Solar-thermal membrane for dewatering aqueous organic-acid solutions

A solar-thermal vapor-permeation membrane for separation processes, the solar-thermal vapor-permeation membrane comprising:

• a thermally conductive, porous support layer having a feed surface, the support layer being capable of absorbing solar-thermal radiation;
• a microporous active separation layer adjacent the feed surface of the support layer, the active separation layer being capable of separating one liquid component from another liquid component, wherein the active separation layer is formed of a polymer-inorganic hybrid composite, and the polymer-inorganic hybrid composite includes one or more of a polyvinyl alcohol, graphene oxide/polyvinyl alcohol (GO/PVA), a polyimide, NaA zeolites, chabazite zeolites, T-type zeolites, and hybrid silicas;
• and
• an intermediate layer between the feed surface of the support layer and the active separation layer, the intermediate layer having a porosity of between 5% and 20%, and the intermediate layer being formed of one of:
• (i) graphite nanoparticles (GNP);
• (ii) carbon microbeads (CM);
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii);
• wherein the intermediate layer is different in composition than the active separation layer, and the intermediate layer separates the support layer from the active separation layer.