiltration system for electrically conductive membrane separation comprising:
- a conductive membrane filter consisting essentially of monolithic nanoporous silicon;
- an electrical contact in contact with the conductive membrane filter, wherein electrical current can flow from the electrical contact to the conductive membrane filter;
- and
- a counter electrode above a top surface of the conductive membrane filter,
- wherein the conductive membrane filter, via the electrical contact, and the counter electrode are configured to:
- generate an electric field between the conductive membrane filter and the counter electrode,
- hold the conductive membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or
- flow constant current into the conductive membrane filter, and
- wherein the conductive membrane filter is configured to separate at least one ion from a mixture solution and is not bound to a support, and wherein at least part of the mixture solution flows through the conductive membrane filter.
A method for electrically conductive membrane separation from a mixture solution comprising:
- providing a membrane nanofiltration system comprising:
- a conductive membrane filter consisting essentially of monolithic nanoporous silicon;
- an electrical contact in contact with the conductive membrane filter, wherein electrical current can flow from the electrical contact to the conductive membrane filter;
- and
- a counter electrode above a top surface of the conductive membrane electrode;
- generating an electric field above or within the conductive membrane filter, holding the conductive membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or flowing constant current into the conductive membrane filter;
- feeding a mixture solution through the conductive membrane filter;
- and
- separating at least one metal ion from the mixture solution,
- wherein the conductive membrane filter is not bound to a support.
A method for electrically conductive membrane separation from a mixture solution comprising:
- holding a conductive membrane filter at a constant electric potential or driving a constant current through the membrane filter;
- feeding a mixture solution through the conductive membrane filter, wherein at least a portion of the mixture solution flows from a top surface of the conductive membrane filter to below the conductive membrane filter as a permeate solution;
- and
- separating at least one metal ion from the mixture solution,
- wherein the conductive membrane filter consists essentially of monolithic nanoporous silicon and is not bound to a support.
A membrane nanofiltration system for electrically conductive membrane separation comprising:
- a conductive membrane filter comprising monolithic nanoporous silicon with a uniform crystalline structure;
- an electrical contact in contact with the conductive membrane filter, wherein electrical current can flow from the electrical contact to the conductive membrane filter;
- and
- a counter electrode above a top surface of the conductive membrane filter,
- wherein the conductive membrane filter, via the electrical contact, and the counter electrode are configured to:
- generate an electric field between the conductive membrane filter and the counter electrode,
- hold the conductive membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or
- flow constant current into the conductive membrane filter, and
- wherein the conductive membrane filter is configured to separate at least one ion from a mixture solution into a permeate solution below the conductive membrane filter, and the at least one ion is not rejected at the membrane surface, and
- wherein the conductive membrane filter is not bound to a support.
A membrane nanofiltration system for electrically conductive membrane separation comprising:
- a conductive membrane filter comprising monolithic nanoporous silicon;
- an electrical contact in contact with the conductive membrane filter, wherein electrical current can flow from the electrical contact to the conductive membrane filter;
- and
- a counter electrode above a top surface of the conductive membrane filter,
- wherein the conductive membrane filter, via the electrical contact, and the counter electrode are configured to:
- generate an electric field between the conductive membrane filter and the counter electrode,
- hold the conductive membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or
- flow constant current into the conductive membrane filter, and
- wherein the conductive membrane filter is configured to separate at least one component from a mixture solution to a permeate solution, and wherein at least part of the mixture solution flows through the conductive membrane filter and the components not in the permeate solution exit the system in a retentate solution, and
- wherein the conductive membrane filter is not bound to a support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.